NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group seeks local power in DRC, not just control over mining operations

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ken Matthysen, Researcher, IPIS

    The violence wrought by the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23 Movement is often narrowly framed as intended to control eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s resource-rich mining sites. The rebel group launched its most recent offensive in 2021 and currently controls vast territories in the south-east of North Kivu province, surrounding and cutting off the main city of Goma.

    Eastern DR Congo mines produce crucial raw materials such as tin, tantalum and tungsten, as well as abundant quantities of gold. It therefore seems logical to reduce explanations of conflict to the ambition by M23, and Rwanda behind it, to control the mines directly.

    We belong to a team of researchers who examine the various dimensions of conflict from different perspectives. Our findings, based on fieldwork and conducted in collaboration with in-country experts, show that this popular analysis does not paint the full picture.

    Conflict analysis often ignores historical and local dimensions. Our investigation with the Goma-based civil society organisation Association pour le Développement des Initiatives Paysannes therefore explored the local stakes and impacts of the M23 crisis. We interviewed more than 55 people in North Kivu (DR Congo), including members of M23, as well as soldiers and armed groups fighting them, local chiefs, state agents, teachers, taximen, traders and farmers who live on the frontline of the conflict.

    Our research reveals that M23 employs a more profound strategy to boost its position and military strength (through Rwandan support) in local struggles over land, authority and rents. M23’s disruptive strategy aims to replace Congolese authorities and overhaul local governance in areas it controls in eastern DR Congo. Key to this strategy is:

    • undermining and replacing local (customary) authorities

    • taking over strategic trade routes

    • the installation of an elaborate taxation regime.

    These strategies also allow M23 – and Rwanda – to generate revenues from the local economy, including rents from DR Congo’s mineral wealth, without necessarily directly controlling mines.

    Historical struggles over land

    Interviewees attached great importance to the historical context of the M23 conflict, explaining how struggles over land date back to independence in 1960. Going back to the 1930s and 1940s, the Belgian colonial administrators already organised large movements of migrant workers from Rwanda to work on plantations in DR Congo. The Rwandophone migrants and their descendants settled in North Kivu, becoming part of the local population.

    After independence, Hutu and Tutsi (Rwandophone) communities began to jostle for control over North Kivu’s fertile farmland with the Hunde and Nyanga communities there. As grievances over access to land and property rights increased, Rwandophone communities were stigmatised as “non-indigenous” and their land claims as illegitimate.

    As the Congo Wars broke out in the 1990s, people began seeking recourse to armed groups to settle land conflicts. Before the rise of M23 in 2012, two other groups (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie and later Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple) rose to protect the Rwandophone population in eastern DRC. They also grabbed and sold vast concessions of land – held by the state or other communities – to allied farmers and business people. These were typically from the Tutsi community.

    Given the country’s complex and under-enforced land laws, land claims became exceedingly difficult to verify or prove. This has strengthened the belief that the only way to secure access to land is by resorting to armed groups. Thus, M23 is perceived as the guardian of the Tutsi community’s access to land.

    This perception is well illustrated by a testimony of a local leader in Masisi territory:

    The wars of the last three decades have been motivated by a struggle for control over land … Indigenous people are driven out, dispossessed of their land in favour of others who are considered foreigners and refugees. … the M23 is made up of (Tutsi) pastoralists … and there are fields that their rivals had seized … it was one of their (M23) first concerns to start exploiting them.

    Most Congolese Tutsi have not asked for this “protection” by M23. But the ensuing grievances and ethnic tensions will haunt the relations between communities for years to come.

    Struggles over customary authority

    In DR Congo, customary chiefs play an important role in local land governance. They also adjudicate conflicts, bind people together through rituals, and represent the symbolic claim by a specific community to a given place.

    Many Congolese we spoke to perceive M23’s main aim to be control of power at the local level — undermining the existing authorities. The group has indeed sought to replace customary authorities with M23-appointed ones, at times assassinating Congolese chiefs. Local sources said M23 even burnt chiefdom archives, destroying evidence of claims to customary authority.

    M23’s economic grip

    Wherever M23 has a foothold, it installs an elaborate taxation regime. This involves checkpoint tolls, household taxes, dues on business, harvest taxes and forced labour. In doing so, the group generates the revenues to sustain the conflict. But this also strengthens its politico-administrative hold on the population, as taxation is a symbolic interface of public authority.

    Local armed groups that joined with the Congolese army to combat M23 deepen the problem. Called wazalendo (“patriots”), they are often unpaid and therefore rely on payments from the population to sustain their counter-offensive. As a result, taxation in eastern Congo has become heavily “militiarised”. Taxed by government forces, wazalendo and M23, civilians pay a heavy toll.

    The military nature of local governance could jeopardise future efforts to bring peace to eastern DRC.

    What about minerals?

    M23 has an impact on all aspects of local governance in eastern DR Congo. It has found ways to control and profit from the local economy in North Kivu, including mineral supply chains. It operates checkpoints along arteries and taxes minerals smuggled to Rwanda, alongside other trade flows.

    Having M23 control strategic trade routes in DR Congo, including those crossing into Uganda, is a benefit for Rwanda. From Kigali’s perspective, the resurgence of M23 in 2021 came at a perfect time to block Uganda’s efforts to improve the road network in eastern DR Congo towards its own territory. Rwanda and Uganda are locked in intense competition for Congolese informal trade, re-exporting its timber and minerals as their own, gaining taxes and foreign earnings that ought to benefit the Congolese treasury and population.

    What must be done?

    DR Congo’s resources play a large role in the M23 conflict, but our study underscores the historical roots of the conflict and its profound local impacts. These findings should inform locally meaningful and sustainable conflict resolution strategies.

    Since the M23 revival, land access, trade and security have become increasingly mediated by armed actors. Even after a possible M23 defeat, it will take years of local dialogue and mediation to undo this involvement of militia in local governance, resolve land issues, repair inter-community relations and remake customary authority. But that’s the only way to reach sustainable peace in North Kivu.

    – Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group seeks local power in DRC, not just control over mining operations
    – https://theconversation.com/rwandan-backed-m23-rebel-group-seeks-local-power-in-drc-not-just-control-over-mining-operations-231318

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE-supported Green Economic Forum 2024 facilitates green growth in Central Asia

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE-supported Green Economic Forum 2024 facilitates green growth in Central Asia

    Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic speaks in front of 500 participants of the Green Economic Forum 2024. (OSCE/Chyngyz Zhanybekov) Photo details

    Bishkek, 23 October 2024 – Over 500 participants from Central Asia gathered at the Green Economic Forum 2024 to set priorities for advancing sustainable development across the region. The event brought together government officials, international experts, and business leaders to explore strategies for green economic growth, environmental sustainability, and regional co-operation.
    Key discussions focused on renewable energy, eco-friendly construction, waste management, and green financing. The forum provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, helping governments and businesses identify joint actions for green projects, ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) in Baku.
    In his opening remarks, Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized the forum’s importance in linking economic growth with environmental protection. “The green economy is not just a concept, it is a solution for achieving a balanced, long-term development that safeguards our natural resources,” noted Baisalov.
    Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, underscored the significance of regional collaboration. “Promoting a green economy is essential for achieving sustainable development goals in the face of climate change. Today’s discussions fosters stronger partnerships between businesses, governments, and industry associations, paving the way for innovative solutions in Central Asia,” Ambassador Rogov stated.
    The forum also provided an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their eco-friendly products/ solutions at the exhibition held during the event. Entrepreneurs exchanged contacts and ideas, facilitating regional business connections and laying the groundwork for future contracts, which will boost cross-border collaboration on green innovations.
    The forum’s outcomes contribute to shaping national strategies and policies, driving the region’s transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Presence in Albania hosts workshop to empower women in cybersecurity

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Presence in Albania hosts workshop to empower women in cybersecurity

    Young women engage in the OSCE Presence-organized workshop on empowering women in cybersecurity, Tirana, 24 October 2024. (OSCE) Photo details

    With the aim to empower aspiring women in cybersecurity, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Authority, organized a workshop featuring testimonies and panel discussions from successful female leaders in the field, on 24 October 2024.
    The event provided a platform for these motivational women to share their personal journeys, discussing the challenges they faced and the opportunities available in the cybersecurity landscape.
    “We believe that cybersecurity represents not only a challenge for which we should all be prepared, but also a big opportunity to empower youth to become active part of this important sector”, said Brunilda Halili, National Community Safety Officer of the Presence.
    The workshop culminated in a hands-on cyber drill designed specifically for women students, aimed at enhancing their technical skills and confidence. Thirty-eight participants engaged in practical exercises that equipped them with essential capabilities for a future in cybersecurity.
    In the end of the interactive cyber drill, a 3rd year student of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Xhorxhia Prenga, said: “Until today, I’ve been undecided about my future in the IT field. Today I decided that I want to continue my Master studies in cybersecurity, because now I understand the impact of this field in the society, and the many possibilities I will have to further advance my professional career in this dynamic field”.
    The event was part of the Presence’s project “Supporting national authorities and communities to effectively prevent and address safety and security issues – Phase II”.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report 12/2024: Collision between a road-rail vehicle and a trolley near Brading

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    RAIB has today released its report into a collision between a road-rail vehicle and a trolley near Brading, Isle of Wight, 22 November 2023.

    The site of the accident near to Brading.

    R122024_241024_Brading

    PDF, 9.69 MB, 41 pages

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    Summary

    At around 01:50 on Wednesday 22 November 2023, a road-rail vehicle, travelling in a work site, collided with a hand trolley being used by a work group on the Isle of Wight’s Island Line. The road-rail vehicle was being used to clear vegetation and was travelling between its work locations when the collision occurred.

    The road-rail vehicle was approaching the work group, who were repairing the track, on a descending gradient and was unable to stop before their site of work. When members of the work group realised that the road-rail vehicle was not stopping, they removed tools and equipment from the trolley and lifted it off the track. However, once removed, the trolley was inadvertently left too close to the track and remained foul of the road-rail vehicle’s path. The road-rail vehicle then collided with the hand trolley.

    As a result of the collision, the trolley struck two members of the track repair work group on the legs, pushing them into bushes beside the track. Both received minor injuries, attended hospital independently later that day and were then discharged. The collision was caused because the controller of site safety responsible for the track work group had not been informed of the road-rail vehicle’s movement before it approached, and because the road-rail vehicle was unable to stop in the expected distance once the machine operator realised the work group was ahead.

    Two underlying factors were that South Western Railway, the infrastructure manager for the track on the Island Line, did not have an effective process for planning and managing the risk of on-track plant movements, or for managing low adhesion risk for maintenance activities. A third underlying factor was that South Western Railway’s assurance processes had not identified informal working arrangements in possessions.

    Since the accident, South Western Railway has updated its risk assessment for machine movements and introduced new control measures to specifically manage the risks of conflicting sites of work within work sites and possessions. It has also addressed the deficiencies found within its assurance process for monitoring how possessions are managed.

    Recommendations

    As a result of the investigation, RAIB has made three recommendations, all addressed to South Western Railway. The first is to review how it manages safety during infrastructure work on the Island Line. The second is to review its assurance processes and the third is to provide its infrastructure maintenance staff and contractors with accurate information about its infrastructure.

    Additionally, three learning points have been identified. The first reinforces the importance of transport undertakings and on-track plant operators applying industry codes of practice in the event of an accident or incident involving on-track plant. The second concerns the importance of promptly reporting notifiable accidents to RAIB, and the third the importance of well-established process and procedure for dealing with post‑accident or incident evidence collection and testing.

    Notes to editors

    1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.

    2. RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.

    3. For media enquiries, please call 01932 440015.

    Newsdate: 24 October 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Language is the key to understanding the soul of a country”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: freepic.com

    21 countries and 52 universities open their doors every semester to HSE students participating in the international academic mobility program. In the fall semester of this year, Sofia Malyukova, a third-year student of the bachelor’s program, went to study at the Ca’Foscari State University (Venice, Italy) under the academic mobility program.Foreign languages and intercultural communication» Foreign language schools National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    Her training in Ca’Foscari, whose rich history spans over 150 years, will last for two modules: from September 2024 to February 2025.

    Why Italy and the University of Venice

    — I have dreamed of studying in Italy since the 10th grade, and today, thanks to the HSE School of Foreign Languages, my dream has come true. I chose the Ca’Foscari University of Venice thanks to the positive feedback from students of our educational program who had already studied in Venice and were absolutely delighted with this university. In addition, the process of creating a curriculum turned out to be quite easy, since Ca’Foscari offers an extensive list of subjects for international students.

    Studying at the HSE School of Foreign Languages

    — I studied Italian from the age of 14 with a teacher, outside the school curriculum, because I was always attracted by the culture and history of Italy, and language is the key to understanding the soul of the country. Now my level of Italian is C1-C2, which allows me not only to communicate freely at the university, but also to feel confident outside of it.

    Having entered the first year of the bachelor’s degree program at the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, I decided to choose French as my second foreign language because I wanted to learn another language from scratch. And I continue to intensively develop my Italian skills thanks to the variety of extracurricular activities of the HSE School of Foreign Languages related to Italian: I take part in annual International scientific and practical conference for students and postgraduates “Lingua e cultura italiana: soft power in the XXI century”, and also help with the preparation of events for the Italian Club of the HSE University School of Economics.

    Educational program at the University of Venice

    — The program for this semester is intense. I will study English and French, the theory of the first foreign language, the theory of teaching a foreign language, intercultural communication. Mobility at Ca’Foscari University will certainly bring me new unique experience for my future career. This university is one of the strongest in the field of linguistics. Here I will be able to expand my knowledge in a unique intercultural academic environment and learn how cultural differences affect corporate interaction, which is especially important for my specialization “Intercultural Corporate Communication”, which I will begin studying this academic year.

    Life in a city of contrasts

    — Venice certainly made a strong impression on me right away. It is a city that seems like a fairy tale and almost unreal, especially when you see it for the first time. Walking along narrow streets, crossing numerous bridges, you understand that every corner here breathes history. Venice is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, it is a tourist center, which is felt most strongly in the city center. But once you turn aside, go deeper into lesser-known neighborhoods, you find yourself in quiet, almost deserted places, where it seems that time has stopped.

    Of course, at first we had to get used to the absence of familiar streets, avenues and cars. Instead, locals travel by water trams (vaporetto), which is very convenient and fast.

    As for the climate, there is very high humidity, which is especially noticeable during the rainy season (usually late October and February). On rainy days, the streets can be slightly flooded, a phenomenon called “high water” (aqua alta), and then you have to go around the streets next to the canals. So living on the water is not only romantic, but also difficult. On the other hand, it has its charm: Venice is surrounded by water, and you always feel it.

    When I was choosing a place to live, I wanted to live not in Venice itself, but on the mainland, where there are more amenities for living. That’s why I found an apartment in the small town of Mestre, 15 minutes from Venice. These cities are connected by regular buses and trains, so there are no problems with transportation.

    And for students in Venice, there is a special transport card that allows you to move around Venice and the nearby cities (Mestre and Marghera) by bus, tram and vaporetto. Some campuses of Ca’Foscari University are located near vaporetto stops, so students also actively use this transport. However, in Italy there are often strikes during which employees of the transport industry do not work, so you have to plan your routes in advance.

    Ca’Foscari is like home

    — Studying at the University of Venice is an unforgettable experience due to the intercultural exchange, as students from all over the world study here. Among my friends there are not only Italians, but also guys from Japan, Korea, Turkey, America, Great Britain, Russia.

    All foreign students are treated very kindly, including by teachers who value foreign students very much and are always ready to help. All Italians are very hospitable and open, so I immediately felt at home among them.

    At the university, classes usually start early in the morning, but some subjects can be held in the evening, depending on the course. The class lasts for an hour and a half, which is universal for all Italian universities. In addition to classes at the Italian university, I take some compulsory subjects of my educational program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics online.

    Overall, my workload here is distributed very conveniently, thanks to which I have time to devote to additional education, my hobbies and travel around Italy. For example, I have already managed to visit seven cities: Rome, Milan, Florence, Verona, Peschiera del Garda, Padua and Treviso.

    As for the canteen, the university has one, but not all campuses. For example, some campuses are just classrooms in historical buildings, where there is no canteen. Moreover, breaks between classes last only 15 minutes, so it is best to take a snack from home to avoid standing in line at the canteen. I cook at home most often, but I also like to try different dishes of Italian cuisine. Sometimes we get together with foreign friends at Italians, cook pasta together and chat, exchanging impressions and telling each other about our cultures.

    Studying here is a unique cultural experience that I will definitely not forget. Venice teaches you not to rush, to enjoy the moment and the beauty around you. There is a special magic in Venice that cannot be explained in words, but can only be felt by seeing the city with your own eyes.

    Advice for those who want to take part in academic mobility

    — First of all, it was necessary to draw up an individual curriculum and coordinate it with the educational office. I chose the subjects that I would study in Italy and transfer upon my return. Therefore, it is very important that the content of the curriculum corresponds to the subjects studied at that time in our educational program at the School of Foreign Languages of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    The motivation letter was also an important document, as it was where I could explain how the opportunity to participate in the mobility program was connected with my academic and career goals and why my candidacy should be selected. The motivation letter is the only opportunity to “talk” to the admission committee, so it is very important to talk about your experience, personal qualities and plans for the future. Do not be afraid to fully disclose your achievements and show your desire for new heights!

    In addition to the motivation letter, letters of recommendation from teachers play a significant role. In my experience, it is important that they reflect various aspects of your activities. For example, I attached recommendations that covered not only my academic successes, but also extracurricular achievements (active participation in the life of the HSE School of Foreign Languages and the HSE School of Foreign Languages Italian Club, experience of volunteering at Olympiads and working as a teaching assistant).

    My main advice is to start preparing for the competition in advance and carefully work through each document. Approach this process as responsibly as possible and keep in mind that the commission pays attention not only to your academic achievements, but also to how you show yourself outside of your studies. Show your activity and interests, tell how the academic mobility program is connected with your plans for the future, and then your chances of successfully passing the selection will increase significantly.

    And of course, don’t be afraid of anything. Follow your dream, dare and be sure that getting the coveted letter that you have passed the competitive selection for the academic mobility program is quite possible. Good luck!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Each year, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tables the Immigration Levels Plan, a forward-looking snapshot of immigration targets for the next three years.

    Each year, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tables the Immigration Levels Plan, a forward-looking snapshot of immigration targets for the next three years.

    The plan provides permanent resident admissions targets for 2025, with notional commitments for 2026 and 2027. For the first time, we’re extending our levels plan to also include targets for temporary residents, taking into account the full scope of all newcomers and helping reduce temporary resident (TR) volumes to 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2026.

    Development of the levels plan

    When developing the Levels Plan, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers

    • priorities and objectives for immigration, including those set out in the Immigration Refugee and Protection Act
    • economic and regional needs
    • international obligations and commitments
    • processing capacity
    • the capacity to settle, integrate and retain newcomers

    Throughout the year, IRCC engages with a broad range of stakeholders and partners, including provinces and territories, to help inform our plan. IRCC also conducts public opinion research through surveys and focus groups with newcomers, Canadians living in rural areas, Francophones living in communities outside of Quebec, as well as Indigenous Peoples.

