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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Laundering Proceeds of $16M Hospice Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A California man pleaded guilty today to laundering more than $4.6 million in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of nearly $16 million through sham hospice companies.

    According to court documents, Mihran Panosyan, 46, of Winnetka, worked with others to launder the proceeds of a massive Medicare fraud scheme, transferring the fraudulently obtained funds between multiple accounts before spending them. The scheme comprised three parts. First, three of Panosyan’s co-defendants used the identities of foreign nationals no longer in the United States to operate several sham hospice companies. Panosyan and his co-defendants maintained fraudulent identification documents, bank accounts, checkbooks, and credit and debit cards in the names of purported foreign owners. Second, the co-defendants caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill and who never requested nor received hospice services. As a result, Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million. Third, Panosyan and his co-defendants laundered the proceeds of the scheme to conceal the source of the funds and their control over them. Panosyan transferred proceeds of the Medicare fraud between accounts in the names of the purported foreign owners, the sham hospices, and other shell corporations, laundering more than $4.6 million in fraudulently obtained funds that he used to purchase real estate, pay for private school for his minor child, and pay for other personal expenses.

    Panosyan pleaded guilty to money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Panosyan’s co-defendant, Petros Fichidzhyan, previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Last month, Fichidzhyan was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Trial against the other three defendants in this case is scheduled to begin July 29.

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

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Michael Bacharach, Sarah E. Edwards, and Allison L. McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is handling asset forfeiture.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Laundering Proceeds of $16M Hospice Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A California man pleaded guilty today to laundering more than $4.6 million in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of nearly $16 million through sham hospice companies.

    According to court documents, Mihran Panosyan, 46, of Winnetka, worked with others to launder the proceeds of a massive Medicare fraud scheme, transferring the fraudulently obtained funds between multiple accounts before spending them. The scheme comprised three parts. First, three of Panosyan’s co-defendants used the identities of foreign nationals no longer in the United States to operate several sham hospice companies. Panosyan and his co-defendants maintained fraudulent identification documents, bank accounts, checkbooks, and credit and debit cards in the names of purported foreign owners. Second, the co-defendants caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill and who never requested nor received hospice services. As a result, Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million. Third, Panosyan and his co-defendants laundered the proceeds of the scheme to conceal the source of the funds and their control over them. Panosyan transferred proceeds of the Medicare fraud between accounts in the names of the purported foreign owners, the sham hospices, and other shell corporations, laundering more than $4.6 million in fraudulently obtained funds that he used to purchase real estate, pay for private school for his minor child, and pay for other personal expenses.

    Panosyan pleaded guilty to money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Panosyan’s co-defendant, Petros Fichidzhyan, previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Last month, Fichidzhyan was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Trial against the other three defendants in this case is scheduled to begin July 29.

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

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Michael Bacharach, Sarah E. Edwards, and Allison L. McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is handling asset forfeiture.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Advancing Cancer Care in Niger

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    In May 2025, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Niger’s only radiotherapy centre, CNLC, in Niamey, accompanied by Minister of Public Health Garba Hakimi, Shaukat Abdulrazak, Director of the IAEA’s Division for Africa, and other senior government officials.

    Cancer is a growing healthcare challenge in Niger, with over 11 000 new cases and more than 8800 cancer related deaths reported in 2022. Radiotherapy — a treatment needed in nearly half of all cancer cases — remains in short supply in the country, and even those who can afford access to it are let down by out-of-date equipment.  

    Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is supporting efforts to strengthen radiotherapy services in Niger, aiming to expand access to cancer care where it is needed most. 

    Through the initiative, the IAEA supported Niger in establishing a new cancer treatment facility with state-of-the-art equipment including medical linear accelerator (LINAC), a computed tomography-simulator, an advanced treatment planning system, dosimetry equipment and related accessories.  

    The new equipment will help expand services for radiotherapy at Niger’s only public radiotherapy centre, which serves a population of 24 million people. Medical professionals will be able to treat tumours more accurately through the country’s new equipment, while sparing normal tissues and critical organs. More Nigerien cancer patients can also be treated locally without having to travel abroad for care. 

    “The presence of this machinery in our country will significantly enhance the quality of life for the people of Niger, as it will lead to a considerable decrease in treatment costs and medical evacuations”, said Abdourahamane Tchiani President of Niger. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: HFAC Middle East And North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Lawler Reacts to Iranian Strikes on U.S. Bases

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 6/23/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa subcommittee, reacts to the news of Iranian strikes on U.S. bases in the region.

    “I pray for the safety of our brave men and women serving our country overseas, and the thousands of civilians on these military bases,” said Chairman Lawler. “All Americans stand with them as they face this outrageous attack that is yet another escalation by an Iranian regime hellbent on killing Americans.”

    “Since this wasn’t clear to the Ayatollah before, any attack against the United States or our allies will bring a decisive response,” concluded Congressman Lawler.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Island States Advance Ocean Partnerships and Finance Innovation at United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference


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    In a high-profile gathering during the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the African Island States Climate Commission (AISCC), in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), convened a High-Level Dialogue aimed at strengthening ocean partnerships and mobilizing innovative finance to support sustainable development across African Small Island Developing States. With participation from ministers, ambassadors, and senior officials representing island nations, United Nations agencies, and global development partners, the Dialogue marked a significant step toward aligning regional leadership, blue economy priorities, and climate finance strategies in pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14).

    Held as an official side event in the UNOC3 Blue Zone, the Dialogue was guided by the theme “Strengthening Ocean Partnerships for Resilience and Sustainable Finance: Charting a Blue Future for African Island States and AIS SIDS.”

    Discussions emphasized the unique vulnerabilities of African Island States, the need for coordinated climate and ocean governance, and the urgency of unlocking scalable, long-term financing solutions tailored to the needs of island nations.

    Opening the event, Flavien Joubert, Chair of the AISCC and Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment for the Republic of Seychelles, described the conference as a unique opportunity for African Island States and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) to demonstrate global leadership on ocean sustainability. He called for stronger cooperation across SIDS regions and emphasized the central role of the AISCC as an innovative platform for climate action and diplomacy. Minister Joubert highlighted existing partnerships with ECA, IOC, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as examples of how African island nations are working together to mobilize resources and build collective resilience. He reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to lead the AISCC in a spirit of solidarity and inclusion, “ensuring no island state is left behind.”

    United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, who served as Secretary-General of both the UNOC3 and the Fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), reiterated the UN’s full support for African SIDS. He noted that the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) is nearing completion, and that work is underway to establish governance mechanisms for implementing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). Li also pointed to reforms in the SIDS Partnership Framework as part of ongoing efforts to ensure more effective and accountable cooperation with the international community.

    Nassim Oulmane, Head of the Natural Resources, Green and Blue Economy Section at ECA, stated in his welcoming remarks that this Dialogue builds on momentum from key AISCC high-level events convened at the UNFCCC COP28, COP29, African Climate Summit, and 4th International SIDS Conference. He held that the region must continue strengthening regional and international cooperation, and unlock innovative, scalable solutions through tools like blue bonds and debt-for-ocean swaps, and other innovative mechanisms. “ECA, in partnership with AISCC, is proud to support initiatives like the RESIslands project, funded by the GCF,” he said. “Together, we are advancing integrated approaches to promote ocean health, sustainable development, and climate resilience—leaving no one behind.”

    In the ministerial panel, national leaders from across the region provided a grounded view of both challenges and opportunities. Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism of São Tomé and Príncipe, said that unity among African SIDS is key to advancing sustainable development.

    “When we speak with one voice, we gain strength. When we share knowledge, we gain resilience. And when we cooperate, we attract the resources we need,” she said. Borges da Mata reaffirmed her country’s support for the AISCC as a critical platform to promote regional cooperation on climate and ocean priorities.

    Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action, Viriato Soares Cassamá, announced that his country will host the next Ministerial Meeting of the AISCC later this year. He revealed the upcoming meeting as a decisive moment for the AISCC to launch a Joint Declaration on Oceans and Climate, a Sustainable Finance Action Plan, and new governance mechanisms that include women, youth, and local voices.

