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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester’s iconic Christmas 2024 mug designs revealed!

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester’s 2024 collectable Christmas mugs

    With just two weeks to go until the opening of Manchester’s legendary Christmas Markets on Friday 8 November, the design of the city’s iconic and always much-anticipated Christmas mugs for 2024 can now be revealed.

    Designed in-house by the city council’s design studio, this year’s edition of the highly collectible mugs follows the success of last year’s much sought-after Nutcracker-themed mugs which sold out across the markets in record time.  

    Continuing the Nordic-style theme from 2023, this year’s mugs feature a brand-new family of festive characters – Father Christmas, Mother Christmas, and all the elves – that are sure to be a winner with Christmas shoppers of all ages.

    This year’s Christmas mugs

    The collectible souvenir mugs that for thousands upon thousands of visitors to Manchester’s Christmas markets help spell the start of the festive season, will be available at each of the city centre Christmas market locations from 8 November while stocks last. 

    Anyone wanting to get their hands on one of the must-have mugs this year is advised to get themselves along to visit the markets sooner rather than later and not to leave their visit to the last minute.

    The advice comes off the back of the last two years which saw all of the 2022 Christmas mugs selling out completely the week before the markets closed, and every one of last year’s special edition mugs selling out even faster – despite market bosses ordering thousands more of the highly sought after mugs to meet expected demand.

    In both 2022 and 2023 the bumper sell-out saw market traders bringing out vintage mugs from previous years to keep up with the demand from Christmas shoppers.

    This year’s souvenir Christmas mugs

    As always Manchester’s special edition Christmas mugs can either be bought outright by Christmas shoppers or ‘rented’ when they purchase a hot drink at one of the Christmas Market stalls.  

    Customers will be asked to pay a deposit of £3.50 for their mug when they purchase a hot drink and can then either choose to return their mug to the stall afterwards to get their deposit back, or keep the mug and take it home with them as a souvenir of their visit to the markets.

    Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: “Our designers have well and truly smashed it again this year to come up with a fantastically festive design for our iconic Christmas mugs, which we all know are the must-have accessory of the festive season.

    “With a different design unwrapped every year of our legendary Christmas markets, the highly collectible and covetable mugs have become much sought-after by Santa super-fans far and wide and I guarantee they’ll be all over your social feeds as we countdown to Christmas!

    “Last year’s mugs flew off the shelves quicker than you could say Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer – so don’t leave it too late to come and get yours!

    “No-one does Christmas quite like Manchester and we can’t wait to welcome everyone again this year to celebrate the season with us and to enjoy our biggest and best world-beating Christmas Markets!” 

    Last year’s Christmas market mugs sold out in record time

    Manchester’s Christmas markets open on Friday 8 November and close on Sunday 22 December.

    They will be open daily at the following times:

    All craft stalls 10 am – 8 pm

    All bars and food stalls 11 am – 9 pm

    Father Christmas will take up residence in St Peter’s Square after Remembrance Sunday.

    The magical Manchester Christmas Parade takes place on Sunday 8 December.

    The Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens will be open for Christmas skaters from Friday 8 November until Wednesday 1 January. The food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens alongside the skate rink will remain open until 31 December.

    Find out more information about Christmas in Manchester here

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanors Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON — An Ohio man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Jamie Wright, 36, of Bowerston, Ohio, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds.

                The FBI arrested Wright yesterday in Canton, Ohio and he will make his initial appearance in the Northern District of Ohio.

                According to court documents, it is alleged that Wright was identified on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., outside of the barricades on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds wearing a black hooded jacket and a red hat with “Trump 2020.” There, open-source images and video footage depict Wright, at approximately 1:45 p.m., along with others, pushing on the police barricades that outlined the restricted perimeter against officers protecting the Capitol.

                Court records say that after this initial push, officers were able to reestablish the barricades; however, video footage from the Capitol shows that approximately two minutes later, Wright grabbed and pulled the same barricades from officers as they continued to try and hold the crowd back. Only a few minutes later, Wright again attempted to grab the bike rack barricades from officers. This time, video footage shows that he and other rioters successfully took the barricade and moved it back into the crowd near the flowerbeds behind them.

                A short while later, at about 2:00 p.m., it is alleged that Wright again tried to grab barricades from officers on the police line. At the same time, rioters to the left of Wright pushed the barricades against the police. This time, the rioters, including Wright, successfully breached the barricades and police line and moved toward the Capitol building. Wright then turned to the crowd behind him and ushered others forward by waving his hand right before he advanced.

                Shortly after making it into the restricted perimeter, Wright stopped his advance and moved a barricade out of the way of the other rioters. Wright then moved forward to the Capitol again, waiving people forward with him. Court documents say that Wright made it to the terrace of the Capitol building, where video footage depicts him waving rioters forward.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

                This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.                                                      

                In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

                Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

                A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Announces Over $8.5 Million in Funding to Combat Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Clark County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced $8,548,153 in federal funding to support Clark County’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). Nevada has the highest rate of youth experiencing homelessness in the nation. These federal funds will support efforts to expand Clark County’s capacity to prevent youth from becoming unhoused, including through innovative programs that help young Nevadans find safe, stable housing and build pathways to financial self-reliance.

    “Every young Nevadan deserves a roof over their head—that’s why I worked to help secure these funds that will give Southern Nevada organizations the tools they need to provide safe housing and essential services for at-risk youth like education and employment assistance,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll continue fighting to get young people the support they need to succeed.”

    Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to young Nevadans, and she’s worked to keep Nevadans in their homes – especially through her work with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB-SF) system. She’s cosponsored bipartisan legislation to help provide stable housing options for foster care youth transitioning to adulthood, and she this year she secured $9.4 million from the FHLB-SF’s targeted fund she helped create — almost twice as much as Nevada received last year — to build more affordable housing. She also helped secure nearly $12 million in funding for the Communities in Schools (CIS) program, which works with local partner organizations to provide eligible students and their families with essential services, including mental health care and access to high-quality afterschool and leadership programs. Additionally, she has secured $950,000 to help Clark County School District better support students recovering from substance abuse and mental health struggles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister sets out measures in Windrush reset

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Minister for Migration and Citizenship spoke at the Windrush National Organisation’s 3rd Annual Windrush International Conference on 25 October 2024.

    Location:
    Birmingham
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you Bishop Desmond.

    It is a great pleasure to be here today and to be able to address the Windrush National Organisation International Conference, and to thank you for all that you do, and to thank all of you for being here and to have the opportunity to listen and to learn from you all.  

    I was proud to be appointed by the Prime Minister as the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, and to support the Home Secretary with overall responsibility for Windrush in the Home Office.  

    Yesterday we held the first ever Black History Month debate in the Chamber in Parliament, in government time, as opposed to a back bench debate, in which I was able to speak on behalf of the government.  

    To have held a debate in Black History Month, in government time is a mark of how the new Labour administration is putting equality at the heart of all we do, and it is in that spirit that I speak to you all today.  

    Since the 1980s we have celebrated Black History Month.  

    And it has moved from the fringes to the mainstream, across our schools, our colleges, and our workplaces. 

    But indeed, our understanding of history is constantly evolving, as new scholarship reveals new stories and new narratives, reveals new truths, and enhances our understanding of the experience of the black community in the UK. 

    These stories are important because they teach us about ourselves and our national story. The purpose of Black History Month is to amplify black history, not to confine it to four weeks.  

    This is the story of all of us. 

    And I want to thank Bishop Desmond, Nigel Guy, Glenda Caesar, Reverend Clive , who I spoke with this week and everyone at the Windrush National Organisation for this opportunity to join you and for all you do to support the Windrush generation and their descendants. And I’m grateful also to be able to hear and connect with advocates also from the South Asian community who have spoken today, and others who we know are also affected by this scandal. 

    Today I want to reiterate the government’s commitment to the Windrush generation.  

    To turn the page in our determination to rebuild trust with the Windrush communities as a key part of our work in the Home Office.  

    It is time for a re-set. 

    It has been 76 years since HMT Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury Docks, bringing those who answered the call to help re-build our country.  

    A generation that has gone on to make an immeasurable contribution to our society and to our economy.  

    Our public services. Our NHS.  Our business and trade. Our politics. 

