NewzIntel.com

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Springwood Leisure Centre’s outdoor pitches to get major upgrade

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council’s Springwood Leisure Centre is delighted to announce a major refurbishment of both its outdoor 3G football pitches, thanks to the successful acquisition of £147,000 in Section 106 funding. The funding will enable a comprehensive upgrade, including the installation of a state-of-the-art artificial playing surface, permanent line markings, and brand-new fencing around the pitches, to be completed at no cost to the Council.

    Work will start at the end of July and is expected to take five weeks, which means the refurbished pitches will be fully operational in time for the winter sports season, providing a much-improved playing experience for local clubs, teams, schools, and recreational users.

    This is the second time Springwood Leisure Centre has successfully secured Section 106 funding for infrastructure improvements. In 2023, the Centre received £190,000 to develop its immersive Spin Studio, which has been widely praised for its innovative design and contribution to local health and wellbeing. Together, these investments reflect the Centre’s growing role as a cornerstone of the local community and its commitment to expanding the range and quality of sports and leisure opportunities available to residents.

    In celebration of this latest milestone, Springwood Leisure Centre is also planning to launch its first-ever Springwood Community Cup. The tournament aims to showcase the upgraded pitches and create a legacy of community engagement through sport. Full details of the Community Cup will be shared in the coming weeks.

    Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure, said:

    This is great news for the local community. The new pitches will support grassroots sport, improve facilities for residents, and it’s all been achieved at no cost to the Council.  I look forward to seeing the pitches in use and to the first Springwood Community Cup. Investments like this show our commitment to accessible, high-quality leisure for all.

    The upgraded facilities will support increased participation in grassroots football, provide a safe and durable all-weather playing surface, and accommodate a wide range of users, from casual kickabouts to league matches and school sports programmes. The work will be carried out by S&C Slatter, a leading UK specialist in sports construction and artificial pitch installations.

    Nathaniel Leney, Business Development Manager at S&C Slatter, said: 

    S&C Slatter are proud to have been appointed by Derby City Council to deliver the resurfacing of the 3G pitches at Springwood Leisure Centre. As a valued community facility, it deserves a first-class refurbishment, and we are committed to providing a safe, high-performance all-weather surface that will support and inspire local players, teams, and residents for years to come.

    Working in close partnership with the Council, we’ve developed a specification that meets the latest industry standards and ensures long-term performance and durability. We’re excited to begin work on this important project and contribute to the continued growth of sport and recreation in Derby.

    The Centre welcomes casual and block bookings for the new pitches. Whether you’re part of a club, organising a tournament, or just looking for a space to play, Springwood Leisure Centre offers a welcoming and professional environment.

    For booking enquiries or further information, please see our website or contact: springwood.sports@derby.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IADC Lexicon Featured Term for June 2025

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC Lexicon Featured Term for June 2025

    The IADC Lexicon is an oil and gas dictionary of upstream-related terms, which, unlike conventional glossaries, are official definitions drawn from legislation, regulation and regulatory guidance, standards (global, national and regional), IADC guidelines, and Well Control Institute. Terms often have multiple definitions from different sources.

    This month’s featured term is:

    Heat-distortion temperature

    Temperature at which a standard test bar deflects a specified amount under a stated load.

    Source: ISO 14692-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) piping — Part 1: Vocabulary, symbols, applications and materials, Second Edition, August 2017. Global Standards

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Submit Your Proposal for the 2026 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: Submit Your Proposal for the 2026 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference

    The 2026 IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference is currently accepting proposals until 26 June 2025. The Program Committee invites you to submit a paper proposal for potential inclusion in the 2026 technical program. If your proposal is selected, you will also have the opportunity to speak in a technical session.

    Topics include: 

    • Deepwater & Subsea
    • Tubulars
    • Digital Drilling Solutions
    • Rig Technology
    • Completions & Field Development 

    Learn more and submit your proposal here.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pocan Invites DOD to Witness F-35 Noise Pollution in Madison

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) sent a letter to Patrick O’Brien, the Director of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) at the Department of Defense inviting him to witness the noise pollution caused by the F-35s at Truax Field after the OLDCC rejected an $18 million noise mitigation grant application. The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs submitted an application to help residents in east Madison, who are affected by elevated noise levels, access funding assistance to mitigate the noise from the jets. 

    “I write to you today to express my disappointment regarding your recent decision to deny the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs’ application for noise mitigation funding through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, and to invite you or other officials from your office to visit Madison to hear directly from residents who could have benefitted from this funding and explain your decision to them personally,” Pocan wrote. 

    “In Fiscal Year 2021, my office worked to ensure $50 million was appropriated for the Noise Mitigation Community Partnership Program to ensure that affected residents in east Madison could receive some assistance to make necessary modifications to their homes to dampen the noise and improve their quality of life,” Pocan continued. “Therefore, I was deeply disappointed by the recent announcement that the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs’ application for noise mitigation funding was denied.”

    “Given the direct effect this has had on my constituents, I request a detailed explanation to my office regarding the decision to deny this grant application, and additionally request that you send an official to visit Madison to meet with residents who have been affected by elevated noise levels and provide an explanation of your decision directly to them,” Pocan concluded. “A site visit would provide an invaluable opportunity not only to witness firsthand the impact of noise pollution in the area and hear from residents who are living with it daily, but also to help facilitate a collaborative discussion around potential solutions and future funding opportunities.”

    A full copy of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán, Rep. Gomez, Sen. Schiff Lead Bicameral Effort Demanding President Trump Withdraw National Guard and Marines from LA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    For Immediate Release

    Contact: jin.choi@mail.house.gov

    Date: June 11, 2025

    Rep. Barragán, Rep. Gomez, Sen. Schiff Lead Bicameral Effort Demanding President Trump Withdraw National Guard and Marines from LA

    Lawmakers say Trump’s deployment of troops is plainly unlawful and violates constitutional limits

    WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and 39 other California Delegation Representatives are demanding President Donald Trump immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, California. In a bicameral letter sent yesterday, the lawmakers condemn the deployments as an unlawful overreach that bypassed state and local authority and urge the immediate withdrawal of the National Guard and Marines.

    “We are writing to express grave concern regarding the deployment of the National Guard and the activation of 700 Marines to Los Angeles. These actions were taken without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local law enforcement. It constitutes a clear violation of constitutional principles and law, and a grave overreach of executive authority,” wrote the lawmakers.

    “This deployment does not appear to be motivated by any public safety emergency that could not be dealt with successfully by local authorities. Instead, it coincides with a broader federal enforcement escalation involving mass ICE raids, militarized immigration tactics, and the use of tear gas and riot control methods in civilian areas. These actions undermine civil liberties, destabilize communities, erode public trust in government institutions, and violate the law,” continued the lawmakers.

    On June 7 and June 9, Rep. Jimmy Gomez was illegally denied access to the Roybal Federal Building, where ICE is reportedly detaining migrant families—including moms and kids—under inhumane conditions. Rep. Gomez called for a formal DHS investigation and submitted a written inquiry demanding answers and accountability from Secretary Kristi Noem. As protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to the raids and detentions, the Trump administration escalated the situation by authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines—without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local elected and community leaders. They argue the legal authority Trump cited doesn’t apply—making the deployment plainly unlawful.