    Maria Ebiaca Moete, State Secretary of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Equatorial Guinea, emphasized the importance of investment in locally led, community-based solutions. “We see the RESIslands Initiative as a key platform to channel investment into sustainable, locally led projects,” she said. Moete also called for the creation of a dedicated international funding mechanism for island states and urged development partners to design financing instruments that are simpler, more flexible, and more accessible for vulnerable island economies.

    Fabrice David, Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries of Mauritius, called for a shift in perception of SIDS from fragile to formidable. “This is a critical moment for SIDS to show leadership as Big Ocean States,” he said. “SDG14 remains the most underfunded of all global goals. That must change.” Minister David introduced the Blue Finance Hub initiative, developed with support from the Africa Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) and FSD Africa, which he described as a promising model for catalyzing nature-positive investments in the blue economy, with potential for replication across other African island nations.

    The panel featured senior-level participation from Cabo Verde and Madagascar, too. In addition to the governmental interventions, the event included the United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Ocean, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde, as well as senior speakers from the Indian Ocean Commission, the Green Climate Fund, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the SIDS Hub at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom, and the ANCA Secretariat of FSD Africa.

    Throughout the High-Level Dialogue, speakers stressed the urgency of rethinking the global financial system to respond more effectively to the realities of island nations, and the need for AIS SIDS to have a stronger voice in shaping international ocean and climate frameworks. The meeting reaffirmed the role of the AISCC as a unifying body for African Island States, driving forward shared strategies on SDG 14 and building a sustainable, climate-resilient blue future through partnership, innovation, and action.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Markey Demand Answers from Trump Administration Using AI and Other Technology to Label People as National Security Risks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 23, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.) said today that he and Edward J. Markey, (D-Mass.) are demanding answers from the Trump administration about its use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to label people as a risk to U.S. national security. 

    Wyden and Markey called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reverse the Trump administration’s decision to expand its social media screening of visa applicants. Those policy changes seem intended to chill dissent, discriminate against particular viewpoints, and punish individuals for speech the Administration finds objectionable. 

    In the second letter, the lawmakers requested that the Government Accountability Office investigate the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice’s use of AI technologies to label individuals as potential threats to the public, including automated analysis of content people post online.  

    In their letter to Secretaries Rubio and Noem, the lawmakers wrote, “Even in an administration intending to conduct social media screening in a fair and unbiased manner, the risks of mistakes are high. In an administration with malign intentions, these social media screening tools guarantee abuse.”

    The lawmakers continued, “We are deeply concerned that State and DHS’s respective new policies around social media screening are a thinly veiled effort to discriminate against visa applicants and other noncitizens seeking to pursue their studies or obtain asylum or lawful residence in the United States.”

    In their letter to the GAO, the lawmakers’ raised serious concerns about DHS and DOJ’s use of “technologies that make dubious automated inferences about individuals’ emotions, attitudes, and intentions,” including the administration’s deployment of “AI to scan the social media accounts of tens of thousands of student visa holders and flag some as supposedly supporting terrorist organizations.”

    The lawmakers continued,  “Furthermore, since many criminal statutes require proof of intent or other state of mind, using AI in this way could lead prosecutors to bring more severe charges against individuals on the basis of pseudoscientific evidence. This technology is also ripe for deliberate abuse, providing a pretext for government officials to target groups they disfavor.”

    Senators Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., cosigned both letters. 

    Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash cosigned the GAO letter.

    The text of the letter to Secretaries Rubio and Noem is available here. 

    The text of the letter to GAO is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden and Merkley Introduce Legislation to Check Presidential Power Under the Insurrection Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 23, 2025

    The senators are introducing legislation in the wake of Donald Trump deploying 2,000 more troops to Los Angeles

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) said today they have joined 20 senators to introduce legislation that would limit the president’s unrestrained authority under the 217-year-old Insurrection Act.

    The new Insurrection Act of 2025 would reform centuries-old legislation that gives the president broad authority to deploy troops without a state’s permission to suppress “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” Historically, presidents have used this centuries-old legislation sparingly. However, Donald Trump has recently threatened to employ it, escalating tensions by deploying the U.S. military instead of prioritizing restoring order during domestic crises.

    “Presidents swear to serve and protect all the American people by de-escalating tensions, not by turning our military against them,” Wyden said. “This bill ensures that presidents can’t deploy troops on U.S. soil in any of the 50 states without getting a state’s stamp of approval.”

    “Trump’s response to protests in California is purely authoritarian—an outrageous abuse of power designed to raise tensions. It should alarm us all,” Merkley said. “The military must never be weaponized by the President to suppress free speech and peaceful protest. I’ll fight to protect Americans’ rights and liberties with every tool at my disposal.”

    In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Adam Schiff, D-Calif,Jack Reed, D-R.I., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Chris Coons, D-Del., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Andy Kim, D-N.J., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.

    The new Insurrection Act of 2025 would:

    • Clarify that the law cannot be used to suspend habeas corpus, impose martial law, or deputize private militias to act as soldiers.

    • Require a report to Congress providing an explicit justification for the use of the Insurrection Act’s authority, as enumerated in this legislation, and a full description of the scope and duration of its use.

    • Provide for judicial review to ensure that individuals, or a state or local government, may bring a civil action if the president’s authority under the Insurrection Act is misused or abused.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Empowering youth, protecting the planet: United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) partners with Somali universities to train future environmental advocates


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    Twenty-five students from SIMAD University in Mogadishu were given one day training on the practical management of wastewater and solid waste to help prevent pollution of the environment. The session took place at the UNSOS environmental installations, namely the wastewater treatment plants and waste management yard.  This training aimed to equip students with hands-on skills for effective waste handling and environmental protection.

    This initiative is spearheaded by the UNSOS Environmental Unit, with the aim of linking theoretical knowledge with practical management of the environment, for the benefit of fourth-year public health students. The initiative directly addresses the practical educational gaps in science, which is critical for Somalia’s environmental protection. “UNSOS is committed to supporting locals through the building the capacity as part of our environmental management system,” says Jama, UNSOS Environmental Affairs Officer.

    Since the inception of the program in November 2024, UNSOS has trained 58 undergraduate students in solid waste and wastewater management at the UN facilities in Mogadishu. Jazeera University was the first to partner with UNSOS on this initiative, and it has now been joined by SIMAD University. By collaborating with academic institutions, UNSOS aims to foster a new generation of environmental advocates and professionals who can contribute to Somalia’s environmental protection and public health goals.

    “I have learnt a lot that will enhance my experience. I have practically undertaken what I studied in theory, Garbage is not all waste; it includes materials that can be beneficial to the people and the environment, instead of just being dumped around. We can profit from reusable and recyclable materials like plastics, rather than allow them to negatively impact our health and the environment”, said Muna Hassan Warsame, a passionate advocate for environmental change in her final year of Public Health at SIMAD University. =

    The students’ first field visit was to a waste management facility, a central hub for waste collected daily from 43 designated points within the UN and African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) compounds. There, they observed the critical segregation process, a routine operation aimed at reducing the volume for final disposal and enhancing recycling efficiency.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Republic of The Gambia: President Barrow and Other Heads of State Attend the 67th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

    His Excellency President Adama Barrow has joined other regional leaders at the Ordinary Session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja.

    The Summit reviewed the State of the Community, economic cooperation, security and broader sub-regional developments.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chaired the Summit and reaffirmed Nigeria’s continuous commitment to ECOWAS regional peace and security responses. He took pride in the completion of the ECOWAS military logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, and called for the ECOWAS Standby Force concept to be translated into reality to serve as a regional counter-terrorism pillar. Response to external security threats in the sub-region require effective collaborations among ECOWAS member states and partners.

    President Tinubu commended ECOWAS for implementing fundamental policies such as common external tariff, protocol on free movement of goods, services and people to stimulate development and cooperation. Moreover, he called for an enabling environment to empower private sectors, remove trade barriers and create necessary conditions for investment, entrepreneurship and innovation to flourish.