    Findings from these consultations and public engagement initiatives informed the Immigration Levels Plan and are published in the Levels Consultation Report.

    Permanent resident targets

    Permanent resident (PR) programs include economic streams, family reunification, refugees and protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate admissions.

    This year’s levels plan reduces permanent resident targets starting in 2025 and forecasts decreases for the following two years, resulting in a pause in population growth in the short term to achieve well-managed, sustainable growth and economic prosperity for the long term.

    The plan

    • represents an overall decrease of 105,000 admissions in 2025, as compared to projected 2025 levels
    • prioritizes in-Canada applicants and pathways for those already here
      • More than 40% of anticipated PR admissions in 2025 will be from those who are already in Canada as temporary residents.
      • Research has demonstrated that newcomers with in-Canada experience have positive long-term success. These skilled, educated newcomers can continue to support the workforce and economy, without placing additional demands on our social services.
      • Adjustments will be made to our economic immigration streams to prioritize transitions of workers already here to permanent residents and to be responsive to labour market needs—our in-Canada focus. We will put emphasis on our federal economic priorities in programs, including the Canadian Experience Class and regional immigration programs, to attract workers we need, such as in health care and trades occupations.
    • focuses on economic immigration, with approximately 62% of total permanent resident admissions that will be dedicated to the economic class, in key sectors such as health and trades, by 2027
    • continues to reunites families and loved ones, including spouses, children, parents and grandparents. In 2025, nearly 24% of overall permanent resident admissions will be allocated to family class immigration
    • upholds Canada’s long-standing commitment to resettle the world’s most vulnerable, including human rights defenders, LGBTQI+ refugees, religious and ethnic minorities, and women and children in precarious situations
    • strengthens Francophone communities outside Quebec and supports their economic prosperity. Of the overall permanent resident admission targets, Francophone immigration will represent
      • 5% in 2025
      • 5% in 2026
      • 10% in 2027

    These targets allow for a continued increase in volume year-over-year of Francophone admissions outside Quebec, despite decreased overall PR levels.

    Temporary resident targets

    In March 2024, Canada announced a plan to decrease the number of temporary residents to 5% of the total population over the next three years, including temporary foreign workers and international students. Starting in 2025, Canada will have targets for temporary residents as part of the levels plan.

    TR targets will capture the number of new workers and students arriving in Canada:

    • Student arrivals are aligned with the previously announced
    • Worker arrivals are those under the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

    TR targets were calculated by assessing a number of factors, such as the number of individuals expected to depart Canada in each program (such as when a permit expires), individuals transitioning to permanent residents, approval rates for each program, estimated renewal rates and other factors.

    As such, categories excluded from the TR targets but included in the stock of TRs are:

    • Work or study permit extensions or change of status from within Canada (since we would be counting an individual’s status more than once). This is factored into the outflows.
    • Seasonal workers who enter and leave Canada within the same year (since they aren’t a part of our year-end population count).
    • Asylum claimants who are seeking protection in Canada (since they are entitled by law to have their claim assessed so we can’t control the volumes like we do with other programs).

    Measures designed to achieve the 5% target

    • International student cap: IRCC introduced an annual cap on international student study permits, including a further 10% reduction in 2025 relative to 2024 targets.
    • Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) reform: IRCC tightened eligibility requirements for PGWPs to better align the program with immigration goals and labour market needs.
    • Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program) reform: ESDC introduced a 10% cap on employers hiring temporary foreign workers under the low-wage stream, and announced an increase to the starting hourly wage for temporary foreign workers in the high-wage stream by 20%.
    • Limiting work permits for spouses of temporary residents: IRCC is tightening work permit eligibility for spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers.

    For more information, please consult our latest news release on strengthening temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes.

    Taken together, the targets are expected to result in a net decrease in temporary residents over the next two years. Specifically, compared to each previous year, we will see:

    • 445,901 fewer TRs in 2025
    • 445,662 fewer TRs in 2026
    • a modest increase of 17,439 TRs in 2027

    Asylum

    Like many countries, Canada is experiencing more asylum claims as the number of displaced people worldwide continues to grow, and that contributes to growing volumes. To align with our humanitarian responsibilities, the government has been working on several measures to address integrity issues and strengthen the in-Canada asylum system, including

    • implementing a partial visa requirements for Mexican nationals
    • improving claims processing while maintaining the fairness and integrity of the asylum system, as announced in 2024
    • reviewing visa decision making so that our highly trained officers have the right tools to detect fraud and reduce the number of non-genuine visitors
    • exploring more measures to further strengthen visa integrity

    Impact of the Plan

    • The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan is expected to result in a marginal population decline of 0.2% in both 2025 and 2026 before returning to a population growth of 0.8% in 2027.
    • The plan will reduce the housing supply gap by approximately 670 000 units by the end of 2027.
    • Continued robust GDP growth and enable GDP per capita growth to accelerate throughout 2025 to 2027, as well as improve housing affordability and lower the unemployment rate.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller Tours Marshall Health’s Community Project Funding Site

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

    Washington D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) toured the former Strayer University building on Marshall Health’s Teays Valley Campus to see how the $3 million community project funding Congresswoman Miller secured is being used to advance medical research opportunities and health services.

    Click here for photos and b-roll

    “Marshall Health Network is committed to serving West Virginians by equipping their physicians with the necessary tools to provide the best quality care for their patients. I am glad that Marshall Health can use the funding I secured for them towards renovating the former Strayer University facility into a toxicology laboratory and occupational health suite. This will allow their staff to perform important medical research and ensure that students and physicians receive an invaluable educational experience to help them succeed in the medical field. I look forward to coming back once all renovations have been completed and to hear updates on the impact their critical work has on the region,” said Congresswoman Miller.

    “I extend Marshall Health Network’s deepest gratitude to Congresswoman Miller for her unwavering support and commitment to improving health care access in West Virginia. Congresswoman Miller’s advocacy for critical funding and resources has been instrumental in moving this project forward, ensuring that our region has the tools necessary to address the ongoing challenges of substance use and workplace safety. By championing initiatives like this state-of-the-art medical toxicology center at Marshall Health – Teays Valley, Congresswoman Miller is helping to create safer environments for workers, empower employers and support individuals in recovery. We are truly grateful for her leadership and steadfast dedication to the wellbeing of our community,” said Kevin W. Yingling, R. Ph., M.D., CEO of Marshall Health Network.

    “We are so appreciative of Congresswoman Miller’s support for our major priority initiatives: addiction and behavioral health, gerontology and healthy aging, obesity and diabetes, and rural health and primary care, which emphasize our commitment to the health and wellbeing of West Virginians. In addition to expanded clinical services, the new facility in Putnam County will offer vital instruction and hands-on experience in toxicology for students in a variety of health care fields. The center will also serve as a foundation for future research, resulting in new job creation,” said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), vice president for health affairs and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University.

    Congresswoman Miller touring the former Strayer building with Marshall Health Network

     Congresswoman Miller with Marshall Health Network

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Peters, Durbin, Stabenow, Duckworth, and 18 Fellow Senators Demand Stellantis Keep Its Promises to Autoworkers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 – In a letter sent yesterday to the automative giant that is responsible for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and more, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and 18 of their colleagues urged Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to honor the collective bargaining agreement signed last year with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the promises the company made to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America.
    “We are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year’s collective bargaining agreement…” wrote the senators. “We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.”
    In the contract ratified last year, Stellantis committed to: 
    Make nearly $19 billion in new investments and product commitments in the U.S.;
    Re-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was “indefinitely idled” last year;
    Establish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;
    Continue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025; and
    Manufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.
    Instead, Stellantis has taken actions that undermine the commitments made to the UAW and leave “behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today,” wrote the senators. These actions may include moving the next generation Dodge Durango out of the U.S. and into “low-cost” countries like Mexico, as well as delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant.
    This year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world. The company has also benefited from billions of dollars in financial assistance from American taxpayers and the federal government. In July, the Department of Energy announced Stellantis would receive nearly $335 million in federal dollars to support Belvidere Assembly Plant’s conversion to electric vehicle production.
    “Last year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise, boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies,” wrote the senators. “We believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.”
    Joining Sanders, Peters, Durbin, Stabenow, and Duckworth on the letter are Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
    To read the full letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boilermakers host successful USA clay shoot, youth day

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    This is what we’re supposed to do as a union. We stick together and take care of each other, and we stick together to take care of our community—and that’s the youth.

    John Fultz, IVP-Northeast

    In partnership with the Boilermakers union, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance raised more than $120,000 in the annual USA Boilermakers Kansas City Sporting Clays Shoot and hosted more than 60 youths at a Boilermakers Get Youth Outdoors Day in separate events this past September.

    Now in its third year, the youth event doubled attendance from previous years. Kids enjoyed the day Sept. 15 at Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kansas, learning gun safety, skills, blasting clays and fishing under the guidance of Boilermakers and other union volunteers. All supplies—from fishing gear to protection and ammunition—were provided, as well as lunch for all.

    IVP-Northeast John Fultz was among the event volunteers. He spent the day baiting hooks, taking fish off the hooks and watching kids’ smiles light up with each catch.

    “I really enjoyed it—it was like being with my grandkids when they caught their first fish,” he said. “It makes you happy to see them so successful and to watch the moms and dads get excited for their little ones.”

    Fultz said being covered in worms for a day was worth it. He noted that IBB staffer Mallory Smith volunteered all day fixing fishing poles, baiting hooks, helping kids however she could—and also covered in worms.

    “This is what we’re supposed to do as a union. We stick together and take care of each other, and we stick together to take care of our community—and that’s the youth.”

    The following Saturday, on Sept. 22, 116 men, women and youth met at Powder Creek for USA’s popular sporting clays competition. Twenty-five teams competed, each firing 100 rounds per person along the course’s stations. Union partners, Boilermaker local lodges and other unions sponsored the stations to offset event expenses.

    The 2024 Kansas City shoot winners were:

    Highest overall team score: Callender Printing

    Class A high score: Boilermakers Local 363

    Class B high score: Mark One

    Class C high score: IBEW Local 226

    Top overall shooter: Austin Post

    Top senior shooter: Clinton Shipp

    Top youth shooter: Charlie Jenkins

    Top female shooter: Kym Savage

    “I want to especially recognize Kym Savage for her work organizing Boilermakers, volunteers, donations, and all the effort she put into the youth event and shoot coordination,” Fultz said. “And it was fun to have her on our team to enjoy the hard work she’d put into the event. Winning as the day’s leading female shooter was well earned.”

    Profits from the shooting event support U.S.A.’s mission to “unite the community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage.” This was the 15th year for the Boilermaker-sponsored event. The Boilermakers union is a charter member of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. Free membership is available to all Boilermaker members. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: St. Louis area state parks and historic sites host fun fall activities

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 18, 2024 – Fall fun abounds at Missouri state parks and historic sites. From Halloween hikes to spooktacular events, there’s something for everyone!

    Friday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. – Halloween Night Hike at Mastodon State Historic Site.
    Celebrate Halloween with a family-friendly night hike at Mastodon State Historic Site! Participants will cover some non-spooky Halloween topics. Don’t worry – no jump scares here! Meet at the start of the Spring Branch Trail, located in the picnic area at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial. From there, participants will hike the 0.8-mile loop, featuring an accessible packed gravel surface. Those attending are invited to wear a non-scary, family friendly Halloween costume. Costume or not, you should come dressed for the weather and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and bring a flashlight. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, call or text 636-215-9784 or visit icampmo.com.

    Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Spooktacular Halloween at Meramec State Park.
    Meramec State Park is hosting its annual Spooktacular Halloween event on Saturday, Oct. 19. Join the park team for a coloring contest, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a movie and more! This will be held in the park campground at 115 Meramec Park Drive in Sullivan. The event is free, open to the public and registration is not required.

    Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – International Archaeology Day at Mastodon State Historic Site.
    Celebrate International Archaeology Day at Mastodon State Historic Site. All the free interpretive programs will be accessible from the museum parking lot at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.

    Registration is required for the Archaeological Evidence program, but not for the afternoon programs. Starting at 10 a.m. in the museum auditorium, visitors can learn about archaeological evidence with a hands-on program. Participants will learn how to order evidence and how to sort facts from inferences and opinions. They will also have the opportunity to interpret a mock archaeology site. This program is designed for families with elementary-aged children, but all are welcome. Space is limited and registration is required and can be done by calling or texting 636-215-9784. At 1 p.m., guests can discover archaeological sites around the world in this interpreter-led presentation, “Archaeology Around the World.” From 3 – 4 p.m., try your hand at the ancient hunting technique of atlatl throwing. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, this program will be canceled.

    Saturday, Oct. 19, noon – 3 p.m. – Bones, Graveyards and Burials at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site.
    The leaves are falling, winds are howling, and ghostly spirits are calling in St. Charles, Missouri. It’s the perfectly creepy, chilly time of year to join the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site team and archaeologist for an eerie program exploring mysterious customs and the stranger side of burials. So, come learn about the interestingly spooky secrets beneath your feet and beyond! Presenters will cover topics ranging from specific challenges archaeologists face when they come across a burial, to the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery, to the history of the expression “saved by the bell.” Throughout the program, they will discuss local burials and archaeological digs that occurred right here in St. Charles. Members of the Archaeological Institute of America will also be on hand providing programs in honor of International Archaeology Day. Join the free program in the backyard of the historic site located at 200 S. Main St. in St. Charles.

    Monday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Homeschool Hour: Outdoor Literature at Mastodon State Historic Site.
    Homeschoolers are invited to join the team at Mastodon State Historic Site for fun, educational activities. Each Homeschool Hour has two time slots, with the 10 a.m. slot for all ages, while the 1 p.m. slot is strictly for homeschoolers ages 10 and up and includes more advanced activities. Registration is required and space is limited. To register, call 636-464-2976 or visit icampmo.com (morning session) or icampmo.com (afternoon session). The majority of this session will take place outside, so dress appropriately. Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.

    Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Thursdays at Mastodon State Historic Site.
    Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site. Designed for toddlers and their grown-ups, Toddler Thursdays focus on different topics and include activities and a craft. Join the team in the museum auditorium at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive.

    Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. – St. Francois Adventure School: Bugs at St. Francois State Park.
    Our world is full of fascinating bugs. Homeschoolers and their adults are invited to join the park naturalists to get an up-close look at some of our tiny friends that have six, eight or more legs! The day begins at 9:45 a.m. with check-in at the campground amphitheater, followed by the first portion of the program at 10 a.m. After a discussion on the diverse world of insects, spiders and other arthropods, we will head out on Swimming Deer Trail to see if we can get a bug bingo. Students ages 5-8 will have a 0.25-mile hike while students ages 9-14 will have a 2-mile hike. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, especially on the trail. Strollers will not be allowed on the trail. Registration is required and space is limited. To register, call 573-358-2173 or visit icampmo.com (ages 5-8) or icampmo.com (ages 9-14). St. Francois State Park is located at 8920 U.S. Highway 67 N. in Bonne Terre.

    Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Babler’s Halloween Weekend at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park.
    This event is free, open to the public and registration is not required. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park is located at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood.

    The weekend schedule follows:

    Saturday, Oct. 26
    10 a.m. – Wile E. Coyote – Speed on over to the park to learn about Missouri’s wiliest mammals yet: coyotes. Meet at the visitor center at 10 a.m.
    2 p.m. – Slither Me Timbers – Slither on over to meet one of Babler’s resident snakes and learn more about snakes, including how they are beneficial to you. Meet at the visitor center.
    4-8 p.m. – Babler’s Howl-oween – Trick-or-treating will be at the visitor center.
    8 p.m. – Camper Judging – Any camper who wants to participate in the Halloween decorating contest will be rated by a panel of judges. Judging starts at 8 p.m.

    Sunday, Oct. 27
    10 a.m. – Batty Business – Join an interpreter in learning about Missouri’s only flying mammals. Meet at the visitor center.

    Saturday, Oct. 26, 5-8 p.m. – St. Francois Halloween at St. Francois State Park.
    Everyone is invited to partake in some Halloween fun at the St. Francois State Park campground at 8920 U.S. Highway 67 N in Bonne Terre, Missouri. From 5-6 p.m., there will be a costume contest. The costume contest photo booth will run from 5-6 p.m. at the campground amphitheater stage, so stop by and get entered in the contest. There will be five categories: 0-3 years old, 4-7 years old, 8-12 years old, 13 years and older, and best group costume. Please keep the costumes family-friendly. From 6:30-8 p.m., trick-or-treating is open to the general public and will take place in the park campground. Driving through the campground will not be permitted during these hours. Participating campsites will be given a Halloween placard to post. Campers are responsible for providing their own candy to hand out and trick-or-treaters should bring a flashlight and bag for candy. At 8 p.m., the best decorated campsite award will be presented.

    Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Rural Heritage Day at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.
    Join the fun at Ste. Genevieve’s annual Rural Heritage Day. This festival celebrates rural Ste. Genevieve and features activities that allow participants to explore the area’s cultural history. Activities include free self-guided tours of the Felix Vallé House at 198 Merchant St. in Ste. Genevieve as well as live demonstrations and hands-on activities in the Shaw House courtyard. This is a communitywide event with multiple locations in downtown Ste. Genevieve hosting public programs.

    Saturday, Oct. 26, 2 – 8 p.m. – Halloween Hootenanny at Washington State Park.
    Come out to Washington State Park, located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto, for the park’s annual Halloween Hootenanny.

    This year’s event schedule is as follows:

    2 p.m. – Web Master: Nature’s Greatest Artist – Join the park team at the amphitheater for a closer look at the life of an arachnid. Journey through the different species and have a closer look at Missouri spiders.
    4 p.m. – Haunted Happenings – Meet in front of the showerhouse, where you can sit back, relax and enjoy popcorn around the campfire as the park team shares spooky stories.
    6 p.m. – Masks and Mayhem – Campers and non-campers alike are invited to dress up and meet at Campsite #2, and trick or treat their way around the campground loop. Registered campers are also invited to participate in the campsite decorating contest.

    For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Missouri Medicaid Enhances Maternal Health by Reimbursing for Doula Services

    Source: US State of Missouri

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2024

    CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov 

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Social Services’ MO HealthNet Division (MHD) is proud to announce that on October 2, 2024, the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a State Plan Amendment (SPA) that enables the state to begin reimbursing for doula services.

    This CMS approval aligns with Missouri’s emergency regulation, which was published on September 27 and took effect on October 1. The emergency regulation was necessary to ensure these valuable services could be accessed as quickly as possible. A newly filed permanent regulation is expected to receive full approval and become operational when the emergency rule expires in six months.

    The SPA clarifies how doulas are defined for Medicaid billing and outlines service definitions. Doulas interested in these services should look for an upcoming provider bulletin that will provide details, including reimbursement rates. This bulletin will also contain information about future educational webinars aimed at helping doulas with enrollment and addressing any questions.