    “As federal officials we must prioritize de-escalation and adherence to the constitutional principles that govern the balance of power between federal and state and local governments. For these reasons, we urge you to immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles and to refrain from further deployments of any military personnel in circumstances that violate constitutional boundaries and escalate domestic tensions,” concluded the lawmakers.

    In addition to Representative Barragán, Representative Gomez, and Senator Schiff, the bicameral letter was signed by Representatives Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Ami Bera (CA-6), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros Jr. (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-8), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jared Huffman (CA-2), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-7), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-4), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

    You can read the full letter HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SWALWELL INTRODUCES BICAMERAL BILL TO REPEAL THE GUN INDUSTRY’S LEGAL LIABILITY SHIELD

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15)

    Legislation would give victims of gun violence their day in court & enable them to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence

    Legislation would give victims of gun violence their day in 

    court & enable them to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence

    Video of a virtual press conference announcing 

    the bill is available here

     

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During the first week of Gun Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Dwight Evans (D-PA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA) led a group of 81 Members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits.  

    Blumenthal, Swalwell, Schiff, Murphy, Evans, and Thompson announced the legislation this week during a virtual press conference joined by leading gun violence prevention advocates: Kris Brown, President of Brady; Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action; and Adam Skaggs, Chief Counsel and Vice President of GIFFORDS Law Center. Video of the press conference is available here.

    “PLCAA is the ultimate sweetheart deal – legal immunity afforded to basically no other industry for a product that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year,” Blumenthal said. “Despite the strength and perseverance of the Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and Highland Park families – and the tenacity of their legal teams – this is a problem that cannot be solved only through the courts. PLCAA must be repealed by Congress.”

    “No industry in American has a liability shield like gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers,” said Swalwell. “The NRA and their GOP stooges made sure that the gun industry has a unique immunity from accountability. This bill ends that ridiculous carve out. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) once and for all, allowing victims of gun violence to bring civil suits against gun producers and sellers. The time has long since come for Congress to be clear – if you put the most dangerous weapons in the hands of the most dangerous people, you will be held accountable.”

    “More than a 100 Americans are killed by a gun every single day in America. And yet, Congress does nothing to hold the gun industry accountable when the negligence of gun makers and dealers is responsible for the tragic consequences their products have on our kids, our families, and our communities. As long as gun violence continues to take the lives of so many in California and across the nation, I will fight to repeal the liability shield that wrongly protects negligent gun industry actors from liability,” said Schiff.

    “There’s absolutely no reason why the gun industry should get special treatment when it comes to negligence. Their immunity from lawsuits effectively gives them a license to kill. It’s past time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and allow gun violence victims their day in court,” said Murphy. 

    “Victims and survivors should be able to hold the gun industry accountable in court for negligent behavior. But right now, the gun industry is shielded from any liability when they disregard public safety. That’s wrong,” said Crow. “I’m introducing this bill so we can finally hold the gun industry responsible.”

    “As someone who’s advocated for this concept in Pennsylvania’s legislature and now in Congress, I’m proud to be a co-lead on this bill to restore this basic right of victims and survivors – a right that a heavy-handed federal government took away 20 years ago. So many American gun deaths could be avoided if we held companies accountable for things like illegal sales, defective guns and irresponsible marketing. State attorneys general were able to hold Big Tobacco accountable in the 1990s, and they should be able to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in the 21st century since thousands of lives depend on it. This legislation would be an important tool in the toolbox to protect our citizens from gun violence,” said Evans. 

    “In the 20 years since PLCAA was passed, it’s become clear that negligent gun manufacturers and dealers have taken advantage of the law. Responsible manufacturers and dealers don’t need this legal protection – and irresponsible ones are hiding behind it. As a hunter, combat veteran and responsible gun owner, I’m proud to work with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell to introduce this sensible legislation,” said Thompson, Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. 

    When Congress passed PLCAA, its supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This legislation allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.

    In 2005, the National Rifle Association (NRA) identified PLCAA as their “number one” legislative priority, and the NRA celebrated the passage calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, and Equality California.

    “PLCAA gives the gun industry a free pass to put profits over people—legally. When defective firearms or irresponsible gun sellers cause harm, victims are left powerless and justice is delayed or denied. No other industry gets this kind of special treatment,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady. “The gun industry has made it clear: they won’t change on their own, no matter how much devastation they leave behind. So the law must change. Brady is proud to endorse Senator Blumenthal’s bill to end the gun lobby’s stranglehold on accountability and remove the option of hiding behind PLCAA to dodge responsibility. The gun industry shouldn’t get special protection while communities suffer.”

    “For too long, gun lobby CEOs have operated above the law, shielded from accountability while families of gun violence victims are denied their day in court. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the gun lobby’s sweetheart deal and restore Americans’ right to seek justice. When companies can be held responsible for harm, they have a reason to act more safely—it’s time to hold the gun industry accountable and put people over profits. We applaud Senator Blumenthal for championing this critical legislation and for his commitment to reducing gun violence and improving public safety,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director of GIFFORDS and GIFFORDS Law Center. 

    “The gun industry has a long track record of putting profits over public safety – and it’s the American people who are paying the price,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We’re proud to stand with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell as they work to hold the gun industry to the same rules as every other industry.” 

    “Every student in America goes to school wondering if today will be the day they don’t come home. They practice lockdown drills while gun manufacturers hide behind PLCAA, a law that shields them from any accountability,” said Jackie Corin, Executive Director of March For Our Lives. “The families of Parkland victims fight for justice while gun companies profit from illegal gun sales and reckless marketing practices that fuel mass shootings, all while being protected from consequences. When grieving families are denied their day in court because of special protections for gun manufacturers, that is not justice. That is cruelty. Every family shattered by gun violence deserves a system that protects them, not the companies profiting off their pain. That’s why March For Our Lives is proud to support the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act and ensure the gun industry finally has to answer to us.”

    “The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act restores the rights of the American people to seek justice from negligent corporations. People, families, and communities have been systematically denied access to valid litigation against the gun industry since President George W. Bush signed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005. This legal shield has privileged the gun industry with sweeping immunity, leading them to lean into more aggressive, more deadly, and ever more avaricious corporate actions that endanger every American,” said Hudson Munoz with Guns Down America. “We commend Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell for their dedication to seeing that shield fall so every person impacted by gun violence has the ability to pursue justice again.”

    “As a neighbor of the Sandy Hook shooter and many victims, I carry the heartbreak of that day every single moment,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “I’m grateful to Senator Blumenthal for reintroducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act—because no industry that profits from death should be shielded from accountability. The gun industry’s unique civil legal protection has allowed it to market weapons of war and other deadly firearms and accessories with impunity, fueling an epidemic that steals thousands of lives each year. The families impacted by gun violence from Sandy Hook to Chicago to Monterey Park—and every family member shattered by gun violence—deserve their day in court.”