    As President Tinubu concluded his tenure at the 67th ECOWAS Summit, he handed over the Emblem to the newly elected Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government H.E. Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

    Delivering his inaugural speech, President Bio promised to prioritize four key areas, namely: restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalizing regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration and building institutional credibility.

    Other speakers included H.E. Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and H.E. Amb. Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of The President- Republic of the Gambia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Front line drone technology to fuel UK – Ukraine partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Front line drone technology to fuel UK – Ukraine partnership

    A landmark agreement between the UK and Ukraine to share battlefield technology has been reached today, boosting Ukraine’s drone production and linking up the UK’s defence industry with the cutting-edge technology being developed on the front lines in Ukraine.

    A landmark agreement between the UK and Ukraine to share battlefield technology has been reached today, boosting Ukraine’s drone production and linking up the UK’s defence industry with the cutting-edge technology being developed on the front lines in Ukraine.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Zelenskyy reached the agreement during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Downing Street today.

    Technology data sets from Ukraine’s front line are set to be plugged into UK production lines, allowing British defence firms to rapidly design and build, at scale, cutting edge military equipment available nowhere else in the world.

    Ukraine is the world leader in drone design and execution, with drone technology evolving, on average, every six weeks.

    The agreement will allow that data to be shared with UK firms to quickly build and produce large numbers of drones for Ukraine’s front lines. It will also ensure a defence dividend continues to be delivered across the country – boosting Ukraine’s defence with deliveries of new equipment, while also supporting British jobs. 

    Initial agreements between defence firms in both countries are expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, with the aim of delivering Ukraine large numbers of battle-proven drones to continue to stave off Russia’s barbaric invasion over the coming months and years.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    By harnessing Ukraine’s battlefield innovation and combining it with British industrial strength, we are not only accelerating support for Ukraine’s defence, we are also delivering security for working people through our Plan for Change.

    This agreement is not just about today’s fight, it’s about building the defence capabilities of tomorrow, together.

    The agreement, which covers the next three years, underscores the unbreakable friendship between the two countries, comes after the two leaders signed the 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine in January.

    The UK will also allocate up to £280m of bilateral assistance to Ukraine for financial year 2025-2026 today to keep the country in the fight and ensure Ukrainians living through Russia’s illegal invasion have access to vital support.  

    The funding will support humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, reform, recovery and reconstruction programmes. Today’s extra funding takes the UK’s non-military support to Ukraine since the start of the invasion to over £5bn. This includes £4.1bn in fiscal support, and over £1.2bn in bilateral assistance. 

    The industrial pilots and subsequent orders will be funded through the UK’s £4.5 billion of military support this year. It also delivers on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations for the UK Armed Forces to move towards a greater use of autonomy.

    Initially, the industrial partnership is expected to increase information and expertise sharing between the UK and Ukraine on drone-based air defence, but the agreement also paves the way for both countries to work on capabilities for the future, long after the war finishes.

    It comes after strong collaboration between UK and Ukrainian innovation and military teams and builds on the partnerships created through the UK’s joint leadership of the international drone coalition.

    The pilots and subsequent orders will be funded through the UK’s £4.5 billion of military support this year and the UK’s commitment to provide £3bn a year of military support to Ukraine in future years. It also delivers on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations for the UK Armed Forces to move towards a greater use of autonomy.

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    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets Former UK Prime Minister

    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 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Beijing on Monday.

    As Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out, China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and world powers, should fulfill their international obligations, demonstrate responsibility and make contributions to world peace and development.

    Wang Yi recalled that last year, the leaders of the two countries held a telephone conversation and a face-to-face meeting, putting China-UK relations on the right track of improvement and development. According to him, China pays special attention to the UK’s commitment to a consistent, long-term policy based on mutual respect towards China.

    “China is willing to work with the UK to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen exchanges in various fields, enhance mutual understanding, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said.

    T. Blair, for his part, noted that attempts to isolate China are doomed to failure and the world needs greater understanding of China. Both sides, he stressed, should intensify dialogue and exchanges at all levels of government and among various social circles, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote sustainable and positive development of bilateral relations.

    On the Israeli-Iranian conflict, Wang Yi said differences between the countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation, adding that Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran under the pretext of “potential future threats” and the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency send a wrong signal to the world that disputes can be resolved by force rather than negotiations, thereby setting a dangerous precedent with serious consequences.

    “All parties to the conflict should take measures to ease tensions and return to the path of political settlement through dialogue and negotiations to restore peace and stability in the Middle East,” Wang Yi concluded.

    Tony Blair said the UK was paying close attention to the conflict between Israel and Iran and called for a return to the path of negotiations through dialogue and diplomacy to quickly restore peace, security and stability in the region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Iran Launches Missile Attack on US Base in Qatar

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    DOHA, June 23 (Xinhua) — Qatar’s air defense systems responded to several missiles over the capital Doha on Monday after Iran announced it had launched a military operation against U.S. troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

    According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Tehran has launched an operation called “Proclamation of Victory” targeting US bases in Iraq and Qatar. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iran Launches Missile Attack on US Base in Qatar

    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

    DOHA, June 23 (Xinhua) — Qatar’s air defense systems intercepted several missiles over the capital Doha on Monday after Iran announced it had launched a military operation against U.S. troops at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, Qatari officials said.

    As noted by the adviser to the Prime Minister, official representative of the Qatari Foreign Ministry Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, Qatar’s air defense systems successfully repelled the attack and shot down the Iranian missiles.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced in a statement the launch of an operation called “Proclamation of Victory” targeting US bases in Iraq and Qatar.

    The IRGC has called Al Udeid Air Base “the headquarters of the US Air Force and the largest strategic asset” of the US in West Asia.

    “Iran will not, under any circumstances, leave any attacks on its territorial integrity, sovereignty and national security unanswered,” the IRGC statement emphasized.

    Ahead of the Iranian strikes, Qatar and the neighboring United Arab Emirates closed their airspace.

    Qatar says no casualties in Iranian attack. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Afghanistan, Chad and Botswana 

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan, Chad and Botswana, the reports of which the Committee will review this week.  The report of San Marino will also be reviewed this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on that country. 

     

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Afghanistan raised concerns relating to restrictive laws against women, the ban on girls’ education, and gender-based crimes enacted by the de-facto authorities, among other issues. 

    Speakers for Chad raised issues including women’s low representation in political and public life, gender stereotypes, and the prevalence of female genital mutilation. 

    The speaker on Botswana discussed the criminalisation of sex workers, mistreatment of gender-based violence victims, and social protection gaps impacting women.

     

    No speakers took the floor in relation to San Marino.   

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Afghanistan: Musawah and Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights (SAHR); MADRE and CUNY School of Law; Gender Persecution Working Group (GPWG); Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; and Afghanistan LGBTIQ+ Organization – ALO. 

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Chad: Lutheran World Foundation Chad; and Ligue tchadienne pour les droits des femmes (Chadian League for Women’s Rights).

    Success Capital Organization spoke on Botswana.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninety-first session is being held from 16 June to 4 July.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 24 June to consider the fourth periodic report of Afghanistan (CEDAW/C/AFG/4).

     

    Statement by Committee Chair 

     

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Afghanistan, San Marino, Chad and Botswana.  

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations on Afghanistan

    In the discussion on Afghanistan, speakers, among other things, said that since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021, Afghan women and girls had been facing increasing human rights violations.  The de facto authorities had issued decrees restricting women in all aspects of their social, cultural, political and economic life.  The 2024 law on the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice mandated ‘Sharia hijab’ covering the entire body and face of women, a prohibition on women to speak in public, and a strict male relative (mahram) requirement for women when leaving the house.  It created the institution of a morality police (muhtasib) to enforce the law, further increasing the risk of arbitrary detention and arrest by the de-facto authorities.  Among the rights that Afghan women and girls were cruelly denied were the rights to education, to work, and to freedom of peaceful assembly. 