    Medicaid participants will have access to the following doula services:

    • Prenatal Support: Sessions aimed at enhancing health literacy, covering what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth, identifying normal experiences, communicating concerns to providers, and discussing nutrition, exercise, tobacco cessation, and self-monitoring of existing health risks or conditions.
    • Community Navigation: Connecting pregnant and postpartum women on MO HealthNet (Medicaid) to resources and assistance programs based on individual needs.
    • Childbirth Support: Assisting with birth planning, what to expect, and providing non-medical support during labor while respecting personal and cultural preferences.
    • Postpartum Support: Sessions designed to help women understand what to expect, identify normal experiences, communicate concerns to providers, transition back to well-woman care, family planning, screening for postpartum depression, parenting education and skills, and transition to other insurance as necessary.
    • Lactation Education: Offering up to two lactation education and support sessions that cover the fundamentals of breastfeeding.

    MHD is implementing a range of strategies to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes within Missouri’s Medicaid program. Providing reimbursement for doula services is a vital part of a comprehensive approach to improve maternal health.

    For more information on maternal and infant health in Missouri, please visit healthymomsbabies.mo.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Digital Era—Rolling Out New Modernized Driver License System

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle and Driver License (MVDL) division is preparing to deploy its modernized driver license and processing system at all license offices, with a launch date of Tues., Nov. 12. Installation of new equipment and the system conversion process for this vital upgrade will necessitate short license office closures. Customers with an expiring November driver license received an additional postcard notifying them of this transition.

    While the Department is emphasizing that license offices will be open on election day, Tues., Nov. 5, customers are advised to plan for interruptions to license office operations on the following dates:

    Wed., Nov. 6 – License offices are open but only available for motor vehicle transactions. Driver license services will be unavailable.

    Thurs., Nov. 7 – Some license offices will be closed, and many will remain open for motor vehicle services only. Driver license services will be unavailable in all offices.

    Fri., Nov. 8 – All license offices throughout the state will be closed for system conversion.

    Mon. Nov. 11 – Veterans Day. All license offices will be closed statewide in observance of the federal holiday.

    “We want to thank our customers in advance for their patience and understanding during the transition. We are confident they will come to agree that it’s a small inconvenience compared to the benefits the modernized system will provide once it becomes fully operational,” said Missouri Department of Revenue Director Wayne Wallingford, referencing the second and final phase of the modernization project, scheduled to roll out in July of 2026. “The second phase will be to the Department’s motor vehicle system, which will enable the two systems to ‘talk’ to each other. This final enhancement will make transactions much more seamless for our customers and our frontline staff.”

    Phase II work will begin immediately after Phase I is complete. The in total three-year project was made possible by 2021 legislation creating an auto dealer administrative fee for an Administrative Technology Fund, dedicated to building a new integrated MVDL computer system. The new system will replace antiquated legacy systems within the Department that include more than 50 disparate software programs with limited ability to work together.

    “Since early August, the Department has been making available training opportunities for license office staff on the new driver license system,” said the Department’s MVDL Division Director Ken Struemph. “As with any major system upgrade, we expect instances where processing times will be longer following rollout, and we encourage our customers to plan accordingly. Once fully operational, the Department will be much better positioned to fulfill Director Wallingford’s vision of providing every customer the best experience every time.”

    Phase I improvements customers can expect include the following:

    • Easier navigation of eServices, such as online driver license renewals
    • Eliminating the need for driver test results to be physically taken from the Highway Patrol by the customer to a license office
    • Mobile identification credentials
    • A user-friendly system that will reduce Department employee training and ultimately help support staff retention, both of which have associated cost savings.

    For additional information on the Department’s system modernization, please visit https://dor.mo.gov/MV-DL/index.html.

                                                                                        ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – New Encyclical by Pope Francis: “Dilexit nos” and Mission

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 24 October 2024

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Dilexit nos”. He loved us. Pope Francis’ Encyclical, published today, follows the golden thread of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in order to enter into the Mystery of divine love manifested in the gift of Creation and in the “more admirablel” gift of Redemption. A mystery, that of the “Dilectio” of Christ – suggests the Pope – to which every dynamic of the salvific mission that Christ himself entrusted to his Church also refers.The new document of the Pontifical Magisterium, written in Spanish, was announced by Pope Francis in June, the month traditionally dedicated to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.The Pontiff, who has had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus since his youth, has now dedicated an encyclical to it, consisting of five chapters divided into 220 paragraphs, as the universal Church celebrates the 350th anniversary of the first revelation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673 (the celebrations began on December 27, 2023, and will end on June 27, 2025, ed.).In the Encyclical, the mercy and grace that the Sacred Heart of Jesus pours into the lives of His followers are also referred to as the source of all authentic apostolic and missionary work. The word “mission” appears a total of 16 times in various sections of the text.Drawing on the Gospel account, Pope Francis points out that when Christ “calls you and summons you for a mission, he first looks at you, plumbs the depths of your heart and, knowing everything about you, fixes his gaze upon you” and then “speaks to us inwardly, calls us and leads us to a better place”, “to let us find fresh strength and peace”, that is, “his Heart” (nn. 39-43).A heart that “frees” the Church from a dangerous “dualism”: “that in communities and pastors excessively caught up in external activities, structural reforms that have little to do with the Gospel, obsessive reorganization plans, worldly projects, secular ways of thinking and mandatory programmes”. The result is often “a Christianity stripped of the tender consolations of faith, the joy of serving others, the fervour of personal commitment to mission, the beauty of knowing Christ and the profound gratitude born of the friendship he offers and the ultimate meaning he gives to our lives. This too is the expression of an illusory and disembodied otherworldliness.” (n 88).The mission of those who are looked upon by Jesus, therefore, can draw impetus by looking to his Sacred Heart because “at the same time in which the Heart of Christ leads us to the Father, he sends us to our brothers. In the fruits of service, fraternity and mission that the Heart of Christ produces through us, the will of the Father is accomplished” (n 163).Pope Francis quotes his predecessor Saint Paul VI, who, addressing religious Congregations dedicated to the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart, recalled: “There can be no doubt that pastoral commitment and missionary zeal will fan into flame, if priests and laity alike, in their desire to spread the glory of God, contemplate the example of eternal love that Christ has shown us, and direct their efforts to make all men and women sharers in the unfathomable riches of Christ” (n 208).”As we contemplate the Sacred Heart, mission becomes a matter of love”. Mission, Pope Francis emphasizes, “as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ, requires missionaries who are themselves in love and who, enthralled by Christ, feel bound to share this love that has changed their lives. They are impatient when time is wasted discussing secondary questions or concentrating on truths and rules, because their greatest concern is to share what they have experienced. They want others to perceive the goodness and beauty of the Beloved through their efforts, however inadequate they may be. Is that not the case with any lover?” (n 209).To better understand the dynamics of love proper to the mission, Pope Francis cites the words of the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri who, “in love, tried to express this logic” in the Vita Nova as follows: “I declare that, in thinking of its worth, love so sweet makes me feel that, if my courage did not fail me, I would speak out and make everyone else fall in love” (n 209).In every apostolic work, the Pontiff says, “we should not think of this mission of sharing Christ as something only between Jesus and me. Mission is experienced in fellowship with our communities and with the whole Church. If we turn aside from the community, we will be turning aside from Jesus. If we turn our back on the community, our friendship with Jesus will grow cold. This is a fact, and we must never forget it. Love for the brothers and sisters of our communities – religious, parochial, diocesan and others – is a kind of fuel that feeds our friendship with Jesus”, adds the Pope, who suggests practicing “acts of love for our brothers and sisters in community” because these “may well be the best and, at times, the only way that we can witness to others our love for Jesus Christ. He himself said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35)” (n 212).“If we are concerned with helping others, this in no way means that we are turning away from Jesus. Rather, we are encountering him in another way. Jesus is calling you and sending you forth to spread goodness in our world. His call is one of service, a summons to do good, perhaps as a physician, a mother, a teacher or a priest. Wherever you may be, you can hear his call and realize that he is sending you forth to carry out that mission”, underlines the Pontiff, who concludes his fourth encyclical with an appeal addressed to all the baptized: “In your own way, you too must be a missionary, like the apostles and the first disciples of Jesus, who went forth to proclaim the love of God, to tell others that Christ is alive and worth knowing. Saint Therese experienced this as an essential part of her oblation to merciful Love: “I wanted to give my Beloved to drink and I felt myself consumed with a thirst for souls”. That is your mission as well. Each of us must carry it out in his or her own way; you will come to see how you can be a missionary. Jesus deserves no less. If you accept the challenge, he will enlighten you, accompany you and strengthen you, and you will have an enriching experience that will bring you much happiness. It is not important whether you see immediate results; leave that to the Lord who works in the secret of our hearts. Keep experiencing the joy born of our efforts to share the love of Christ with others” (nn 214-215-216).(F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/10/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Adoption Week Campaign highlights the need for more adopters

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    This National Adoption Week, we’re showcasing adoption journeys of all kinds, and the important people who are there along the way, as part of this year’s You Can Adopt campaign The Journey.

    The campaign raises awareness of modern adoption and showcases the diversity of adoptive families today, showing that the journey to a family is not always a traditional one.

    This is reflected in new data commissioned for National Adoption Week, which shows 65 per cent of Brits say there is no such thing as a ‘normal’ family and 42 per cent come from a ‘non traditional’ family structure.

    The campaign will show adopters that they are not alone by highlighting the people who play a significant role in each family’s lifelong journey and makes each experience unique – from foster carers and social workers to birth families and the adoption community.

    To mark the theme of ‘The Journey’ a new short film, set onboard a train, follows the stories of 3 adoptive families on their travels, reflecting on the ups, downs and detours of their lifelong journey.  

    Rachel, who features in the film alongside her 2 year old adopted daughter Winnie, father Daniel and social worker Becky, said: “You have an idea in your head of what family looks like, and for us it’s been different, but even more wonderful in different ways. For me, it’s really important that Winnie has a sense of herself and her identity – that she understands that not only do all families look different, but she has more than one family, and that’s OK.”

    Locally, there is a particular need to find adopters that can offer safe, loving and permanent homes to those repeatedly facing the longest delays in finding a family, including children aged 5 or over, children with additional and/or complex needs, brother and sister groups, and those from some ethnic minority backgrounds. Children from these groups typically wait an average of 7 months longer to be adopted than other children.

    Simon Green, Adoption@Heart Head of Service, said: “National Adoption Week is a crucial moment to raise awareness and highlight the importance of adoption. At Adoption@Heart, we are committed to supporting both adoptive families and children throughout their adoption journey, ensuring that every child can grow up in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment.

    This week serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that adoption can have, not only for the children, but for the families who open their hearts and homes to them.

    We encourage anyone considering adoption to contact us, learn more about the process, the support available, and the life changing difference they can make”.

    People that are interested in finding out more about the adoption process are invited to an information event to find out more and get their questions answered.

    Adoption@Heart hold information events at least twice a month with the next sessions being held at 10am on Saturday 9 November and (online) and at 6.00pm on Monday 25 November in Oldbury. Bookings can be made online by visiting Adoption@Heart.

    For more information about adoption, how to access adoption support, or to enquire about becoming an adopter, contact Adoption@Heart by calling 01902 553818 or emailing info@adoptionatheart.org.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final Defendant Pleads Guilty, Three Others Sentenced in Upstate Meth Trafficking Case

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

    SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Three members of an Upstate drug ring have been sentenced to federal prison and the final member has pleaded guilty for their role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

    Richard Brian Walker, 49, of Chesnee, was sentenced to 270 months’ imprisonment. Walker additionally pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a short-barreled rifle, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

    Rebecca Elizabeth Whitesides, 54, of Mooresboro, N.C., 120 months’ imprisonment. Whitesides also pled guilty to money laundering. 

    Amanda Gail Tuck, 45, of Chesnee, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment.

    The final defendant Jeffrey Michael Wilson, 54, of Commerce, Georgia pled guilty to conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Wilson was convicted in a prior federal methamphetamine conspiracy case in 2000.

    Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 18, 2023, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over Whitesides on I-85 and searched her car, finding almost two kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigation into her bank accounts demonstrated that she was assisting others to conceal payments for drug proceeds.

    On Feb. 22, 2023, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was conducting surveillance on Walker’s home and observed Wilson’s car arrive and leave. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Wilson, locating more than 5,800 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded semi-automatic pistol with 19 rounds. Over the course of the conspiracy, Wilson was responsible for trafficking 50 kilograms of methamphetamine with Walker.

    A search warrant was also executed on Walker’s residence and storage building that day, and investigators located over 500 grams of methamphetamine and 85 grams of fentanyl, a loaded pistol, a rifle, and an unmarked short-barreled AR-15 style rifle, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.” Tuck was also located on the premises.

    Only a month later, on March 24, 2023, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over Tuck and located almost a kilogram of her methamphetamine in a U-Haul truck.

    United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced the defendants and accepted Wilson’s guilty plea.  The court ordered each sentence to be followed by a term of supervised release. Judge Coggins will sentence Wilson at a later date. The maximum penalty for the offense is life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced to 82 Months for Federal Weapons Offense

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RONALD TAYLOR (“TAYLOR”), age 31, of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 1, 2024 to 82 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.  TAYLOR previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

    According to court documents, on August 31, 2023, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office stopped a stolen vehicle, after receiving notification via the “Flock System” that the vehicle had been reported stolen two days prior in a carjacking in Harris County, Texas.  TAYLOR, the driver, was accompanied by his fiancé and his three-year-old daughter.  The officers conducted a vehicle inventory search prior to towing and processing the vehicle and, located three loaded firearms and ammunition inside.  TAYLOR admitted that all three firearms were his.

    TAYLOR knowingly possessed these firearms despite his status as a prohibited person, having already been convicted of three prior felonies, including one for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

    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.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

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

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Edward Ketcher, Jr., age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

    The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    On March 15, 2024, Ketcher pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on October 14, 2023, Ketcher was captured on a surveillance camera carrying a rifle.  At the time Ketcher possessed the rifle, he knew he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

    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.

    The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.   Ketcher was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Remote Access for Education: Transforming Learning with TSplus Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As schools and universities navigate the shift towards digital learning, recent feedback from schools in the UK underscores the vital role TSplus remote access solutions can play in maintaining continuity and efficiency in education. Designed to support both educators and students, TSplus provides secure, flexible, and easy-to-use solutions that enable seamless access to educational resources from anywhere.

    Remote Access for Education Enhances Remote Learning and Security

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Longdendale High School turned to TSplus to facilitate remote learning. According to Malcolm Ogden, Network Manager at the school, TSplus delivered the perfect balance of functionality and security.

    “We initially implemented TSplus because the remote tools we were using weren’t reliable,” Malcolm shares. “TSplus allowed us to set up a secure server within an hour, a lifesaver during those critical times.”

    The software’s remote desktop access enabled staff and students to connect to the school’s network with ease, enhancing both learning and collaboration. “It’s incredibly user-friendly, and the performance is outstanding even with multiple users. The system has run smoothly, ensuring education was never interrupted,” Malcolm adds.

    Security was another crucial factor. Longdendale’s use of two-factor authentication (2FA) and advanced security features ensured the protection of sensitive student data. “Knowing our network is secure allows us to focus on what matters—supporting our students,” says Malcolm.

    Cost-Effective and Reliable Remote Access for Education

    At Rayner Stephens High School, IT Manager Simon praises TSplus for its adaptability and cost-effectiveness. “We used to rely on Microsoft Remote Desktop, but it was expensive and difficult to manage. TSplus, on the other hand, is straightforward, customizable, and doesn’t strain our server resources.”

    TSplus also ensured continuity of education during remote learning periods, with Simon particularly noting the 2FA feature that strengthened the school’s cybersecurity. “TSplus offers a robust, affordable solution that evolves with our needs,” Simon explains.

    TSplus Remote Access for Education Trial Version

    TSplus is committed to empowering educational institutions with cutting-edge remote access solutions. Their technologies are trusted by prestigious institutions worldwide, including Harvard University, the University of Sheffield, and the University of Stuttgart, to provide secure, efficient remote access for staff and students alike.

    Schools looking to optimize their remote learning environment are invited to visit https://tsplus.net/remote-access-for-education/ and to experience the benefits firsthand by downloading the free trial (Here).

    Watch the video here to see how TSplus is transforming the future of education.

    About TSplus

    TSplus is a leading provider of remote desktop and application delivery solutions, designed to simplify and secure access to business and educational resources from any location. With a focus on affordability, security, and user experience, TSplus serves thousands of organizations worldwide, helping them improve efficiency and flexibility through reliable remote access technology. Whether in education, healthcare, or business, TSplus is committed to enabling seamless digital experiences for users across the globe.

    Press Contact:

    Floriane Mer

    Marketing Manager at TSplus

    Floriane.mer@tsplus.net

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e125a62c-8542-4ba4-929a-c524e6de8cf0

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e2946d0-268f-46cb-8e1c-7073fedb3a5c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public statement regarding income apportionment

    Source: Australian Department for Social Services

    23 October 2024

    A recent decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding income apportionment (Secretary, Department of Social Services and FTXB) has been appealed to the Full Federal Court by the respondent to the Tribunal proceedings.

    I have carefully considered the legal position and I remain confident in the interpretation of the law advanced by my Department, and I will be making submissions to that effect during the appeal process.

    The raising and review of debts potentially affected by income apportionment was paused in July 2021. Recovery of debts potentially affected by income apportionment has been paused since October 2023.

    In April 2024, Services Australia restarted a limited number of internal reviews, explanations of decisions and new debt raising activities, in line with the Department’s interpretation of the law. This was in response to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s recommendations in their 2023 reports, Lessons in Lawfulness and Accountability in Action. These reports emphasised the need for the Department to reach a firm legal position and restart debt activity in a timely manner. The Department achieved this, in consultation with Services Australia, the Ombudsman, and welfare rights stakeholders.

    I have reconsidered this position in light of the appeal to the Full Federal Court. To minimise the potential future impact of an adverse decision on individuals, I have directed Services Australia to redirect resources to other work until the appeal is resolved (effectively pausing internal reviews, explanations of decisions and raising of new debts potentially affected by income apportionment).

    However, I am aware that there are individuals, who for personal and related compelling reasons, require resolution of a debt potentially affected by income apportionment. Not having access to an internal review is preventing these people from seeking further external review and/or addressing their concerns. Accordingly, if an individual in this situation contacts Services Australia and asks that their review proceed, their internal review or explanation of decision will be progressed in accordance with the Department’s interpretation of the law. Individuals will be given information about the Full Federal Court appeal and their review and appeal rights will be explained. They will also be made aware that their debt may change in the future, should a Court determine a different interpretation of the law. Services Australia will also progress any reviews or explanation of decisions it is aware of where an individual has already requested it be progressed as part of the recommencement activities in April this year.

    Services Australia will continue identifying, processing and recovering debts which are not affected by income apportionment.

    People with concerns or questions about their debt can also contact Services Australia’s income apportionment line on 1800 560 870. Further information is also available at Information about income apportionment – Managing your money – Services Australia.

    Ray Griggs AO CSC
    Secretary

    Last updated:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coffee price volatility harms the mental health of farmers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Saurabh Singhal, Associate professor, Lancaster University

    Oleg Brusencev/Shutterstock

    Coffee is a drink that punctuates many of our lives. Millions of us depend on this dark liquid to start the morning, or to break up the day.