    “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) provides a pathway for the firearms industry to continue irresponsible practices in ways that no other industry is permitted to conduct. Under this legislation, the rights of victims – some of whom have been irrevocably harmed by these deadly products – are shown to be less important than the special interests of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. This cannot be allowed to continue. We applaud Senator Blumenthal and his team for their leadership in re-introducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, and call upon Congress to pass this bill,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and co-CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

    The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Don Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Jill Tokuda (D-HI).

     

    Text of the legislation can be found here. 

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Pride Month, Norton Introduces Bill to Protect LGBTQ+, Reproductive Rights in D.C.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – During Pride Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced her District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act to end the unique applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to the District of Columbia. RFRA, which provides more protection for religious exercise than the First Amendment requires, applies to the federal government, the D.C. government and the territorial governments, but not to state governments. Norton’s bill would ensure the District is treated the same as states, while defending LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights in D.C.

    “RFRA was designed to be a shield to protect religious freedom, but the Supreme Court’s 2014 Hobby Lobby decision demonstrates it’s now being used as a sword to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and women,” Norton said. “Additionally, members of Congress have used RFRA as a justification for trying – but failing – to overturn D.C. antidiscrimination laws. My bill is an important step in ensuring home rule for the District.”

    Norton’s introductory statement follows.

    Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

    on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025

    June 9, 2025

    Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025, which would end the applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to the District of Columbia government.  This bill would treat the D.C. government in the same manner as state governments under RFRA, and allow D.C. to protect LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.

    RFRA, which provides more protection for religious exercise than the First Amendment requires, applies to the federal government and the D.C. government, but not to state governments. 

    While RFRA was designed to be a shield to protect religious freedom, it is being used, as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s 2014 Hobby Lobby decision, as a sword to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and women.  Republicans in Congress have cited RFRA as a justification for trying to overturn D.C. non-discrimination laws.  For example, since 2015, Republicans have repeatedly tried to nullify or block D.C.’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and their families based on reproductive health decisions, claiming, in part, that it violates RFRA. 

    This bill would help ensure that D.C. is able to enact and carry out non-discrimination laws.  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USDA to Conduct Annual Mushroom Survey

    Source: US National Agricultural Statistics Service

    WASHINGTON, June 11, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be conducting the annual Mushroom Inquiry to document the past growing year. Mushroom growers will be contacted about growing areas, production, and value of sales for the 2024-2025 season as well as growing intentions for the coming year.

    “The mushroom industry plays a vital role in U.S. agriculture, and accurate data is essential to understanding its economic contribution,” said NASS Administrator Joseph L. Parsons. “We strongly encourage all growers to participate and ensure their voices are represented in the report.”

    Growers should receive a questionnaire by early July. Survey respondents are encouraged to use the Respondent Portal at agcounts.usda.gov. The information provided by survey respondents will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

    The data will be published in the annual Mushrooms report to be released on Aug. 21, 2025. These and all NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED THE SENATE: Senators Hassan, Ernst, Slotkin, and Banks’s Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Foreign Adversaries Directing Violent Crimes in the U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Jim Banks (R-IN) to increase criminal penalties for individuals who commit, or attempt to commit, violent crimes in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries. The DETERRENCE Act would both hold offenders accountable and deter criminals, including criminal organizations, from taking money from foreign adversaries in exchange for committing crimes on American soil. 
    “It is a direct assault on our national security when foreign adversaries recruit criminals to commit violence on American soil,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen criminal penalties on gangs and criminals who engage in violent behavior on behalf of a foreign government. The Senate has sent a clear message that such behavior will be met with severe consequences, and I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly pass this bill to strengthen our national security.” 
    “America will not allow foreign adversaries, like Iran, to finance violent crimes on our soil,” said Senator Ernst. “Peace through strength is back and that includes right here at home. I look forward to the House swiftly passing this commonsense bill to create severe consequences for those who wish to harm our citizens.”
    “If you commit crimes in America on behalf of foreign adversaries, you must face serious consequences,” said Senator Slotkin. “The bipartisan Deterrence Act helps strengthen penalties for these crimes and sends a clear message about how seriously we take our national security and how we will hold accountable those who commit crimes against our nation.”
    Under the DETERRENCE Act, criminals working for foreign adversaries can be sentenced to longer prison sentences. The bill specifically increases criminal penalties for the following federal crimes when the crimes are committed under U.S. jurisdiction on behalf of foreign governments: 
    Engaging in a murder-for-hire scheme 
    Murdering or attempting to murder certain federal officials, including the President
    Murdering or attempting to murder certain former federal officials, or their families, because of their official actions 
    Assaulting certain former federal officials, or their families, because of their official actions 
    Kidnapping or attempted kidnapping 
    Threats of violence using a dangerous weapon against certain current and former federal officials, as well as their families, because of their official actions 
    Stalking 
    This legislation follows reports that foreign adversaries are increasingly turning to criminals to commit violent crimes against their critics, including those who reside in the United States. In November, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged an Iranian asset and two members of his criminal network for their alleged involvement in a plot to murder a U.S. citizen who has spoken out against the Iranian regime. Senators Hassan, Ernst, and a bipartisan group of colleagues previously wrote to DOJ calling for more information – and discussing the need for increased criminal penalties – to address this troubling trend of foreign-directed violence. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exciting new future for leisure unveiled

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The updated proposals include two exciting options for the new PH2O facility at Thimblerow in Perth city centre — both of which include flumes and enhanced leisure water features. These options respond directly to the instruction of Councillors to explore leisure water provision at the site, while still being affordable and aligned with the Council’s strategic priorities.

    Council Leader Grant Laing said: “This is a really positive step forward. We asked officers to explore how we could deliver a leisure water offer that meets the ambitions of our communities — and they’ve delivered. These proposals show that we can do that while staying true to the principles agreed by Council last September: delivering the greatest impact from our capital investment and ensuring best value for our residents.

    “PH2O at Thimblerow will be a fantastic new facility for Perth, and we should never lose sight of the fact that building there means that we can continue to keep Perth Leisure Pool open and maintain access to swimming in Perth right up to the moment it transfers to the new facility.

    “And by making the most of the funding previously allocated for PH2O, we’ve also created the opportunity to do even more to secure the future for sport and leisure across Perth and Kinross. The proposals being put before Council will also allow us to identify the funding to progress with much-needed upgrades and improvements to the pools in Kinross and Crieff, as well as providing a funded pathway to a sustainable future for Bell’s Sports Centre.”

    The report also outlines a proposal to allocate part of the Glover Street site — which will be freed up once PH2O at Thimblerow opens — to Capability Scotland. This would allow the charity to relocate from its current Upper Springland site, securing its future in Perth and offering new supported accommodation in the city centre.

    Depute Leader and Convener of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee Eric Drysdale said: “This is a great example of how joined-up thinking can deliver real benefits for our communities. Not only are we investing in leisure and wellbeing, but we’re also creating an opportunity for the valued service provided to residents and other clients at Capability Scotland to thrive in the heart of our city.