    The Taliban’s near-total ban on girls’ education after grade six and its prohibition of women’s university attendance crushed the dreams of an entire generation.  Women had been dismissed from public employment and faced restrictions in the private sector.  Women in Afghanistan also faced extensive restrictions on mobility and employment, including through the de facto authorities’ interference in the hiring process of non-governmental organization employees.  Women had been stripped of autonomy, dignity, and the means to support themselves and their families.

    Since 2021, women lawyers had not been able to obtain or renew their licenses, and could not legally represent clients in court, including female gender-based violence survivors.  Women in court were forced to rely on male advocates to represent them, meaning they effectively had no access to justice.  The Taliban had also eliminated gender-based violence services and legal protections. 

    Since August 2021, the Taliban had institutionalised gender-based crimes and systematically oppressed women, girls, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Afghanistan.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women and transgender men had been subject to forced marriage to men and faced compounded barriers to fleeing gender violence because of mahram requirements.  The Taliban had subjected transgender women to torture, including sexual violence. 

    Women peacefully protesting these injustices had been beaten, detained and tortured, and had undergone surveillance.  The Taliban’s 2021 decree requiring permits for protests, which was used to silence women-led demonstrations, was a direct assault on freedom of assembly.  Taliban members publicly flogged women for purported “adultery” or for “running away from home.” 

    Women and girls were facing gender apartheid in Afghanistan.  United Nations Member States, regional bodies, and international institutions had a collective responsibility to ensure that the Taliban were held accountable for ongoing violations, especially those targeting the rights and freedoms of women and girls.  The Committee should call on Member States to support the International Criminal Court’s efforts to hold the Taliban accountable, and States’ efforts to bring Afghanistan before the International Court of Justice for rights violations, including under the Convention.  States should provide support to the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court, the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism, and the codification of gender apartheid as a crime under international law. 

    The Committee was urged to call on the de facto authorities to immediately repeal all decrees restricting freedom of expression, appearance, education and employment, including the mandatory hijab and mahram requirements; end women’s banishment from public spaces; end arbitrary imprisonment and torture, including sexual violence, against women human rights defenders; and demand the release of all women imprisoned for protest, speech or identity.  The de facto authorities in Afghanistan must dismantle systemic gender-based oppression by repealing all discriminatory edicts and fully implementing recommendations from United Nations human rights mechanisms. 

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations on Chad

    In the discussion on Chad, speakers among other things, commended the Government of Chad for the progress made in eliminating discrimination against women despite a very difficult environment.  The effective implementation of the Convention continued to be hampered by the consequences of decades of conflict, the persistence of armed violence in the east and south-east of the country, the massive movements of internally displaced persons and refugees, and the continuing humanitarian crisis.

    Following the recommendations made by the Committee to the Chadian State in 2011, several advances had been made through the adoption of laws, strategies and programmes aimed at protecting and promoting women’s rights, including the national gender policy of December 2011, law no. 003/PR/2025 on the prevention and punishment of violence against women and girls, and the adoption of a national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325  (2000) by Chad.

    However, the percentage of women participating in public life, politics and the peace process remained low.  The Government of Chad was urged to review relevant legislation to ensure the full and effective participation of women in political and public life; secure the greater inclusion of women in the processes of consultation, national dialogue and reconciliation; and eliminate gender stereotypes and biases.

    Chadian women faced various obstacles such as gender stereotypes, discriminatory cultural norms, harmful religious doctrines, and lack of economic autonomy.  The perception of women’s economic activity by men as a potential source of dowry for a future co-wife was very common.  It was recommended that the Government strengthen the legal and institutional framework for the protection of the rights of women and girls by ratifying the Maputo Protocol.  The Government should also adopt a specific law against female genital mutilation, with effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms.

    According to the 2023 activity report of the Ministry of Women and Early Childhood, there were 241 cases of female genital mutilation, 500 cases of rape, 537 cases of sexual assault, 469 cases of sexual exploitation and 780 cases of early and forced marriage.  Female genital mutilation was still widely practised despite recommendations.  It was important for the Chadian Government to accelerate the adoption, promulgation and popularisation of the Code of the Family and its implementing decree.

    Statement by a Non-Governmental Organization on Botswana

    The speaker on Botswana said Botswana’s history as a peaceful democratic republic post-independence continued to shield its regressions in the respect and fulfilment of human rights.  Unequal distribution of income, electricity cuts, water shortages, and prohibitive connection of utilities for freehold land tenures continued to aggravate poverty. All the while, Botswana was characterised by femicide, technology assisted gender-based violence through social media, the criminalisation of sex workers, narrow legal provisions for abortion, unavailability of safe sex commodities in prisons, corruption, marital rape, and the lack of justiciability of socioeconomic rights despite ratifying the Maputo Protocol.

    Survivors of gender-based violence continued to be ignored and erased whilst also enduring police harassment and brutality at roadblocks despite some protections in law for gender diverse people.  Despite employment laws protecting termination from specific grounds of discrimination, no law protected the worker during probationary periods. Social protection gaps remained for women who were not poor enough for State provisions but were too poor to sustain any dignified life.  There needed to be better conditions, including ensuring that the Committee’s recommendations were accelerated, socialised with grassroots communities, and entrenched within the national gender machinery.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked representatives from Afghanistan for critical analysis regarding the positive decrees, including the ban on forced marriages.  What kind of threats did women in exile face? 

    What obstacles were there to fighting female genital mutilation and child marriage in Chad? How were women’s inheritance rights impacted in Chad? 

    Another Expert asked about the status of the draft Code of the Family in Chad?  How was the plurality of laws playing out with a new Government?  What was the evaluation of the women, peace and security plan? 

    Regarding Botswana, what did the criminalisation of prostitution look like on the ground? Was there any information regarding the trafficking of women and girls?

    A Committee Expert asked if women in Afghanistan could own any property?  With the new law on guardians, how were women engaging with economic institutions? What was the level of participation of women in exports and trade? 

    For Chad, how was gender captured in the macro-economic policies of the country? Were there gender-formative actions, including for procurement and taxation?

    What was the status of the national human rights institution in Botswana?  Had the institution been able to register and become fully compliant with the Paris Principles?  What services did women receive from this institution? 

    Another Expert asked if women in Botswana could transfer cases from the customary court to the magistrate’s court, as per the amended act?

    Responses from Non-Governmental Organizations from Afghanistan

    Speakers from Afghanistan said for women human rights defenders in exile, the Taliban used their families and friends in the country as a weapon against them.  Those who lobbied for the Taliban in Europe also participated in acts of sexual violence and harassment.  The ban of forced marriages was an announcement and not true; the Taliban themselves forced girls into early marriage. 

    Women who had participated in the business sector were facing high taxation costs, and had a limited ability to attend trade events within and outside the country.  In Afghanistan, the sector was predominately operated by male business owners, meaning there was a lack of opportunities for women business owners.  Many women with disabilities now lacked access to the market and livelihood support. 

    Responses from Non-Governmental Organizations from Chad

    Speakers from Chad said women and girls continued to be victims of discrimination inside the family. The Persons and Families Code still had not been adopted.  It had been returned to the administration by the parliament for a rereading.  There were factors, including religious beliefs, which were oppressive; these remained obstacles to adopting this legislation. 

    Family matters were governed by a mix of local customs and civil codes inherited from the colonial period, exposing women and children to discriminatory practices.  Women were generally excluded from decision-making when it came to the peace process and typically participated only as figureheads. Just one woman had participated in peace negotiations.  If women participated in the economy, their savings were used as a dowry and men used this to acquire another woman.   

    There were legal texts in Chad but it was their application which was the issue. Impunity was an everyday issue, including for cases of gender-based violence.  The reform of the Family Code was still a big challenge.  The issue of gender was not understood as a concept in Chad and a lack of political commitment meant gender was not addressed in Chadian society.  There were obstacles and challenges when it came to female genital mutilation and child marriage.  While texts and laws set out punishments, in many communities these practices continued. Customary law trumped Government law. 

    Responses from a Non-Governmental Organization from Botswana

    The speaker from Botswana said petty crimes and other laws were used to detain sex workers. There had been documented evidence of sex workers experiencing sex harassment.  Discrimination against transgender and gender diverse sex workers was compounded.