    It has also become quite an expensive habit. But before we baulk at paying £5 for a flat white, it’s worth thinking about the price paid by the coffee farmers who provide its base ingredient.

    For behind every latte and espresso lies the toil and stress of coffee farmers, who face serious challenges to bring their popular product to the rest of the world. Harvests can be devastated by extreme weather events or pests and plant diseases, while volatile market prices add another layer of worry, making future income uncertain.

    This volatility exists in other crops, but especially so for coffee, the price of which is extremely unpredictable. It can rise and fall frequently because of the weather, market demand and the state of the global economy.

    Coffee trees take up to four years to grow and produce beans, and cutting them down is expensive, so farmers can’t easily change how much coffee they produce based on price changes.

    But price volatility means that farmers can’t be sure about their income at harvest time, which can be incredibly stressful. And our research shows just how much that unpredictability affects farmers’ mental health.

    Our work focused on farmers in Vietnam, a country where coffee production has soared over the last three decades. From accounting for just 1.2% of world output in 1989, Vietnam is currently the second largest producer in the world (after Brazil) producing just under 30 million 60kg bags a year. Vietnam produces mainly “robusta” coffee beans, grown by small farmers in the central highlands region of the country.

    Using data from a long-running observational survey to assess mental health, we looked at how Vietnamese coffee farmers experienced symptoms of depression including sadness, hopelessness, lack of concentration and poor sleep – and how these were linked to monthly international robusta coffee prices.

    Using a range of techniques to interpret the data, we found clear evidence that being exposed to coffee price fluctuations increased depressive symptoms among farmers of the crop. They also had lower overall wellbeing because of greater mental stress and worry over their economic future – and drank more alcohol.

    A coffee farm in Vietnam.
    Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock

    The impact of all of this uncertainty is significant. According to the World Health Organization, poor mental health is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, especially in low-income countries where mental illness and poverty are closely linked.

    Estimates suggest that as much as 80% of the world’s depressive disorder burden is borne by low and middle income countries. But these issues are often overlooked, even though they are crucial to addressing poverty.

    What can coffee drinkers do?

    There are ways to tackle the mental health effects of coffee price volatility. Initiatives to promote price stability in the global coffee markets and financial literacy among farmers, would be worth pursuing. So too would work to improve mental health support within farming communities, providing resources for coping with stress and building resilience.

    Coffee lovers around the world can also play their part by choosing the their drink carefully. Fairtrade certification for example, was set up to help reduce coffee price volatility and the resulting poverty it caused.

    It guarantees a minimum price for certified coffee, covering the average cost of sustainable production and reducing the financial risks farmers face. Fairtrade-certified farmers also receive a premium to invest in projects that improve the quality of life for their communities.

    And research suggests it is succeeding. A 2005 study of coffee farmers in Nicaragua revealed that Fairtrade farmers are less concerned about the possibility of losing their farm in the coming year compared to conventional farmers. And using data from Costa Rica, research from 2022 has found fair trade certification was effective in increasing farmers’ income.

    So the next time you savour your morning cup of coffee, take a moment to consider the people who cultivated the beans which made the drink. Coffee farmers deserve our appreciation – but also our help in establishing fairer, more stable market conditions which safeguard their livelihoods and mental health.

    Saurabh Singhal received funding from the University of Copenhagen.

    Finn Tarp has over the years received funding from a variety of donors and research funding agencies for work in Vietnam on on development issues . This is relevant only in the sense that is has helped inform about living conditions in the country.

    – ref. Coffee price volatility harms the mental health of farmers – https://theconversation.com/coffee-price-volatility-harms-the-mental-health-of-farmers-236833

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Elon Musk has become a powerful figure in US politics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas Gift, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre on US Politics, UCL

    Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX recently made history by catching a Starship rocket booster as it careened back to Earth, wants you to vote for Donald Trump for many reasons. That includes not just what Trump will do here on this planet, but also for what he’ll achieve that’s outside this world. “Vote for @real DonaldTrump,” Musk recently tweeted, “if you want humanity to be a spacefaring civilization”.

    Back inside the Earth’s orbit, the CEO of Tesla and X, and one of the richest men in the world, makes an odd foil for Democrats. In a parallel universe, his work in commercial space flights, inventing the most advanced electric cars on the planet, advocacy for sustainable energy, and long record of voting “100 percent Dem until a few years ago” would seem make him a hero of the left. Instead, Musk has taken on the role of comic book supervillain whose full-throated support for Trump has turned him into a pariah among progressives.

    Musk purports to be baffled by the backlash, since he insists that nothing that he represents is particularly controversial. He considers himself a political “moderate” who, in backing Trump, is simply standing up for common-sense, middle-of-the-road positions: belief in free speech, deference to the US Constitution, and the right of countries to control their borders. “I’ve been told at times that they are like right-wing values,” Musk said. “These are the fundamental values that made America what it is today.”

    Of course, Musk knows better. In between burning the midnight oil at his multiple corporate enterprises, Musk finds the time to tweet dozens of times a day, often trolling critics, heralding Trump, and only rarely apologising for outlandish, crass, conspiracy-laden and sometimes even false posts. Musk has acknowledged that some of his tweets are “extremely dumb”, though he refuses to apply a filter.

    In describing Musk, one journalist fretted what could happen when “the world’s richest man runs a communications platform in a truly vengeful, dictatorial way … to promote extreme right-wing agendas and to punish what he calls brain-poisoned liberals”.

    Elon Musk owns SpaceX.

    Musk’s power lies in his willingness to say just about anything — backstopped by his ownership of part of the internet’s de facto public square. In a now-deleted tweet, Musk pondered sarcastically that “no one is trying to assassinate” Kamala Harris or Joe Biden. Outside of X, Musk admits he’s been “trashing Kamala nonstop” and that, if Harris wins, he’s “fucked”.

    Throwing money and power around

    Musk is a Maga convert. In 2022, the same year that he bought Twitter and reinstated Trump’s privileges, Musk said that it was “time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset”. Pulling no punches, Trump once called Musk “another bullshit artist”.

    Musk claims to have supported Democrats in recent elections, including Joe Biden in 2020. In July of this year, however, Musk announced that he was endorsing Trump, in large part because of how the former president’s reacted after an assassination attempt on his life. “This is a man who has courage under fire!” Musk said.

    Musk represents a new crop of politically charged billionaires who aren’t content to stay on their mega-yachts, and instead want to throw their money — and power — around in support of conservative causes.

    Yet unlike others to whom he’s often compared — such as Bill Ackman, the CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square, and Peter Thiel, co-creator of PayPal — no one has gone “all in” for Trump like Musk.

    Earlier this month, Musk invested US$75 million (£57.8 million) of his own money to create the pro-Trump America Political Action Committee (Pac). (A Pac raises money for a political candidate.) The Pac has offered registered voters in Pennsylvania US$100 (and the chance to win US$1 million) if they sign a petition “in support of free speech and the right to bear arms”.

    While critics have called the move illegal, pointing to federal election law that bars paying “or offer[ing] to pay … for registration to vote or for voting”. Musk insists there’s a loophole: he isn’t technically tying his giveaways to voting – and the US Justice Department has said this could violate federal electoral law.

    Musk has changed his short-term residency to mobilise support for Trump. As of October, Musk has hunkered down in Pennsylvania, the swing state he calls the “linchpin” in the 2024 US election, where his campaigning has included giving a surprise speech for Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania – where there was previously an assassination attempt on Trump.

    Musk has painted doomsday scenarios of what could happen if the election doesn’t turn out how he likes. In a just-released interview with former Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson, Musk surmised that “if Trump doesn’t win this election, it’s the last election we’re going to have”. The comment comes as Republicans have pilloried Democrats’ dialled-up rhetoric that democracy is “at stake” in 2024.

    Beyond the election, there’s more than speculation that Musk could be tapped for a role in a potential Trump 2.0 administration. He’s openly campaigned to serve as the new head of a department for government efficiency. Trump has already announced that, if elected, Musk will direct a task force to conduct a “complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government” and offer “recommendations for drastic reforms”.

    True to form, Musk promises that his public service won’t stop at the edge of Earth’s outer orbit. “Washington DC has become an ever-increasing ocean of brake pedals stopping progress,” he says. “Let’s change those brake pedals to accelerators, so we can get great things done in America and become a spacefaring civilization!” One thing’s for sure: Musk’s politics are, quite literally, out of this world.

    Thomas Gift 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. How Elon Musk has become a powerful figure in US politics – https://theconversation.com/how-elon-musk-has-become-a-powerful-figure-in-us-politics-242034

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul, Hill, McCormick, McClintock on the Release of Tigran Gambaryan

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    Austin, Texas – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Representatives French Hill (R-Ark.), Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) released the following statement on the release of U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan, who was unjustly detained by the Government of Nigeria since February 2024.

    “While long overdue, we are extremely pleased that Tigran Gambaryan has finally been released from his unjust detention by the Government of Nigeria. During his detainment, Tigran was unfairly subjected to routine violations of his rights of due process, including restricted access to his counsel and U.S. consular support, and inadequate healthcare. This treatment of an upstanding American citizen is wholly unacceptable. Our hearts go out to Tigran and his family, and we hope for an expeditious recovery from this shameful ordeal.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim, Colleagues Demand Answers on U.S. Sending Damaged Arms to Taiwan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – As first reported in Washington Examiner, yesterday, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) led a letter to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs demanding answers about damaged defense arms being sent to Taiwan.

    On September 11, 2024, the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published a troubling report on damaged equipment provided to Taiwan under the U.S. Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA).

    The members ask several questions about the Department of Defense’s and State Department’s improper handling and delivery of defense equipment to Taiwan.

    Rep. Kim was joined in sending the letter by Reps. Joe Wilson (SC-02), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Brian Mast (FL-21), James Moylan (GU-AL), Cory Mills (FL-07), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Keith Self (TX-03), Rich McCormick (GA-06), and Darrell Issa (CA-48).

    As of September 2024, Taiwan has yet to receive $24.24 billion worth of equipment and munitions. In the 117th Congress, Rep. Kim introduced the bipartisan Arms Exports Delivery Act (H.R. 8259), which became law through the FY23 NDAA, to track transfers and ensure efficient and timely delivery of U.S. defense equipment already sold to Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific allies. However, efforts to expedite arms delivery through PDA are meaningless if the products are inoperable.

    “On September 11, 2024, the Department’s Office of the Inspector General (‘OIG’) published a troubling report on damaged equipment provided to Taiwan under the PDA. The report finds that Taiwan received moldy body armor and expired munitions after loosely packaged bundles of equipment endured poor weather conditions for months; more than two-thirds of the equipment were left ‘unserviceable’. From November 2023 to March 2024, the Department failed to ‘effectively or efficiently implement accountability and quality controls’ for military equipment transfers to Taiwan, resulting in more than $730,000 in labor and replacement costs. This is unfair to Taiwan who already purchased the equipment and American taxpayers who must ultimately pay for the Department’s negligence,” the members wrote.

    Read the full letter HERE or below.

    We write to you to express our disappointment and concern with the recent revelations of the Department of Defense’s (“Department”) improper and inexcusable handling and delivery of defense equipment to Taiwan. As the Chinese Communist Party ramps up its hostile rhetoric and provocations in the Taiwan Strait, timely deliveries of operational equipment that Taiwan has already purchased from the U.S. are imperative.

    On September 11, 2024, the Department’s Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) published a troubling report on damaged equipment provided to Taiwan under the PDA. The report finds that Taiwan received moldy body armor and expired munitions after loosely packaged bundles of equipment endured poor weather conditions for months; more than two-thirds of the equipment were left “unserviceable”. From November 2023 to March 2024, the Department failed to “effectively or efficiently implement accountability and quality controls” for military equipment transfers to Taiwan, resulting in more than $730,000 in labor and replacement costs. This is unfair to Taiwan who already purchased the equipment and American taxpayers who must ultimately pay for the Department’s negligence.

    Foreign Military Sales (“FMS”) and the U.S. Presidential Drawdown Authority (“PDA”) process are key to equipping Taiwan, yet delivery backlogs undermine Taiwan’s deterrence posture and the U.S. commitment to the island’s defense.  As of September 2024, Taiwan has yet to receive $24.24 billion worth of equipment and munitions, with $9.82 billion of pending deliveries being delayed. This sends the wrong message to Xi Jinping who is closely watching for the right opportunity for “reunification” with Taiwan. Commonsense and bipartisan legislation like H.R. 8259, the Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act, signed into law through the FY23 NDAA, provides necessary Congressional oversight of FMS to U.S. allies and partners. Further, the Biden administration recently announced another $567 million in defense aid for Taiwan under the PDA.6 However, efforts to expedite delivery times are meaningless if the products are inoperable.

    Section 506(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 grants the Secretary of State the authority to direct the presidential drawdown of defense articles to Taiwan. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (“DSCA”) is then responsible for executing presidential drawdown activities. We respectfully ask DSCA and the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs to provide written responses to the questions below. We also request a classified briefing on steps taken by both agencies to ensure this never happens again. Taiwan and our allies are counting on the United States to deliver on our promises.

    Questions for Defense Security Cooperation Agency:

    1) From November 2023 to March 2024, please describe in detail DSCA’s role in executing and supervising delivery of presidential drawdown items to Taiwan.

    a. What were DSCA’s main priorities and goals during this process?

    b. Did DSCA face any challenges to effectively carrying out arms delivery to Taiwan?

    2) Prior to the OIG’s September 2024 report, was DSCA aware of damaged equipment and

    expired munitions being sent to Taiwan?

    a. If so, what immediate steps did DSCA take to mitigate this?

    3) Did DSCA fully implement OIG’s recommendations outlined in the September 11 report?

    a. If so, please describe in detail the specific changes made or in progress.

    b. Were there any recommendations that DSCA rejected or proposed an alternative

    to, and if so, why?

    4) What other measures is DSCA implementing to prevent delivery of defective and damaged equipment and regain the confidence of our allies?

    Questions for Bureau of Political-Military Affairs:

    1) Please describe in detail the State Department Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ authority and oversight role in the PDA process, including during delivery, according to Section 506(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

    2) What is your plan to ensure that the recommendations  offered by the OIG are executed by DSCA?3) What additional reforms should be made to improve the overall PDA process under Section 506(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA housed nearly 48,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness in fiscal year 2024

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Skip to content

    These final FY 2024 numbers surpass VA’s goal by over 16%, marking the largest number of Veterans housed in a single year since FY 2019

    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it housed 47,925 Veterans experiencing homelessness in FY 2024, surpassing its goal to house 41,000 Veterans by 16.9% and marking the largest number of Veterans housed in a single year since FY 2019. VA also ensured that 96% of the Veterans housed during this time did not return to homelessness. This follows last month’s announcement that VA had surpassed its FY 2024 housing goal a month early.

    Ending Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration. Since FY 2022, VA has permanently housed nearly 134,000 homeless Veterans, and the total number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has fallen by over 4% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010.

    “Nearly 48,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have a safe, stable place to call home — and there’s nothing more important than that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “No Veteran should experience homelessness in this nation they swore to defend. We are making real progress in this fight, and we will not rest until Veteran homelessness is a thing of the past.”

    VA has also made progress in combating Veteran homelessness in the Greater Los Angeles area, permanently housing 1,854 homeless Veterans this fiscal year — the most of any city in America (for the third year in a row) and exceeding VA’s FY 2024 goals for this region by 15.5%. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s recent Point-in Time count revealed a 22.9% reduction in Veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles between 2023 and 2024.

    VA’s efforts to combat Veteran homelessness are grounded in reaching out to homeless Veterans, understanding their unique needs, and addressing them. These efforts are built on the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then providing or connecting them with the wraparound services and supports they need to stay housed, including health care, job training, legal and education assistance, and more. Visit VA.gov/homeless to learn about housing initiatives and other programs supporting Veterans experiencing homelessness.

    If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) or visit VA.gov/homeless.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar: Rohingyas face worst violence since 2017 – new testimony

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Rohingya face persecution from rebel Arakan Army and Myanmar military

    Bangladesh has forcibly returned more than 5,000 Rohingyas this year

    Refugee camps desperately short of essential supplies and services

    ‘We quickly hid in the mud, sitting down in the muddy water, and then another bomb exploded, killing my parents, sisters and many others’ – 18-year-old woman

    ‘Those lucky enough to make it to Bangladesh do not have enough to eat, a proper place to sleep, or even their own clothes’ – Agnès Callamard

    Newly arrived Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh need urgent access to food, shelter and medical attention after enduring the worst violence against their communities since the Myanmar military-led campaign in 2017, Amnesty International said today.

    New testimony gathered by Amnesty shows how Rohingya families forced to leave their homes in Myanmar have been caught in the middle of increasingly fierce clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, one of many armed groups opposing the junta. Hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced and upwards of tens of thousands of Rohingya have crossed the border or are waiting to cross the border to seek refuge in Bangladesh.

    The recent escalation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State started in October 2023 with the launch of a rebel counter-offensive by the Arakan Army and two other armed groups that has posed the biggest threat to military control since the 2021 coup. Myanmar’s military has responded by stepping up indiscriminate air strikes that have killed, injured and displaced civilians.

    The impact on Rakhine State, where many of the more than 600,000 Rohingya in Myanmar still live, has been severe with towns transformed into battlegrounds.

    In Bangladesh, authorities have been pushing Rohingya fleeing the conflict back into Myanmar, while those who reached the Bangladesh camps told of a desperate shortage of essential supplies and services there.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “Once again, the Rohingya people are being driven from their homes and dying in scenes tragically reminiscent of the 2017 exodus.

    “We met people who told us they lost parents, siblings, spouses, children and grandchildren as they fled fighting in Myanmar. But this time, they are facing persecution on two fronts, from the rebel Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, which is forcibly conscripting Rohingya men.

    “Those lucky enough to make it to Bangladesh do not have enough to eat, a proper place to sleep, or even their own clothes.

    “The interim Bangladesh government and humanitarian relief organisations must work together so that people can have access to essential services such as food, adequate shelter and medical care.

    “Bangladesh must also ensure that it does not forcibly return people to escalating conflict. Meanwhile, the international community needs to step up with funds and assistance for those living in the refugee camps.”

    First-person accounts of killings

    In September, Amnesty interviewed 22 people in individual and group settings who recently sought refuge in Bangladesh, joining more than one million Rohingya refugees, the majority having arrived in 2017 or earlier.

    The new arrivals said the Arakan Army unlawfully killed Rohingya civilians, drove them from their homes and left them vulnerable to attacks, allegations the group denies. These attacks faced by the Rohingya come on top of indiscriminate air strikes by the Myanmar military that have killed both Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine civilians.

    Many Rohingya, including children, who were fleeing the violence to Bangladesh drowned while crossing by boat.

    Bangladesh blocks Rohingya seeking safety

    The people Amnesty interviewed in Bangladesh had recently fled Maungdaw Township in northern Rakhine State, which the Arakan Army tried to capture from the Myanmar military after seizing Buthidaung Township in May.

    Many were survivors of a drone and mortar attack that took place on 5 August on the shores of the Naf River that divides Myanmar and Bangladesh.

    All those interviewed stressed that their urgent priority now was access to basic services in the camp, including aid, shelter, money, security, food and healthcare.

    They were also terrified of being sent back to Myanmar. But Amnesty International found that Bangladeshi border authorities have forcibly returned Rohingya people fleeing the violence, in violation of the international law principle of non-refoulment, which prohibits returning or transferring anyone to a country where they are at risk of serious human rights violations.

    A 39-year-old Rohingya man told Amnesty that he fled Maungdaw with his family on 5 August and on the early morning of following day when they were near the Bangladesh shore their boat started taking on water before tipping over.

    He said he passed out and woke up on the beach to see dead bodies washed ashore. He later discovered that all six of his children, aged between two and 15, had drowned. He said his sister also lost six of her children.

    He said: “The border guards were nearby, but they did not help us.” Residents told him later that Bangladeshi border guards prevented them from helping.

    Instead, the Bangladesh border guards detained him and he and the others who were with him were sent back to Myanmar the next evening; they found another boat and returned. According to one credible estimate, there have been more than 5,000 cases of refoulement this year, with a spike following the 5 August attacks.

    “Sending people back to a country where they are at real risk of being killed is not only a violation of international law; it will also force people to take greater risks while making the journey to avoid detection, such as traveling by night or on longer routes,” Callamard said.

    Denied essential support in refugee camps

    The Rohingya who made it to the refugee camps are living off the generosity of relatives there. New arrivals in particular expressed concern that they were unable to register with the UN refugee agency for essential support. As a result, many are going without meals, and are afraid to venture out for fear of deportation, even when in need of medical care.

    Interviewees also mentioned the deteriorating security situation in the camps, due mainly to the presence of two Rohingya armed groups: the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Myanmar’s shifting conflict dynamics in Rakhine State have meant that some Rohingya militants have aligned with the junta in Myanmar. As a result, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh fear that they or their family members could be snatched and forcibly taken back and conscripted to fight there.

    A 40-year-old woman said:

    “We are constantly afraid of moving from one place to another because we don’t have any documents. We are newcomers here, and we have also heard about people being abducted.”

    In a meeting with Amnesty, Bangladesh officials rejected the allegations of refoulement but said border guards “intercept” people trying to cross the border. They also stressed that the country cannot accommodate any more Rohingya refugees.

    The vast majority hoped for resettlement in a third country.

    Trapped between the Arakan Army and Myanmar military

    The Myanmar military has persecuted Rohingya for decades and expelled them en masse in 2017. It is now forcing them to join the army as part of a nationwide military service law. The Myanmar military has also reportedly reached an informal “peace” pact with the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, an older Rohingya armed group that has reemerged as a force in recent months. These complex developments have further inflamed tensions between the Rohingya and the ethnic Rakhine, whom the Arakan Army purports to represent.

    The rise in fighting nationwide has also resulted in mounting allegations of abuses by armed groups fighting against the military. Many Rohingya described the fatal consequences of being trapped between the two sides.

    “Every time there is a conflict, we get killed,” one Rohingya interviewee told Amnesty.

    A 42-year-old shopkeeper said that on 1 August, a munition of unknown origin landed outside his house in Maungdaw, killing his four-year-old son. On 6 August, the Arakan Army – who he identified by their badges – entered his village in Maungdaw and relocated all the Hindu and Buddhist families to another area they said was safe, while the Rohingya families were left in place.

    “They began causing unrest [using it as a base to launch attacks] in the village, which forced us, the Muslim families, to leave on 7 August. We were the only ethnic group left in the village. It seemed like they did this intentionally,” he said.

    When he later took shelter in downtown Maungdaw on 15 August, he said he saw Arakan Army “snipers” shoot two Rohingya civilians. “I witnessed the Arakan Army kill a woman right on the spot with gunfire while she went to a pond to collect water … there was another man who was sitting and smoking in front of his house and he too was shot right in his head and killed.”

    On 13 October, in response to Amnesty’s questions, the Arakan Army said these allegations were unsubstantiated or not credible. It said it issued warnings for civilians to leave Maungdaw ahead of its operations and helped evacuate people, that it instructs its soldiers to distinguish between civilians and combatants, and that in case of breaches, it takes disciplinary action.

    Since late last year, Amnesty has separately documented Myanmar military air strikes that have killed civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure in Rakhine State. This year, the impact of the Myanmar military conscripting Rohingya has added to the historical, systemic discrimination and apartheid already experienced by Rohingya. 

    “I felt really bad that they were involving us in their fight, even though we had nothing to do with it. It felt like they were laying the foundation to get us killed,” a 63-year-old cattle trader said.

    Families wiped out

    On 5 August, the intensity of bombardments and gunfights between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army forced scores of people from Maungdaw to seek shelter in sturdier homes near the Naf river border with Bangladesh.

    Recalling that day, the Rohingya cattle trader said the Arakan Army was:

    “getting closer to our village, capturing the surrounding villages … they flew drones in the sky, holding them there for about an hour, and could drop bombs from the drones whenever and wherever they wanted with remote control. They killed so many people”.

    That afternoon, many recounted seeing a drone and hearing multiple blasts. The cattle trader said he heard eight to 10 blasts, and that bombs were exploding “before even touching the ground”. He saw a small unmanned aerial device flying near the crowd that looked like a “rounded-shaped drone” with something attached underneath.

    He said his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two of his grandchildren were killed, while the youngest grandchild, aged one, was seriously injured and later had her lower left leg amputated at the knee in Bangladesh.

    One 18-year-old woman from Maungdaw said she lost both parents and two of her sisters, aged seven and five, during the blast. At the time of the attack, her father was carrying one of her sisters while her mother carried the other. When they reached the Maungdaw shore in the afternoon in search of boats to cross to Bangladesh, an explosion occurred.

    “We quickly hid in the mud, sitting down in the muddy water, and then another bomb exploded, killing my parents, sisters and many others,” she said. “I saw it all with my own eyes – my parents and sisters were killed when the bomb shrapnel hit them.”

    She said she saw about 200 bodies on the shore, a figure cited independently by another interviewee.

    Almost everyone who Amnesty spoke to said they lost at least one relative while trying to flee Myanmar. Medical records shared with Amnesty from the days after the attack show treatment for bomb blast injuries after arriving in Bangladesh. Since August there has been a dramatic increase in treatment of war wounds from those fleeing Myanmar.

    In its response to Amnesty, the Arakan Army said that the Myanmar military or aligned armed groups were likely those most responsible and that eyewitnesses or survivors may be affiliated with militant groups.

    Callamard said:

    “The Arakan Army must allow an independent, impartial and effective investigation into possible violations carried out during their operations. Both the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military must abide by international humanitarian law.

    “We continue to call on the UN Security Council to refer the entire situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.”

    The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has had a catastrophic impact on human rights. Myanmar’s military has killed more than 5,000 civilians and arrested more than 25,000 people. Since the coup, Amnesty has documented indiscriminate air strikes by the Myanmar military, torture and other ill-treatment in prison, collective punishment and arbitrary arrests.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Memorandum on Advancing the United  States’ Leadership in Artificial Intelligence; Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Fulfill National Security Objectives; and Fostering the Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness of Artificial  Intelligence

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
                   THE SECRETARY OF STATE
                   THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
                   THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
                   THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                   THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
                   THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
                   THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
                   THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
                   THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
                   THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
                   THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF
                   THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
                   THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC
                      POLICY AND DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
                   THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
                   THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
                   THE NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE POLICY
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
                   THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
    SUBJECT:       Advancing the United States’ Leadership in
                   Artificial Intelligence; Harnessing Artificial
                   Intelligence to Fulfill National Security
                   Objectives; and Fostering the Safety, Security,
                   and Trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence
         Section 1.  Policy.  (a)  This memorandum fulfills the directive set forth in subsection 4.8 of Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence).  This memorandum provides further direction on appropriately harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) models and AI-enabled technologies in the United States Government, especially in the context of national security systems (NSS), while protecting human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety in AI-enabled national security activities.  A classified annex to this memorandum addresses additional sensitive national security issues, including countering adversary use of AI that poses risks to United States national security.
         (b)  United States national security institutions have historically triumphed during eras of technological transition.  To meet changing times, they developed new capabilities, from submarines and aircraft to space systems and cyber tools.  To gain a decisive edge and protect national security, they pioneered technologies such as radar, the Global Positioning System, and nuclear propulsion, and unleashed these hard-won breakthroughs on the battlefield.  With each paradigm shift, they also developed new systems for tracking and countering adversaries’ attempts to wield cutting-edge technology for their own advantage.
         (c)  AI has emerged as an era-defining technology and has demonstrated significant and growing relevance to national security.  The United States must lead the world in the responsible application of AI to appropriate national security functions.  AI, if used appropriately and for its intended purpose, can offer great benefits.  If misused, AI could threaten United States national security, bolster authoritarianism worldwide, undermine democratic institutions and processes, facilitate human rights abuses, and weaken the rules-based international order.  Harmful outcomes could occur even without malicious intent if AI systems and processes lack sufficient protections.
         (d)  Recent innovations have spurred not only an increase in AI use throughout society, but also a paradigm shift within the AI field — one that has occurred mostly outside of Government.  This era of AI development and deployment rests atop unprecedented aggregations of specialized computational power, as well as deep scientific and engineering expertise, much of which is concentrated in the private sector.  This trend is most evident with the rise of large language models, but it extends to a broader class of increasingly general-purpose and computationally intensive systems.  The United States Government must urgently consider how this current AI paradigm specifically could transform the national security mission.
         (e)  Predicting technological change with certainty is impossible, but the foundational drivers that have underpinned recent AI progress show little sign of abating.  These factors include compounding algorithmic improvements, increasingly efficient computational hardware, a growing willingness in industry to invest substantially in research and development, and the expansion of training data sets.  AI under the current paradigm may continue to become more powerful and general-purpose.  Developing and effectively using these systems requires an evolving array of resources, infrastructure, competencies, and workflows that in many cases differ from what was required to harness prior technologies, including previous paradigms of AI.
         (f)  If the United States Government does not act with responsible speed and in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia to make use of AI capabilities in service of the national security mission — and to ensure the safety, security, and trustworthiness of American AI innovation writ large — it risks losing ground to strategic competitors.  Ceding the United States’ technological edge would not only greatly harm American national security, but it would also undermine United States foreign policy objectives and erode safety, human rights, and democratic norms worldwide.
         (g)  Establishing national security leadership in AI will require making deliberate and meaningful changes to aspects of the United States Government’s strategies, capabilities, infrastructure, governance, and organization.  AI is likely to affect almost all domains with national security significance, and its use cannot be relegated to a single institutional silo.  The increasing generality of AI means that many functions that to date have been served by individual bespoke tools may, going forward, be better fulfilled by systems that, at least in part, rely on a shared, multi-purpose AI capability.  Such integration will only succeed if paired with appropriately redesigned United States Government organizational and informational infrastructure.
         (h)  In this effort, the United States Government must also protect human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety, and lay the groundwork for a stable and responsible international AI governance landscape.  Throughout its history, the United States has been a global leader in shaping the design, development, and use of new technologies not only to advance national security, but also to protect and promote democratic values.  The United States Government must develop safeguards for its use of AI tools, and take an active role in steering global AI norms and institutions.  The AI frontier is moving quickly, and the United States Government must stay attuned to ongoing technical developments without losing focus on its guiding principles.
         (i)  This memorandum aims to catalyze needed change in how the United States Government approaches AI national security policy.  In line with Executive Order 14110, it directs actions to strengthen and protect the United States AI ecosystem; improve the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems developed and used in the United States; enhance the United States Government’s appropriate, responsible, and effective adoption of AI in service of the national security mission; and minimize the misuse of AI worldwide.
    Sec. 2.  Objectives.  It is the policy of the United States Government that the following three objectives will guide its activities with respect to AI and national security.
         (a)  First, the United States must lead the world’s development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.  To that end, the United States Government must — in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia — promote and secure the foundational capabilities across the United States that power AI development.  The United States Government cannot take the unmatched vibrancy and innovativeness of the United States AI ecosystem for granted; it must proactively strengthen it, ensuring that the United States remains the most attractive destination for global talent and home to the world’s most sophisticated computational facilities.  The United States Government must also provide appropriate safety and security guidance to AI developers and users, and rigorously assess and help mitigate the risks that AI systems could pose.
         (b)  Second, the United States Government must harness powerful AI, with appropriate safeguards, to achieve national security objectives.  Emerging AI capabilities, including increasingly general-purpose models, offer profound opportunities for enhancing national security, but employing these systems effectively will require significant technical, organizational, and policy changes.  The United States must understand AI’s limitations as it harnesses the technology’s benefits, and any use of AI must respect democratic values with regard to transparency, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety.
         (c)  Third, the United States Government must continue cultivating a stable and responsible framework to advance international AI governance that fosters safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development and use; manages AI risks; realizes democratic values; respects human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy; and promotes worldwide benefits from AI.  It must do so in collaboration with a wide range of allies and partners.  Success for the United States in the age of AI will be measured not only by the preeminence of United States technology and innovation, but also by the United States’ leadership in developing effective global norms and engaging in institutions rooted in international law, human rights, civil rights, and democratic values.
    Sec. 3.  Promoting and Securing the United States’ Foundational AI Capabilities.  (a)  To preserve and expand United States advantages in AI, it is the policy of the United States Government to promote progress, innovation, and competition in domestic AI development; protect the United States AI ecosystem against foreign intelligence threats; and manage risks to AI safety, security, and trustworthiness.  Leadership in responsible AI development benefits United States national security by enabling applications directly relevant to the national security mission, unlocking economic growth, and avoiding strategic surprise.  United States technological leadership also confers global benefits by enabling like-minded entities to collectively mitigate the risks of AI misuse and accidents, prevent the unchecked spread of digital authoritarianism, and prioritize vital research.
         3.1.  Promoting Progress, Innovation, and Competition in United States AI Development.  (a)  The United States’ competitive edge in AI development will be at risk absent concerted United States Government efforts to promote and secure domestic AI progress, innovation, and competition.  Although the United States has benefited from a head start in AI, competitors are working hard to catch up, have identified AI as a top strategic priority, and may soon devote resources to research and development that United States AI developers cannot match without appropriately supportive Government policies and action.  It is therefore the policy of the United States Government to enhance innovation and competition by bolstering key drivers of AI progress, such as technical talent and computational power.
         (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government that advancing the lawful ability of noncitizens highly skilled in AI and related fields to enter and work in the United States constitutes a national security priority.  Today, the unparalleled United States AI industry rests in substantial part on the insights of brilliant scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who moved to the United States in pursuit of academic, social, and economic opportunity.  Preserving and expanding United States talent advantages requires developing talent at home and continuing to attract and retain top international minds.
         (c)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)    On an ongoing basis, the Department of State, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall each use all available legal authorities to assist in attracting and rapidly bringing to the United States individuals with relevant technical expertise who would improve United States competitiveness in AI and related fields, such as semiconductor design and production.  These activities shall include all appropriate vetting of these individuals and shall be consistent with all appropriate risk mitigation measures.  This tasking is consistent with and additive to the taskings on attracting AI talent in section 5 of Executive Order 14110.
    (ii)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers shall prepare an analysis of the AI talent market in the United States and overseas, to the extent that reliable data is available.
    (iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council shall coordinate an economic assessment of the relative competitive advantage of the United States private sector AI ecosystem, the key sources of the United States private sector’s competitive advantage, and possible risks to that position, and shall recommend policies to mitigate them.  The assessment could include areas including (1) the design, manufacture, and packaging of chips critical in AI-related activities; (2) the availability of capital; (3) the availability of workers highly skilled in AI-related fields; (4) computational resources and the associated electricity requirements; and (5) technological platforms or institutions with the requisite scale of capital and data resources for frontier AI model development, as well as possible other factors.
    (iv)   Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) shall convene appropriate executive departments and agencies (agencies) to explore actions for prioritizing and streamlining administrative processing operations for all visa applicants working with sensitive technologies.  Doing so shall assist with streamlined processing of highly skilled applicants in AI and other critical and emerging technologies.  This effort shall explore options for ensuring the adequate resourcing of such operations and narrowing the criteria that trigger secure advisory opinion requests for such applicants, as consistent with national security objectives.
         (d)  The current paradigm of AI development depends heavily on computational resources.  To retain its lead in AI, the United States must continue developing the world’s most sophisticated AI semiconductors and constructing its most advanced AI-dedicated computational infrastructure.
         (e)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)    DOD, the Department of Energy (DOE) (including national laboratories), and the Intelligence Community (IC) shall, when planning for and constructing or renovating computational facilities, consider the applicability of large-scale AI to their mission.  Where appropriate, agencies shall design and build facilities capable of harnessing frontier AI for relevant scientific research domains and intelligence analysis.  Those investments shall be consistent with the Federal Mission Resilience Strategy adopted in Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience).
    (ii)   On an ongoing basis, the National Science Foundation (NSF) shall, consistent with its authorities, use the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot project and any future NAIRR efforts to distribute computational resources, data, and other critical assets for AI development to a diverse array of actors that otherwise would lack access to such capabilities — such as universities, nonprofits, and independent researchers (including trusted international collaborators) — to ensure that AI research in the United States remains competitive and innovative.  This tasking is consistent with the NAIRR pilot assigned in section 5 of Executive Order 14110.
    (iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall launch a pilot project to evaluate the performance and efficiency of federated AI and data sources for frontier AI-scale training, fine-tuning, and inference.
    (iv)   The Office of the White House Chief of Staff, in coordination with DOE and other relevant agencies, shall coordinate efforts to streamline permitting, approvals, and incentives for the construction of AI-enabling infrastructure, as well as surrounding assets supporting the resilient operation of this infrastructure, such as clean energy generation, power transmission lines, and high-capacity fiber data links.  These efforts shall include coordination, collaboration, consultation, and partnership with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, as appropriate, and shall be consistent with the United States’ goals for managing climate risks.
    (v)    The Department of State, DOD, DOE, the IC, and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, use existing authorities to make public investments and encourage private investments in strategic domestic and foreign AI technologies and adjacent fields.  These agencies shall assess the need for new authorities for the purposes of facilitating public and private investment in AI and adjacent capabilities.
         3.2.  Protecting United States AI from Foreign Intelligence Threats.  (a)  In addition to pursuing industrial strategies that support their respective AI industries, foreign states almost certainly aim to obtain and repurpose the fruits of AI innovation in the United States to serve their national security goals.  Historically, such competitors have employed techniques including research collaborations, investment schemes, insider threats, and advanced cyber espionage to collect and exploit United States scientific insights.  It is the policy of the United States Government to protect United States industry, civil society, and academic AI intellectual property and related infrastructure from foreign intelligence threats to maintain a lead in foundational capabilities and, as necessary, to provide appropriate Government assistance to relevant non-government entities.
         (b)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)   Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the National Security Council (NSC) staff and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shall review the President’s Intelligence Priorities and the National Intelligence Priorities Framework consistent with National Security Memorandum 12 of July 12, 2022 (The President’s Intelligence Priorities), and make recommendations to ensure that such priorities improve identification and assessment of foreign intelligence threats to the United States AI ecosystem and closely related enabling sectors, such as those involved in semiconductor design and production.
    (ii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, ODNI, in coordination with DOD, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Commerce, DOE, DHS, and other IC elements as appropriate, shall identify critical nodes in the AI supply chain, and develop a list of the most plausible avenues through which these nodes could be disrupted or compromised by foreign actors.  On an ongoing basis, these agencies shall take all steps, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to reduce such risks.
         (c)  Foreign actors may also seek to obtain United States intellectual property through gray-zone methods, such as technology transfer and data localization requirements.  AI-related intellectual property often includes critical technical artifacts (CTAs) that would substantially lower the costs of recreating, attaining, or using powerful AI capabilities.  The United States Government must guard against these risks.
         (d)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  In furtherance of Executive Order 14083 of September 15, 2022 (Ensuring Robust Consideration of Evolving National Security Risks by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States shall, as appropriate, consider whether a covered transaction involves foreign actor access to proprietary information on AI training techniques, algorithmic improvements, hardware advances, CTAs, or other proprietary insights that shed light on how to create and effectively use powerful AI systems.
         3.3.  Managing Risks to AI Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness.  (a)  Current and near-future AI systems could pose significant safety, security, and trustworthiness risks, including those stemming from deliberate misuse and accidents.  Across many technological domains, the United States has historically led the world not only in advancing capabilities, but also in developing the tests, standards, and norms that underpin reliable and beneficial global adoption.  The United States approach to AI should be no different, and proactively constructing testing infrastructure to assess and mitigate AI risks will be essential to realizing AI’s positive potential and to preserving United States AI leadership.
         (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government to pursue new technical and policy tools that address the potential challenges posed by AI.  These tools include processes for reliably testing AI models’ applicability to harmful tasks and deeper partnerships with institutions in industry, academia, and civil society capable of advancing research related to AI safety, security, and trustworthiness.
         (c)  Commerce, acting through the AI Safety Institute (AISI) within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), shall serve as the primary United States Government point of contact with private sector AI developers to facilitate voluntary pre- and post-public deployment testing for safety, security, and trustworthiness of frontier AI models.  In coordination with relevant agencies as appropriate, Commerce shall establish an enduring capability to lead voluntary unclassified pre-deployment safety testing of frontier AI models on behalf of the United States Government, including assessments of risks relating to cybersecurity, biosecurity, chemical weapons, system autonomy, and other risks as appropriate (not including nuclear risk, the assessment of which shall be led by DOE).  Voluntary unclassified safety testing shall also, as appropriate, address risks to human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, such as those related to privacy, discrimination and bias, freedom of expression, and the safety of individuals and groups.  Other agencies, as identified in subsection 3.3(f) of this section, shall establish enduring capabilities to perform complementary voluntary classified testing in appropriate areas of expertise.  The directives set forth in this subsection are consistent with broader taskings on AI safety in section 4 of Executive Order 14110, and provide additional clarity on agencies’ respective roles and responsibilities.
         (d)  Nothing in this subsection shall inhibit agencies from performing their own evaluations of AI systems, including tests performed before those systems are released to the public, for the purposes of evaluating suitability for that agency’s acquisition and procurement.  AISI’s responsibilities do not extend to the evaluation of AI systems for the potential use by the United States Government for national security purposes; those responsibilities lie with agencies considering such use, as outlined in subsection 4.2(e) of this memorandum and the associated framework described in that subsection.
         (e)  Consistent with these goals, Commerce, acting through AISI within NIST, shall take the following actions to aid in the evaluation of current and near-future AI systems:
    (i)    Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum and subject to private sector cooperation, AISI shall pursue voluntary preliminary testing of at least two frontier AI models prior to their public deployment or release to evaluate capabilities that might pose a threat to national security.  This testing shall assess models’ capabilities to aid offensive cyber operations, accelerate development of biological and/or chemical weapons, autonomously carry out malicious behavior, automate development and deployment of other models with such capabilities, and give rise to other risks identified by AISI.  AISI shall share feedback with the APNSA, interagency counterparts as appropriate, and the respective model developers regarding the results of risks identified during such testing and any appropriate mitigations prior to deployment.
    (ii)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, AISI shall issue guidance for AI developers on how to test, evaluate, and manage risks to safety, security, and trustworthiness arising from dual-use foundation models, building on guidelines issued pursuant to subsection 4.1(a) of Executive Order 14110.  AISI shall issue guidance on topics including:
    (A)  How to measure capabilities that are relevant to the risk that AI models could enable the development of biological and chemical weapons or the automation of offensive cyber operations;
    (B)  How to address societal risks, such as the misuse of models to harass or impersonate individuals;
    (C)  How to develop mitigation measures to prevent malicious or improper use of models;
    (D)  How to test the efficacy of safety and security mitigations; and
    (E)  How to apply risk management practices throughout the development and deployment lifecycle (pre-development, development, and deployment/release).
    (iii)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, AISI, in consultation with other agencies as appropriate, shall develop or recommend benchmarks or other methods for assessing AI systems’ capabilities and limitations in science, mathematics, code generation, and general reasoning, as well as other categories of activity that AISI deems relevant to assessing general-purpose capabilities likely to have a bearing on national security and public safety.
    (iv)   In the event that AISI or another agency determines that a dual-use foundation model’s capabilities could be used to harm public safety significantly, AISI shall serve as the primary point of contact through which the United States Government communicates such findings and any associated recommendations regarding risk mitigation to the developer of the model.
    (v)    Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and at least annually thereafter, AISI shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, and provide to other interagency counterparts as appropriate, at minimum one report that shall include the following:
    (A)  A summary of findings from AI safety assessments of frontier AI models that have been conducted by or shared with AISI;
    (B)  A summary of whether AISI deemed risk mitigation necessary to resolve any issues identified in the assessments, along with conclusions regarding any mitigations’ efficacy; and
    (C)  A summary of the adequacy of the science-based tools and methods used to inform such assessments.
         (f)  Consistent with these goals, other agencies specified below shall take the following actions, in coordination with Commerce, acting through AISI within NIST, to provide classified sector-specific evaluations of current and near-future AI systems for cyber, nuclear, and radiological risks:
    (i)    All agencies that conduct or fund safety testing and evaluations of AI systems shall share the results of such evaluations with AISI within 30 days of their completion, consistent with applicable protections for classified and controlled information.
    (ii)   Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the National Security Agency (NSA), acting through its AI Security Center (AISC) and in coordination with AISI, shall develop the capability to perform rapid systematic classified testing of AI models’ capacity to detect, generate, and/or exacerbate offensive cyber threats.  Such tests shall assess the degree to which AI systems, if misused, could accelerate offensive cyber operations.
    (iii)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE, acting primarily through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and in close coordination with AISI and NSA, shall seek to develop the capability to perform rapid systematic testing of AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate nuclear and radiological risks.  This initiative shall involve the development and maintenance of infrastructure capable of running classified and unclassified tests, including using restricted data and relevant classified threat information.  This initiative shall also feature the creation and regular updating of automated evaluations, the development of an interface for enabling human-led red-teaming, and the establishment of technical and legal tooling necessary for facilitating the rapid and secure transfer of United States Government, open-weight, and proprietary models to these facilities.  As part of this initiative:
    (A)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall use the capability described in subsection 3.3(f)(iii) of this section to complete initial evaluations of the radiological and nuclear knowledge, capabilities, and implications of a frontier AI model no more than 30 days after the model has been made available to NNSA at an appropriate classification level.  These evaluations shall involve tests of AI systems both without significant modifications and, as appropriate, with fine-tuning or other modifications that could enhance performance.
    (B)  Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and at least annually thereafter, DOE shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, at minimum one assessment that shall include the following:
    (1)  A concise summary of the findings of each AI model evaluation for radiological and nuclear risk, described in subsection 3.3(f)(iii)(A) of this section, that DOE has performed in the preceding 12 months;
    (2)  A recommendation as to whether corrective action is necessary to resolve any issues identified in the evaluations, including but not limited to actions necessary for attaining and sustaining compliance conditions appropriate to safeguard and prevent unauthorized disclosure of restricted data or other classified information, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; and
    (3)  A concise statement regarding the adequacy of the science-based tools and methods used to inform the evaluations.
    (iv)   On an ongoing basis, DHS, acting through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), shall continue to fulfill its responsibilities with respect to the application of AISI guidance, as identified in National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience), and section 4 of Executive Order 14110.
         (g)  Consistent with these goals, and to reduce the chemical and biological risks that could emerge from AI:
    (i)    The United States Government shall advance classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate deliberate chemical and biological threats.  As part of this initiative:
    (A)  Within 210 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE, DHS, and AISI, in consultation with DOD and other relevant agencies, shall coordinate to develop a roadmap for future classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ capacity to generate or exacerbate deliberate chemical and biological threats, to be shared with the APNSA.  This roadmap shall consider the scope, scale, and priority of classified evaluations; proper safeguards to ensure that evaluations and simulations are not misconstrued as offensive capability development; proper safeguards for testing sensitive and/or classified information; and sustainable implementation of evaluation methodologies.
    (B)  On an ongoing basis, DHS shall provide expertise, threat and risk information, and other technical support to assess the feasibility of proposed biological and chemical classified evaluations; interpret and contextualize evaluation results; and advise relevant agencies on potential risk mitigations.
    (C)  Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, DOE shall establish a pilot project to provide expertise, infrastructure, and facilities capable of conducting classified tests in this area.
    (ii)   Within 240 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), DOE (including national laboratories), DHS, NSF, and other agencies pursuing the development of AI systems substantially trained on biological and chemical data shall, as appropriate, support efforts to utilize high-performance computing resources and AI systems to enhance biosafety and biosecurity.  These efforts shall include:
    (A)  The development of tools for screening in silico chemical and biological research and technology;
    (B)  The creation of algorithms for nucleic acid synthesis screening;
    (C)  The construction of high-assurance software foundations for novel biotechnologies;
    (D)  The screening of complete orders or data streams from cloud labs and biofoundries; and
    (E)  The development of risk mitigation strategies such as medical countermeasures.
    (iii)  After the publication of biological and chemical safety guidance by AISI outlined in subsection 3.3(e) of this section, all agencies that directly develop relevant dual-use foundation AI models that are made available to the public and are substantially trained on biological or chemical data shall incorporate this guidance into their agency’s practices, as appropriate and feasible.
    (iv)   Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, NSF, in coordination with DOD, Commerce (acting through AISI within NIST), HHS, DOE, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and other relevant agencies, shall seek to convene academic research institutions and scientific publishers to develop voluntary best practices and standards for publishing computational biological and chemical models, data sets, and approaches, including those that use AI and that could contribute to the production of knowledge, information, technologies, and products that could be misused to cause harm.  This is in furtherance of the activities described in subsections 4.4 and 4.7 of Executive Order 14110.
    (v)    Within 540 days of the date of this memorandum, and informed by the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential, OSTP, NSC staff, and the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, in consultation with relevant agencies and external stakeholders as appropriate, shall develop guidance promoting the benefits of and mitigating the risks associated with in silico biological and chemical research.
         (h)  Agencies shall take the following actions to improve foundational understanding of AI safety, security, and trustworthiness:
    (i)   DOD, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI, NSF, NSA, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize research on AI safety and trustworthiness.  As appropriate and consistent with existing authorities, they shall pursue partnerships as appropriate with leading public sector, industry, civil society, academic, and other institutions with expertise in these domains, with the objective of accelerating technical and socio-technical progress in AI safety and trustworthiness.  This work may include research on interpretability, formal methods, privacy enhancing technologies, techniques to address risks to civil liberties and human rights, human-AI interaction, and/or the socio-technical effects of detecting and labeling synthetic and authentic content (for example, to address the malicious use of AI to generate misleading videos or images, including those of a strategically damaging or non-consensual intimate nature, of political or public figures).
    (ii)  DOD, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI, NSF, NSA, and NGA shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize research to improve the security, robustness, and reliability of AI systems and controls.  These entities shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, partner with other agencies, industry, civil society, and academia.  Where appropriate, DOD, DHS (acting through CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and NSA (acting through AISC) shall publish unclassified guidance concerning known AI cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats; best practices for avoiding, detecting, and mitigating such issues during model training and deployment; and the integration of AI into other software systems.  This work shall include an examination of the role of and vulnerabilities potentially caused by AI systems used in critical infrastructure.
         (i)  Agencies shall take actions to protect classified and controlled information, given the potential risks posed by AI:
    (i)  In the course of regular updates to policies and procedures, DOD, DOE, and the IC shall consider how analysis enabled by AI tools may affect decisions related to declassification of material, standards for sufficient anonymization, and similar activities, as well as the robustness of existing operational security and equity controls to protect classified or controlled information, given that AI systems have demonstrated the capacity to extract previously inaccessible insight from redacted and anonymized data.
    Sec. 4.  Responsibly Harnessing AI to Achieve National Security Objectives.  (a)  It is the policy of the United States Government to act decisively to enable the effective and responsible use of AI in furtherance of its national security mission.  Achieving global leadership in national security applications of AI will require effective partnership with organizations outside Government, as well as significant internal transformation, including strengthening effective oversight and governance functions.
         4.1.  Enabling Effective and Responsible Use of AI.  (a)  It is the policy of the United States Government to adapt its partnerships, policies, and infrastructure to use AI capabilities appropriately, effectively, and responsibly.  These modifications must balance each agency’s unique oversight, data, and application needs with the substantial benefits associated with sharing powerful AI and computational resources across the United States Government.  Modifications must also be grounded in a clear understanding of the United States Government’s comparative advantages relative to industry, civil society, and academia, and must leverage offerings from external collaborators and contractors as appropriate.  The United States Government must make the most of the rich United States AI ecosystem by incentivizing innovation in safe, secure, and trustworthy AI and promoting industry competition when selecting contractors, grant recipients, and research collaborators.  Finally, the United States Government must address important technical and policy considerations in ways that ensure the integrity and interoperability needed to pursue its objectives while protecting human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety.
         (b)  The United States Government needs an updated set of Government-wide procedures for attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining AI and AI-enabling talent for national security purposes.
         (c)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)   In the course of regular legal, policy, and compliance framework reviews, the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, and IC elements shall revise, as appropriate, their hiring and retention policies and strategies to accelerate responsible AI adoption.  Agencies shall account for technical talent needs required to adopt AI and integrate it into their missions and other roles necessary to use AI effectively, such as AI-related governance, ethics, and policy positions.  These policies and strategies shall identify financial, organizational, and security hurdles, as well as potential mitigations consistent with applicable law.  Such measures shall also include consideration of programs to attract experts with relevant technical expertise from industry, academia, and civil society — including scholarship for service programs — and similar initiatives that would expose Government employees to relevant non-government entities in ways that build technical, organizational, and cultural familiarity with the AI industry.  These policies and strategies shall use all available authorities, including expedited security clearance procedures as appropriate, in order to address the shortfall of AI-relevant talent within Government.
    (ii)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, and IC elements shall each, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), identify education and training opportunities to increase the AI competencies of their respective workforces, via initiatives which may include training and skills-based hiring.
         (d)  To accelerate the use of AI in service of its national security mission, the United States Government needs coordinated and effective acquisition and procurement systems.  This will require an enhanced capacity to assess, define, and articulate AI-related requirements for national security purposes, as well as improved accessibility for AI companies that lack significant prior experience working with the United States Government.
         (e)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)    Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD and ODNI, in coordination with OMB and other agencies as appropriate, shall establish a working group to address issues involving procurement of AI by DOD and IC elements and for use on NSS.  As appropriate, the working group shall consult the Director of the NSA, as the National Manager for NSS, in developing recommendations for acquiring and procuring AI for use on NSS.
    (ii)   Within 210 days of the date of this memorandum, the working group described in subsection 4.1(e)(i) of this section shall provide written recommendations to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FARC) regarding changes to existing regulations and guidance, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to promote the following objectives for AI procured by DOD and IC elements and for use on NSS:
    (A)  Ensuring objective metrics to measure and promote the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems;
    (B)  Accelerating the acquisition and procurement process for AI, consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, while maintaining appropriate checks to mitigate safety risks;  
    (C)  Simplifying processes such that companies without experienced contracting teams may meaningfully compete for relevant contracts, to ensure that the United States Government has access to a wide range of AI systems and that the AI marketplace is competitive;
    (D)  Structuring competitions to encourage robust participation and achieve best value to the Government, such as by including requirements that promote interoperability and prioritizing the technical capability of vendors when evaluating offers;
    (E)  Accommodating shared use of AI to the greatest degree possible and as appropriate across relevant agencies; and
    (F)  Ensuring that agencies with specific authorities and missions may implement other policies, where appropriate and necessary.
    (iii)  The FARC shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider proposing amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to codify recommendations provided by the working group pursuant to subsection 4.1(e)(ii) of this section that may have Government-wide application.
    (iv)   DOD and ODNI shall seek to engage on an ongoing basis with diverse United States private sector stakeholders — including AI technology and defense companies and members of the United States investor community — to identify and better understand emerging capabilities that would benefit or otherwise affect the United States national security mission.
         (f)  The United States Government needs clear, modernized, and robust policies and procedures that enable the rapid development and national security use of AI, consistent with human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, and other democratic values.
         (g)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)    DOD and the IC shall, in consultation with DOJ as appropriate, review their respective legal, policy, civil liberties, privacy, and compliance frameworks, including international legal obligations, and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, seek to develop or revise policies and procedures to enable the effective and responsible use of AI, accounting for the following:
    (A)  Issues raised by the acquisition, use, retention, dissemination, and disposal of models trained on datasets that include personal information traceable to specific United States persons, publicly available information, commercially available information, and intellectual property, consistent with section 9 of Executive Order 14110;
    (B)  Guidance that shall be developed by DOJ, in consultation with DOD and ODNI, regarding constitutional considerations raised by the IC’s acquisition and use of AI;
    (C)  Challenges associated with classification and compartmentalization;
    (D)  Algorithmic bias, inconsistent performance, inaccurate outputs, and other known AI failure modes;
    (E)  Threats to analytic integrity when employing AI tools;
    (F)  Risks posed by a lack of safeguards that protect human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and other democratic values, as addressed in further detail in subsection 4.2 of this section;
    (G)  Barriers to sharing AI models and related insights with allies and partners; and
    (H)  Potential inconsistencies between AI use and the implementation of international legal obligations and commitments.
    (ii)   As appropriate, the policies described in subsection 4.1(g) of this section shall be consistent with direction issued by the Committee on NSS and DOD governing the security of AI used on NSS, policies issued by the Director of National Intelligence governing adoption of AI by the IC, and direction issued by OMB governing the security of AI used on non-NSS.
    (iii)  On an ongoing basis, each agency that uses AI on NSS shall, in consultation with ODNI and DOD, take all steps appropriate and consistent with applicable law to accelerate responsible approval of AI systems for use on NSS and accreditation of NSS that use AI systems.
         (h)  The United States’ network of allies and partners confers significant advantages over competitors.  Consistent with the 2022 National Security Strategy or any successor strategies, the United States Government must invest in and proactively enable the co-development and co-deployment of AI capabilities with select allies and partners.
         (i)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, DOD, in coordination with the Department of State and ODNI, shall evaluate the feasibility of advancing, increasing, and promoting co-development and shared use of AI and AI-enabled assets with select allies and partners.  This evaluation shall include:
    (A)  A potential list of foreign states with which such co-development or co-deployment may be feasible;
    (B)  A list of bilateral and multilateral fora for potential outreach;
    (C)  Potential co-development and co-deployment concepts;
    (D)  Proposed classification-appropriate testing vehicles for co-developed AI capabilities; and
    (E)  Considerations for existing programs, agreements, or arrangements to use as foundations for future co-development and co-deployment of AI capabilities.
         (j)  The United States Government needs improved internal coordination with respect to its use of and approach to AI on NSS in order to ensure interoperability and resource sharing consistent with applicable law, and to reap the generality and economies of scale offered by frontier AI models.
         (k)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  On an ongoing basis, DOD and ODNI shall issue or revise relevant guidance to improve consolidation and interoperability across AI functions on NSS.  This guidance shall seek to ensure that the United States Government can coordinate and share AI-related resources effectively, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.  Such work shall include:
    (A)  Recommending agency organizational practices to improve AI research and deployment activities that span multiple national security institutions.  In order to encourage AI adoption for the purpose of national security, these measures shall aim to create consistency to the greatest extent possible across the revised practices.
    (B)  Steps that enable consolidated research, development, and procurement for general-purpose AI systems and supporting infrastructure, such that multiple agencies can share access to these tools to the extent consistent with applicable law, while still allowing for appropriate controls on sensitive data.
    (C)  Aligning AI-related national security policies and procedures across agencies, as practicable and appropriate, and consistent with applicable law.
    (D)  Developing policies and procedures, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to share information across DOD and the IC when an AI system developed, deployed, or used by a contractor demonstrates risks related to safety, security, and trustworthiness, including to human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, or privacy.
         4.2.  Strengthening AI Governance and Risk Management.  (a)  As the United States Government moves swiftly to adopt AI in support of its national security mission, it must continue taking active steps to uphold human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety; ensure that AI is used in a manner consistent with the President’s authority as Commander in Chief to decide when to order military operations in the Nation’s defense; and ensure that military use of AI capabilities is accountable, including through such use during military operations within a responsible human chain of command and control.  Accordingly, the United States Government must develop and implement robust AI governance and risk management practices to ensure that its AI innovation aligns with democratic values, updating policy guidance where necessary.  In light of the diverse authorities and missions across covered agencies with a national security mission and the rapid rate of ongoing technological change, such AI governance and risk management frameworks shall be:
    (i)    Structured, to the extent permitted by law, such that they can adapt to future opportunities and risks posed by new technical developments;
    (ii)   As consistent across agencies as is practicable and appropriate in order to enable interoperability, while respecting unique authorities and missions;
    (iii)  Designed to enable innovation that advances United States national security objectives;
    (iv)   As transparent to the public as practicable and appropriate, while protecting classified or controlled information;
    (v)    Developed and applied in a manner and with means to integrate protections, controls, and safeguards for human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety where relevant; and
    (vi)   Designed to reflect United States leadership in establishing broad international support for rules and norms that reinforce the United States’ approach to AI governance and risk management.
         (b)  Covered agencies shall develop and use AI responsibly, consistent with United States law and policies, democratic values, and international law and treaty obligations, including international humanitarian and human rights law.  All agency officials retain their existing authorities and responsibilities established in other laws and policies.
         (c)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  Heads of covered agencies shall, consistent with their authorities, monitor, assess, and mitigate risks directly tied to their agency’s development and use of AI.  Such risks may result from reliance on AI outputs to inform, influence, decide, or execute agency decisions or actions, when used in a defense, intelligence, or law enforcement context, and may impact human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, national security, and democratic values.  These risks from the use of AI include the following:
    (A)  Risks to physical safety:  AI use may pose unintended risks to human life or property.
    (B)  Privacy harms:  AI design, development, and operation may result in harm, embarrassment, unfairness, and prejudice to individuals.
    (C)  Discrimination and bias:  AI use may lead to unlawful discrimination and harmful bias, resulting in, for instance, inappropriate surveillance and profiling, among other harms.
    (D)  Inappropriate use:  operators using AI systems may not fully understand the capabilities and limitations of these technologies, including systems used in conflicts.  Such unfamiliarity could impact operators’ ability to exercise appropriate levels of human judgment.
    (E)  Lack of transparency:  agencies may have gaps in documentation of AI development and use, and the public may lack access to information about how AI is used in national security contexts because of the necessity to protect classified or controlled information.
    (F)  Lack of accountability:  training programs and guidance for agency personnel on the proper use of AI systems may not be sufficient, including to mitigate the risk of overreliance on AI systems (such as “automation bias”), and accountability mechanisms may not adequately address possible intentional or negligent misuse of AI-enabled technologies.
    (G)  Data spillage:  AI systems may reveal aspects of their training data — either inadvertently or through deliberate manipulation by malicious actors — and data spillage may result from AI systems trained on classified or controlled information when used on networks where such information is not permitted.
    (H)  Poor performance:  AI systems that are inappropriately or insufficiently trained, used for purposes outside the scope of their training set, or improperly integrated into human workflows may exhibit poor performance, including in ways that result in inconsistent outcomes or unlawful discrimination and harmful bias, or that undermine the integrity of decision-making processes.
    (I)  Deliberate manipulation and misuse:  foreign state competitors and malicious actors may deliberately undermine the accuracy and efficacy of AI systems, or seek to extract sensitive information from such systems.
         (d)  The United States Government’s AI governance and risk management policies must keep pace with evolving technology.
         (e)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)   An AI framework, entitled “Framework to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security” (AI Framework), shall further implement this subsection.  The AI Framework shall be approved by the NSC Deputies Committee through the process described in National Security Memorandum 2 of February 4, 2021 (Renewing the National Security Council System), or any successor process, and shall be reviewed periodically through that process.  This process shall determine whether adjustments are needed to address risks identified in subsection 4.2(c) of this section and other topics covered in the AI Framework.  The AI Framework shall serve as a national security-focused counterpart to OMB’s Memorandum M-24-10 of March 28, 2024 (Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence), and any successor OMB policies.  To the extent feasible, appropriate, and consistent with applicable law, the AI Framework shall be as consistent as possible with these OMB policies and shall be made public.
    (ii)  The AI Framework described in subsection 4.2(e)(i) of this section and any successor document shall, at a minimum, and to the extent consistent with applicable law, specify the following:
    (A)  Each covered agency shall have a Chief AI Officer who holds primary responsibility within that agency, in coordination with other responsible officials, for managing the agency’s use of AI, promoting AI innovation within the agency, and managing risks from the agency’s use of AI consistent with subsection 3(b) of OMB Memorandum M-24-10, as practicable.
    (B)  Covered agencies shall have AI Governance Boards to coordinate and govern AI issues through relevant senior leaders from the agency.
    (C)  Guidance on AI activities that pose unacceptable levels of risk and that shall be prohibited.
    (D)  Guidance on AI activities that are “high impact” and require minimum risk management practices, including for high-impact AI use that affects United States Government personnel.  Such high-impact activities shall include AI whose output serves as a principal basis for a decision or action that could exacerbate or create significant risks to national security, international norms, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, safety, or other democratic values.  The minimum risk management practices for high-impact AI shall include a mechanism for agencies to assess AI’s expected benefits and potential risks; a mechanism for assessing data quality; sufficient test and evaluation practices; mitigation of unlawful discrimination and harmful bias; human training, assessment, and oversight requirements; ongoing monitoring; and additional safeguards for military service members, the Federal civilian workforce, and individuals who receive an offer of employment from a covered agency.
    (E)  Covered agencies shall ensure privacy, civil liberties, and safety officials are integrated into AI governance and oversight structures.  Such officials shall report findings to the heads of agencies and oversight officials, as appropriate, using existing reporting channels when feasible.
    (F)  Covered agencies shall ensure that there are sufficient training programs, guidance, and accountability processes to enable proper use of AI systems.
    (G)  Covered agencies shall maintain an annual inventory of their high-impact AI use and AI systems and provide updates on this inventory to agency heads and the APNSA.
    (H)  Covered agencies shall ensure that whistleblower protections are sufficient to account for issues that may arise in the development and use of AI and AI systems.
    (I)  Covered agencies shall develop and implement waiver processes for high-impact AI use that balance robust implementation of risk mitigation measures in this memorandum and the AI Framework with the need to utilize AI to preserve and advance critical agency missions and operations.
    (J)  Covered agencies shall implement cybersecurity guidance or direction associated with AI systems issued by the National Manager for NSS to mitigate the risks posed by malicious actors exploiting new technologies, and to enable interoperability of AI across agencies.  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, and periodically thereafter, the National Manager for NSS shall issue minimum cybersecurity guidance and/or direction for AI used as a component of NSS, which shall be incorporated into AI governance guidance detailed in subsection 4.2(g)(i) of this section.
         (f)  The United States Government needs guidance specifically regarding the use of AI on NSS.
         (g)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, the heads of the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, DOD, DOJ, Commerce, DOE, DHS, ODNI (acting on behalf of the 18 IC elements), and any other covered agency that uses AI as part of a NSS (Department Heads) shall issue or update guidance to their components/sub-agencies on AI governance and risk management for NSS, aligning with the policies in this subsection, the AI Framework, and other applicable policies.  Department Heads shall review their respective guidance on an annual basis, and update such guidance as needed.  This guidance, and any updates thereto, shall be provided to the APNSA prior to issuance.  This guidance shall be unclassified and made available to the public to the extent feasible and appropriate, though it may have a classified annex.  Department Heads shall seek to harmonize their guidance, and the APNSA shall convene an interagency meeting at least annually for the purpose of harmonizing Department Heads’ guidance on AI governance and risk management to the extent practicable and appropriate while respecting the agencies’ diverse authorities and missions.  Harmonization shall be pursued in the following areas:
    (A)  Implementation of the risk management practices for high-impact AI;
    (B)  AI and AI system standards and activities, including as they relate to training, testing, accreditation, and security and cybersecurity; and
    (C)  Any other issues that affect interoperability for AI and AI systems.
    Sec. 5.  Fostering a Stable, Responsible, and Globally Beneficial International AI Governance Landscape.  (a)  Throughout its history, the United States has played an essential role in shaping the international order to enable the safe, secure, and trustworthy global adoption of new technologies while also protecting democratic values.  These contributions have ranged from establishing nonproliferation regimes for biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons to setting the foundations for multi-stakeholder governance of the Internet.  Like these precedents, AI will require new global norms and coordination mechanisms, which the United States Government must maintain an active role in crafting.
         (b)  It is the policy of the United States Government that United States international engagement on AI shall support and facilitate improvements to the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems worldwide; promote democratic values, including respect for human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and safety; prevent the misuse of AI in national security contexts; and promote equitable access to AI’s benefits.  The United States Government shall advance international agreements, collaborations, and other substantive and norm-setting initiatives in alignment with this policy.
         (c)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)  Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, the Department of State, in coordination with DOD, Commerce, DHS, the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), shall produce a strategy for the advancement of international AI governance norms in line with safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, and democratic values, including human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy.  This strategy shall cover bilateral and multilateral engagement and relations with allies and partners.  It shall also include guidance on engaging with competitors, and it shall outline an approach to working in international institutions such as the United Nations and the Group of 7 (G7), as well as technical organizations.  The strategy shall:
    (A)  Develop and promote internationally shared definitions, norms, expectations, and standards, consistent with United States policy and existing efforts, which will promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development and use around the world.  These norms shall be as consistent as possible with United States domestic AI governance (including Executive Order 14110 and OMB Memorandum M-24-10), the International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI Systems released by the G7 in October 2023, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Principles on AI, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/78/L.49, and other United States-supported relevant international frameworks (such as the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy) and instruments.  By discouraging misuse and encouraging appropriate safeguards, these norms and standards shall aim to reduce the likelihood of AI causing harm or having adverse impacts on human rights, democracy, or the rule of law.
    (B)  Promote the responsible and ethical use of AI in national security contexts in accordance with democratic values and in compliance with applicable international law.  The strategy shall advance the norms and practices established by this memorandum and measures endorsed in the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy.
    Sec. 6.  Ensuring Effective Coordination, Execution, and Reporting of AI Policy.  (a)  The United States Government must work in a closely coordinated manner to make progress on effective and responsible AI adoption.  Given the speed with which AI technology evolves, the United States Government must learn quickly, adapt to emerging strategic developments, adopt new capabilities, and confront novel risks.
         (b)  Consistent with these goals:
    (i)    Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter for at least the next 5 years, the heads of the Department of State, DOD, Commerce, DOE, ODNI (acting on behalf of the IC), USUN, and USAID shall each submit a report to the President, through the APNSA, that offers a detailed accounting of their activities in response to their taskings in all sections of this memorandum, including this memorandum’s classified annex, and that provides a plan for further action.  The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), NSA, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and NGA shall submit reports on their activities to ODNI for inclusion in full as an appendix to ODNI’s report regarding IC activities.  NGA, NSA, and DIA shall submit their reports as well to DOD for inclusion in full as an appendix to DOD’s report.
    (ii)   Within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, the Chief AI Officers of the Department of State, DOD, DOJ, DOE, DHS, OMB, ODNI, CIA, DIA, NSA, and NGA, as well as appropriate technical staff, shall form an AI National Security Coordination Group (Coordination Group).  Any Chief AI Officer of an agency that is a member of the Committee on National Security Systems may also join the Coordination Group as a full member.  The Coordination Group shall be co-chaired by the Chief AI Officers of ODNI and DOD.  The Coordination Group shall consider ways to harmonize policies relating to the development, accreditation, acquisition, use, and evaluation of AI on NSS.  This work could include development of:
    (A)  Enhanced training and awareness to ensure that agencies prioritize the most effective AI systems, responsibly develop and use AI, and effectively evaluate AI systems;
    (B)  Best practices to identify and mitigate foreign intelligence risks and human rights considerations associated with AI procurement;
    (C)  Best practices to ensure interoperability between agency deployments of AI, to include data interoperability and data sharing agreements, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law;
    (D)  A process to maintain, update, and disseminate such trainings and best practices on an ongoing basis;
    (E)  AI-related policy initiatives to address regulatory gaps implicated by executive branch-wide policy development processes; and 
    (F)  An agile process to increase the speed of acquisitions, validation, and delivery of AI capabilities, consistent with applicable law.
    (iii)  Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Coordination Group described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section shall establish a National Security AI Executive Talent Committee (Talent Committee) composed of senior AI officials (or designees) from all agencies in the Coordination Group that wish to participate.  The Talent Committee shall work to standardize, prioritize, and address AI talent needs and develop an updated set of Government-wide procedures for attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining AI and AI-enabling talent for national security purposes.  The Talent Committee shall designate a representative to serve as a member of the AI and Technology Talent Task Force set forth in Executive Order 14110, helping to identify overlapping needs and address shared challenges in hiring.
    (iv)   Within 365 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter for at least the next 5 years, the Coordination Group described in subsection (b)(ii) of this section shall issue a joint report to the APNSA on consolidation and interoperability of AI efforts and systems for the purposes of national security.
         Sec. 7.  Definitions.  (a)  This memorandum uses definitions set forth in section 3 of Executive Order 14110.  In addition, for the purposes of this memorandum:
    (i)     The term “AI safety” means the mechanisms through which individuals and organizations minimize and mitigate the potential for harm to individuals and society that can result from the malicious use, misapplication, failures, accidents, and unintended behavior of AI models; the systems that integrate them; and the ways in which they are used.
    (ii)    The term “AI security” means a set of practices to protect AI systems — including training data, models, abilities, and lifecycles — from cyber and physical attacks, thefts, and damage.
    (iii)   The term “covered agencies” means agencies in the Intelligence Community, as well as all agencies as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(1) when they use AI as a component of a National Security System, other than the Executive Office of the President.
    (iv)    The term “Critical Technical Artifacts” (CTAs) means information, usually specific to a single model or group of related models that, if possessed by someone other than the model developer, would substantially lower the costs of recreating, attaining, or using the model’s capabilities.  Under the technical paradigm dominant in the AI industry today, the model weights of a trained AI system constitute CTAs, as do, in some cases, associated training data and code.  Future paradigms may rely on different CTAs.
    (v)     The term “frontier AI model” means a general-purpose AI system near the cutting-edge of performance, as measured by widely accepted publicly available benchmarks, or similar assessments of reasoning, science, and overall capabilities.
    (vi)    The term “Intelligence Community” (IC) has the meaning provided in 50 U.S.C. 3003.
    (vii)   The term “open-weight model” means a model that has weights that are widely available, typically through public release.
    (viii)  The term “United States Government” means all agencies as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(1).
         Sec. 8.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
         (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
         (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                  JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dispatch from Pennsylvania: How marketing affects swing voters as U.S. election looms

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Dave Bussiere, Associate Professor, Marketing, University of Windsor

    Americans will soon elect their next president after a race for the White House that is essentially tied. From a marketing perspective, think of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris as each holding 45 per cent market share. The remaining 10 per cent includes undecided voters and people disinclined to vote.

    My political marketing class at the University of Windsor is using a marketing lens to understand the variables that will influence the outcome on Nov. 5. My recent road trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania gave me insight into the strength of both the Democratic and Republican brands.

    I am viewing the parties as long-established brands. There is brand loyalty to both parties. Those brands’ current success, however, is influenced by the ongoing campaign.

    In terms of the Democratic Party, voters obviously aren’t being asked to buy it, but they are being asked to buy the party as augmented or diminished by Harris, its current presidential candidate. The same can be said for Trump’s Republican party.

    From a marketing perspective, we can monitor promotional efforts that include traditional media, social media, debates, interviews and rallies, and we receive updates on the parties’ fundraising efforts — essentially a promotional budget. We’ll see the results of these efforts on Nov. 5.

    Predicting results

    This is the third time I’ve offered a political marketing course based on an American presidential election. The class focuses on understanding the core party brands, and the impact of candidates, debates, media coverage and Political Action Committees. Students forecast the election results the day before the election.

    The presidency is not decided by the national popular vote. It is a state-by-state competition, with each state assigned votes in the Electoral College. There are 538 Electoral College votes, so 270 are needed to win.

    Most states are predictable. California will undoubtedly vote Democrat (54 votes); Texas will more than likely vote Republican once again (40 votes). The election therefore comes down to seven swing states: Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.



    Read more:
    North Carolina is not really a red or blue state − and that makes political predictions much more difficult

    The Democrats, with 226 safe Electoral College votes, have 20 possible routes to 270 — and 19 of them require a Pennsylvania win. Republicans, with 219 safe Electoral College votes, have 21 possible routes to 270 — 19 also require a Pennsylvania win. That’s why I decided to drive through Pennsylvania and speak to voters.

    Understanding Pennsylvania

    I was in Pennsylvania during the week of Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, just after Hurricane Helene hit the southeast, when a vice-presidential debate was held in New York, as the Longshoremen started to strike and as Hurricane Milton was bearing down on Florida.

    First I went to Erie, a bellwether county with a long history of having the same voting pattern as the full state of Pennsylvania, so it’s a strong predictor of statewide results. I went to a Pittsburgh suburb, and then to the borough of State College, home of Penn State University. I periodically left the interstate to drive through other towns to see the signs, grab lunch and talk.

    Each time, my introduction was simple:

    “I’m a marketing professor from Canada running a class about the U.S. presidential election. Would you mind explaining to me how you think Pennsylvania will vote? I do not need to know how you will vote.”

    The university students I spoke to were juniors and seniors. Other than the students, the people I spoke to would be considered working class, a mix of blue collar and white collar. The non-students were 35 to retirement age. Everyone I spoke said they’d voted in the 2022 mid-term election and intended to vote this year.

    At an Erie car show, voters I interviewed were evenly split between a group of 50-plus men with vintage cars and male university students with newer vehicles. I heard from both groups that Pennsylvania was divided, but that the mood between the parties differed.

    Both argued that people voting Democrat were brand-loyal or rejecting the Trump brand. Both age groups, including Democratic voters, noted that Trump supporters were primarily focused only on him as the current Republican brand offering.

    Economic concerns

    Most said the biggest issue that will most influence undecided voters is the economy, followed closely by a more narrow economic concern — inflation.

    One Democrat conveyed a simple message that was representative. Asked who would take Erie County: “Democrats.” Asked why they would win, he replied: “I’m just hoping.”

    Contrast that with a visit to a diner in Erie. One woman explained that she supports Harris because of reproductive rights. Everyone else backed Trump because of his policies on the economy, the southern border, international wars and crime.

    One diner patron had been to a recent Trump rally in Erie. He described it as a rock concert and spoke of the excitement, and hearing Trump say the exact same lines he always says. “It was your favourite rock band playing their hits,” he said.

    I left Erie understanding that Democrats were brand loyal or voting to avoid Trump. Republicans, however, never referenced past voting or leaders. They were simply Trump supporters.

    The Pittsburgh scene

    Pittsburgh was a bust. I chose the wrong town outside Pittsburgh. While I spoke to dozens of voters in Erie, I found only two people to speak to in Smithton.

    State College was different. My hotel was close to Penn State University, and there was a restaurant/sports bar on the hotel property.

    I entered at 4 p.m. The bartender asked why I was in town. A nearby patron said that he would answer questions. Then another person volunteered. I left seven hours later. People were asking to be next.

    I spoke to people from all political spectrums. Of the 40-plus people I spoke with, one couple illustrated the mood in the state particularly well. She is a Republican. He is a Democrat. He explained: “There is too much going on — inflation, the hurricanes, the Longshoremen strike, steel and fracking, illegal immigration. Too much.”

    He shrugged his shoulders, discouraged. She smiled, eager for Election Day.

    Conclusions from talking to voters

    If the election were held today, I believe Republicans would win Pennsylvania based on my conversations with voters. But that could change if there is a change in one of the key topics: strong or unanticipated positive economic news, perhaps, or if a new issue or story develops that has not yet impacted the race.

    The road trip provided insights into voter decision-making. It highlighted the importance of brand loyalty and enthusiasm. A substantial portion of voters indicated they wished both parties had different leaders. This could impact voter turnout.

    It also illuminated a key difference between traditional consumer decision-making and voter decision-making. If, on Black Friday, I prefer Walmart’s offering over Amazon’s, I am not impacted by my neighbour’s purchase decision.

    In politics, however, how my neighbour votes will influence my life for the next four years.

    Dave Bussiere 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. Dispatch from Pennsylvania: How marketing affects swing voters as U.S. election looms – https://theconversation.com/dispatch-from-pennsylvania-how-marketing-affects-swing-voters-as-u-s-election-looms-241336

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: REPS. HILL, MCCAUL, MCCORMICK, MCCLINTOCK ON THE RELEASE OF TIGRAN GAMBARYAN

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

    RELEASE: REPS. HILL, MCCAUL, MCCORMICK, MCCLINTOCK ON THE RELEASE OF TIGRAN GAMBARYAN

    WASHINGTON, D.C., October 24, 2024

    LITTLE ROCK, AR – Rep. French Hill (R-AR), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) today released the following statement on the release of U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan, who was unjustly detained by the Government of Nigeria since February 2024.

    “While long overdue, we are extremely pleased that Tigran Gambaryan has finally been released from his unjust detention by the Government of Nigeria. During his detainment, Tigran was unfairly subjected to routine violations of his rights of due process, including restricted access to his counsel and U.S. consular support, and inadequate healthcare. This treatment of an upstanding American citizen is wholly unacceptable. Our hearts go out to Tigran and his family, and we hope for an expeditious recovery from this shameful ordeal.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Science on Health, Safety to Launch on 31st SpaceX Resupply Mission

    Source: NASA

    5 min read

    New science experiments for NASA are set to launch aboard the agency’s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. The six investigations aim to contribute to cutting-edge discoveries by NASA scientists and research teams. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will liftoff aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

    Science experiments aboard the spacecraft include a test to study smothering fires in space, evaluating quantum communications, analyzing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, examining health issues like blood clots and inflammation in astronauts, as well as growing romaine lettuce and moss in microgravity.

    Developing Firefighting Techniques in Microgravity

    Putting out a fire in space requires a unique approach to prioritize the safety of the spacecraft environment and crew. The SoFIE-MIST (Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction – Material Ignition and Suppression Test) is one of five investigations chosen by NASA since 2009 to develop techniques on how to contain and put out fires in microgravity. Research from the experiment could strengthen our understanding of the beginning stages of fire growth and behavior, which will assist in building and developing more resilient space establishments and creating better plans for fire suppression in space

    NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins services components that support the SOFIE (Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction) fire safety experiment inside the International Space Station’s combustion integrated rack
    Credit: NASA

    Combating Antibiotic Resistance

    Resistance to antibiotics is as much of a concern for astronauts in space as it is for humans on Earth. Research determined that the impacts of microgravity can weaken a human’s immune system during spaceflight, which can lead to an increase of infection and illness for those living on the space station.

    The GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) investigation scans the orbiting outpost for bacteria resistant to antibiotics and these organisms are studied to learn how they thrive and adapt to microgravity. Research results could help increase the safety of astronauts on future missions as well as provide clues to improving human health on Earth.

    A sample media plate pictured aboard the International Space Station. The GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) investigation surveys the orbiting laboratory for antibiotic-resistant organisms. Genetic analysis could provide knowledge that informs measures to protect astronauts on future long-duration missions
    Credit: NASA

    Understanding Inflammation and Blood Clotting

    Microgravity takes a toll on the human body and studies have shown that astronauts have had cases of inflammation and abnormally regulated blood clotting. The MeF-1 (Megakaryocytes Orbiting in Outer Space and Near Earth: The MOON Study (Megakaryocyte Flying-One)) investigation will conduct research on how the conditions in microgravity can impact the creation and function of platelets and bone-marrow megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes, and their progeny, platelets, are key effector cells bridging the inflammatory, immune, and hemostatic continuum.

    This experiment could help scientists learn about the concerns caused by any changes in the formation of clots, inflammation, and immune responses both on Earth and during spaceflight.

    A scanning electron-microscopy image of human platelets taken at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
    NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

    Building the Space Salad Bar

    The work continues to grow food in the harsh environment of space that is both nutritious and safe for humans to consume. With Plant Habitat-07, research continues on ‘Outredgeous’ romaine lettuce, first grown on the International Space Station in 2014.

    This experiment will sprout this red lettuce in microgravity in the space station’s Advanced Plant Habitat and study how optimal and suboptimal moisture conditions impact plant growth, nutrient content, and the plant microbiome. The knowledge gained will add to NASA’s history of growing vegetables in space and could also benefit agriculture on Earth.

    Pace crop production scientist Oscar Monje harvests Outredgeous romaine lettuce for preflight testing of the Plant Habitat-07 experiment inside a laboratory at the Space Systems Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
    NASA/Ben Smegelsky

    Mixing Moss with Space Radiation

    ARTEMOSS (ANT1 Radiation Tolerance Experiment with Moss in Orbit on the Space Station) continues research that started on Earth with samples of Antarctic moss that underwent simulated solar radiation at the NASA Space Radiation Lab at Brookhaven National Lab in Upton, New York.

    After exposure to radiation some of the moss samples will spend time on the orbiting outpost in the microgravity environment and some will remain on the ground in the 1g environment. ARTEMOSS will study how Antarctic moss recovers from any potential damage from ionizing radiation exposure when plants remain on the ground and when plants grow in spaceflight microgravity. This study leads the way in understanding the effects of combined simulated cosmic ionizing radiation and spaceflight microgravity on live plants, providing more clues to plant performance in exploration missions to come.  

    An example of moss plants grown for the ARTEMOSS mission
    Credit: NASA

    Enabling Communication in Space Between Quantum Computers

    The SEAQUE (Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment) will experiment with technologies that, if successful, will enable communication on a quantum level using entanglement. Researchers will focus on validating in space a new technology, enabling easier and more robust communication between two quantum systems across large distances. The research from this experiment could lead to developing building blocks for communicating between equipment such as quantum computers with enhanced security.

    A quantum communications investigation, called SEAQUE (Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment), is pictured as prepared for launch to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission. The investigation is integrated on a MISSE-20 (Materials International Space Station Experiment) device, which is a platform for experiments on the outside of space station exposing instrumentation directly to the space environment. SEAQUE will conduct experiments in quantum entanglement while being exposed to the radiation environment of space
    Credit: NASA

    Related resources:

    NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Reinvents Widely Used NLCD

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Annual NLCD arrived October 24, 2024, with a new ability to look at land cover and land change year by year, and over a longer time span than previous versions: from 1985 to 2023.

    Two years of effort went into the reinvention of a resource that’s widely used by federal agencies, state and local governments, researchers and many others. NLCD has contributed to a foundation of data essential for land monitoring, planning and decision-making.

    While Annual NLCD focuses on the ground, it relies on data captured 438 miles up. Satellites in the Landsat Program provide the long time series of data that allows users of Annual NLCD to compare change over time such as city growth, wildfire effects and forest fluctuations. 

    Previously, NLCD offered land cover information every two to three years from 2001 to 2021. Annual NLCD offers land cover information for every year for nearly four decades and has a shorter production time going forward. The new October release, called Annual NLCD Collection 1.0, includes information from the previous year for the lower 48 United States, just as the update in 2025 will include information from 2024.

     

    Upgrading ‘Built-in, Foundational Layer’ 

    Annual NLCD, produced at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, is part of a larger suite of land cover mapping and monitoring data produced by the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) consortium, a group of federal agencies that coordinate and generate consistent and relevant land cover information at the national scale.

    The new “Annual” part of NLCD comes in response to the needs of people who use NLCD data. As Earth Observation Applications Coordinator for the USGS National Land Imaging Program, it’s Zhuoting Wu’s job to know what kinds of Earth observation products are valued most by federal agencies. 

    Through a survey, Wu discovered: “NLCD is the most widely used observation product we surveyed. People use it pretty much for everything. It goes into models or applications as a built-in, foundational layer.”

    Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch at EROS, agreed. “The user community is so extensive,” he said. “There are so many federal agencies that absolutely rely on it, whether it’s the Bureau of Land Management, whether it’s the Environmental Protection Agency for regulatory concerns, whether it’s Fish and Wildlife for habitat management, or whether it’s Health and Human Services. It’s hard to find an agency that does not use NLCD.”

    However, in the federal survey from Wu, users did express the desire for annual updates produced more quickly.

    In the meantime, another EROS-led land cover project arose to provide annual land cover and change information stretching back to 1985. However, Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP), first released in 2020, did not contain as much detail about land cover types as NLCD, especially in urban and forested areas.

    Wu said users found NLCD useful for its classification detail and LCMAP for its frequency, but “a combination of the two really gets the needs met.” That combination is Annual NLCD.

    The USGS EROS Center’s production of the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) involves Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch; Physical Scientist Jon Dewitz; and Research Geographer Jesslyn Brown.

    Evolution of NLCD Leads to ‘Touching Every Landsat Pixel’

    Work on the original NLCD product began well before high performance computing and cloud computing could provide automation. Processes have changed since Annual NLCD team member Jon Dewitz spent two years leading field work nearly 20 years ago to figure out which land classes should be labeled where. 

    “Making a land cover map from scratch is very different than developing an algorithm,” Dewitz said.

    That hard-earned information proved foundational to the progression of NLCD, however; processes for each data release grew more automated over time. “This has been a gradual evolution,” Dewitz said. “It’s another magnitude of effort to produce Annual NLCD because are we touching every Landsat pixel.”

    That “magnitude of effort” might be stating it mildly. The number of Landsat pixels processed for Annual NLCD numbered 295 trillion, from a total of 310 terabytes of Landsat data used.

    The task of creating Annual NLCD required new methods involving a lot of research and development, along with engineering. 

    One improvement that helped the team produce Annual NLCD in just two years was the ability to process the vast amount of imagery in the cloud alongside the Landsat data. “That is enabling us to make things faster,” said Jesslyn Brown, the Annual NLCD project manager, compared to previously having to move the imagery to a supercomputer for processing.

    Deep Learning Key to Development 

    Deep learning is another technological advantage the team leveraged for processing. Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence that uses large amounts of data and, like the human brain, learns to recognize patterns—in imagery, for example—to solve problems or make predictions. This was especially important for Annual NLCD because datasets that helped with past NLCD land cover decisions didn’t go as far back as 1985. 

    The six different Annual NLCD science products, with examples all shown of the Marysville, Washington, area. 

    “We had to rely a lot more on the spectral imagery and also on deep learning to do a better job of inferring what’s happening in the Landsat imagery,” Dewitz said. “Deep learning really did a great job of linking all of that data together.”

    EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has long been an advocate for the use of data science to help solve scientific challenges. “Annual NLCD is blazing the trail as among the first generation of operational products at EROS that incorporate deep learning methods to improve performance,” Doucette said. “And I believe that we’re just getting started with where we can take machine learning methods at EROS.”

    Rylie Fleckenstein, the Research and Development (R&D) technical lead for Annual NLCD and a contractor at EROS, looked at previous methods for producing NLCD and LCMAP to help determine the new Annual NLCD process—“moving away from the hand editing, so to speak, and incorporating algorithms or different approaches to automate the process.”

    That production process included a change detection component, like LCMAP had, to determine where and when change had occurred on the landscape, and also a classification component to determine the type of land cover in an area. Some refinement was necessary in areas with trickier or inaccurate classifications. 

    The resulting new release contains a suite of six products associated with land cover and change: 

    • Land Cover: The predominant land cover class
    • Land Cover Change: The change between one year and the next
    • Land Cover Confidence: The probability value for the land cover class
    • Fractional Impervious Surface: The amount of area covered by artificial surfaces like pavement or concrete
    • Impervious Descriptor: The differentiation between roads and other artificial surfaces
    • Spectral Change Day of Year: The timing of a significant change in Landsat data  

    Team Met Challenges During ‘Intense Two Years’

    Brown estimated about 30 people have been involved in producing Annual NLCD. That includes scientists and engineers involved in the research and production stages, and also those collecting reference data to check for errors and validate the results.

    Dewitz praised the team for all they accomplished in the two-year timeframe. “The R&D team was challenged and pushed, and they performed wonderfully,” he said. 

    The engineering side had to do much of their work while R&D was still going on. “Thankfully we have an excellent engineering team,” Dewitz said. “They worked in pieces and did kind of a hybrid engineering process.”

    Sohl, the EROS science chief, thinks the infrastructure developed to produce Annual NLCD should be helpful for other science projects, too. 

    “This has been an intense two years,” Sohl said. “I’m just so proud of the team. They have worked so hard, and they performed a minor miracle in terms of completely revamping the methodology and moving all of the technology into the cloud. Now that we have this infrastructure set up, it really facilitates the next level of improvements for Annual NLCD.”

     

     

    Improvements Helpful for Heat and Flooding Studies

    Annual NLCD is national in scope, but on a local level, it fills the need that cities or other entities have for detailed and accurate land cover information that spans decades.

    George Xian, a research physical scientist at EROS, is grateful that Annual NLCD has arrived so he can start using it in his urban heat island work. He is in the midst of expanding his study of trends in changing average surface temperatures and hotspot locations from 50 to 300 U.S. cities.

    This type of information is important for cities to know because they can develop plans to help residents cope during periods of extreme heat, which can cause illness or death in vulnerable populations.

    For the 50-city study, Xian and his colleagues needed the annual land cover data beginning with 1985 that LCMAP provided, but also the more detailed information about paved surfaces, concrete and rooftops—collectively called impervious surfaces, which typically retain more heat—contained in NLCD. “We had to use a so-called hybrid way to integrate NLCD and LCMAP to gather the data for this four-category urban area and also annual change,” Xian said.

    The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) is produced at the USGS EROS Center, which is located in a rural area north of Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls has steadily grown in size and population, as seen here in red in an Annual NLCD animation spanning nearly 40 years. Annual NLCD provides four different developed classes to provide more detailed information about cities.

    For the expanded study with more than 300 cities from 1985 to 2023, Xian said, “we can use Annual NLCD to directly define our urban categories into four categories. We can study their variations and their variation impact to the urban heat island. We can directly pull the data into our algorithm and use it. We don’t need to regenerate the data.”

    Ryan Corcoran is looking forward to using Annual NLCD as well. He serves as the Coordinated Needs Management Strategy (CNMS) team lead at Niyam IT, which is part of the Advancing Resilience in Communities joint venture that provides planning, engineering and mapping support for FEMA’s Zone 1.  One aspect that Corcoran and his colleagues work with involves checking whether flood studies of river and coastal areas remain valid after a period of time, or whether conditions have changed and require a new study.

    In the past, Corcoran said they have had to use multiple data sources, including NLCD, for baseline watershed information and to assess annual changes. 

    “We are excited about the upcoming expansion of the NLCD. It will make it easier for us to calculate baseline watershed imperviousness and land use changes using a single dataset,” Corcoran said. “The availability of this extensive data is critical, as we sometimes validate flood studies that date back to the 1970s. Increased data availability allows us to better evaluate flood risk, especially when validating older flood studies.”

    More Access to Annual NLCD Data

    Annual NLCD users have more options to access the data than before. The data is still available on the MRLC website, but it also has been added to the cloud and to the USGS EROS data access site EarthExplorer. 

    “We’re trying to respond to people’s requests for data in all kinds of different ways,” said Brown, the Annual NLCD project manager.

    The data will be updated more frequently, too. “In the past, it’s usually taken over a year, if not more, to do an NLCD update,” said science branch chief Sohl. “We’re setting the stage where, by the middle of every year, we’re going to have an update for the previous year.”

    Annual NLCD is providing more useful information more quickly for the people relying on it—which, as it turns out, might be most of us, with NLCD’s history as a key source of data woven into the background of society.   

    “Annual NLCD represents the next generation of highly accurate mapping information that keeps pace with evolving user needs,” said EROS Director Doucette. “Annual NLCD products will become increasingly relevant toward assessing land use and land condition. They provide key change indicators for understanding environmental interactions and consequences. These are the kinds of things that decision makers ultimately want to know.”

    MIL OSI USA News –