    “This is about more than buildings — it’s about creating a supportive and welcoming environment in our communities where everyone can live life well.”

    The proposals will be considered at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday 18 June 2025, and include:

    • £74m for PH2O at Thimblerow with:
      • 25m 8-lane swimming pool with movable floor
      • 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool
      • 5.5m flumes
      • Extended splashpad/aquatic children’s play space
      • Holiday and weekend inflatables in the main pool
      • Indoor play area (Clip n’ Climb/ soft play or other family play activity)
      • Games hall (6 court)
      • Fitness gym
      • Studio 1,2,3 (flexible)
      • Café
    • £10m for Bell’s Sports Centre to fund delivery of the transformed facility, including the costs of essential RAAC and asbestos removal work. Confirms that the development and future use of Bell’s Sports Centre should be as an unheated, covered sports pitch/ events space as supported by 60% of respondents to a public consultation on the subject.
    • £13.2m investment in energy efficiency and building upgrades at Live Active Loch Leven (Kinross) and Strathearn Community Campus (Crieff) to sustain the life of of both facilities for a further 20 years, and reduce the emergency consumption by 75% and 80% respectively. 

    Together, these proposals represent a sustainable, future-focused investment in leisure across Perth and Kinross — one that supports health and wellbeing, strengthens communities, and brings new life to the city centre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China supports Panama in upholding independence and protecting its legitimate rights – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — China supports Panama, as a sovereign and independent country, in upholding its independence and self-reliance and firmly safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday.

    The Chinese diplomat made the statement at a regular briefing for journalists, commenting on the statement by the head of the Panama Canal Authority regarding the sale of its port assets related to the canal by the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison.

    On June 10, the head of the Panama Canal Authority reportedly noted that “there is a potential risk of excessive concentration of ownership of the ports if the deal goes ahead as currently structured, which would harm Panama’s market competitiveness and would be contrary to the principle of neutrality.” He also said that it would be impossible to comply with the U.S. demand to allow U.S. government vessels to transit the canal without paying customs duties.

    Lin Jian recalled that the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China and Chinese relevant departments have repeatedly commented on the sale of CK Hutchison’s overseas assets.

    “I would like to emphasize that China has always been firmly opposed to economic coercion, dictatorship and bullying,” the official said.

    On the issue of navigation of ships of relevant countries, China will, as always, respect Panama’s sovereignty over the canal and recognize its status as a permanently neutral international waterway, Lin Jian added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Bodies of 1,200 Dead Soldiers Returned to Ukraine

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KYIV, June 11 (Xinhua) — The bodies of 1,212 servicemen killed in the conflict with Russia have been returned to Ukraine, the Ukrainian coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said on Wednesday.

    The repatriation of the bodies was made possible by the joint efforts of the Coordination Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other structures, the headquarters said.

    Ukraine expressed gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance in returning the bodies of the fallen servicemen. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada top energy supplier for G7: Premier Smith

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers Olszewski, Hodgson, Gull-Masty and Dabrusin to Provide an Update on the 2025 Wildfires Season

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Ottawa, Ontario – Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, as they provide an update on the forecast for the 2025 wildfires season.

    Prior to the press conference, Government of Canada officials will host an embargoed media technical briefing to provide an update on the seasonal outlook for wildfires. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions to officials attending in a “for attribution” capacity.

    All information and materials related to this briefing will be shared under embargo, until the Ministerial press conference begins at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

    1. Media Technical Briefing

    Event: Hybrid (In-person and virtual)
    Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
    Time: 11:30 a.m. EDT
    Location: National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325, Ottawa, Ontario

    2. Press Conference

    Event: In-person
    Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
    Time: 12:30 p.m. EDT
    Location: National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325, Ottawa, Ontario

    Notes for media:

    • Simultaneous translation audio feed will be available. Participation in the question and answer portion of the technical briefing is in person or via Zoom and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may also contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca to request temporary access.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger’s Bill to Block Noncitizens from Voting in DC Elections Passes the House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman August Pfluger’s (TX-11) bill to prohibit non-citizens from voting in D.C. and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment of 2022 passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a bipartisan fashion by a vote of 266-148.

    It’s common sense: Only American citizens should be able to vote in U.S. elections. Prior to its passage, Rep. Pfluger delivered remarks on the House floor in support of his legislation. Watch his full remarks here.

    Read the full text of the legislation here.

    Rep. Pfluger released the following statement following passage of his legislation:

    “The radical D.C. Council decided to allow noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in local elections. Even worse, they then proceeded to encourage noncitizens to vote for Mayor, Attorney General, and more. It’s no secret that local elections determine critical matters, and allowing noncitizens to vote in them opens Pandora’s box to D.C.’s already radical local policies, diluting the voting power of citizen voters. Today, the House took action to defend that power and restore the sanctity of the voting process by passing my legislation to block noncitizens from voting in D.C. elections. Let me be clear: anyone who voted against my bill voted for the transfer of political power away from legal voters,” said Rep. Pfluger.

    Several leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives also praised the passage of Rep. Pfluger’s legislation:

    House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Comer said, “It’s common sense that only American citizens should have the right to vote. Allowing noncitizens to vote in D.C. elections undermines the defining privilege of American citizenship and dilutes the right of American citizens to elect the candidates who best represent them. By passing H.R. 884, the House took a crucial step toward empowering American citizens in D.C. to vote in local elections and restoring the rule of law in our nation’s capital. The House Oversight Committee is proud to support Rep. Pfluger’s important bill and is committed to defending Americans’ fundamental right to vote and responsible governance in D.C. The Senate must now follow the House’s lead and do the same,”

    Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “The D.C. Council’s law allowing noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, to vote in D.C. local elections is blatantly against federal law and inherently unjust, disenfranchising American voters and diluting their voice in their government. Making matters worse, the law makes no exception for foreign nationals or diplomats, meaning representatives from other countries, such as agents of the Chinese Communist Party, could potentially vote in D.C. elections–even though their interests are often separate or opposed to American interests. It’s common sense: only American citizens should be able to vote in U.S. elections. I’m thankful to Rep. August Pfluger for standing up for American voters and bringing legislation to prevent individuals who are not U.S. citizens from voting in elections in the District of Columbia.”

    House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain said, “House Republicans passed legislation to restore trust in our election system, particularly in our nation’s capital. Unlike Democrats, we will not allow illegal immigrants to dilute the votes of actual Americans. Only Americans should be able to vote in U.S. elections. It’s as simple as that.”

    Majority Whip Tom Emmer said, “The District of Columbia has defied federal law for too long by allowing illegal aliens to vote in local elections. Representative Pfluger’s bill rightly puts an end to this insanity by enacting what should be common sense: American elections should only be decided by American citizens.”

    Background:

    As first reported in Fox News, earlier this year, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced a package of bills to strengthen election integrity and restore American confidence in our elections. The package included Rep. Pfluger’s bill to prohibit noncitizens from voting in D.C.