    Our armed forces, Our culture and heritage. 

    The Windrush scandal saw Windrush and Commonwealth communities who had, and have, the right to live in this country victimised because they were unable to prove that right through no fault of their own.  

    And while in opposition, as we’ve heard, we made it clear that the Windrush scandal must never be repeated. The last government’s response was far too slow, far too weak, and did not deliver justice to those who were betrayed and failed.  

    Yesterday the Home Secretary published an update on the government’s progress in fulfilling our manifesto commitment to the Windrush generation, as we seek to ensure that all receive the support that they deserve quickly and efficiently. A manifesto commitment that she confirmed ahead of the election would be one of her key priorities.  

    I want to acknowledge today as well, the work of Wendy Williams on the Windrush Lessons Learned Review and I want to share some of the announcements we have made this week. 

    We are reigniting the vital transformation work from the Lessons Learned Review to embed lasting changes in how the department serves all communities and I was pleased to be with the Home Secretary where we discussed our plans with Wendy Williams this week. 

    We are establishing a Windrush Commissioner; an independent advocate for all those affected. This role will oversee the compensation scheme’s delivery, the implementation of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, and act as a trusted voice for families and communities. 

    We have re-established, as promised, a Windrush Unit in the Home Office reporting to the departmental Ethics Adviser and dedicated to driving forward the action needed to ensure that what happened to the Windrush generation can never happen again to any part of our society.  

    And the new unit stands ready to support the Windrush Commissioner when appointed. 

    The renewed work and the recruitment of a dedicated Windrush Commissioner must drive enduring change that matters to the Windrush community and has wider impact across the whole department and across government. 

    It is time to right the wrongs of Windrush, and it also important to say that the package that we announced yesterday is a first step, and we welcome the ongoing conversations with campaigners and with all of you, and the ongoing challenge and the desire to work with you and to be held to account.  

    Change is absolutely going to come. 

    And I also want to also speak briefly about the Windrush Compensation Scheme. During the lead-up to the general election, we frequently heard, as you do, from the community and stakeholders that the application process is far too complicated, and the available support for making a claim is inadequate.  

    To address this, we are injecting £1.5 million spend into a program of grant funding for organisations to help provide that essential advocacy and support for applicants who need additional help with the application process. We need to ensure that claimants feel supported.  

    And for many, filling a claim is intimidating and requires them to revisit past traumas. By sharing their experiences with impartial community members, we want to make sure this process is as supportive as possible. 

    We are committed to seeing that the Windrush Compensation and Status Schemes are delivering effectively, and that communities are aware of how to apply to them. 

    I know that the financial compensation will never make up for the pain, the suffering and the loss that many of you or your family members or community members have also experienced.  

    But we are committed to ensuring those affected receive the documentation they require and the compensation they deserve.    

    Over £95 million in compensation has been paid out so far and over 17,400 people have been issued with documentation confirming their status or British Citizenship. 

    This is a movement in the right direction, but I have heard and I understand the frustration within Windrush communities that claims – and justice – have taken far too long.  

    That’s why on getting into government, we also established a new single named caseworker process for the Windrush Compensation Scheme.  

    This change was in direct response to feedback from individuals and groups like the WNO and is designed to increase transparency – so that anyone who makes a claim knows that they can speak to a single person who is there for them and who can support them through the process. 

    We are also rapidly reviewing the issue of private and occupational pensions losses which has caused real frustration and concern. 

    I want to reassure you, that all the Windrush schemes will remain open until every single person affected by the scandal has had a chance to submit their claims. 

    But I also know how vital it is to be listening to the voices of victims and for the government to rebuild trust with the community.  

    The right to be heard. The need for healing. 

    We are determined to hear from communities first hand and ensure greater transparency by listening to victims, to stakeholders, and communities, and renew our work on reviewing the implementation of the Windrush Lesson Learned Review recommendations.  

    And we will be working closely and collaboratively with victims and communities who have been impacted. Yesterday the Home Secretary held a round table at the Black Cultural Archives and we will be engaging at more events around the country.  It is vital that we maintain forums for open and for honest dialogue, constructive criticism and positive feedback. 

    I have also been pleased to hear of the success of the WNO national tour, and I am pleased that my officials have been able to support at every event around the country, from Bradford to Bristol to Edinburgh, and I know that the team in the Home Office will continue to be working closely with the Windrush National Organisation. 

    Only by hearing and reflecting on the impact that policy making had and continues to have on victims and their families’ lives, can government ensure that we never let such an injustice happen again. 

    I am joined today as well by officials from the department with responsibility for the Windrush Schemes. Gabi Monk, the Director of Customer Operations Support Services is here. We’ve also got Abby and Katie, members of the Windrush compensation scheme. They are here also to talk and to listen to you.  

    And I want to also re-iterate that we are working at pace across government to develop and deliver wider proposals to address persistent racial inequalities, wherever they arise. 

    From introducing our Renters’ Rights Bill and our Employment Rights Bill, and developing our Race Equality Bill, we are proud to continue our record of anti-discrimination legislation.  

    This work is at the core of our ambitious, mission-based programme to change this country.  

    And so, let me conclude by thanking you for inviting me to speak at this extremely important conference today. 

    We are fully committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal.  

    We understand the importance of this work and we will not rest until all those who are affected have received the compensation that they deserve, and that we collectively begin to see the Windrush scandal coming to an end. 

    And that in its place is a legacy of change. 

    And finally, our message to the Windrush generation is clear – we are grateful to you, and we will do right by you. 

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta legislature to reconvene for fall session

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    This fall, Alberta’s government will introduce legislation that fortifies the rights, freedoms and opportunities of Albertans, ensuring protections are updated to reflect these modern times.

    During the fall session, Alberta’s government will focus on amending and strengthening the Alberta Bill of Rights, to include the introduction of new rights for Albertans, such as protections for personal autonomy, including the right not to be given medical care, treatment or a vaccine without consent; the right to acquire, keep and use firearms in accordance with the law; and strengthened property rights.

    “Alberta’s government is heading back to the legislature with a laser-focus on the protection of Albertans’ best interests. The legislation introduced this session will see Alberta be a leader in Canada, enshrining fundamental rights while simultaneously ensuring our province remains a haven for job-creating investment with strong, business-friendly policies.”

    Joseph Schow, Government House Leader and Minister of Tourism and Sport

    Legislation will be introduced preserving choice for minors, supporting student success and well-being in schools by strengthening ties between parents and their child’s education, and protecting fairness and safety in sport by ensuring biologically born women and girls have the opportunity to compete in biological female-only categories.

    Alberta’s government will also propose legislation to promote safety in the workplace, increase safety, transparency and accountability in the child-care sector, and protect Albertans’ privacy in today’s digital environment. The government’s emphasis on ensuring the rights and freedoms of Albertans are protected in an ever-changing world is in addition to the ongoing work to continue diversifying Alberta’s economy and maintain Alberta’s business- and investment-friendly environment.  

    Proposed bills to be introduced this session include:

    • Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, 2024
    • Early Learning and Child Care Amendment Act, 2024
    • Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
    • Education Amendment Act, 2024
    • Meat Inspection Amendment Act, 2024
    • Fairness and Safety in Sport Act
    • Service Alberta Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
    • Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
    • Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
    • Protection of Privacy Act
    • Access to Information Act
    • All-season Resorts Act
    • Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2024

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Medicaid for More People: Health Coverage Options During Open Enrollment

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Medicaid for More People: Health Coverage Options During Open Enrollment

    NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Medicaid for More People: Health Coverage Options During Open Enrollment
    hejones1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss what to know and ways to apply for health care coverage, including NC Medicaid, during open enrollment. 

    Event participants include:

    • LaQuana Palmer, MPA, Deputy Director, NC Medicaid Communications and Engagement, Division of Health Benefits, NCDHHS  
    • Hollis Smith, Medicaid Expansion Outreach and Education Coordinator, Care Share Health Alliance 

    Open enrollment for NC Medicaid and other health care coverage options begins Nov. 1. Open enrollment is the annual window of time when everyone can apply for or renew health care coverage for themselves and their families.

    Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:  

    • Who is newly eligible for Medicaid under expansion
    • What to know about open enrollment
    • Ways to apply for Medicaid or other health care coverage  
    • How to get support understanding your health coverage options 

    The NCDHHS Medicaid expansion website provides information on eligibility, how to apply and where to find support. Individuals can connect with state and local support teams to learn more about their health care coverage options, complete Medicaid applications and navigate enrollment. Resources are also available to help people who need to renew their Medicaid coverage. 

    The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 111943#. 

    Those joining the event will have the opportunity to ask questions about Medicaid expansion, eligibility and enrollment. 

    Oct 25, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Prolific offender arrested by Deer Lake RCMP and charged with multiple offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Prolific offender, 36-year-old Archibald Billard, was arrested by Deer Lake RCMP on October 24, 2024. He attends court today, charged with a number of new offences.

    Billard was arrested yesterday, October 24, after he fled from police on foot from a house on Middle Road in Deer Lake.

    On October 23, 2024, Billard, who is known to evade the police, was operating a vehicle while prohibited on the Trans-Canada Highway near St. Judes. He was observed traveling in excess of 170 kms/hr by RCMP Traffic Services West. Billard failed to stop for police and continued driving in a dangerous manner. A second officer attempted to stop Billard in the community of St. Judes, who again failed to stop for police and was driving at high speeds and in a dangerous manner. In the interest of public safety, police did not pursue.

    Billard is currently before the court in relation to a long list of charges and is on a number of court-ordered conditions following his recent release from custody. On October 15, 2024, Billard was released by the court in Grand Falls-Windsor in relation to fifteen charges of criminal offences that occurred on October 12, 2024, in Deer Lake and Grand Falls-Windsor. The charges include impaired operation, prohibited operation, flight from police, dangerous operation, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance and breaches of probation. Following his release, Billard was ordered to report in person at Bay St. George RCMP and has failed to fulfill that condition.

    He attends court today charged with seven new counts of criminal offences:

    • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle/conveyance – two counts
    • Flight from police – two counts
    • Operation of a motor vehicle/conveyance while prohibited
    • Breach of a court release order – two counts

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Aldie man sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for multi-million-dollar investment scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Aldie man was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison for scheme to defraud dozens of investors in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri, and elsewhere, causing $15 million dollars in losses.

    According to court documents, Babu Ramaraj, 47, owned DAB Inspection and Consulting Services, LLC (DAB), a small home contractor with modest revenues doing patio and deck projects. Ramaraj claimed to investors and potential investors that DAB had lucrative contracts with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and others, and was a joint venture partner on a Washington DC Water Clean Rivers Project, for tens of millions of dollars each, supposedly to perform engineering inspection work on huge infrastructure projects.

    Ramaraj claimed he needed to make large upfront bond payments to secure the work but could not obtain bank financing because of the relative youth of DAB as a company and the speed with which DAB needed to secure the funding, which was supposedly not feasible with banks.

    In support of his claims, Ramaraj supplied to victims falsified contract award letters, invoices, DAB financial records, and other documents to induce dozens of investors to loan funds to DAB. The supposed bonds were never paid.

    From January 2020 through May 2024, Ramaraj pitched individuals, including members of his Loudon County cricket league, the opportunity to loan DAB money at high interest rates, annualized at 30% or more.  Using money from later investors, Ramaraj paid initial investors the promised returns to entice them to continue investing and to recruit other friends and family to invest.

    After being confronted by two investors and signing an acknowledgment in October 2023 that he had “tampered” with numerous contracts and financial records, Ramaraj continued to make material misrepresentations concerning DAB to other investors and potential investors. Ramaraj was pitching investors up to the time he was arrested on May 30, 2024. He has been held in custody as a flight risk since his arrest.

    Instead of paying for the promised bonds, Ramaraj electronically transferred investor funds to his online brokerage accounts to engage in securities trades; wired over $1 million to accounts in India; purchased several automobiles, including several Teslas; obtained real properties; incurred millions in stock market trading losses, and made other payments to fund his lifestyle. Ramaraj took in nearly $40 million and caused losses to investors of approximately $15 million.

    In addition to the prison sentence, the Court ordered Ramaraj to pay over $15 million in restitution.

    Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; and Jehmal T. Hudson, Chair of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annie Zanobini is handling asset recovery efforts in the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-147.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Associate of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Trafficking Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Brockton man associated with Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang, pleaded guilty yesterday to drug and firearms trafficking charges.

    Steve Depina, age 37, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 25, 2025.

    During the investigation, Depina was identified as an older associate of the Cameron Street gang who had a history of drug trafficking. In 2018, Depina was convicted in Plymouth Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and was sentenced to 3-5 years in prison.

    Depina was recorded as he distributed cocaine and cocaine base to a cooperating witness. Depina also sold a cooperating witness a 9 millimeter firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition. On Aril 15, 2022, during a search of his residence, another firearm and an additional quantity of cocaine base was seized from Depina.

    According to court documents, Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect, and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear, and enhance its reputation.

    The charge of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of Levy’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gallatin Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for December 2019 Violent Crime Spree

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NASHVILLE – Lazavion Kern, 23, of Gallatin, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison, following his conviction in December 2023, of multiple armed robbery and firearms offenses, announced Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    During a three-week span in December 2019, Kern robbed four convenience stores in Gallatin and Portland, Tennessee, taking thousands of dollars from the clerks. As part of the final robbery, Kern repeatedly pistol-whipped the clerk, seriously injuring him. Kern was charged by a federal grand jury in January of 2023 with one count of Hobbs Act robbery for each of the four robberies, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 

    “Our office is committed to prosecuting violent criminals and to protecting law abiding citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “This sentence shows that if you commit a violent crime in our community, we will do whatever it takes to find you and hold you accountable for your actions. We stand with our law enforcement partners across Middle Tennessee to seek justice and keep our communities safe.”

    “This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe,” said Joe Carrico, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This case was another example of law enforcement agencies coming together to combat violent crime and ensure the streets are rid of such callous criminals.”

    Kern was aided in each robbery by Antonio Jones and, in the third robbery, by Michael Sanchez Fitts. Jones and Fitts pleaded guilty to felonies. Fitts was sentenced on May 22, 2023, to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Jones was sentenced on October 10, 2024, to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gallatin Police Department, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Portland Police Department. Significant assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph P. Montminy and Taylor J. Phillips prosecuted the case.

    #####

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clarkston Woman Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Embezzling Over Three Million Dollars from Former Employer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT- A Clarkston woman was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for wire fraud arising out of an embezzlement scheme targeting her former employer, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

    Joining Ison in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cheyvoryea Gibson.

    Sally Lynn Elmore, 56, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one count of wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud her former employer that resulted in over $3 million in losses.  In addition to the 3 years’ imprisonment, United States District Judge Brandy R. McMillion ordered Elmore to pay $2.2 million in restitution to her victims and to pay a $3.2 million forfeiture money judgment. 

    According to Court documents, from April 2019 to December 2022, Elmore abused her position of trust and used her access to the payroll and banking systems of her employer to execute a scheme to fraudulently direct electronic payments—in the form of salary, bonuses, and expense reimbursements that she knew she was not entitled to receive—from her employer’s bank account to her personal bank accounts.  In order to conceal her fraud, Elmore prepared and presented falsified financial statements to her employer’s board, representing that the company was still in possession of funds that she had, in fact, fraudulently directed to herself. She also concealed the missing funds from the company’s insurer, causing the company to lose coverage for losses from theft.  In total, Elmore stole over $3 million and gambled most of it away. 

    “Elmore violated the trust placed in her as the director of finance and human resources for her company, stealing over three million dollars, nearly driving the company to insolvency, and putting the livelihoods of her fellow employees in jeopardy, stated United States Attorney Ison. “Our office will aggressively prosecute those individuals who abuse their authority to line their own pockets at others’ expense.”

    “Over the course of three years, Ms. Elmore betrayed her employer by exploiting her access to the company’s finances, stealing millions of dollars, and covering up her actions through deception,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI has zero tolerance for fraud against individuals or institutions and will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those involved in embezzlement schemes. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who abuses their position of trust faces justice.”