    Botswana was a transit country, and it was easy to be mobile across border countries, where there was a limited tracking of movement.  The Office of the Ombudsman had been expanded to include a human rights mandate, but it was believed it was not fully compliant with the Paris Principles. Women human rights defenders were not explicitly covered, especially in terms of reports covered by the Ombudsman. Community knowledge remained low regarding certain legislation, and systemic data remained unavailable.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CEDAW.25.016E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dynamic Analysis of Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in H.R. 1

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    CBO estimates that Subtitle A of Title I in H.R. 1 would reduce federal spending by $287 billion over the 2025–2034 period. (That total excludes the Medicaid budgetary effects of Section 10009 that are included in the published total.) The budgetary feedback arising from macroeconomic effects would reduce the federal deficit by an additional $22 billion over the 2025–2034 period, primarily because lower federal deficits would “crowd in” private investment and lower interest rates. (This estimate includes only the changes to net interest costs stemming from changes to interest rates on the baseline projection of federal debt. By long-standing convention, estimates under House Rule XIII(8) do not include any increases or decreases in interest payments on the federal debt that would arise from an estimated change in borrowing needs. Consistent with that approach, the estimate of the budgetary feedback does not include the decreases in interest payments that would arise from net decreases in borrowing needs that would result from enacting SNAP-related provisions.)

    Including budgetary feedback from macroeconomic effects, SNAP-related policies in the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $309 billion over the 2025–2034 period. When the budgetary feedback from macroeconomic effects and the decreases in interest payments on lower federal debt that would arise from the estimated decline in borrowing needs are accounted for, SNAP-related policies in the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $353 billion over the 2025–2034 period.

    This slide deck describes the main mechanisms in CBO’s dynamic analysis of H.R. 1, explains the changes to SNAP, and explains the macroeconomic effects and budgetary feedback of those changes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kevin Muhlendorf Named SEC Inspector General

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Kevin Muhlendorf will be the agency’s new Inspector General, effective July 28. Mr. Muhlendorf is a former SEC and Justice Department attorney who for the past nine years has been a partner in the white-collar defense and government investigations practice at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington D.C., where he focused on representing individuals and entities in criminal and civil securities enforcement matters. Acting Inspector General Katherine Reilly will return to her role as a Deputy Inspector General.

    In private practice, Mr. Muhlendorf regularly conducted sensitive internal investigations and provided compliance counseling for clients. While on secondment from Wiley Rein for portions of 2023 and 2024, Mr. Muhlendorf served as Acting Inspector General for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), where he led approximately three dozen auditors and special agents conducting investigations and issuing financial and performance audits. He also designed and implemented a whistleblower award pilot program.

    Since 2015, Mr. Muhlendorf has taught a class on financial fraud investigations as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law. He is both a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP).

    Mr. Muhlendorf’s previous law enforcement experience includes six years as a Trial Attorney and Assistant Chief in the Securities and Financial Fraud Unit of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, where he investigated and tried complex fraud cases in jurisdictions across the country. Mr. Muhlendorf was a Senior Counsel in the SEC Enforcement Division from 2004 to 2010.

    “Kevin has the ideal combination of experience in internal investigations, compliance programs, and law enforcement to hit the ground running as our new Inspector General and ensure our agency’s operations are transparent, efficient, and effective,” said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. “He is a proven leader – and former inspector general – with a reputation for fairness and objectivity, and we’re pleased to welcome someone with his record of accomplishment back to the SEC.”

    Mr. Muhlendorf said, “The SEC is genuinely committed to its investor protection mission, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to re-enter government service and help the Commission and its staff pursue that mission with efficiency and integrity while protecting taxpayer resources.”

    Mr. Muhlendorf began his legal career as a litigation associate at Steptoe & Johnson LLP after serving as a federal judicial law clerk to Judge John M. Facciola in Washington D.C. He earned his BA in history from the University of Virginia and his law degree from William & Mary Law School.

    Ms. Reilly, who has been serving as Acting Inspector General since May, will return to her role when Mr. Muhlendorf arrives in July.

    “I want especially to thank Katherine for stepping up to serve as Acting Inspector General and continuing her efforts to make our Office of Inspector General as productive as possible. She is exceptionally qualified, and I am very pleased that she continues as part of our inspector general team,” Chairman Atkins said.

    The SEC’s Office of Inspector General is an independent unit that promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the SEC’s critical programs and operations through rigorous and objective oversight.

    Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, inspectors general have a dual and independent reporting relationship to the Commission and Congress. Appointments are made without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boilermakers ratify contract with Union Pacific

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    The Boilermakers union voted to ratify a five-year agreement with Union Pacific, with 79% voting in favor of the agreement. The union also ratified agreements with CSX and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC).

    The Union Pacific agreement provides annual wage increases and offers workers more vacation time earlier in their career, as well as enhancements to worker health care benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Secures Conviction of Jerome County Man in $57K Unemployment Fraud

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Secures Conviction of Jerome County Man in $57K Unemployment Fraud

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that his office has secured the conviction of Woody Roberts, 38, for two counts ofMisrepresentation to Obtain Unemployment Insurance Benefits, which is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
    “Unemployment fraud steals from Idaho taxpayers and undermines programs designed to help those genuinely in need,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We will continue working with our state partners to prosecute these cases and recover every stolen dollar.”
    An investigation by the Unemployment Insurance and Compliance section of the Idaho Department of Labor revealed that Roberts had submitted false information to obtain unemployment benefits. For 56 weeks, from May 2020 through May 2021, Roberts submitted weekly certifications to the Idaho Department of Labor claiming that he had not worked when he had worked and earned wages for that work. As a result of Roberts’ misrepresentations, the Idaho Department of Labor paid Roberts full unemployment insurance benefits.
    Ada County Judge Annie McDevitt sentenced Roberts to a total of eight years, with one year fixed and seven years indeterminate, and retained jurisdiction for a period of one year. For the one-year period, known as a “rider,” Roberts will undergo structured programming and treatment while in the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction. Judge McDevitt ordered Roberts to pay restitution in the amount of $57,733.28 to the Idaho Department of Labor.
    The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Marian Swanberg and Ken Robins.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Application Period Open for 2025 Carey Gabay Fellowship

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Executive Chamber is now accepting applications for the 2025 Carey Gabay Fellowship Program. Carey Gabay, an attorney and public servant who formerly worked in the Counsel’s Office for the Governor, was tragically killed in 2015, an innocent victim of gun violence. This Fellowship honors his legacy of service to his fellow New Yorkers, particularly those living in the disadvantaged communities he fervently sought to uplift.

    “Carey Gabay’s life and work continues to inspire us all,” Governor Hochul said. “His unwavering dedication to justice, equity, and public service embodied the best of what it means to serve New Yorkers. Through this fellowship, we continue to honor his legacy and invest in the next generation of public servants who share his passion for ensuring government is a force for good.”

    New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service President Timothy R. Hogues said, “Carey Gabay was a special person who was tragically taken from us too soon. We’re looking for a dedicated individual who is passionate about continuing his legacy of servant-leadership while engaging in the inner workings of government and policy topics that directly impact and help communities across the state. I encourage all attorneys who seek to make a difference in the lives of others to apply for this Fellowship.”

    The Carey Gabay Fellowship is a paid two-year legal Fellowship program that appoints an attorney every two years to a placement in the Governor’s Office. The selected Fellow works directly with the Counsel to the Governor and their staff on issues such as violence prevention, economic equality and community development — policy areas that Mr. Gabay championed throughout his career.

    The incoming Carey Gabay Fellow will serve from January 2026 to January 2028 (specific dates dependent on selection timeline and completion of background check) and will earn a salary of $90,000 per year plus a generous benefits package. The Fellow also participates in an educational program with participants in the Empire State Fellows program throughout the first year of their fellowship, including bi-weekly evening classes and other career development sessions.

    Carey Gabay was raised in public housing and attended public school in the Bronx. He graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. After law school, Mr. Gabay worked tirelessly in public service, beginning in 2011 as assistant counsel to the former governor and continuing as first deputy counsel for the Empire State Development Corporation.

    The successful applicant should be a bar-admitted attorney who, like Mr. Gabay, is committed to public service, and most importantly, embodies the integrity and kind-heartedness that distinguished Mr. Gabay personally.

    Applications will be accepted through July 16. More information on the program and instructions on how to apply are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Brothers Indicted for Wire Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Stockton brothers Hector Perez, 34, and Flavio Perez, 29. Both are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, and Hector Perez is additionally charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Both were arrested on June 17, 2025.

    According to court documents, between May 2018 and November 2020, the brothers conducted a wire fraud conspiracy against at least four different victims, which were invoice factoring companies.

    Invoice factoring is a financial service that provides immediate cash flow to a business in exchange for the business’s outstanding invoices. The invoice factoring company, which has bought the outstanding invoices, then has the right to collect the money owed by the debtors on those invoices.

    To execute the scheme, the brothers created corporate entities posing as businesses seeking to sell fabricated debt in the form of fraudulent invoices. The defendants then sold these fraudulent invoices to at least four different factoring companies. As a result of this deception, the victim factoring companies transferred money to bank accounts held under the control of one or both of the defendants. The victim factoring companies would either never get paid on the fake invoices that they had purchased or if they did, would get paid much less than they were due. If they were paid, the money generally came from the defendants, most often via bank accounts held in the names of fictitious Debtors. These payments were designed to disguise the fraud so that the defendants could avoid detection and continue the fraudulent enterprise. From May 2018 through September 2020, the overall loss to the victims totaled more than $1.8 million.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Matthew Thuesen are prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Hector Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud and conspiracy counts, and a mandatory consecutive two-years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count. Flavio Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thirteen People Charged in Takedown of a Major Drug Trafficking Network

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thirteen people have been charged and arrested for their roles in a New York City-based drug trafficking ring, with federal agents seizing nearly 500 kilos of cocaine.

    The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, New York Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Craig A. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge, Albany Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Steven G. James, Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP). 

    On June 12, law enforcement officers, including from the NYSP, DEA and FBI, conducted searches at 24 locations in New York and New Jersey as part of an operation to break up a drug trafficking network that shipped drugs from California to New York City and then Upstate New York.  The searches resulted in the seizure of almost 250 kilos of cocaine, fentanyl pills, other drugs and paraphernalia, a firearm and more than $1 million in cash.  Law enforcement also made arrests in Georgia and Pennsylvania. 

    The searches and arrests on June 12 followed an 18-month-long investigation in which law enforcement seized more than 240 kilos of cocaine, 185 pounds of methamphetamine, and almost 700 pounds of marijuana. 

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Using an all-hands-on-deck approach, we have smashed a sophisticated, New York City-based drug trafficking organization that was pumping poison into our Upstate New York communities. This case demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to taking back our communities from the criminal organizations that have proliferated in recent years thanks to weak state laws and even weaker state legislators from New York City.”

    DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino said: “Over the past year and a half, our DEA team, working alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, have successfully targeted the Abdelhak drug trafficking organization which has plagued and poisoned our communities here in New York and across the Northeastern corridor with illicit narcotics. While these operations have made a significant impact dismantling this drug trafficking network’s criminal enterprise, the DEA’s mission is far from over. The DEA remains steadfast in our commitment to saving lives, and we will continue to pursue the drug cartels and those individuals responsible for flooding our neighborhoods with these poisonous drugs.” 

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli said: “This network’s reach was expansive – moving drugs from California to sell in communities within the Capital Region, North Country, Central New York, Western New York, and New York City. But the reach of our federal task forces is deeper, and these 13 individuals learned the hard way that the FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will not stand idly by while criminals pedal drugs on our streets.” 

    NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James said: “This investigation and the arrests that followed reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting the public from the violence and devastation drug trafficking brings to our communities. These individuals were responsible for flooding our streets with lethal narcotics, putting countless lives at risk. By taking down this network, we have removed a serious threat to the safety of neighborhoods across New York. I thank our Troopers and all of our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to safeguard our state.”

    According to a criminal complaint, the following people are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances:

    • Samer Abdelhak, aka “Semi,” age 35, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
    • Leon Chen, aka “Don Eladio,” 29, of Long Island City, New York;
    • Michael Harper, aka “Miz,” 38, of Corning, New York;
    • Anthony Medina, aka “Tank” and “Fatboy,” 28, of Painted Post, New York;
    • Broslloyd Campbell, 42, of Hewlett, New York;
    • Anthony Dixon Jr., 41, of Jackson, New Jersey;
    • Chaquill Foster, aka “Lo” and “Gucci,” 31, of Schenectady, New York;
    • Christopher Smith, aka “Boot,” 39, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
    • Jason Hogue, aka “Whispers,” 44, of Lake Placid, New York;
    • Christopher Christman, aka “Free,” “Fremont,” and “Puffy,” 42, of Fresh Meadows, New York;
    • Cesar Ariel Castro-Sanchez, aka “Dom R,” 31, of Palisades Park, New Jersey;
    • Jocelyn Foster, aka “Jozzy,” 29, of Amsterdam, New York; and
    • Mikell Butler, 34, of Schenectady, New York.

    Nearly all of the defendants have been charged with offenses that carry a minimum term of 10 years and up to life in prison.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

    The NYSP, the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force are investigating this case, with assistance from Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Offices in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, and the Police Departments in Colonie, Elmira, Gloversville, Johnstown, Niskayuna, Schenectady, and Amsterdam.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck, Katherine Kopita and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Campaign Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $840,000

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria woman pled guilty today to embezzling campaign contributions from three federal candidates for political office and committing tax evasion.

    According to court documents, Katherine Margaret Buchanan, 59,  worked as a political campaign compliance consultant for more than 20 years for various political campaigns and political action committees (PACs). Typically, she held the title of “Treasurer” of the campaign or PAC. Beginning in 2020 and continuing to 2024, Buchanan used the access she had as treasurer to embezzle contributed funds from her clients and converted that money to her own personal use. Buchanan used campaign or PAC funds to make payments to her personal credit cards, used official campaign or PAC credit cards to make personal purchases, used campaign or PAC funds to pay third parties for her own personal enrichment, and transferred funds from campaign or PAC bank accounts into her personal bank accounts.

    Buchanan used the embezzled funds for such personal expenses as dining, landscaping, aesthetic services, a Peloton exercise bike, clothing, airline tickets to Italy, concert tickets and suites, landscaping, chartered yacht tours, and legal fees. Altogether, Buchanan misappropriated at least $840,006.98 in contributed funds from the various campaign committees and PACs for whom she served as treasurer.

    Buchanan also under-reported the income she received from 2017 through 2022 to the Internal Revenue Service to avoid paying taxes on it. This resulted in a total loss of unpaid federal taxes of $671,200.

    Buchanan is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8 and faces up to five years in prison for each charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the plea.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-150.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Charged for Stabbing Visitor at the Wounded Knee Memorial Site in the Pine Ridge Reservation

    Source: US FBI

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 18-year-old Raymond Eagle Hawk, Jr., of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, with Assault with Intent to Commit Murder.

    On June 12, 2025, Eagle Hawk was intoxicated and panhandling at the Wounded Knee cemetery parking lot. The victim, a 71-year-old man, and his wife had traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation from their home in Texas to visit the Wounded Knee Memorial site, near Wounded Knee village, within the Pine Ridge Reservation.

    At the memorial site, Eagle Hawk asked the victim for money. The victim gave Eagle Hawk a small sum of cash, but Eagle Hawk continued to demand money. When the victim did not give Eagle Hawk more money, Eagle Hawk stabbed him in the throat with a knife. The victim sustained a grievous injury to his neck and attempted to return to his vehicle. Eagle Hawk continued to advance on the victim, but then fled the cemetery. The victim was transported to the Pine Ridge hospital and later flown by air ambulance to Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the wound to his neck.

    Eagle Hawk appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on June 18, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the criminal complaint. Eagle Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, scheduled for June 27, 2025.

    The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in custody in a federal prison.

    The charge is merely an accusation and Eagle Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newton County, Missouri, Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing Firearm

    Source: US FBI

    SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Diamond, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for illegally possessing firearms after a prior felony conviction.

    Jason A. Duncan, 40, was charged with three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment, which replaces a complaint filed on June 3, 2025, alleges that Duncan possessed a Palmetto State Armory rifle and a Taurus pistol on Aug. 19, 2024, a Hi-Point pistol on Oct. 3, 2024, and Glock pistol on Jan. 23, 2025. Duncan has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

    The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Joplin, Seneca, and Springfield, Mo., Police Departments.

    Operation Take Back America

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Existing Home Sales Forecast Revised Lower in Latest Outlook

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Existing single-family home sales are forecast at 4.14 million units for 2025, down slightly from last month’s forecast of 4.24 million units, according to the June 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook from the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. Revisions to the home sales forecast were driven in part by the ESR Group’s higher expectations for mortgage rates, which are now predicted to end 2025 and 2026 at 6.5% and 6.1%, respectively. The latest outlook also projects real gross domestic product growing at 1.4% in 2025 and 2.2% in 2026 on a Q4/Q4 basis.

    Visit the Economic and Strategic Research site at fanniemae.com to read the full June 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook, including the Economic Developments Commentary, Economic Forecast, and Housing Forecast. To receive email updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, please click here.

    Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

    About the ESR Group
    Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, led by Chief Economist Mark Palim, studies current data, analyzes historical and emerging trends, and conducts surveys of consumer and mortgage lenders to inform forecasts and analyses on the economy, housing, and mortgage markets.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: President Zelenskyy visits Chatham House to discuss defence and reconstruction of Ukraine

    Source: Chatham House –

    President Zelenskyy visits Chatham House to discuss defence and reconstruction of Ukraine
    News release
    jon.wallace
    23 June 2025

    The president discussed Ukraine’s military position, his hopes for the NATO summit, and more.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Chatham House on Monday 23 June as part of a trip to the UK that included meetings with King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. President Zelenskyy made the visit to discuss his country’s war effort and how to place additional pressure on Russia to end its war on Ukraine.

    The president’s main purpose in meeting UK government officials was to discuss defence cooperation with the UK. But during his closed-door session at Chatham House, held under the Chatham House Rule, the president took questions from journalists, investors, foreign policy experts and policymakers, on Ukraine’s military and economic outlook, his hopes for the forthcoming NATO summit in the Hague, US relations, and his ambitions for a just peace in Ukraine. 

    In his discussion with Chatham House experts, the president also discussed the think tank’s significant work on planning for Ukrainian rapid recovery and post-war reconstruction.

    Orysia Lutsevych, Head of Chatham House’s Ukraine Forum, said:

    ‘We were honoured to host the president today to better understand the evolution of the war and think together how Europe and Ukraine can join forces in defending against the Russian threat.

    ‘Chatham House’s Ukraine Forum closely follows current efforts to design an effective recovery framework and will take its new research on citizen-driven recovery to Rome’s Ukraine Recovery Conference in July.’

    In his opening remarks, President Zelenskyy said:

    ‘It’s important to be here at Chatham House and first of all in the United Kingdom…British people helped Ukraine at the very beginning of this war and are standing with us today and I am very thankful for this. Today I want to thank Keir Starmer.’
     

     

    MIL OSI NGO –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gulf States want no winner in the conflict between Israel and Iran

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mira Al Hussein, Research Fellow at the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, University of Edinburgh

    When Israel assassinated a number of senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists on June 13, there was an initial euphoria among some ruling elites in the Gulf. They saw it as a sign of Iran’s diminishing regional threat.

    Relations between Gulf states and Iran have been fraught since 1979 when Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, vowed to export the revolution that had brought him to power that same year. This set off decades of ideologically charged proxy conflicts, with Gulf states viewing Iran as the principal destabilising force in the Middle East.

    But the recent euphoria has given way to unease as the push by Israel – and now the US – for regime change in Tehran has become clear. Following US strikes against Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, US president Donald Trump has floated the idea of overthrowing the government to “make Iran great again”.

    Retaliatory attacks by Iran on American forces at bases in Qatar and Iraq have now brought the conflict closer to home. The strikes have prompted Gulf states to close their airspaces, while Qatar has warned of its right to respond directly “in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale” of Iran’s attack. What effect the attacks will have on the involvement of Gulf countries in the conflict will soon become clear.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The Gulf states have long worked to keep Iran’s influence in check without attempting to topple its leadership. They have sought rapprochement, with Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablishing diplomatic ties in 2023 and reopening embassies in each other’s countries.

    Gulf leaders view the alternative to warmer relations – be it a chaotic regime change or a globally interconnected or expansionist Iran – as possibly even more destabilising for the Gulf region and its economic ambitions.

    Iran, for all its regional adventurism, is still regarded in the Gulf as an organic part of the Middle East. It is a civilisation with deep, ancient roots and an uninterrupted history of co-existence and cultural co-creation within the Islamic world.

    This stands in contrast to how Israel is perceived. Some Gulf states have established diplomatic relations with Israel since 2020, under the framework of the Abraham Accords. But there remains a wider perception – particularly among citizens of these countries – that Israel is an imposed colonial presence whose threat to regional stability is growing.

    Iran has hardly been a benign actor. Its government has played a destabilising role across the Arab world, from propping up the ruthless regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria to supporting armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. And now it has attacked the sovereign territory of two Gulf countries.

    It also continues to occupy three islands that are claimed by the United Arab Emirates: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. Iran’s interventions have left behind a trail of sectarianism, militarisation and humanitarian crises.

    Yet Gulf leaders separate the actions of the Iranian regime from the people of Iran. Repeated waves of protests within Iran, particularly the women-led uprisings of recent years, have reinforced the sense that ordinary Iranians are themselves victims of a repressive regime.

    There’s empathy within the Gulf for Iranian society, coupled with recognition of the historic and cultural ties that bind the region and its people. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, described Iran as a “neighbour forever” in 2022, and with this neighbourliness comes a preference for stability over collapse.

    Gulf states would rather not see Iran plunge into chaos. This could unleash humanitarian crises and refugee flows that would be morally troubling and economically disastrous for the region.

    No decisive winner

    While there is no appetite within the Gulf for regime change in Tehran, views expressed in government-controlled media suggest there is interest in seeing a political transformation in Israel. It seems to me that the Gulf states would prefer neither Iran nor Israel to emerge as a decisive winner in this military confrontation. A prolonged war of attrition weakens both, reducing the threats they pose to Arab sovereignty and regional stability.

    Such a conflict could result in political change in Israel that sees the end of oppressive policies against Palestinians and curbs to regional aggression. This would ease the political cost of normalising relations with Israel. Current efforts to integrate Israel into the regional order place Gulf leaders in an awkward position, appearing to side with a state that routinely violates Arab rights.

    A regime change in Iran, particularly one that produces a nationalist, pro-western government, would present new complications for the Gulf. A more internationally connected and economically ambitious Iran could overshadow Gulf economies and revive old territorial disputes.

    A prolonged conflict would, of course, raise the prospect of the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a flashpoint. A closure, which Iran is reportedly discussing as a possibility, would disrupt one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and plunge global markets into turmoil.

    Neither side may actively seek this, but the risk of miscalculation is high. For Gulf economies, whose futures are tied to global energy markets and diversification projects, such an outcome would be catastrophic.

    However, at least for now, Gulf countries seem relatively calm about the prospects of a closure. They issued a series of statements on June 22, expressing concern over the US strikes on Iran and calling for restraint. But the tone of their statements was rather measured.

    The mood in the Middle East appears to be shifting. As one Emirati analyst, Mohammed Baharoon, recently warned: “Israel risks seeing itself as Thor, the mythical deity whose real status as a god is related to his hammer. This is dangerous for Israel’s future in the region and the world.”

    Baharoon added on social media: “Hammer-wielding Israel will have very limited space in a region that seeks economic partnerships over security alliances.” In other words, the region’s priorities are shifting, and Israel’s overreliance on military power is increasingly at odds with the future that the Gulf leaders are trying to shape.

    They wish to make the region an economic magnet for investment, not a cinematic backdrop for perpetual conflict.

    Mira Al Hussein is a non-resident fellow with DAWN MENA and Gulf International Forum.

    – ref. Gulf States want no winner in the conflict between Israel and Iran – https://theconversation.com/gulf-states-want-no-winner-in-the-conflict-between-israel-and-iran-259471

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: OSTP Issues Agency Guidance for Gold Standard Science

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, as called for in President Trump’s recent Executive Order, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios issued guidance to federal agencies on incorporating Gold Standard Science tenets into their research activities.  
    The EO directs federal research agencies to establish and strengthen practices related to reproducibility, transparency, falsifiability, interdisciplinary research, and merit-based peer review, as well as communicating uncertainties, recognizing negative or null results, and disclosing conflicts on interests. Within 60 days, agencies are required to report back publicly on relevant initiatives, including how Gold Standard Science is reflected in the agency’s culture, funding opportunities, award selection and reporting, and other research activities.
    “President Trump’s Gold Standard Science EO will transform the conduct and management of federal science, from research design to public communication, in order to strengthen scientific inquiry, rebuild public trust, and ensure the U.S. continues to be the global leader in rigorous, evidence-based science,” said Director Kratsios. “But federal agencies are only one part of our nation’s research ecosystem. American universities, scientific journals, industry and philanthropic leaders all have a crucial role in improving the overall quality of research, and we encourage this executive action to serve as a model for the entire scientific enterprise.”
    In the memo, Director Kratsios says that “the need for Gold Standard Science stems from the crucial role of scientific integrity in tackling complex challenges to address critical areas, such as energy innovation and national security. In an age of rapid technological progress and heightened public scrutiny, federal science, and its use in federal decision making, must be beyond reproach.”
    President Trump is ushering in the Golden Age of American Innovation and is committed to maintaining our global technological dominance. However, first the relationship between the public and the scientific community must be rebuilt. President Trump’s Restoring Gold Standard Science Executive Order provides a new standard and plan to improve the federal scientific enterprise.
    Read the memo HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Bear Creek Fire in Alaska

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>BOTHELL, Wash. –  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Bear Creek Fire burning in the Denali Borough, Alaska. 
    The state of Alaska’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 3:33 a.m. PT. He determined that the Bear Creek Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the first FMAG declaration in 2025 to help fight Alaska wildfires. 
    At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Healy, Ferry, Clear and Anderson, as well as the Clear Space Force Base. The fire was also threatening highways, electrical utilities, parks, commercial sites, a watershed, fishing streams and spawning sites, wildlife, and environmental and cultural resources. 
    FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mission Accomplished! Artemis ROADS III National Challenge Competitors Celebrate their Achievements

    Source: NASA

    The NASA Science Activation program’s Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pathways (NESSP) team has successfully concluded the 2024–2025 Artemis ROADS III National Challenge, an educational competition that brought real NASA mission objectives to student teams (and reached more than 1,500 learners) across the country. From December 2024 through May 2025, over 300 teams of upper elementary, middle, and high school students from 22 states participated, applying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills in exciting and creative ways.
    Participants tackled eight Mission Objectives inspired by NASA’s Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon. Students explored challenges such as:

    Designing a water purification system for the Moon inspired by local water cycles
    Developing a Moon-based agricultural plan based on experimental results
    Programming a rover to autonomously navigate lunar tunnels
    Engineering and refining a human-rated water bottle rocket capable of safely returning a “chip-stronaut” to Earth
    Envisioning their future careers through creative projects like graphic novels or video interviews
    Exploring NASA’s Artemis program through a new Artemis-themed Lotería game

    In-person hub events were hosted by Northern Arizona University, Central Washington University, and Montana State University, where teams from Washington, Montana, and Idaho gathered to present their work, collaborate with peers, and experience life on a college campus. Students also had the chance to connect virtually with NASA scientists and engineers through NESSP’s NASA Expert Talks series.
    “Artemis ROADS III is NESSP’s eighth ROADS challenge, and I have to say, I think it’s the best one yet. It’s always inspiring to see so many students across the country engage in a truly meaningful STEM experience. I heard from several students and educators that participating in the challenge completely changed their perspective on science and engineering. I believe that’s because this program is designed to let students experience the joy of discovery and invention—driven by both teamwork and personal creativity—that real scientists and engineers love about their work. We also show students the broad range of STEM expertise NASA relies on to plan and carry out a mission like Artemis. Most importantly, it gives them a chance to feel like they are part of the NASA mission, which can be truly transformative.” – Dr. Darci Snowden, Director, NESSP
    NESSP proudly recognizes the following teams for completing all eight Mission Objectives and the Final Challenge:

    Space Pringles, 3rd-5th Grade, San Antonio, TX 
    Space Axolotls, 3rd-5th Grade, Roberts, MT 
    TEAM Wild, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Pessimistic Penguins, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Dwarf Planets, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Astronomical Rovers, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Cosmic Honeybuns, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Houston we have a Problem, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    FBI Wanted List, 6th-8th Grade, Eagle Mountain, UT 
    Lunar Legion, 6th-8th Grade, San Antonio, TX 
    Artemis Tax-Free Space Stallions, 6th-8th Grade, Egg Harbor, NJ 
    Aquila, 6th-8th Grade, Gooding, ID 
    Space Warriors, 6th-8th Grade, Wapato, WA 
    Team Cygnus, 6th-8th Grade, Red Lodge, MT 
    Maple RocketMen, 6th-8th Grade, Northbrook, IL 
    RGB Hawks, 6th-8th Grade, Sagle, ID 
    The Blue Moon Bigfoots, 6th-8th Grade, Medford, OR 
    W.E.P.Y.C.K., 6th-8th Grade, Roberts, MT 
    Lunar Dawgz, 6th-8th Grade, Safford, AZ 
    ROSEBUD ROCKETEERS, 6th-8th Grade, Rosebud, MT 
    The Cosmic Titans, 6th-8th Grade, Thomson Falls, MT 
    The Chunky Space Monkeys, 6th-8th Grade, Naches, WA 
    ROSEBUD RED ANGUS, 9th-12th Grade, Rosebud, MT 
    Bulky Bisons, 9th-12th Grade, Council Grove, KS 
    The Falling Stars, 9th-12th Grade, Thomson Falls, MT 
    The Roadkillers, 9th-12th Grade, Thomson Falls, MT 
    The Goshawks, 9th-12th Grade, Thomson Falls, MT 
    Sequim Cosmic Catalysts, 9th-12th Grade, Sequim, WA 
    Spuddie Buddies, 9th-12th Grade, Moses Lake, WA 
    Astrocoquí 2, 9th-12th Grade, Mayaguez, PR 
    Big Sky Celestials, 9th-12th Grade, Billings, MT 
    TRYOUTS, 9th-12th Grade, Columbus, MT 
    Cosmonaughts, 9th-12th Grade, Columbus, MT 
    TCCS 114, 9th-12th Grade, Tillamook, OR 
    Marvin’s Mighty Martians, 9th-12th Grade, Simms, TX

    You can see highlights of these teams’ work in the Virtual Recognition Ceremony video on the NESSP YouTube channel. The presentation also features the teams selected to travel to Kennedy Space Center in August of 2025, the ultimate prize for these future space explorers!
    In addition to student engagement, the ROADS program provided professional development workshops and NGSS-aligned classroom resources to support K–12 educators. Teachers are invited to explore these materials and register for the next round of workshops, beginning in August 2025: https://nwessp.org/professional-development-registration.
    For more information about NESSP, its programs, partners, and the ROADS National Challenge, visit www.nwessp.org or contact info@nwessp.org.
     ———–
    NASA’s Northwest Earth and Space Science Pathways’ (NESSP) project is supported by NASA cooperative agreement award number 80NSSC22M0006 and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025
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