    This bill follows a nearly unanimous vote by the D.C. City Council to advance a bill that would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, even if they have only resided in D.C. for 30 days. This law is unjust and against federal law.

    Last year, this bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 262-143. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Participates in Energy Hearing with Secretary Wright

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger Participates in Energy Hearing with Secretary Wright

    Washington, June 11, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, participated in the Committee’s Energy Subcommittee hearing entitled “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Energy Budget.”

    Secretary of Energy Chris Wright testified before the subcommittee. During the hearing, Rep. Pfluger asked Secretary Wright about his top priorities for the year, for an update on the Mexico Pacific LNG export site, and how we can legislatively protect the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

    Click HERE or the image below to watch their full exchange.

    Watch their full exchange HERE or read highlights below.

    Rep. Pfluger: You have extreme expertise about how energy in this country works. I am worried about everybody who has testified here, especially those who have recently talked about data centers and the demand that we are going to see—rising demand for electricity consumption, and how we’re going to keep up with manufacturing. Just big picture priorities that you have set out that will enable us as a country to set the conditions for private industry to meet that demand with adequate supply. Love to hear your thoughts.

    Secretary Wright: Look, as you know, over the years, we’ve created huge regulatory burdens on building infrastructure, on building pipelines, on building power plants, on building transmission lines. If you make it harder and harder and more and more expensive to do things, well, guess what? You get less of them. And that’s what’s happened in the United States. I heard a comment earlier that U.S. oil and natural gas production were at all-time highs in 2023, which was true, but that’s because it’s dominantly on private land and state land, and it’s not on federal land. We’ve had huge federal obstruction efforts. They haven’t been entirely effective on oil and gas that’s produced on private lands and on state lands. But when you restrict the ability to build pipelines and grow the transportation, you ultimately restrict the growth of it. Power plants with the Clean Power Plan, if you build a new power plant today, you have to have carbon capture and sequestration injected underground, like 11 years from now. That’s a technology we don’t have at a commercial scale. A massively expensive parasitic load of maybe a third of the power plant has to go to that thing. People aren’t going to invest money and build power plants with constrictions like that. There are a lot of reasons we haven’t built as much new capacity as we should. And it’s critical for this administration and this Congress that we work together to remove these obstacles and barriers that chill investment. Because we need to lead in AI. We need to win in AI. We can lead and we can win in AI. But to do that, we need to get overly burdensome, truly not focused on the environment, regulations out of the way so that capital will flow and things will be built. We need some simplification with permitting. We need to make FERC move more efficiently. But I will tell you, in this administration, and I know in this Congress, there are many people working tirelessly to achieve just that, so I’m optimistic, but yes, big changes need to be made.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier Demands Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Immediately Reinstate All Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in New Letter

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), pediatrician and member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, led 86 of her colleagues, with the support of Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, on a letter demanding that Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. upholds his oath to protect the health of the American people by immediately reinstating the seventeen members of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that were recently fired.

     “Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous decision to fire all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a direct attack on science and a threat to our public health,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “For 61 years, this integral committee of seasoned health care experts has been trusted to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make fully transparent recommendations about vaccines. But now, Secretary Kennedy is gutting that expertise and may well use this opportunity to elevate conspiracy theorists and social media influencers to these decision-making positions. As a pediatrician and a member of Congress, I am outraged that the Secretary of Health and Human Services would dismiss science and the medical community and instead welcome those with fringe healthcare ideas into the heart of our public health system. It is just plain dangerous.” 

     Today’s letter comes on the heels of Congresswoman Schrier introducing the Family Vaccine Protection Act that will protect the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule.

     A copy of the letter is below.

     Dear Secretary Kennedy,

     For over 60 years, in both Republican and Democratic Administrations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has played a pivotal role in keeping Americans healthy and safe. As Members of Congress, we are outraged at your decision to unilaterally remove all 17 individuals from ACIP on June 9th. As Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), your duty to this country is to enhance the well-being of all Americans and this decision will cost lives. Your decision to disband the ACIP, a committee of medical and public health experts whose sole focus is to develop vaccine recommendations, completely undermines ACIP’s critical role and endangers this nation’s public health.

    On June 9th, in your opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, you blame conflict of interests and a lack of curiosity as a rationale for removing this panel of experts from their roles. Your statement belies the rigorous vetting process for ACIP members, including financial disclosures and a review of their previous work on clinical trials. ACIP members must recuse themselves from votes and discussions on vaccines they are studying, or on any other vaccines manufactured by companies that fund their research. In fact, just this year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set up a public, searchable database allowing transparency for any conflicts of interest for voting ACIP members dating back to 2000.

     These actions upend ACIP’s thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making and will weave unfounded or disproven theories into what has traditionally been a science-based process trusted by our health care providers. Conducting immunization reviews takes months of deliberation and review of research, and your unilateral decision to abruptly end ACIP’s existing work is detrimental. It has become abundantly clear that your intent is to sow doubt and fear in the American public that will cost lives. With an ongoing measles outbreak and the decline of routine child immunizations, we will see the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases across the country. Your politicization of vaccines has made American families less safe and will return the US to an era before mass vaccination prevented millions of infections and early deaths.

     We demand that you reinstate the fired 17 members to ACIP and uphold your oath to the American people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Previews Congressional Baseball Game

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News’ Fox and Friends alongside Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) to discuss tonight’s Congressional baseball game, set to raise over $2.5 million for charity, as House Republicans work toward their fifth consecutive win. Additionally, Leader Scalise talked about the FBI’s gross misclassification of the 2017 baseball shooting that almost took his life as a suicide by cop instead of what it really was – a gunman who set out to kill Republicans.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
    On miracles following the 2017 baseball practice shooting:“Well, Steve, we’ve come a long way from that. Obviously, God performed a lot of miracles that morning. He continues to perform miracles, but I’m lucky to be alive, and when you’re out here on the big league ballpark, you know, it doesn’t get any better than this.”On the Trump Administration exposing politicization from the FBI:“Yeah, and it shows you the difference with the Trump Administration, trying to focus on rooting out a lot of that politicization of those agencies – everybody knew. We told the FBI at the time that the guy didn’t even know that I had cops, and he tried to kill them once he found out they were cops. So you can’t call it suicide by cop, yet they did. So I’m so glad Kash Patel is getting the facts out and actually focusing on what really happened that day.”On tonight’s Congressional game:“Yeah, we do come together. We want to win the game, obviously, as our Skipper [Roger Williams] just talked about, but also, there’s a lot of camaraderie on the team. We’ll bring over 27,000 people in the stands tonight. Is that amazing? We’ll have more people in the stands than more than half the major league teams, and raising over two and a half million dollars for local charities. So it’s a really good cause. We really come together. We get to know the Democrats on the other side. We want to beat them out there on the House Floor when we’re trying to save America. But we’re having a really good time tonight for a really good cause. We are going to try to win the game. And you know, we’re on a heater right now, a [four]-game winning streak.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luis Silvas Appointed Western Territory Special Representative

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM International President Brian Bryant has announced the appointment of Luis Silvas as a Special Representative in the Western Territory, effective June 7, 2025. Silvas is moving from his role as an Education Representative at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.