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alyse Wu. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Physician Charged in Scheme to Illegally Sell Cancer Drugs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Detroit – A Royal Oak physician was charged in an Indictment for his role in a multi-million-dollar scheme to illegally sell and divert expensive prescription cancer drugs, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

    Joining Ison in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Charged in the Indictment is Dr. Naveed Aslam, age 51, of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

    The charges against Dr. Aslam include one count of conspiracy to illegally sell or trade prescription drugs and 10 counts of illegally selling or trading prescription drugs.

    According to the Indictment, by early 2019, and continuing through August 2023, Dr. Aslam, a licensed physician, worked with others to buy and sell expensive cancer drugs for profit and with the intent to defraud and mislead. The other individuals Dr. Aslam worked with identified customers interested in buying prescription cancer drugs, and they communicated with Dr. Aslam about what cancer drugs were requested. Dr. Aslam used his access to certain cancer drugs through his medical practice, Somerset Hematology and Oncology, P.C., to order and purchase the cancer drugs from his supplier. He then sold the cancer drugs to and through the other individuals’ company to the eventual customer. During this scheme, Dr. Aslam acquired and sold more than $17 million in prescription cancer drugs, and personally profited more than $2.5 million.

    “The safety and integrity of our country’s prescription drug supply lines – particularly for cancer drugs – is an important part of our health care system,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “As alleged, Dr. Aslam used his role as a physician to violate that integrity and divert prescription cancer drugs away from treating patients. My office is committed to prosecuting medical professionals who seek to profit, rather than protect, our health care system.”

    “Our agency is dedicated to ensuring that medical providers follow laws designed to protect both the integrity and solvency of Federal health care programs, as well as the beneficiaries they serve,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our Federal law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate allegations of fraud.”

    “Having the authority to prescribe medication is a privilege that comes with a profound responsibility. Physicians must safeguard against drug diversion,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Dr. Aslam’s alleged participation in this scheme not only allowed him to profit unlawfully from the sale of cancer drugs, but it also posed a serious threat by potentially placing these medications into the wrong hands. This breach of trust is inexcusable, especially considering the critical nature of the drugs involved. The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to hold medical professionals accountable for exploiting their positions for personal gain and endangering community safety.”

    “Introducing diverted prescription drugs into the supply chain and selling them to unsuspecting consumers undermines the FDA safeguards designed to protect the public,” said Ronne Malham, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office‎. “We remain committed to bringing to justice those who place their personal gain over the health of American consumers.”

    “A physician’s ethical responsibility is to their patients, not to selling cancer drugs under the table for profit,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “We will protect patients against fraud, especially from those in positions of public trust who choose greed over public safety.”

    An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Lievense. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica A. Nathan of the Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Unit is handling related forfeiture matters. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI, HHS-OIG, HSI, and the FDA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Maryland Men Convicted At Trial After Violent Crime Spree

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – After a 9-day trial, a federal jury returned verdicts against Thaddeus Lamont Wills, age 51, and Keionta Shawn Hagens, age 44, both of Waldorf, Maryland, of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, carjacking, and of murder.

    The conviction was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Troy D. Berry of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office; and Chief Peter Newsham of the Prince William County, Virginia Police Department.

    Evidence presented at trial established that on November 12, 2020, conspirators, including Wills and Hagens, while armed with firearms, robbed an employee of Business-1 of cash and merchandise, and a customer of Business-1 of personal property.  To facilitate their escape from Business-1, conspirators, including Wills and Hagens, forcefully, and using firearms, took a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck from the victim customer.

    Trial evidence further established that on or about November 17, 2020, conspirators, including Wills and Hagens used a stolen 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck to drive to Business-2 for the purpose of robbing Business-2.  Wills and Hagens thereafter, while using at least one firearm, robbed an employee of Business-2 of cash and merchandise as well as a customer of personal property.  During the robbery, Wills and Hagens zip tied the hands of the employee.  In addition, Between November 12, 2020, and November 26, 2020, conspirators, including Wills and Hagens, stored and concealed the stolen Dodge Ram pickup and stolen Ford F-150 pickup in the area of Brandywine, Maryland.  

    On January 6, 2021, in Waldorf, Maryland, conspirators, including Wills, while armed with firearms, forcefully took a 2008 Honda Pilot Sport Utility Vehicle from a victim. On January 6 and January 7, 2021, conspirators, including Wills, used the 2008 Honda Pilot to travel from Maryland into Virginia.  Then, on January 7, 2021, in Woodbridge, Virginia, conspirators, including Wills, while armed with firearms, robbed customers, agents and employees of Business-3 of cash, merchandise, and personal property.  After driving the 2008 Honda Pilot back from Virginia to Maryland on January 7, 2021, Wills and a co-conspirator burned the vehicle in the area of Brandywine, Maryland. 

    Finally, on January 18, 2021, conspirators, including Wills and Hagens, robbed Victim-8, the owner of Business-4, of merchandise while using at least two firearms, and shot and killed the business owner during the robbery.  In order to escape after the robbery and murder of the victim, Wills used a firearm to forcefully take a 2019 Lexus RX350 Sport Utility Vehicle from a separate victim.

    Wills faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for the murder of victim-8 during the robbery on January 18, 2021; a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years and a maximum sentence of life for each count of using, carrying, brandishing a firearm during the robbery on November 17, 2020, the carjacking on January 6, 2021, and the carjacking on January 18, 2021. Wills faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison each for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and interference with interstate commerce by robbery related to the robberies on November 17, 2020 and January 18, 2021, as well as a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for each carjacking.

    Hagens faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for using and carrying a firearm during the robbery on November 17, 2020.  Hagens also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years each for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and interference with interstate commerce by robbery for the robberies on November 17, 2020 and January 18, 2021.

    U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for Wills on February 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and for Hagens on February 14, 2024 at 9:30 am.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    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.

    U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, PGPD, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, and the Prince William County, Virginia Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Moomau and Patrick D. Kibbe, who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Romanian Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Scheme to Steal Identities of Victims on Public Assistance to Fraudulently Obtain EBT Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Romanian man pleaded guilty today to his role in a scheme that involved using illegal skimmers on ATMs to harvest data, creating counterfeit debit cards using the stolen account holders’ information, and then using the cards to make cash withdrawals from numerous victims’ accounts.

    Sorin-Miguel Ghiorghe, 46, of the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and one count of possession of device-making equipment.

    Ghiorghe – whom prosecutors believe illegally entered the United States – admitted that he and his accomplices used counterfeit cards to fraudulently make withdrawals from the accounts of numerous victims, and that he specifically used the counterfeit cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from victims’ accounts.

    According to the indictment, the skimming ring focused on illegally accessing funds administered by the California Department of Social Services to low-income California residents through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts, including CalFresh and CalWorks benefits.  When law enforcement searched the apartment Ghiorghe was living in, they located ATM-skimming equipment and EBT account numbers in other peoples’ names. 

    United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Ghiorghe will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the unauthorized access devices and device-making equipment counts, and a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to his underlying sentence for the aggravated identity theft count.

    The United States Secret Service investigated this case and received significant assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Max A. Shapiro of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: CORRECTION — North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. Announces Third Quarter Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    In a release issued earlier today under the same headline by North Dallas Bank & Trust Co., (OTC: NODB) please note that the word “Second” in the headline should instead read “Third”. The release follows:

    DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NDBT (North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.), an independent community bank established in 1961, today announced net earnings for three months of $502,493 or $0.20 per share, and net earnings for nine months of $2,186,955 or $0.85 per share, for the periods ending September 30, 2024.

    Earnings were prepared internally without review by the company’s independent accountants. Financial results are the results of past performance, events and market conditions, and are not a guarantee for future results. Any forward-looking implications derived from this information may differ materially from actual results.

    Further information about the earning and financial performance is available from Glenn Henry, Chief Financial Officer, by contacting NDBT.

    ABOUT NDBT
    Founded in 1961, NDBT (North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.) is an independent community bank with five banking centers located in Dallas, Addison, Frisco, Las Colinas, and Plano. Headquartered on the corner of Preston Road and LBJ at 12900 Preston Road in Dallas, NDBT is dedicated to helping people make smarter choices in business and life by offering authentic banking solutions, wealth management, and innovative online banking tools. NDBT is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information, call 972.716.7100, or visit online at www.ndbt.com.

    NORTH DALLAS BANK & TRUST CO.
    12900 PRESTON ROAD
    DALLAS, TEXAS
                   
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30   September 30
    Income Statement 2024   2023   2024   2023
                   
    Interest Income 19,690,721     16,080,200     57,809,406     45,415,030  
    Interest Expense 11,417,563     8,497,071     32,759,175     19,553,246  
    Net Interest Income 8,273,158     7,583,129     25,050,231     25,861,784  
                   
    Provision for Loan Losses 0     0     (440,000 )   (450,000 )
    Noninterest Income 1,546,280     1,947,351     4,384,215     4,659,259  
    Noninterest Expenses (9,302,724 )   (8,767,533 )   (26,524,077 )   (25,989,503 )
    Income Before Taxes & Extraordinary 516,714     762,947     2,470,369     4,081,540  
                   
    Income Tax (14,221 )   (95,021 )   (258,414 )   (679,355 )
    Income Tax Prior Period (25,000 )   0     (25,000 )   0  
    Net Income 502,493     667,926     2,186,955     3,402,185  
                   
    Earnings per Share 0.20     0.26     0.85     1.32  
                   
              Nine Month Average
      As of September 30   Ended September 30
    Balance Sheet 2024   2023   2024   2023
                   
    Total Assets 1,867,355,555     1,728,752,439     1,819,265,389     1,697,914,626  
    Total Loans 1,211,656,001     1,133,317,827     1,206,729,021     1,057,729,435  
    Deposits 1,543,618,454     1,468,335,323     1,503,472,762     1,472,027,210  
    Stockholders’ Equity 170,479,567     160,495,368     166,294,611     160,534,861  
                   
    (Prepared internally without review by
    our independent accountants)
                   

    Media Contact:
    Brian C. Jensen
    972-716-7124
    brian.jensen@ndbt.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hamas at a crossroads: Sinwar’s death leaves a vacuum; Israeli actions make it harder to fill with a moderate

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mkhaimar Abusada, Visiting Scholar of Global Affairs, Northwestern University

    Yahya Sinwar left his print on Hamas and the Palestinian cause. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Hamas will soon begin the process of deciding who will next head the militant Palestinian organization following the Oct. 16, 2024, killing of former leader Yahya Sinwar – but the task won’t be easy, or quick.

    What makes his replacement as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau a hard one is that since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack – for which, Sinwar was seen as the main architect – Israel has killed many of the senior political and military commanders that would be in line to replace him, or at least be tasked with determining the future direction of Hamas.

    Just two months before Sinwar’s death, his predecessor in the role, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Tehran, purportedly in an Israeli operation. Meanwhile, Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, was killed in July and Saleh Arouri, a senior Hamas official and deputy of Haniyeh, was earlier killed in a Beirut drone strike.

    As an expert on Palestinian politics, I believe the death of Sinwar will leave a vacuum in Hamas that will likely last for many months, if not years. The question is whether the group eventually opts for a leader who continues Sinwar’s hard-line legacy or tries to moderate Hamas’ approach.

    Sinwar’s legacy

    Sinwar’s uncompromising stance has shaped not only Hamas but also the Palestinian cause.

    Born and raised in the Gazan refugee camp Khan Younis, Sinwar joined Hamas in the early days of the organization, which was established in 1987. He quickly rose through the ranks and was responsible for establishing Majd, a security agency within the military wing of Hamas responsible for apprehending and executing Palestinian collaborators with Israel.

    Sinwar confessed to Israeli interrogators to have killed and buried 12 suspected collaborators – earning him a life sentence in Israeli jail. He served 22 years before being released in a prisoner-swap deal in 2011, which also saw the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

    Children play around a reception tent showing Yahya Sinwar’s image, while inside the former prisoner greets friends and relatives after being released from an Israeli jail in 2011.
    Lynsey Addario/Getty Images Reportage

    A few years later, he made it to the top of Hamas, serving as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza since 2017. After Haniyeh’s assassination in late July, 2024, Sinwar assumed overall leadership.

    Throughout, Sinwar has been a proponent of Hamas’ hard-line stance on Israel – an approach that won him respect within the organization.

    Less than a year after assuming power in Gaza, Sinwar endorsed the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” protests of March 2018 along Israel-Gaza borders. The demonstrations – during which Israeli troops shot dead scores of Palestinian protesters – succeeded in galvanizing international support for the Palestinian cause.

    The protests may have also contributed to Israel’s decision in August of that year to allow Qatar to begin making monthly payments of millions of dollars to Hamas and Gaza in an attempt to defuse and de-escalate tensions.

    More concessions came as Israel tried to satisfy Sinwar and avoid the further escalation of unrest in Gaza, including allowing Gazan laborers to work in Israel for the first time since Israel’s disengagement from Gaza in 2005.

    But Sinwar had less success in getting Israel to agree to releasing the fellow Hamas members he had left behind in Israeli jails and had vowed to get out. He tried many times to strike a deal for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and two civilians, but Israel was not interested. That failure probably contributed to Hamas’ decision to attack Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

    How Hamas reacts to blows

    The killing of Sinwar has weakened Hamas, but Hamas as an idea and an ideology is harder to kill.

    Israel knows this. In March 2004, an Israeli missile struck and killed Hamas’ founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin; a month later, his successor Abdel Aziz Rantisi was also killed.

    But those deaths did not weaken Hamas. On the contrary, the organization grew more radical. A younger and more defiant leadership took over the organization, which fought Israel repeatedly from 2008 onward, culminating int the Oct. 7 attacks.

    Palestinian mourners carry the coffin of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City on March 22, 2004.
    Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images

    Hamas’ reaction to that double blow may give an insight into the current decision-making process now.

    The killing of Yassin was an opportunity for Hamas to revise its military tactics against Israel – which then mainly consisted of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

    But in the end, Hamas vowed to continue the violent struggle against Israel.

    Moderation or radicalization?

    Hamas is again at a crossroad. It is weakened, alienated from Arab moderate governments and increasingly unpopular among Gazans.

    But throughout the last year of conflict it has remained defiant. Footage of an injured Sinwar, fighting to the last and trying to down an Israeli drone with a stick, has only added to his legacy, making him a legend to many supporters.

    The new leadership will have to chose between continuing down the road of radicalization that Sinwar represented or opting for moderation.

    But Israel is not making that second option any easier.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s only offer to Hamas is total surrender – he has not left the group any face-saving exit.

    So it seems likely that Hamas will choose to continue the fight.

    As such, one of the most likely candidates for post-Sinwar leadership of Hamas is Khalil al-Hayya, a Palestinian politician who has served as the deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau since August 2024.

    Al-Hayya is known for his hawkish attitude toward the idea of Hamas’ reconciliation with rival Palestinian group Fatah, and his hawkish statements on Israel. After Sinwar’s death, he vowed to continue the fight against Israel, an indication that the spirit of Sinwar will continue to guide Palestinian resistance in the coming years.

    His main challenger for the role of leader is Khaled Mashaal, who served as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau from 1996 to 2017 and currently serves as its chairman in exile.

    Mashaal, who has a large network of regional and international allies, is considered a more moderate option. He was responsible for drafting Hamas’ 2017 manifesto – seen as a departure from the earlier, more radical and blatantly antisemitic 1988 charter.

    Collective leadership: Room for maneuver?

    But a decision on who will assume the role of leader is not expected immediately. Hamas appears more inclined toward collective leadership until scheduled elections in March 2025, if conditions permit.

    In the meantime, a five-member committee that was formed in August following the assassination of Haniyeh will take over decision-making. The committee is tasked with “governing the movement during the war and exceptional circumstances, as well as its future plans,” and the new committee is authorized to “make strategic decisions,” according to Hamas sources who spoke to Agence France-Presse reporters.

    Collective leadership of this sort would seemingly indicate that at present Hamas sees no single person as being able to fill the vacuum left by Sinwar.

    It would also give Hamas potentially more room to maneuver regarding negotiations with Israel and regional players, as some members of the committee are seen as acceptable faces to moderate Arab governments.

    Collective leadership also provides Hamas with a survival mechanism, making it harder for Israel to claim the type of success it has so far achieved in assassinating named Hamas “leaders.”

    No doubt, Israel has weakened Hamas with this strategy – notably with the killing of Sinwar. And while the assassination of leading Hamas figures does not constitute “total victory” over the group, as Israel wants, it does make the choice in choosing the next leader that much harder for Hamas.

    Mkhaimar Abusada serves as deputy chairman on the board of directors at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and is a board member at the Independent Commission for Human Rights.

    – ref. Hamas at a crossroads: Sinwar’s death leaves a vacuum; Israeli actions make it harder to fill with a moderate – https://theconversation.com/hamas-at-a-crossroads-sinwars-death-leaves-a-vacuum-israeli-actions-make-it-harder-to-fill-with-a-moderate-241990

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Climate change sets and breaks heat records across Canada this summer

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system uses climate models to compare today’s climate with a pre-industrial one

    October 25, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Over the summer, Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists analyzed the devastating heat waves that impacted Canadians. They found that human-caused climate change made almost all of Canada’s worst heat waves hotter and more likely.

    Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system uses climate models to compare today’s climate with a pre-industrial one. This helps Canadians understand how human emissions and activities are affecting our lives and weather today, as the changes unfold.

    From June to September 2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada climate scientists analyzed 37 of the hottest heat waves in 17 regions across Canada. They determined that of these heat waves, human-caused climate change made:

    • Five of them more likely to occur (at least one to two times more likely)
    • Twenty-eight of them much more likely to occur (at least two to 10 times more likely)
    • Four of them far more likely to occur (at least 10 times more likely)

    Learn more: Understanding the results

    As the global climate continues to warm because of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, Canada is warming at roughly double the global average rate. Spring and summer are becoming hotter, and this means earlier snowmelt, dangerous heat waves, and conditions that are ripe for wildfires.

    Starting this winter, Environment and Climate Change Canada will be able to use its Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system to analyze the connection between human-caused climate change and the odds of extreme cold temperature events. Work is also underway to develop the system to analyze extreme precipitation. This capability is expected to come online in 2025.

    The direct and indirect costs of extreme weather are substantial. They can range from loss of productivity to loss of life. Better understanding the causes and effects of extreme weather—such as heat waves, extreme cold, and extreme precipitation—can help us better plan for, respond to, and rebuild from weather emergencies. Recent Canadian studies show that:

    • These “once in 100 years” climate-related weather events are becoming more frequent, severe, and costly. 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 all rank in the top 10 years based on insurance claims, surpassed only by the 2016 Fort McMurray fires, the 2013 flooding in Calgary and Toronto, and the 1998 Quebec ice storm (source).
    • From 1983 to 2008, insurers spent on average $400 million per year on catastrophic claims in Canada. Since 2009, the yearly average has risen to almost $2 billion (source).
    • 2023 was the second warmest year on record in Canada since 1948 (when nationwide estimates began) (source).
    • From 1948 to 2023, the annual average temperature in Canada increased by 2.0 °C (source).

    The public is encouraged to regularly monitor weather forecasts, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared for weather-related events by developing an emergency plan and being ready to adjust their travel plans. Canadians can download the WeatherCAN app to receive weather alert notifications directly on their mobile devices. Alerts help Canadians prepare to face severe weather events, save lives, and reduce the impacts on property and livelihoods.

    Media Relations
    Environment and Climate Change Canada
    819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
    media@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Boston arrests Guatemalan national charged with rape, indecent assault and battery against Massachusetts minor

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an unlawfully present 20-year-old Guatemalan noncitizen charged in Massachusetts with rape and indecent assault and battery against a minor. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Selvin Alex Galvez-Mejia Oct. 18 in Springfield.

    “Selvin Alex Galvez-Mejia stands accused of horrifically victimizing a Massachusetts child and represents a significant threat to our neighborhoods,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We owe it to the children of our New England communities to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen threats.”

    Galvez unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

    The Springfield District Court arraigned Galvez July 18 for two counts aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. The Springfield District Court later released Galvez after he posted bail.

    Officers with ERO Boston arrested Galvez Oct. 18 in Springfield and issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. Galvez remains in ERO custody.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul Congratulates Dolly Parton on Receiving Peace Through Music Award

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    College Station, Texas – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul — author of the Peace Through Music Diplomacy Act — congratulated Dolly Parton on receiving the Peace Through Music Award for the ways in which her music has promoted peace and represented the United States across the globe.

    “Music has a powerful and inexplicable ability to transcend cultures and bring people together. That’s why I introduced the Peace Through Music Diplomacy Act, to leverage music — the universal language — as a diplomatic platform to promote peace and preserve democracy worldwide.

    “I congratulate Dolly Parton for her invaluable role in enriching communities across the globe through her music. Dolly Parton wears her heart on her sleeve and embodies everything this bill stands for. At a time when the world is on fire, we must use every diplomatic tool to preserve the promise of freedom and democracy, and that includes music.”

    Background:

    McCaul’s PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act became law in 2022. It directs the Department of State (DOS) to leverage partnerships with the private sector when designating and implementing music-related exchange programs run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It also specifically authorizes music-related exchange programs that advance peace abroad, and it encourages the DOS to integrate a focus on conflict resolution into all relevant exchange programs for young musicians.

    Dolly Parton is the second recipient of the award, following Quincy Jones.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Couple Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

               WASHINGTON – A Texas couple was sentenced to prison after they were previously convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other charges during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

               Mark Middleton, 55, and Jalise Middleton, 54, both of Forestburg, Texas, were sentenced to 30 and 20 months in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. Mark Middleton was additionally sentenced to 36 months’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. Jalise Middleton was additionally sentenced to 30 months’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine.

               A federal jury previously convicted the Middletons of two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, as well as civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding.  In addition to the felonies, the Middletons were convicted of misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in the Capitol grounds or building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.

               Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States, the government voluntarily moved pre-sentencing to dismiss the Middleton’s conviction on obstruction of an official proceeding.

               According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building to assist U.S. Capitol Police officers with protecting the Capitol building and grounds from a group of amassed rioters. At about 2:09 p.m., MPD officers struggled against rioters who had refused repeated orders to step back from the police line and bike rack barricades.

               According to trial evidence and police body-worn camera footage, as the officers struggled with the group of rioters, a man, later identified as Mark Middleton, called the officers “traitors” and then pushed against the barricades and the police line with his body. Officers are heard on body-worn camera footage repeatedly ordering Mark Middleton and others to “Get back!” In response, Mark Middleton is heard yelling “f— you!” as he continued to push against the police barricades. Evidence showed that Mark Middleton resisted MPD officers, grabbed onto an MPD officer’s left arm, and pulled the officer forward over the barricades and towards the crowd.

               At the same time, a woman, later identified as Jalise Middleton, is seen on body-worn camera footage repeatedly grabbing and striking the same officer over the barricade with her hand, striking him in the face, chest, and arms. Another officer stepped in to assist, and Jalise Middleton struck that officer as well. Mark Middleton then used his flagpole to strike the second officer in the head. Video footage shows that the couple continued to grapple with and strike at the officers and attempted to pull the first officer into the crowd, as rioters jabbed, slashed, and swung flag poles at officers.

               The Middletons only broke off their assault when the first officer sprayed them in the face with chemical irritants, forcing them to retreat from the barricaded line. Both defendants later posted social media messages touting their key role in helping to breach the barricades by fighting officers and that they had only stopped due to pepper spray.

               Mark and Jalise Middleton were arrested on April 21, 2021, in Forestburg, Texas.

               This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

               This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Dallas and Washington Field Offices with substantial assistance from the Frisco Resident Agency Additional valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

               In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

               Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Haven Resident Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Narcotics Distribution Ring

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

    Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LISA FAUSEL, 61, of New Haven, formerly of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a narcotics distribution conspiracy.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad targeting the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall tablets containing methamphetamine, and the distribution of heroin and cocaine, in the New Haven area.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and traffic stops and searches, revealed that Willis Taylor, of West Haven, coordinated the manufacture of counterfeit pills, which he distributed to others for further distribution.  The investigation also revealed the distribution of other controlled substances.

    On February 2, 2023, a court authorized search of a Milford motel room where Fausel was living revealed approximately $94,500 in cash, 832 grams of cocaine, and plastic bags full of hundreds of blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl.

    Fausel was arrested on March 28, 2023.  On July 10, 2024, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.

    Fausel, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 16.

    Fausel, Taylor, and 12 others were federally charged as a result of this investigation.  Taylor pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

    This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the West Haven, Hamden, Manchester, Bristol, Fairfield, and Seymour Police Departments.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten, Katherine Boyles, and Konstantin Lantsman, in coordination with the New Haven and Milford State’s Attorney’s Offices.

    This case is being prosecuted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s New England Field Division released a public service announcement warning of the danger of fentanyl and the proliferation of counterfeit prescription pills.  Click here for more information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: SHAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Investigates the Mergers and Looming Votes of AFBI, ARC and VSTO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    • Affinity Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFBI), relating to its proposed merger with Atlanta Postal Credit Union (“APCU”). Under the terms of the agreement, APCU will pay Affinity an aggregate amount estimated to provide Affinity with sufficient cash to pay Affinity shareholders approximately $22.40 – $22.60 per share.

      ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for November 4, 2024.

      Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/affinity-bancshares-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: ARC), relating to its proposed merger with TechPrint Holdings, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, ARC shareholders are expected to receive $3.40 in cash per share they own.

      DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for November 21, 2024.

      Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/arc-document-solutions-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO), relating to its proposed merger with Revelyst, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Vista shareholders will receive $25.75 in cash per share of Vista stock they own.

      ACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for November 25, 2024.

      Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/vista-outdoor-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Issa Opens New District Office in Santee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)

    SANTEE – Congressman Issa (CA-48) announced that his new district office in Santee is now open to assist constituents in San Diego’s East County.
     
    Constituents in the area needing assistance with federal agencies including Social Security, Medicare, or the Veterans Administration are encouraged to contact the Santee Issa field office at 760-304-7575 to schedule an appointment with a member of the Congressman’s staff.
     
    “Our new Santee office is dedicated to serving residents of East County, and it is equipped and ready to represent constituents needing help with a federal agency. My team is standing by,” said Rep. Issa.
     
    “Congressman Issa and I are dedicated to delivering top-notch services to Santee and the surrounding region. Opening an office in Santee highlights our commitment to this community. Additionally, having staff focused on veterans’ affairs and other agencies is an added benefit to our residents,” said Santee Mayor John Minto.
     
    The Santee field office is located at Santee City Hall 10601 Magnolia Ave, Bldg 6 Santee, CA 92071. In-person meetings are by appointment only.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, MA Lawmakers Urge DOJ, ATF To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking As Gun Violence Surges

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Auchincloss (Massachusetts, 4)

    October 24, 2024

    Washington, D.C.— U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requesting that ATF ramp up its work to mitigate the influx of illegal firearms from other states into Massachusetts.   

    The majority of guns recovered from crimes in Massachusetts are trafficked from other states with weaker gun laws. Straw purchasers, those who buy guns on behalf of people who cannot legally purchase guns, and unlicensed individuals often purchase guns in states with weaker gun laws and transport them via highways that have become popular gun trafficking corridors. This includes the notorious “Iron Pipeline” along Interstate 95. The guns are then resold for profit in states with tighter restrictions on gun purchases, undermining the efficacy of strong gun laws in states like Massachusetts. 

    “While Massachusetts suffers one of the highest rates of interstate gun trafficking, this problem is not unique to the Commonwealth. Nationwide, almost one-third of guns recovered in crimes were trafficked from other states,” wrote the lawmakers.

    The lawmakers made five key recommendations to the ATF: 

    • Strong implementation of a newly finalized rule that will require more sellers to obtain federal licenses and comply with federal safety requirements that help identify potential traffickers. These requirements include conducting background checks, maintaining inventory records, and reporting when customers purchase two or more handguns within five consecutive business days.
    • Improve inspections of high-risk and noncompliant dealers. The ATF should conduct more frequent follow-up inspections of dealers that sell guns to straw purchasers and those that ignore other indications of trafficking. 
    • Expand reporting requirements for multiple sales of rifles, in addition to revolvers and pistols, and require ATF to keep those reports for at least five years, up from the current requirement of two years. 
    • Increase public access to gun trafficking data to allow researchers, journalists, and policymakers to have access to vital data on interstate gun trafficking and the sources of crime guns. 
    • Ensure more consistent crime gun tracing and increase technical assistance to train local law enforcement on how to do so.  

    The lawmakers requested an update on ATF’s efforts to stem the flow of weapons across state lines by November 7, 2024. 

    Congressman Jake Auchincloss is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a national leader for gun violence prevention. Rep. Auchincloss has worked closely with the Biden Administration to ensure that ATF and DOJ are closing loopholes on background checks in existing legislation and cracking down on ghost guns. He has also cosponsored multiple pieces of anti-gun trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking Reduction and Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks About Rural Development and Supporting Economic Opportunities at Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation Event 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    MONTPELIER, VT– U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, traveled to Vermont’s Capital City yesterday to deliver remarks at the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) Annual Dinner and Meeting to recognize the hard work of Central Vermont businesses in overcoming Vermont’s recent floods, and thank local businesses for their contributions to the local economy. 
    “Folks across Vermont have been through so much in the past year and a half. Many homeowners, small businesses, and farmers are still feeling the impacts of brutal back-to-back flooding. CVEDC’s work to grow jobs, support housing, and expand opportunities has been crucial to strengthening our community when we need it most,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in Washington to secure more disaster funding and cut through red tape so our communities can get the resources they need faster.” 
    View photos from the event below: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Named ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ by American Farm Bureau Federation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    October 25, 2024

    October 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was honored as a 2024 “Friend of Farm Bureau” by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for his work advancing policies that support America’s farmers and ranchers. The award recognizes lawmakers for their outstanding support of agriculture through legislative action and leadership. 

    “Our farmers and ranchers feed and fuel the country and beyond,” Ricketts said. “I will always fight to ensure Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers have the support they need to navigate current and future challenges.”

    Senator Ricketts accepting the award from Mark McHargue, President of Nebraska Farm Bureau

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major defence reforms launched, with new National Armaments Director to tackle waste and boost industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years to fix what the Public Accounts Committee calls the ‘broken’ defence procurement system and to strengthen UK Defence, has been launched by the Defence Secretary.

    • Major reforms kicked off today to match increasing threats, tackle waste and strengthen UK Defence.
    • Recruitment underway for new fully fledged National Armaments Director role.
    • New powers for Chief of the Defence Staff, and Military Strategic Headquarters to be launched within weeks.

    The biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years to fix what the Public Accounts Committee calls the ‘broken’ defence procurement system and to strengthen UK Defence, has been launched by the Defence Secretary.

    It comes amid increasing global threats, with growing Russian aggression and conflict in the Middle East. This requires increased resilience and warfighting readiness. 

    The Defence Secretary is leading the reforms to create a stronger defence centre which is able to secure better value for money, better outcomes for our Armed Forces, and better implement the Strategic Defence Review which will be published in the first half of next year. 

    Central to this is the creation of a new role: the fully fledged National Armaments Director. Its aim is to ensure the armed forces are properly equipped to defend Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste. The recruitment process for the role has now begun, with a search for candidates now underway and which will continue over the coming weeks.

    The new National Armaments Director will be responsible for:

    • Delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute the Defence plans and operations demanded by the new era.
    • Shaping and delivering the Defence industrial strategy which will be launched in the coming weeks.
    • Ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national ‘arsenal’.
    • Leading on UK defence exports and acquisition reform.
    • Harmonising procurement and working closely with wider government, industry, academia, and international partners to deploy best practice and investment.

    The changes come as the Defence Secretary commits to ensuring “value for money across every penny of defence spend.”

    The reforms will also see the Chief of the Defence Staff overseeing a new Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) where he will formally command the individual Service Chiefs for the first time. They will now be central to investment decisions between the Services, along with the Defence Secretary and Permanent Secretary. 

    This Government’s MOD reforms will ensure faster delivery and clearer accountability across Defence, to support the Government’s ‘One Defence’ drive. They will also ensure defence is ready to take forward recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, with the new MSHQ fully functioning by the end of 2024 – ready to implement recommendations from the SDR in the first half of next year. 

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    Our government is delivering the change we promised: cracking down on waste and boosting Britain’s defence industry. We will forge “One Defence”, which is clear in its goals and consistent in its methods, to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

    The world is more dangerous, with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East and increasing global threats. 

    These vital reforms will make UK military decision making faster, keep the country safer and achieve best value for taxpayers. This Government will strengthen UK Defence to respond to increasing threats.

    Defence Equipment & Support CEO and the UK’s current NAD, Andy Start, said: 

    This fully fledged NAD role is a vitally important step towards transforming defence acquisition and the industrial base in the UK. 

    This new role will have the levers needed to ensure our Armed Forces have the right kit and to deliver the defence industrial strategy we need for growth.

    We will work with industrial partners to embrace the One Defence approach so they can play their part in improvements that underpin national security and prosperity.

    The programme of reform will be informed by lessons from the department’s highly praised support to Ukraine. The National Audit Office recently highlighted the speed and scale of the MOD’s Operation Interflex training programme for Ukrainian recruits, as well as fast-tracked procurement and distribution of essential gifted equipment to the Ukrainian front line. 

    These reforms will radically simplify the MOD. Governance and processes will be streamlined, with innovation in technology and an improved approach to data underpinning everything the department does.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Vandal announces partnership with NFI Group and Manitoba to create the world-leading “All-Canadian Build” facility in Winnipeg

    Source: Government of Canada News

    $15 million from the Government of Canada enables start-to-finish manufacturing of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell transit buses in Canada, creating green jobs and expanding the Green Prairie Economy

    October 25, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – PrairiesCan

    Creating more clean mass transit options gets Canadians around their communities quicker and helps in our fight against climate change.

    Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced a federal investment of $15 million for NFI Group to expand operations and fully manufacture New Flyer transit buses in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This investment will enable NFI Group to competitively respond to growing demand for Canadian-made zero-emission transit buses, adding hundreds of skilled jobs to the company’s Canadian operations with more opportunities for local suppliers, and growing Manitoba’s role in the green Prairie economy.

    Canadians want greener options, and municipal governments are responding. By increasing bus manufacturing capacity in NFI Group’s Winnipeg-based facilities, Canadian public transit authorities will be able to purchase more Canadian-made zero-emission buses to address their fleet renewal needs. The funding will ensure NFI Group can meet Canadian standards and will support the development of workforce training specific to zero-emission vehicle manufacturing including a proposed “Zero-Emission Pre-Apprenticeship Program.”

    In 2023, Minister Vandal dedicated $100 million of existing PrairiesCan funding over three years to support projects aligned with priorities of the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which include growing our manufacturing sector and capitalizing on clean electricity to seize new opportunities in the net-zero future. The Framework and funding are intended to encourage greater collaboration among governments and industry, leverage additional funding, and attract new investments across the Prairies.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investigation concluded

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    On Oct.18, 2024, CPS were called to a report of a disturbance at a McDonald’s restaurant located at 5222 130th Avenue SE Calgary. The responding CPS officer arrived and observed a male acting erratically. The CPS officer exited his vehicle, and the man started to approach him shouting about already being told he was free to go by another officer. The officer took hold of the man and told him to calm down and get on the ground. The man resisted and was taken to the ground while refusing commands to comply. Following a brief struggle handcuffing was completed and the man was secured in custody. A pat-down search of the man was completed, with nothing of concern being found. The man was examined by emergency medical services (EMS) at the scene and cleared medically.

    He was then transported to the CPS Arrest Processing Section (APS) where a secondary pat-down search was conducted. During this search, a small baggie with a green substance believed to be heroin or fentanyl was located. The man had criminal warrants for his arrest, including ones for possession of drugs. Given this, he was subject to a strip search during which nothing further was found. The man then spoke with the APS’ paramedic on site. He advised that he had used methamphetamine and fentanyl within the past six hours. Nothing of concern was noted by the paramedic. The man was then placed in a cell at approximately 8:30 a.m.

    ASIRT reviewed the APS logs as they relate to safety monitoring of detainees. The CPS uses a card key system, which requires the monitoring person to swipe a pad outside of each cell. This allows for a log of who conducted the physical check of the cell and when. Based on the logs, ASIRT was able to confirm that safety checks were conducted on the man at regular intervals in compliance with CPS policy.

    ASIRT reviewed the CCTV video of the cell the man was in. At approximately 3:44 p.m., the man sits on the toilet and is noted reaching between his legs, appearing to retrieve something, and immediately moving his hand to his mouth. He then flushes the toilet and moves from the toilet to lay down on the bench. At 4:33 p.m., the man appears to have problems breathing as his throat is moving up and down in exaggerated movements. At 4:35 p.m., the man appears to go unconscious. At 4:36 p.m., two CPS officers enter the cell. A sternum rub is applied with no response. The man is moved to the ground, further sternum rubs are given, again with no response observed. The APS medic enters the cell, and he too gets no response from the man. The medic does a pulse check, and then leaves the cell. At 4:37 p.m. a CPS officer, who was previously a paramedic, begins CPR. At 4:39 p.m. the APS medic returns with medical gear. An automated external defibrillator is applied, and the man is given oxygen. At 4:52 p.m., EMS arrives and continues medical treatment of the man. At 5:31 p.m., EMS stops treatment of the man and pronounces him deceased.

    On Oct. 21, 2024, an autopsy was conducted on the man. The medical examiner found no obvious cause of death. The medical examiner is awaiting further toxicology and other information to determine the cause of death. While this is so, there is no evidence that any officer caused or contributed to his death. Further, all the evidence supports that while in custody, the man was cared for in a proper fashion. No officers were designated as subject officers in this investigation and the ASIRT investigation is closed.

    ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

    This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Expands NFI to Create Low Carbon Jobs

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 25, 2024

    Manitoba Government Expands NFI to Create Low Carbon Jobs

    – – –
    Investment in NFI Group Will Create Good Jobs for Manitobans: Premier

    The Manitoba government is investing in the clean energy economy by supporting the creation of hundreds of new low-carbon, blue-collar jobs through NFI Group Inc.’s All-Canadian Build expansion in Winnipeg, Premier Wab Kinew and Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses announced today. 

    “This project is about putting a ‘Made in Canada’ stamp on the low-carbon economy,” said Kinew. “Here in Manitoba, blue-collar workers are part of the transition to a net zero future and it’s companies like NFI that are leading the charge. We’re pleased to partner with the federal government to get this All-Canadian Build facility done so we can continue to put Manitoba at the cutting edge of zero emission transportation technology.” 

    A leading provider of zero-emission buses and coaches, NFI’s global headquarters in Winnipeg employs nearly 3,000 Manitobans, noted the premier. The $23.4-million investment from the Manitoba government will support NFI’s plans to establish an All-Canadian Build facility while creating 250 direct jobs in Winnipeg and hundreds more indirect jobs. The facility will expand production capacity and have the ability to manufacture, finish and service zero-emissions buses for the Canadian market. 

    “NFI is the leader in North America’s evolution to zero-emission buses and coaches,” said Moses. “Investing in this new facility will create good jobs for Manitobans in electric transit manufacturing while reducing emissions.” 

    NFI will be co-investing in the project alongside the Manitoba government and the federal government through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) Business Scale-up and Productivity program. 

    “This is a significant step forward by NFI Group,” said federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). “Increasing manufacturing capacity in the zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle sector is good news for Canada and solidifies Manitoba’s leadership in this field. This project is an example of collaboration under the Green Prairie Economy Framework to deliver solutions to build a strong and sustainable economy across the Prairies.” 

    Demand for zero-emission transit buses in NFI’s core markets is at record levels, driven by the transition of transit fleets to battery-electric, fuel cell-electric and trolley-electric buses in Canada’s major cities to meet national emission reduction goals, noted the premier. 

    “Today’s announcement is a major milestone for NFI as it allows us to complete full buses in Canada for the first time in over twenty years,” said Paul Soubry, president and CEO, NFI. “I would like to thank our partners at the Province of Manitoba and PrairiesCan for their commitment and financial support that will help enhance Manitoba’s green economy. These funds will be strategically invested alongside our own capital to expand our production capacity and increase our zero-emissions transit bus offerings, which will create new jobs and help create more livable North American communities.” 

    Facility construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025 with construction activities starting in 2024, added the premier.  

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    MIL OSI Canada News –