    “Luis embodies what it means to be a union leader, grounded in experience, driven by purpose, and committed to empowering our members,” said Bryant. “His new role will only amplify the impact he’s already made.”

    Silvas brings a wealth of relevant and practical knowledge to the role and has been active in Local and District leadership since the beginning of his union journey. His knowledge and experience will immediately benefit IAM members.

    “Luis’s deep understanding of local procedures, coupled with his skills in organizing, negotiating, and servicing, as well as his background in developing and delivering training, will allow him to make an immediate and positive impact,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez.

    Silvas began his IAM career in Southern California with Local 1125 in 2013, quickly rising through the ranks as Shop Steward, Recording Secretary, and later Local President. In 2017, he became a Business Representative for District 725, where he also served as Political Facilitator and elected Trustee for the California Conference of Machinists.

    The post Luis Silvas Appointed Western Territory Special Representative appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ukraine Country Analysis Brief

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Petroleum & Other Liquids

    Crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, diesel, propane, and other liquids including biofuels and natural gas liquids.

    Natural Gas

    Exploration and reserves, storage, imports and exports, production, prices, sales.

    Electricity

    Sales, revenue and prices, power plants, fuel use, stocks, generation, trade, demand & emissions.

    Coal

    Reserves, production, prices, employment and productivity, distribution, stocks, imports and exports.

    Total Energy

    Comprehensive data summaries, comparisons, analysis, and projections integrated across all energy sources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building Affordable Homes in Buffalo

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the rehabilitation of Ellicott Town Center, a decades-old 281-unit affordable housing development near downtown in the City of Buffalo. Developed by Beacon Communities and First Shiloh Development LLC, an affiliate of the First Shiloh Baptist Church, the project builds on the State’s historic $50 million investment in Buffalo’s East Side. The $71 million rehabilitation also includes 24 units set aside for older New Yorkers. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has financed more than 11,000 affordable homes in Erie County, including nearly 8,000 in Buffalo. Ellicott Town Center continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

    “The $71 million rehabilitation of Ellicott Town Center demonstrates our commitment to revitalizing the East Side and working with faith-based organizations like the First Shiloh Baptist Church to ensure more individuals and families have access to safe, affordable housing,” Governor Hochul said. “This project preserves 281 homes and continues my administration’s focus on building a stronger, more affordable future for all New Yorkers.”

    Ellicott Town Center includes four high-rise towers which feature 257 affordable apartments originally built in 1958 and called the Ellicott Mall. The development also includes 24 townhome units, originally constructed in 1998, which remain reserved for New Yorkers age 55 and older. All units are affordable to households with incomes at or below 90 percent of the Area Median Income.

    The rehabilitation features both interior and exterior improvements to the buildings, including kitchen and bathroom updates in all apartments, new roofs, windows, siding, sidewalks, and enhanced lighting. The improvements have increased the building’s efficiency and are expected to lead to a 20 percent energy savings.

    Construction at Ellicott Town Center took place in phases, with residents temporarily moved to vacant units during the project.

    State financing for Ellicott Town Center rehabilitation includes support from HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program that generated $31 million in equity, nearly $36 million in tax exempt housing bonds, and nearly $23 million in HCR subsidy. The development also benefits from $300,000 in Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that aligns the development and preservation of affordable housing with New York’s affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “The $71 million revitalization of Ellicott Town Center not only preserves 281 affordable homes on Buffalo’s East Side, it also transforms underutilized and aging buildings into vibrant, modern homes that will serve this neighborhood for years to come. Thank you to our partners at Beacon Communities and First Shiloh Development LLC for their work on this remarkable development that contributes to Governor Hochul’s vision for a more equitable and sustainable future for Western New York.”

    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris said, “New York continues to transform its aging building stock with the latest clean energy technologies, demonstrating pathways to affordable, modern housing throughout the state. This project maintains the development’s original mission to serve older New Yorkers and invest in Buffalo’s East Side community while allowing current and future residents to benefit from an energy efficient, quality and comfortable living environment.”

    Senator Chuck Schumer said, “Every family in Buffalo deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit that I worked hard to protect and expand has delivered millions to rehabilitate nearly 300 homes at Ellicott Town Center on Buffalo’s East Side. High housing costs are a key driver of inflation so we must build more housing for working people to bring down those high prices. I applaud Governor Hochul’s work increasing access to affordable housing in Buffalo and across Western New York, and I will continue working to deliver federal resources to ensure that every New Yorker has a roof over their heads.”

    State Senator April Baskin said, “Just two years ago, ground was broken on a project designed to ensure access to quality housing on East Eagle Street. Now that concept has come to fruition, allowing older residents to live in safe, sustainable, affordable apartments and townhomes. Thanks to state and federal tax credits, along with the partnership between First Shiloh Development LLC and Beacon Communities, successful projects like the Ellicott Town Center are proof that we will celebrate these victories and never stop addressing the systemic social and economic inequalities that continue to impact this community.”

    Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, “The rehabilitation of Ellicott Town Homes is a substantial commitment from the state towards equity and investment for our seniors and residents of Buffalo’s east side. Modernized, energy-efficient housing ushers in a brighter future for Ellicott Town Homes residents. I thank Governor Hochul, NYS Housing & Community Renewal, First Shiloh Development LLC and Beacon for putting this project together for the benefit of our community.”

    Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon said, “As the Mayor of Buffalo, having access to affordable housing is crucial for all City residents. The completion of renovations at the Ellicott Town Center affordable housing complex provides Buffalo seniors and families with a safe, highly efficient, and comfortable living environment. This $71 million rehab and preservation project is another great collaboration between community-based organizations, religious institutions, private sector investments and multiple levels of government support, including the approval of a partial loan forgiveness by The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. I’d like to thank Governor Kathy Hochul and all of our partners for their continued commitment to provide affordable housing in East Buffalo.”

    Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Halton-Pope said, “The rehabilitation of Ellicott Town Center is more than a construction project — it’s a promise kept to the residents of Buffalo’s East Side. By preserving 281 affordable homes, including those for older adults, this investment reinforces our commitment to dignified housing, community stability, and equitable development. I’m especially proud to see faith-based institutions like First Shiloh Baptist Church leading the way in this work, reminding us that progress is strongest when it’s rooted in partnership and purpose.”

    Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “Affordable housing continues to be a critical issue in Erie County, just as it is across America, and the Ellicott Town Center project is an example of how to tackle the issue the right way. These investments build stronger communities, improve residents’ lives, and create better places to live.”

    Beacon Communities CEO Dara Kovel said, “This long-awaited renovation is an investment in the future of the City of Buffalo. Ellicott Town Center will provide residents with the high-quality, affordable, and sustainable housing they deserve so that they may continue to contribute to the vitality of this City. We’re grateful to our partners at First Shiloh Housing Corporations and our public and private sector partners for their vision and commitment to creating housing opportunities for all citizens of New York State.”

    First Shiloh Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Jonathan R. Staples said, “We are thrilled to announce the reopening of Ellicott Town Center, a cornerstone of our mission, to serve our community with compassion and dignity. Since its inception, this project has been a beacon of hope, providing safe and stable housing to those in need. Through the grace of God and the unwavering support of our congregation, partners, and volunteers, we have revitalized this initiative to continue offering refuge, restoration, and renewal. As we reopen our doors, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone is valued and uplifted. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and in working together to build a future rooted in faith, community, and love. May this housing program remain a source of strength and support for all who seek shelter and belonging.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

    Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY26 Enacted Budget includes more than $1.5 billion in new State funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. These measures complement the Governor’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, included in the FY23 Enacted Budget, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 and FY26 Enacted Budgets also strengthened the Governor’s Pro-Housing Community Program — which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have received Pro Housing certification, including Buffalo

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Orange Middle East and Africa and risingSUD join forces to facilitate the establishment and development of startups in the South of France

    At the Viva Technology trade show in Paris, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) (www.Orange.com), represented by its CEO Jérôme Hénique, and risingSUD, represented by its President Bernard Kleynhoff, signed a strategic partnership to support the establishment and growth of African startups in the Orange Digital Center network in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the South of France.

    This three-year partnership aims to bring together innovation ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, and the South of France. Specifically, startups from the Orange Digital Center network will benefit from tailored support from the teams at risingSUD, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region’s economic attractiveness and development agency, to establish themselves in the South of France. They will thus join a dynamic region that is already home to 500,000 companies, including global leaders and startups that are inventing the world of tomorrow.

    With this partnership, OMEA strengthens its support for the internationalization of startups from Africa and the Middle East and reaffirms its commitment to developing the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystems. Deployed in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and eight countries in Europe, the Orange Digital Center network is a free and accessible ecosystem for all. It brings together, in one place, digital skills training for young people, support for project leaders, incubation, acceleration, and startup financing.

    In 2024 alone, risingSUD supported the establishment of 14 African companies in the South of France, including the startup from the Orange Digital Center in Tunisia, Guépard, which opened an office in Marseille. This partnership will allow more startups from Africa and the Middle East to benefit from risingSUD’s expertise, ranging from project development to access to financing and networking with international partners. It will also facilitate access for talent and startups from the South region to the Orange Digital Centers network.

    ​​​Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, commented: “This partnership with risingSUD marks a key step in our ambition to promote African innovation internationally. It is a continuation of the support we offer startups through our Orange Digital Centers. By facilitating their establishment and acceleration in France, particularly in the South region, we are giving young African companies the means to accelerate their growth.”

    Bernard Kleynhoff, President of risingSUD and President of the Economic and Digital Development, Industry, Export, Attractiveness and Cybersecurity Commissions of the Sud Region, added: “Thanks to its strategic position, its historical trade flows and its commitment to innovation, the South of France is a natural bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It is now the leading French region for hosting African investment projects. This partnership opens up new economic opportunities and constitutes a real springboard for the development of businesses on both sides of the Mediterranean.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ICE Arrests Illegal Alien for Molotov Cocktail Attack on Law Enforcement Caught on Video

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    This illegal alien has been charged with attempted murder

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Emiliano Garduno-Galvez—an illegal alien from Mexico—for attempted murder after he threw a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during the Los Angeles riots.  

    On June 9, 2025, ICE agents in Los Angeles arrested Garduno-Galvez after he was identified as a suspect who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during the Los Angeles riot on Saturday, June 7. Last night, he was charged with attempted murder.

    “Emiliano Garduno-Galvez is a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who threatened the lives of federal law enforcement officers by attacking them with a Molotov cocktail during the violent riots in Los Angeles. ICE arrested Garduno-Galvez, and he is now being charged with attempted murder. These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The Los Angeles rioters will not stop us or slow us down. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

    Garduno-Galvez had previously been deported. He has a previous criminal record: In 2024, Garduno-Galvez was arrested by the Anaheim Police Department in California for grand theft and by the Long Beach Police Department for a DUI.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Reveals More Heinous Criminal Illegal Aliens Including a Murderer, Pedophile, and Drug Traffickers Arrested during Los Angeles Operation

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    The rioters will not stop or slow ICE down from arresting criminal illegal aliens

    WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released more information about some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested during the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Los Angeles (LA), California (CA). These arrests occurred June 9 and 10 despite prolonged violent riots and assaults on ICE and other federal law enforcement officers.

    “Murderers, pedophiles, and drug traffickers. These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect. How much longer will Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass continue to prioritize these criminal illegal aliens over their own citizens?” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Secretary Noem has a message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens.”

    Below is a list of some of the violent criminal illegal aliens arrested in ICE’s Los Angeles Operation on June 9 and 10:

    Gerardo Antonio-Palacios, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles. He has criminal convictions for homicide and burglary. He was previously deported.

    Mab Khleb

    ICE Los Angeles arrested Mab Khleb, a 53-year-old illegal alien from Cambodia. Khleb’s criminal history includes a conviction for transport of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, lewd action with a child, and battery.

    Sang Louangprasert

    ICE Los Angeles arrested Sang Louangprasert, a 66-year-old illegal alien from Laos. Louangprasert’s criminal history includes a conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 in Fresno, CA and inflicting corporal injury, spouse or cohabitant in Santa Barbara, CA.

    Antonio Benitez-Ugarte

    Antonio Benitez-Ugarte, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles and has been convicted of drug trafficking.

    Alberto Morales-Mejia

    Alberto Morales-Mejia, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles and has criminal convictions for manufacturing amphetamine. He also has previous arrests for document fraud and possession of a weapon.

    Raul Teran-Guillen

    Raul Teran-Guillen, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles and has prior arrests for human smuggling and money laundering.

    Carlos Alberto Escobar-Flores

    ICE Los Angeles arrested Carlos Alberto Escobar-Flores, a 43-year-old illegal alien from Honduras. Escobar’s criminal history includes a conviction for Grand Theft: Money/ Labor/ Property.

    Jose Jimenez-Alvarado

    ICE Los Angeles arrested Jose Jimenez-Alvarado, a 48-year-old illegal alien from Honduras. Jimenez’s criminal history includes a felony conviction for two counts of theft.

    Jesus Romero-Retana

    ICE Los Angeles arrested Jesus Romero-Retana, a 52-year-old illegal alien from Mexico and a criminal history including convictions for threatening crime with intent to terrorize and battery.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal jury convicted an Elizabeth City man Tuesday on one charge of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Charles Gregory, 36, was stopped for a traffic violation in Elizabeth City on August 7, 2022.  An Elizabeth City police officer observed Gregory, the sole occupant of the car, toss an item out the window before coming to a stop. Officers recovered the tossed item from the street and found it to be a bag containing multiple smaller baggies of crack cocaine. Officers placed Gregory under arrest and searched the vehicle, where they found a stolen pistol in the glovebox. Gregory later made statements on recorded jail phone calls about the drugs and gun. Gregory is a convicted felon who has multiple prior felony drug convictions, including possession of cocaine and sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

    Charles Gregory faces a mandatory minimum of five years of imprisonment and a statutory maximum of life imprisonment when sentenced on a later date.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Elizabeth City Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Jermaine Sellers prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-14.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Puerto Rican Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison For Trafficking Fentanyl into Maine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Maine: A Bayamon, Puerto Rico man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Rafael Omar Ojeda Lopez, 44, to a term of imprisonment of 57 months, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

    According to court records, in September 2023, at the direction of agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a confidential source negotiated the purchase of a kilogram of fentanyl from Lopez for $40,000, following several smaller “test” buys. While Lopez and the source were working to finalize the transaction in Rockland, Maine, HSI agents arrested Lopez and seized the fentanyl, which was later lab confirmed to contain a mixture of fentanyl, caffeine, heroin, and xylazine, a powerful tranquilizer. The mixture of fentanyl and xylazine is particularly dangerous to drug users: because xylazine is not a narcotic, its effects cannot be reversed by naloxone, which serves to heighten the risk of overdose death.

    HSI and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) investigated the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Veterans Affairs Contractor Agrees to Pay $4.3 Million to Resolve Claims of Overbilling for Products

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Omnicell, a company based in Delaware, has agreed to pay $4,366,660 to resolve claims that it fraudulently overbilled the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical device hardware and software, announced Richard R. Barker, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

    Between January 2017 and February 2023, Omnicell held a federal contact with the VA to sell and lease products at a set price or negotiated discounted price.

    According to the settlement agreement, a False Claims Act (FCA) claim arose from allegations that Omnicell did not always charge the correct prices for products purchased and leased by federal agencies.

    When Omnicell became aware of certain pricing issues related to specific individual orders, including when federal government customers raised concerns and questions, Omnicell at times issued credits or otherwise corrected prices charged to federal government customers. However, Omnicell did not always timely correct the known issues in its sales and pricing system in a systemic way, nor did Omnicell undertake an analysis to determine whether other federal government customers that may have been previously overcharged due to the pricing issues in order to provide those customers with refunds of overcharges.

    In August 2023, a former Omnicell employee came forward with allegations of fraudulent product overcharging. This individual, known as a “Relator,” filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court (EDWA). When a relator files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $785,998.80 of the settlement amount.  $2,183,330 of the settlement amount has been designated as restitution, meaning that it will be returned to the VA.

    “Veterans who served our country deserve the best health care possible. It is important that companies who do business with the VA and the federal government are accurate in how they charge for goods and services,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “I am grateful that Omnicell quickly accepted responsibility and has taken steps to comply with its billing obligations going forward.”

    “This settlement sends a clear message that the VA OIG will actively investigate allegations involving contractors overbilling for products provided to VA,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with the US Attorney’s Office to ensure the integrity of VA programs and services.”

    The settlement was the result of an investigation jointly conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the VA Office of Inspector General. The USAO’s investigation and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob E. Brooks.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Man Sentenced To More Than 6 Years In Federal Prison For Involvement In Elder Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Pranav Patel (33, New Jersey) to six years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $1,791,301, the proceeds of the offense. Patel pleaded guilty on December 23, 2024.

    According to court documents, between October and December 2023, Patel was involved in a fraud scheme targeting senior citizens. Conspirators involved in the scheme called from call centers abroad and fraudulently identified themselves as government agents such as officers from the United States Department of the Treasury. In some instances, the conspirators told victims that there were outstanding warrants for their arrest, and they needed to pay to clear the warrants. On other occasions, the conspirators told victims that they needed to provide their money and gold to the officers for safekeeping.

    Patel served as a money mule in the fraud scheme. He drove from New Jersey to pick up money and gold from senior citizens in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere along the east coast of the United States. During the sentencing hearing, one victim from whom Patel picked up fraud proceeds advised the court that because of the scam, he was unable to afford his mortgage payments, had to sell his house, and had to depend on Social Security benefits for all his living expenses.

    In December 2023, Patel traveled to a residence in Hillsborough County to retrieve what he believed was a box of gold. Unbeknownst to Patel, he did so while under law enforcement surveillance, and Patel was promptly arrested after picking up the box. In total, Patel laundered $1,791,301 as part of the fraud scheme.

    “Preying on vulnerable, unsuspecting elderly victims to rob them of their hard-earned money is despicable. Even worse, the defendant’s co-conspirators posed as government agents to defraud victims of nearly $2 million, threatening them with arrest if they didn’t follow their demands. Thanks to the men and women of the Tampa Field Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for their diligent work,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Robert Engel of the Tampa Field Office.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Maria Guzman.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple Indicted and Arrested for Marriage Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment on June 5, 2025, charging Shokir Kurbonovich Khalilov, from Uzbekistan, and Keily Maisonet-Ortiz, San Juan, with marriage fraud.

    According to court documents, from February 29, 2024, through on or about April 29, 2025, the defendants entered into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws of the United States. Shokir Kurbonovich Khalilov and Keily Maisonet-Ortiz obtained a marriage license and got married on March 13, 2024, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On October of 2024 Maisonet-Ortiz submitted an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative in favor of defendant Shokir Kurbonovich Khalilov before the Department of Homeland Security and on the same date, Khalilov submitted a I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adult Status pursuant to his marriage to defendant Maisonet-Ortiz.

    The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud. Defendant Maisonet-Ortiz is scheduled for her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Giselle López Soler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Defendant Khalilov will have his initial court appearance next week. If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Reggie Johnson, Chief Patrol Agent for the Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol made the announcement.

    US Border Patrol is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait Barreto is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor “knows know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” say Greens in response to Spending Review

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    by Green Party

    Responding to the Spending Review, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,

    “Today’s Spending Review shows we have a chancellor who seems to know the price of everything and the value of nothing. While today Reeves may have balanced her spreadsheet, it is done on the backs of some of the worst off in our society. The proof is in how many will still be feeling worse off as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard.

    People want to feel pride in Britain again, and for this, they need real hope. Hope only comes from seeing how things will improve through real investment in the everyday services we all rely on.

    Despite the rhetoric in the chamber, it is clear that this Spending Review represents a squeeze in many frontline budgets. With education, for example, where many schools are already being forced to make difficult budget cuts, core school budgets are set to rise by just 0.6% – well under that of inflation. It is hard to see this money ever reaching our teachers and children in the classroom. Equally, I am horrified to see real-term cuts to Defra funding, just as the impact of climate change is starting to affect our communities. Now is the time to invest in climate resilience and preparedness.”

    He continued, “These ‘tough decisions’ are actually ‘Labour’s political choices’. They are choosing to leave the economy tilted towards those with considerable wealth. Our front-line services continue to deteriorate through a political choice of decline by design. By introducing a wealth tax on the super-rich, we could instead properly invest in our children’s future. We could give them the education they deserve and start now to invest in the climate resilience and preparedness they will need throughout their lives as the climate crisis unfolds.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –