NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Murray Statement on DOE Failure to Comply with Basic Spending Transparency Requirements As Highlighted in New GAO Report

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, issued the following joint statement in response to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issuing a report that finds the Department of Energy (DOE) is not in compliance with required reporting to help ensure transparency in spending.

    “This GAO report exposes a troubling failure by the Department of Energy to meet even the most basic budgeting responsibilities. Nearly a decade after Congress required forward-looking energy planning, DOE still hasn’t delivered — and now the Trump administration wants to do away with this basic good government requirement altogether. With nearly $50 Billion in taxpayer funds at stake, this lack of accountability is unacceptable. At a time of fierce global competition, we can’t afford a Department flying blind. DOE must stop stonewalling and immediately implement GAO’s recommendations — as mandated by law — to deliver the transparency, accountability, and planning the American people deserve and that this administration has promised but routinely failed to deliver.”

    The fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act required the Secretary of Energy to submit a future-years energy program (FYEP) alongside DOE’s annual budget justifications, starting with the fiscal year 2014 request and continuing each year thereafter.

    However, GAO found that DOE has failed to fully comply with this statutory requirement, offering no justification for its ongoing noncompliance. The Department’s FYEP submissions have been incomplete and inconsistent, and it lacks both a finalized strategic plan and the necessary budgeting processes to generate accurate estimates.

    Congress mandated this investigation in the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development bill. In a striking acknowledgment of this failure, the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal attempts to eliminate the reporting requirement altogether — undermining its own claims of promoting efficiency and exposing a broader disregard for transparency and fiscal accountability.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Update 11: Alberta wildfire update (July 8, 3 p.m.)

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Committee on Internal Trade meets to strengthen Canada’s economy

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Quebec City, Quebec, July 8, 2025 – Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, met with her provincial and territorial counterparts at the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting in Québec City to advance shared priorities and strengthen Canada’s domestic economy.

    Over the past six months, the federal government worked with the CIT to facilitate internal trade and labour mobility across Canada by:

    • Removing unnecessary exceptions from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses to buy and sell interprovincially and compete for government procurement.
    • Reaching an agreement in principle to include the financial services sector into the CFTA by end of Fall 2025.
    • Expanding the Mutual Recognition Project in the trucking sector to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Minister Freeland invited transportation officials and experts to a Trucking Hackathon on July 15-16 in Toronto to identify new opportunities to make it easier to transport goods across Canada by aligning regulations in the trucking sector.
    • Advancing mutual recognition for goods (except for food) by December 2025, making it easier to buy and sell Canadian goods across the country.
    • Committing to implement an Action Plan on labour mobility, including a 30-day service standard to process labour mobility applications.
    • Signing a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales system by May 2026, at the latest.
    • Agreeing to launch internal trade missions to foster business growth and promote trade across Canada.

    In addition, the federal government recently announced the elimination of all federal exceptions in the CFTA. The government has also successfully passed the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act as part of Canada’s new One Canadian Economy Act. This legislation will eliminate federal barriers to the movement of goods, services and labour within Canada, while upholding the health, safety and security of Canadians, their social and economic well-being, and the environment.

    The federal government will continue to work toward the removal of remaining barriers to internal trade and labour mobility to ensure all Canadian businesses and workers have access to a seamless and integrated domestic market. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks of Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson at George Washington University

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Thank you to the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center, Roger Nober, Susan Dudley, and the organizers of today’s event for allowing me to join virtually. As many of you are aware, I have spent the last several years engaging regulators and market participants from jurisdictions around the world on issues at the core of today’s discussion.[1]
    How might advances in artificial intelligence (AI) increase inclusion and customer experiences and democratize access to financial services, improve the accuracy and efficiency of financial services, and potentially reduce transaction costs as well as the costs of compliance? 
    These issues, among several other potential benefits and risks associated with the adoption of innovative technologies, are top of mind for me and many other senior regulators, chief executive officers, chief technology officers, chief information security officers, chief compliance officers, and chief risk managers around the world.
    According to an International Monetary Fund paper exploring the benefits and risks of AI in finance, AI and machine learning (ML) technologies alongside other
    [r]ecent technological advances in computing and data storage power, big data, and the digital economy are facilitating rapid AI/ML deployment in a wide range of sectors, including finance. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the adoption of these systems due to the increased use of digital channels.
    AI/ML systems are changing the financial sector landscape. Competitive pressures are fueling rapid adoption of AI/ML in the financial sector by facilitating gains in efficiency and cost savings, reshaping client interfaces, enhancing forecasting accuracy, and improving risk management and compliance. AI/ML systems also offer the potential to strengthen prudential oversight and to equip [regulators]  with new tools. . . .[2]
    Indisputably, AI is rapidly transforming the financial sector, particularly in the areas of compliance, market surveillance, and regulatory enforcement. What once seemed the creative imaginings of science fiction or fantasy novels and films—forward-looking notions of a futuristic world—has now become a practical and increasingly essential tool across the financial market ecosystem. Market participants and regulators alike are leveraging AI and ML to improve risk management, detect misconduct, and strengthen the integrity of the markets.
    Let’s explore the use of AI in compliance, bad actors’ potential misuse of AI, opportunities for supervisory technology (suptech) in enforcement, and a path forward.
    AI and Industry Compliance
    Financial institutions have been at the forefront of AI adoption, especially in compliance functions. AI is widely used in anti-money laundering (AML) efforts, where algorithms analyze transaction patterns across millions of credit card statements, bank statements, and account details to detect anomalies that may go unnoticed by traditional systems. ML models have dramatically reduced false positives in AML alerts[3]; this has long been a challenge for compliance teams who may now rely on AI to learn by reviewing training data and distinguish between benign and suspicious activity more precisely and more efficiently.
    AI also supports compliance with complex cross-border financial regulations. Financial services firms deploy ML to monitor transactions for potential sanctions violations, helping ensure that transactions align with regulatory requirements based on origin, amount, frequency, and other risk factors.[4]
    Some firms have also embraced AI in communications surveillance, using platforms that offer digital communications governance to review internal communications for signs of fraud or misconduct. By automating these reviews, firms are better equipped to identify red flags early and maintain robust compliance programs.
    A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in May of 2025—Artificial Intelligence: Use and Oversight in Financial Services—identifies six increasingly common activities for which financial services firms may choose to integrate AI models, including automated trading, countering threats and illicit finance, credit decisions, customer service, investment decisions, and risk management.[5]
    The GAO report indicated that AI may be used to “detect and mitigate cyber threats through real-time investigation of potential attacks, flagging and blocking of new ransomware, and identification of compromised accounts and files” as well as to “identify fake IDs, recognize different photos of the same person, and screen clients against sanctions and other lists; analyze transaction data … and unstructured data (such as email, text, and audio data) to detect evidence of possible money laundering, terrorist financing, bribery, tax evasion, insider trading, market manipulation, and other fraudulent or illegal activities.”[6]
    For many of these use cases, financial services firms rely on generative AI. However, for use cases that require a high degree of reliability or explainability—the ability to understand how and why an AI system produces decisions, predictions, or recommendations—firms are rightly reticent to employ generative AI models.
    Regulators Use of AI for SupTech 
    The benefits of AI are not limited to the private sector. U.S. regulatory agencies—including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)—have begun integrating AI tools into their supervisory functions.
    These agencies use AI to analyze vast quantities of financial data, identify outliers, and detect emerging risks.[7] For example, AI can flag inconsistencies in data submissions from financial institutions, or surface patterns that indicate potential regulatory violations. This use of AI, often referred to as “suptech” (supervisory technology), enhances regulators’ ability to carry out their oversight responsibilities efficiently and proactively.
    Over the course of last year, the CFTC undertook extraordinary efforts to begin to clarify the Commission’s understanding of registrants’ use of AI and the potential benefits and limitations of the Commission’s implementation of AI for supervisory, surveillance, and enforcement purposes. In January of 2024, I worked with Commission staff to issue a Request for Comment distributed to our market participants to better understand the real-time adoption of AI models.[8] Following the Request for Comment, in December of 2024, the Commission issued a staff advisory on Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets.[9] One of the most significant takeaways from the staff advisory, which was echoed in executive orders issued by the prior administration, underscore the obligation for CFTC-regulated entities to maintain compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements whether they choose to deploy AI or any other technology.
    Addressing the Dark Side of AI
    While AI has the potential to enhance compliance and supervision, it also introduces new risks. Alongside the promise of AI, we must consider the limitations and potential perils of implementing AI quickly without appropriate guardrails. Many of you in the room today, former Commissioner Berkovitz and Professor Cary Coglianese, among others, have participated in joint studies published by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) or independently published or presented on these limits. 
    In previous speeches, I have outlined concerns regarding the implementation of AI models without effective guardrails and governance interventions. 
    In a speech earlier this summer, I began to explore the specific concerns that may emerge as firms and regulators integrate agentic AI.[10] The discussion today, in fact, may largely focus on the integration of agentic AI models in compliance, surveillance, and enforcement. If so, I am hopeful that, in parallel to efforts to explore the benefits, panelists examining “AI’s Role in Regulation Post-Chevron” and “Regulatory Functions Most Amenable to AI-Drive Process Improvement” will also examine important concerns such as the limits of synthetic data, ghosts or hallucinations, data leakage, increasingly undetectable video and voice deepfakes, data accuracy, data security, and data integrity, among others.
    Some bad actors are paving the road for regulators and enforcement actions using AI technology. . But, in many cases, the bad actions are simply traditional, garden variety fraud with an AI white-label. 
    “AI washing”—the practice of exaggerating or misrepresenting AI capabilities to attract investors or customers[11]—is among the most concerning marketing and solicitation issues that financial market regulators currently face. Firms may claim to use advanced AI models to generate high returns when, in reality, they rely on rudimentary trading bots or nonexistent systems.[12]
    Enforcement in Action
    The CFTC has actively pursued enforcement actions against fraudulent actors who misuse or misrepresent AI. In a landmark case, the Commission obtained a $1.7 billion penalty—its largest ever—against a South African company that defrauded investors through a fraudulent multilevel marketing scheme.[13] The company falsely claimed to use a proprietary AI trading bot to generate high returns on Bitcoin investments. In reality, there was no proprietary trading bot and the firm engaged in minimal trading activity, most of which was unprofitable, and misappropriated investor funds.
    This and other cases underscore the CFTC’s ability to tackle AI-related misconduct using existing legal tools. The Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) provides a robust and flexible framework that prohibits fraudulent and manipulative practices regardless of the underlying technology. For example, CEA Section 4c(a) outlaws disruptive practices such as spoofing,[14] while CEA Section 6(c)(1) and Regulation 180.1 give the Commission broad anti-fraud and anti-manipulation authority.[15] These provisions are intentionally technology-neutral, allowing the CFTC to remain agile as new innovations emerge.
    The Commission has demonstrated, through its prior enforcement actions, that markets and market participants engaged in activities that are regulated by the Commission are expected to comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, even when such activities occur with cryptocurrencies or through the use of AI. The technology-neutral approach of the CEA and CFTC regulations allows these provisions to be used to combat fraud in any shape, manner, or form.
    The Strategic Importance of Suptech
    A recent survey by the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) and the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub found that only 3 out of 50 supervisory authorities surveyed did not have ongoing suptech initiatives.[16] Those with a comprehensive suptech strategy were significantly more likely to deploy tools critical to supervision.[17]
    This underscores the importance of not only embracing AI on a case-by-case basis, but also developing cohesive strategies for integrating AI into regulatory and supervisory workflows. By investing in data infrastructure, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and recruiting AI-savvy talent, regulators can better equip themselves to meet the demands of increasingly complex markets.
    Finding a Pathway Forward
    I am looking forward to exploring the following principles and their role in our principles-based regulatory framework that I outlined in a speech last year. [18] As I have previously explained, there are many things that the Commission can do immediately to enhance our understanding of AI and help guide the development of effective guardrails that foster responsible development of AI.[19]
    Heightened Penalties
    As a CFTC Commissioner, I am also deeply concerned about the potential for abuse of AI technologies to facilitate fraud in our markets. As we examine the development of and limitations on the legitimate uses of AI in our markets, it is also important for the CFTC to emphasize that any misuse of these technologies will draw sharp penalties.
    In fact, I continue to call for the Commission to consider introducing heightened penalties for those who intentionally use AI technologies to engage in fraud, market manipulation, or the evasion of our regulations.
    In many instances, our statutes provide for heightened civil monetary penalties where appropriate.
    I propose that the use of AI in our markets to commit fraud and other violations of our regulations may, in certain circumstances, warrant a heightened civil monetary penalty.
    Bad actors who would use AI to violate our rules must be put on notice and sufficiently deterred from using AI as a weapon to engage in fraud, market manipulation, or to otherwise disrupt the operations or integrity of our markets. We must make it clear that the lure of using AI to engage in new malicious schemes will not be worth the cost.
    Recommendation for an Inter-Agency Task Force
    At the end of 2023, the previous administration announced the creation of an AI Safety Institute, which was to be established within the National institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), housed within the Commerce Department.[20]
    Shortly thereafter, I proposed the creation of an inter-agency task force composed of financial regulators including the CFTC, SEC, Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, FDIC, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and NCUA to develop guidelines, tools, benchmarks, and best practices for the use and regulation of AI in the financial services industry.[21]
    Addressing the perils of AI, while harnessing its promise, is a challenge that will require a whole-of-government approach, with regulators working together across diverse agencies. I continue to advocate for agencies working together to provide their essential experience and expertise to help guide the development of AI standards for the financial industry.
    Conclusion
    The CFTC, in particular, is well positioned to lead in this space. Its principles-based and technology-neutral approach to regulation allows for flexible oversight that supports innovation while safeguarding market integrity. The Commission’s mission—to foster open, transparent, competitive, and financially sound markets—naturally aligns with the adoption of cutting-edge technology.
    AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it is a central feature of modern financial markets. Used responsibly, AI enhances compliance, improves oversight, and enables faster and more effective enforcement. The CFTC’s technology-neutral framework allows it to keep pace with innovation while maintaining essential investor protections and market integrity.
    Thanks again for allowing me to share my thoughts with you today. I anticipate you will have an energetic, generative, and thoughtful discussion on the panels and following the presentations this afternoon.

    [1] The views I share today are my own and not the views of the Commission, my fellow Commissioners or the CFTC staff.

    [7] Id. at 33, 35.

    [14] 7 U.S.C. § 6c(a).

    [15] 7 U.S.C. § 9(1); 17 C.F.R. § 180.1.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Visits Clyde, Highlights Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Visits Clyde, Highlights Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program

    Governor Stein Visits Clyde, Highlights Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein visited the Town of Clyde, a recipient of the Small Business Infrastructure Grant program, and met with small business owners downtown to discuss their importance to the local economy. 

    “Western North Carolina is open for business, and I am grateful to see exciting new development activity in downtowns across the region,” said Governor Josh Stein. “The Department of Commerce has awarded Clyde a Small Business Infrastructure Grant to enhance its sidewalks, curb appeal, and downtown parking. This investment will strengthen local commerce and allow more people to rediscover what makes western North Carolina unforgettable.” 

    “This recovery project for the Town of Clyde will repair the sidewalk so folks can more easily walk in the downtown business district,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Getting people back downtown will speed recovery as we welcome residents and visitors back to Clyde.”

    The Town of Clyde has received $737,477 for its Downtown Clyde Commercial Business District Repair Project. In March, Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Commerce launched the Small Business Infrastructure grant program, a $55 million program for local governments to seek up to $1 million to rebuild public infrastructure, such as sidewalks, electrical utilities, and water and sewer systems that affect access to small businesses. The program utilizes state funds appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly in the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1.

    During this summer tourism season, Governor Stein and VisitNC are encouraging people to visit western North Carolina as a part of a new tourism initiative, “Rediscover the Unforgettable.” The campaign is available to local chambers of commerce, tourism boards, and small businesses for their promotional efforts. 

    Jul 8, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, San Diego County District Attorney Stephan Secure Restitution, Injunction Against Jeweler for Unlawful Sale of Credit Products

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, July 8, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Diego County District Attorney, Summer Stephan, today announced a $500,000 settlement with San Diego-based jewelry store Attractive Gems Jewelers (Attractive Gems) and its two owners, resolving allegations that the company engaged in deceptive lending practices. A joint investigation by DOJ and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office found that Attractive Gems misled consumers by falsely promoting a store credit line as a way to build credit. The company also failed to provide required credit disclosures, and used unlawful arbitration clauses in installment contracts with military service members in violation of the federal Military Lending Act. Today’s proposed settlement, pending court approval, includes $400,000 in consumer restitution, $100,000 in civil penalties, and strong injunctive terms to deter future misconduct. 

    “Deceiving consumers and using false advertising to sell credit products has no place in California,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Attractive Gems Jewelers lured consumers in — including military servicemembers based in Southern California — with false promises of helping to build their credit. Today’s settlement provides important restitution for those harmed by Attractive Gem’s attempt to take advantage of struggling consumers, and a reminder to those offering credit products that they need to play by the rules. I thank the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation and in the important effort to protect California consumers.”

    From approximately 2020 to 2022, Attractive Gems marketed and sold a $10,000 store-use only credit line for a yearly fee of $149.99. Attractive Gems promoted the credit line as a way to improve one’s credit – specifically by representing that credit line accounts would be reported monthly to credit bureaus. They broadened the reach of their advertising by hiring online social media influencers to promote the credit line as a way to build credit. Attractive Gems continued to sell the credit line even after the credit bureaus informed Attractive Gems that they would no longer report its line of credit on consumer credit reports. 

    The investigation also found Attractive Gems failed to provide important credit disclosures required by both California and federal law. These disclosures ensure borrowers understand important information about the credit contract, including exactly how much they are borrowing, the interest rate, what their monthly payments will be, and exactly how much the credit will cost them in interest payments over the life of the contract.  

    Attractive Gems’ installment contracts also included an unlawful arbitration clause for military service members in violation of the federal Military Lending Act. In order to protect service members from predatory lending practices, under the Military Lending Act creditors cannot ask covered service members or covered dependents to waive their right to sue in court or to give up other legal protections when obtaining a loan. 

    A copy of the complaint and proposed settlement is available here and here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Gaza Negotiations Aim to Bridge Gap Between Parties on Negotiation Framework

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, July 08, 2025

    Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), currently hosted in Doha, aim to bridge the gap between the two parties regarding the negotiation framework that precedes the actual negotiation process.

    During the weekly press briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Ansari stated that the Palestinian and Israeli delegations are present in Doha, and discussions are currently taking place with each delegation separately, with the aim of creating a suitable environment for agreement on the main issues between the two sides.

    He noted that it is too early to draw any conclusions about these negotiations, except that the talks are ongoing and the parties are engaged.

    He expressed the State of Qatar’s appreciation for the support of the United States in this regard, noting that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams are working around the clock in Doha to reach an appropriate negotiation framework.

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance and categorical rejection of any plan aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land.

    He pointed out that some of the statements heard in the media regarding displacement contradict international and humanitarian laws.

    He called on the international community to support the rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people, noting that there is an international consensus against any forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.

    Al Ansari explained that it is premature to present a vision regarding the outcome of the ongoing negotiations or a specific timeline, pointing out that there is positive engagement from both sides so far.

    He said that the ultimate goal is undoubtedly to end this senseless war and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. All mediation efforts by the mediators are aimed at achieving that.

    He added that the current discussions are specifically focused on the proposed truce, its conditions, and the guarantees that can be provided to reach positive outcomes, and what this truce could lead to in terms of resuming negotiations for a final resolution to this crisis and humanitarian disaster.

    He noted the statements made by HE the U.S. President Donald Trump supporting the achievement of an agreement regarding the situation in Gaza, stressing the importance of building on that through joint mediation efforts with the United States and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the current focus is on ensuring the success of these talks, maintaining their confidentiality, and continuing the engagement of both parties to ultimately reach a final agreement.

    He stated that Qatar welcomes the visit of the U.S. President envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, at any time, noting that such a visit would support the ongoing consultations between the negotiating parties currently in Doha.

    Al Ansari said that any escalation on the ground complicates the mediators mission. The Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip is significant, and the operations that have led to the martyrdom of hundreds of Palestinians on a daily or near-daily basis since the collapse of the previous truce constitute a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before the eyes and ears of the entire world.

    As for media leaks, He added that, some of them lead to a negative media stream at times, which may result in a shift in positions inside the negotiation room, stressing that Qatar is keen to keep this process in its proper place and to provide information when it is mature and ready to be shared. 

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the recent receipt of the Tipperary International Peace Award by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani last Tuesday during a ceremony held in the Republic of Ireland.

    He emphasized the great significance of this international award, noting that previous recipients include former US President Bill Clinton, the late Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and many other peacemakers who received the award under various circumstances.

    He added that the official statements accompanying the award indicate that it was presented in recognition of the major roles played by the State of Qatar, particularly through its diplomacy led by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in peace negotiations in Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions. The award also acknowledges Qatar’s active engagement in the field of peacebuilding.

    The Advisor also noted that, in his acceptance speech, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and expressed his pride in serving as a leader in Qatar’s foreign policy over the past decade under His Highness’s guidance. He reaffirmed that the State of Qatar remains committed to its role in advancing peace efforts.

    He added that the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met in Dublin with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, as well as with Simon Harris, who serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defense of Ireland. His Excellency also visited the Irish National War Memorial Gardens.

    Al Ansari noted that on Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs received a phone call from Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly in Gaza and the occupied

    Palestinian territories, as well as efforts to reach a broader agreement with Iran on its nuclear program, and other matters of mutual concern.

    He explained that on Tuesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his Egyptian counterpart, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, with discussions focused primarily on bilateral relations and joint mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt to end the catastrophic war in Gaza.

    He also mentioned that a round of political consultations was held on Monday in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, between the foreign ministries of Qatar and Bulgaria. The Qatari delegation was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, while the Bulgarian side was headed by HE Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Anguelieva.

    He also noted that, on the sidelines of these consultations, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev.

    He also said that, on Thursday in Doha, the fourth round of political consultations between the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union External Action Service was held. The Qatari side was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affair Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and the European side by HE Olof Skoog, who serves as Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service.

    Finally, he mentioned that on Friday, HE President Nicolas Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela met HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi. HE Al Khulaifi also met during the visit with HE Vice President of Venezuela Dr. Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, where discussions focused on regional developments in general, and the latest developments in the Middle East and Latin America. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Zinke, Daines, Sheehy, Downing Urge USTR to Address Unfair Trade Practices on Montana-Alberta Tie Line

    Source: US Congressman Ryan Zinke (Western Montana)

    U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Representatives Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Troy Downing (MT-02) today sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer drawing attention to trade barriers on the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL).

    “We write to call to your attention ongoing and escalating discriminating trade practices imposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) against Montana energy firms trading in the Alberta electricity market. If unaddressed, these measures may impose significant economic harm on American energy producers, jeopardize the reliability of cross-border electricity infrastructure, and perpetuate discriminatory trade practices that undermine domestic energy security…

    …Unfortunately, the AESO’s current rules and practices flatly discriminate against U.S. electricity imports. Furthermore, the AESO is currently proposing potential changes to the Alberta electricity market design that would worsen existing protectionist practices by further excluding U.S. energy imports. This will result in diminished market access by imposing unfair costs on American producers and putting them at a distinct disadvantage to deliver reliable and affordable electricity…

    We request that you employ all available tools at your disposal to bring about a swift resolution to this ongoing issue,”they wrote in the letter.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background:

    The Montana-Alberta Tie Line interconnects Montana and Alberta’s electricity grids. The Alberta government and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) have enacted regulations that discriminate specifically against Montana electricity exports, which if left unaddressed would threaten the stability of Montana’s electric grid and harm the state’s energy producers.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India–Brazil bilateral trade to touch $20 million by 2028: PM Modi in Brasilia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India and Brazil will work to expand cooperation in trade, clean energy, defence, Artificial Intelligence, and digital public infrastructure, underlining that both countries share a common vision for inclusive development and a people-centric approach to innovation.

    Speaking at a joint press statement alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for being conferred with Brazil’s highest national honour — ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’.

    “Today, being honoured with Brazil’s highest national award by the President of Brazil is a moment of great pride and emotion not just for me, but for 140 crore Indians. I sincerely thank the President, the Brazilian government, and the people of Brazil for this honour,” PM Modi said.

    Calling President Lula his “best friend” and “Chief Architect of the Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil,” the PM said every meeting with him has motivated him to work harder for the well-being of both nations. “I dedicate this honour to his strong commitment to India and to our enduring friendship,” he said.

    Trade and energy cooperation

    PM Modi said India and Brazil have agreed to raise bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years. “Football is Brazil’s passion, just as cricket is loved by the people of India. Whether it’s sending the ball past the boundary or into the goal, when both are on the same team, a USD 20 billion partnership is not difficult to achieve,” he said, adding that both sides will also work to expand the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

    The Prime Minister stressed that cooperation in the energy sector was steadily growing and highlighted the new agreement signed to boost collaboration on clean energy and sustainable development.

    PM Modi also extended best wishes to Lula for the upcoming COP-30 Summit to be hosted by Brazil later this year.

    Defence, AI and digital linkages

    On defence ties, PM Modi said, “Our growing cooperation in the field of defence reflects the deep mutual trust between our two countries. We will continue our efforts to connect our defence industries and strengthen this partnership further.”

    He pointed to ongoing collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and supercomputing, describing it as part of the shared goal of “inclusive development and human-centric innovation.” India’s UPI digital payments platform is also set to be adopted in Brazil, Modi said, adding that India would gladly share its experience in digital public infrastructure and space technology.

    Health, Ayurveda and people-to-people ties

    Highlighting ties in agriculture and health, the PM noted that cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry spans several decades, and both sides are now working together in agricultural research and food processing too. “In the health sector too, we are enhancing our win-win collaboration. We have also emphasized the expansion of Ayurveda and traditional medicine in Brazil,” he said.

    Underscoring the importance of people-to-people connections, PM Modi said that the shared passion for sports — cricket and football — brings India and Brazil closer. “We wish for India–Brazil relations to be as vibrant as Carnival, as passionate as football, and as heart-connecting as Samba — all without the long visa counter queues! With this spirit, we will work together to ease people-to-people exchanges between our two nations, especially for tourists, students, sportspersons, and businessmen,” he said.

    On global issues

    The Prime Minister said India and Brazil have always worked in close coordination on global issues and stressed that their partnership is relevant to the Global South and the wider world. “We firmly believe that it is our moral responsibility to bring the concerns and priorities of the Global South to the forefront of the global stage,” he said.

    Calling for disputes to be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy,” PM Modi said the India–Brazil partnership stands as an “important pillar of stability and balance” amid global tensions and uncertainty. He also reiterated both nations’ “zero tolerance and zero double standards” approach on terrorism, saying, “We strongly oppose both terrorism and those who support it.”

    The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to Lula to visit India and said, “Once again, on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for this highest national honour and for your enduring friendship.”

    Earlier in the day, Lula welcomed PM Modi at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, where he was given a ceremonial reception featuring a 114-horse escort for his car. The two leaders then held a restricted-format meeting, followed by delegation-level discussions and the signing of agreements.

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Passage of Republicans’ Megabill, New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Highlights Disastrous Impacts for Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    (Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), held a press conference at Waypoint to highlight the harmful impacts of Republicans’ disastrous budget megabill on New Hampshire. Photos from today’s event can be found here.

    The bill will take health care and food assistance away from millions while also ending tax credits that help folks save on their utility bills, all to give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. More than 46,000 Granite Staters will lose their health care coverage through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and thousands risk losing food assistance. It will also raise household energy and health care bills for everyone while adding trillions to the debt, in order to give the top .1% of people an extra $300,000 a year on average.

    “At a time when Americans are feeling squeezed by the cost of living thanks to President Trump’s chaotic trade war, we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable for families,” said Senator Shaheen. “Instead, Republicans passed a ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that is going to take health care and food assistance away from Granite Staters to give trillions of dollars to corporations and the wealthiest, exploding the deficit in the process. There’s nothing beautiful about making life more expensive for families in order to give more money to billionaires. That’s why we’re going to continue to remind our Republican colleagues every day what their votes mean for the middle class.”

    “Despite bipartisan opposition, Republicans in Congress pushed through an unpopular budget bill that will have devastating impacts on New Hampshire,” said Senator Hassan. “I appreciated hearing directly from leaders at Waypoint about how this bill will affect the ability of Granite Staters to access health care and the ability of providers to deliver care. I know that I, along with Senator Shaheen and Representatives Pappas and Goodlander, will continue to push back against this devastating bill and I encourage Granite Staters to continue to speak out as well about the ways in which this bill harms their communities.”

    “President Trump and Republicans’ so-called ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a betrayal of working families. Hurriedly forced through Congress in the dead of night, this bill rips health care coverage away from millions of Americans, kills programs that are lowering energy costs, and leaves families unable to put food on their table for their children, all to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy,” said Congressman Pappas. “This administration and Republicans in Congress have ignored the needs of working families by enacting this cruel bill and starting a trade war that will increase costs. I will continue to stand with New Hampshire families and fight to protect access to health care, defend food assistance, and lower costs.”

    “Hardworking families across New Hampshire will pay the price and bear the burdens of the GOP’s big and truly brutal budget bill. The bill adds trillions of dollars to America’s already sky-high debt and rips healthcare away from millions of Americans by making the biggest cuts to healthcare in American history. It kills good-paying jobs and will jack up healthcare costs, energy costs, education costs, and more,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “At a moment when the cost crisis is standing between hardworking Americans and the American dream, I was a hard no on this bill. I’ll never stop working to prevent its worst provisions from going into effect.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Padilla, Booker, Colleagues Unveil New Bill to Require ICE to Display Clear Identification, Stop ICE Agents from Hiding Behind Masks, Plainclothes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray also joins Padilla and colleagues in a letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability for the Trump administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities in Washington state and across the country.

    Under the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials.

    This lack of transparency endangers public safety by causing widespread confusion and fear, especially in communities already subject to heightened immigration scrutiny. It also increases operational and safety risks for law enforcement personnel by creating an opportunity for immigration enforcement impersonators and compounding uncertainty in high-stress situations. Clear, consistent, visible identification helps reduce miscommunication during enforcement encounters, strengthens officer credibility, and improves public cooperation, all of which are vital to mission success. The VISIBLE Act would place a critical check on the government’s power, ensuring basic transparency safeguards that protect public trust and legitimacy in immigration enforcement operations.

    “Under the Trump administration, Americans have watched in horror as people have been abducted by unidentified masked agents and driven away in unmarked vans—these are scenes that shock the conscience and should never happen in America,” said Senator Murray. “I’ve heard from immigrant communities and people across Washington state about the pervasive sense of fear and alarm created when masked agents descend on a community without any visible identification, and residents have no way of knowing whether they are interacting with legitimate law enforcement. Anyone being detained by law enforcement in America deserves to know who is detaining them and why. The VISIBLE Act would simply require immigration enforcement officers to display their badge number and agency, and ensure that masked agents aren’t whisking people off the streets. This is a commonsense step that is badly needed as the Trump administration does everything it can to stoke fear and terror in immigrant communities and make everyone feel less safe.”

    “This bill is an important step toward keeping immigration enforcement officers and all the people in America safe. Masked, plainclothes officers create an unreasonable risk of escalating violence and unnerve everyone who sees them,”     said Scott Shuchart, Former ICE and DHS (Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties) Official. “As much as the cop in blues is a staple of American life, the masked bandit is a symbol of fear, and having government agents dressed like paramilitaries is un-American. Based on my experience in government, the VISIBLE Act makes good sense and would be straightforward for DHS officials to implement.”

    Specifically, the VISIBLE Act:

    • Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing;
    • Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and
    • Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

    The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority.

    The VISIBLE Act is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is endorsed by the ACLU and Public Counsel. 

    A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.  

    Senator Murray also joined Senator Padilla and 12 other Democratic senators in a letter sent yesterday to Todd Lyons, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities—including raids on courthouses and restaurants—and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies. The senators argued that these tactics are designed to sow fear and chaos and that allowing masked, plainclothes officers to engage in public raids creates situations where bad actors can commit crimes while claiming to be ICE agents.

    “As ICE engages in unprecedented numbers of immigration raids across the country, reportedly in response to arbitrary quotas set by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, it is crucial that ICE personnel not engage in conduct that is all but guaranteed to sow chaos and confusion and put law enforcement officers in danger,” the senators wrote. “Storming courthouses, grabbing students off the street, raiding places of work, and sweeping through restaurants at prime dining hours are in and of themselves tactics clearly designed to engender fear and sow chaos in the population. Doing so in plainclothes, with no identification of their name or agency, while wearing a mask designed to obscure the agent’s face, represents a clear attempt to compound that fear and chaos—and to avoid accountability for agents’ actions.

    The consequences of allowing unfettered plainclothes enforcement actions are clear. Not only does it frighten people and lead to increased chaos, but it also allows criminals to take advantage of this environment of uncertainty,” the Members continued. The Members alsoasked Acting Director to respond to the following questions by Monday, July 21st:  

    1. What are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policies with regards to wearing masks while on duty?
    2. What are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policies with regards to wearing uniforms or other identifiable markers while on duty?

    In addition to Padilla and Murray, the letter was also signed by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL) Hirono, Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Schiff (D-CA), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Welch (D-VT), and Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Kennedy Introduce Resolutions Celebrating LSU Shreveport, LSU Baseball National Championships

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced two resolutions recognizing the Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) Pilots and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers baseball teams for winning their respective 2025 national championships. The LSUS Pilots secured the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Baseball National Championship and made collegiate baseball history by completing a perfect 59-0 season. The LSU Tigers won the 2025 NCAA Division I College World Series, claiming their eighth national title, the second-most in NCAA history.
    “It’s hard to have a better year for baseball in Louisiana than this,” said Dr. Cassidy, an LSU alumnus. “The LSU Shreveport Pilots made history, doing something no college team has ever done before: going a perfect 59-0. And a huge congratulations to the LSU Tigers on fighting their way to another national championship up in Omaha. These young men and their coaches earned every single win and made our entire state proud. Geaux Pilots and Geaux Tigers!”
    “The LSU Shreveport Pilots are what ‘cool’ looks like. This baseball team capped off an undefeated season and the longest win streak in college baseball history with an NAIA championship. That’s an achievement that deserves Senate recognition. Geaux Pilots!” said Senator Kennedy.
    “The LSU Tigers proved once again that they are NCAA baseball’s gold standard, delivering an undefeated run in Omaha and bringing yet another national title home to Louisiana. I’m proud to help introduce this resolution recognizing their hard work and congratulating Coach Jay Johnson and this impressive team on a job well done,” continued Senator Kennedy.
    The resolutions honor both head coaches, Brad Neffendorf of LSUS and Jay Johnson of LSU, for leading their teams to national titles. The resolutions also recognize the individual achievements of standout players on both teams and celebrate the impact these championships have on LSU Shreveport, Louisiana State University, the cities of Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and the entire state of Louisiana.
    Read the full resolution for LSU Shreveport here.
    Read the full resolution for LSU here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins USDA and DoD Secretaries in Press Conference on Protecting American Farmland from China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    “We have to get the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS to protect our farmland. If we don’t do it, we’re going to continue to lose at the end of the day.”

    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth and other government officials in a press conference announcing the Trump administration’s National Farm Security Plan. 

    During the event, Secretary Rollins announced that as of today, the Ag Secretary will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to be a permanent member of CFIUS. This is something Senator Tuberville has pushed for since he entered the Senate with his Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. In addition to the FARM Act, Sen. Tuberville has introduced multiple other pieces of legislation to help combat the rise of foreign influence in our domestic ag supply chains during his time on the Senate Ag Committee, including the AFIDA Act and the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act. According to the most recent data from the USDA, Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned farmland, at 2.2 million acres.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    “I always looked for a day like this when I was coaching. I’d work the hell out of them, and we’d line up down there in the parking lot and just run for about an hour, you know?

    Just think about it right now though, our farmers every day go out every morning to scratch the ground, to try to make a living, and try to feed all of us in this country. And they’re very important. I’m on the Ag Committee [and the] Armed Services Committee. I’ve seen it all. I’m not a politician. I’ve been on the front row and been able to watch the devastation of our farming community in the last four years under the Democrat, Socialist, Communist Biden party. It was devastating.

    Input costs [were] high, $5 diesel, [and] instead of a $700,000 cotton picker, they’re a million dollars and a half. They wanted to put our farmers under. We lost 150,000 farms and 25,000 farmers in the last few years. Folks, we are in trouble in Ag. Real trouble. And we just tried to help them with reference prices in the Big Beautiful Bill we just passed, but they’re gonna need a lot of help. They are scratching and clawing just to make a living.

    Thanks [to] Brooke for putting this on. 

    China is a threat. They’re not [just] a threat— they are dominating us in almost everything that they do because we’ve sat back, and the politicians have been counting their money instead of doing what’s right, and helping this country stay in the front. We’ve got to be number one. We can’t be number two. We’ve got to fight back. They are coming into our country and buying our farmland.

    In my state of Alabama alone, they own 2.2 million acres of farmland. That’s right—in Alabama—foreign adversaries [own our land]. It’s embarrassing, what we’ve done. Now, don’t blame the farmers. The farmers have to make a living. And if they can’t make a living, they have to sell their farmland.

    The Biden Administration forced our farmers to sell their farmland by all the things they did to them—it’s a disgrace. Brooke is going to bring that back. President Trump’s going to bring that back.

    The one thing I’m trying to do is I’m trying to pass the FARM Act [and the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from] Foreign Adversaries Act. What is that? We have a group in this country called CFIUS. CFIUS is a group of Cabinet members that determine who buys what if there is a foreign sale. I mean, they all get together, and they look at it, whether it’s a steel company, whether it’s farmland, whether it’s some kind of business, that’s what CFIUS does. And it’s made up of high-ranking Cabinet members in the White House. Who is not on there? The Secretary of Agriculture. What the hell are we doing? I mean, how far behind are we? We have to get the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS to protect our farmland. If we don’t do it, we’re going to continue to lose at the end of the day.

    So, thanks for being here. In a few minutes, we’re lining up down in this endzone, and we’re going to start running this way until I get tired of watching.

    Thank you very much. God bless you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Free summer fun at all Alberta museums and sites | Activités estivales divertissantes et gratuites dans tous les musées et lieux historiques de l’Alberta

    On July 4, Alberta joined the Canada Strong Pass program to help more people access and enjoy the history and culture our province has to offer.

    This summer, general admission to all Alberta museums and historic sites will be free for children and teens aged 17 and under, and half-price for young adults aged 18-24, making it easier than ever to discover the province’s rich history and culture.

    “Our government is excited to support more people in creating unforgettable memories in every corner of the province as they explore Alberta’s incredible provincial museums and heritage sites. Supporting increased access to our sites will drive more economic activity throughout the province, while also sharing our unique history and culture.”

    Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women

    Alberta’s heritage sites and museums are bursting with unique events and experiences, and this opportunity will attract new visitors to experience and learn about everything the province’s sites have to offer.

    Major attractions and new exhibits debuted at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Reynolds Museum and Royal Alberta Museum this season, while the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump are celebrating key milestones. Guests can enjoy boat building at Fort George and Buckingham House, homemade treats at Rutherford House, vintage games at Victoria Settlement, Social Saturdays at Historic Dunvegan and more. Alberta’s heritage sites and museums offer something of interest to every visitor.

    “In 2025, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre has the honour of celebrating 40 years of welcoming visitors from Canada and all around the world. The Canada Strong Pass will provide young families with a cost-effective way to experience the power of nature as they walk through the rubble of the Frank Slide and learn about the local people from so long ago.”

    Myriah Sagrafena, facilities supervisor, Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

    The discount is available to all Albertans and out-of-province visitors, with no limit to the number of times a visitor can take advantage of the offer before September 2. The Canada Strong Pass is not a physical or digital pass – benefits are automatically applied to all eligible guests within the specified age groups during the program period.

    “We’ve seen an incredible show of unity from Canadians since the beginning of the year. We’re pleased that Alberta has joined the Canada Strong Pass initiative, making it even easier for families to choose Canada – and to discover the beauty of our country, right in their own backyard, all summer long. With Alberta’s participation, families can now enjoy discounted access to more than fifty provincial and territorial museums this summer – in addition to all national ones.”

    Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages

    For a full list of participating provincial museums and historic sites and more information on Alberta’s involvement in the Canada Strong Pass, visit ExploreAlbertaHistory.com.

    Quick facts

    • With Alberta’s participation in the Canada Strong Pass, a family of four with children under 17 can save up to $20 per visit.
    • There are 13 sites offering free admission:
      • Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton  
      • Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller  
      • Reynolds Museum, Wetaskiwin
      • Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston
      • Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray
      • Rutherford House, Edmonton
      • Stephansson House, Red Deer County
      • Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass
      • Fort George and Buckingham House, County of St. Paul
      • Historic Dunvegan, near Fairview
      • Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, Fort MacLeod
      • Victoria Settlement, County of Smoky Lake
      • Turner Valley Gas Plant, Diamond Valley
    • The following provincial sites are always free or by donation: Provincial Archives of Alberta, Okotoks Erratic, Leitch Collieries Historic Site, Brooks Aqueduct and Father Lacombe Chapel (by donation).
    • The Canada Strong Pass is also applicable in Alberta for free admission at Jasper National Park, Elk Island National Park, Banff National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Banff Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Cave and Basin National Historic Site and Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site.

    Related information

    • Historic sites, museums and archives | Alberta.ca
    • About the Canada Strong Pass – Canada.ca

    Related news

    L’Alberta rend la culture plus accessible en offrant aux enfants et aux jeunes l’entrée gratuite ou à prix réduit dans tous les musées et lieux historiques provinciaux jusqu’au 2 septembre.

    Le 4 juillet dernier, l’Alberta a adhéré au programme de laissez-passer Un Canada fort afin de permettre à un plus grand nombre de gens de découvrir l’histoire et la culture de la province.

    Cet été, l’entrée dans tous les musées et lieux historiques de l’Alberta sera gratuite pour les enfants et les adolescents de 17 ans et moins, et à moitié prix pour les jeunes adultes de 18 à 24 ans. Le programme offrira ainsi aux jeunes une chance inégalée de découvrir la richesse historique et culturelle de notre province.

    « Notre gouvernement est ravi de permettre à un plus grand nombre de personnes de créer des souvenirs inoubliables dans les formidables musées et lieux patrimoniaux des quatre coins de la province. En facilitant l’accès à ces attractions, nous dynamisons l’économie tout en partageant avec les gens le caractère unique de notre histoire et notre culture. »

    Tanya Fir, ministre des Arts, de la Culture et de la Condition féminine

    Les lieux patrimoniaux et les musées de l’Alberta recèlent d’événements et offrent des possibilités de vivre des expériences uniques. Cette initiative permettra à de nouveaux visiteurs de découvrir tout ce que ces attractions ont à offrir.

    Cet été, le Musée royal Tyrrell, le musée Reynolds et le Musée royal de l’Alberta offrent de nouvelles expositions, et le centre d’interprétation de Frank Slide et le précipice à bisons Head-Smashed-In célèbrent des anniversaires importants. Les visiteurs peuvent construire des bateaux au lieu historique provincial Fort George et Buckingham House, déguster des friandises maison à la Rutherford House, jouer à des jeux anciens au Victoria Settlement, profiter des activités sociales du samedi au parc provincial Historic Dunvegan, etc. Chacun et chacune y trouvera son compte dans les lieux patrimoniaux et les musées de l’Alberta.

    « En 2025 et depuis 40 ans, le centre d’interprétation de Frank Slide se fait un honneur d’accueillir des visiteurs venus du Canada et du monde entier. En cette année d’anniversaire, le laissez-passer Un Canada fort offre aux jeunes familles une manière économique de découvrir la vie d’autrefois et la puissance de la nature dans les débris de l’éboulement de Frank. »

    Myriah Sagrafena, superviseure des installations, centre d’interprétation de Frank Slide

    La réduction est offerte jusqu’au 2 septembre 2025 à la population et aux visiteurs de la province, sans égard au nombre de visites. Les personnes admissibles n’ont pas besoin de se procurer un laissez-passer physique ou numérique — la réduction est appliquée automatiquement à tous les visiteurs admissibles, selon leur groupe d’âge, pendant toute la durée du programme.

    « Depuis le début de l’année, nous avons été témoins d’une incroyable solidarité au sein du peuple canadien. Nous sommes heureux que l’Alberta se joigne à l’initiative du laissez-passer Un Canada fort, qui encourage davantage les familles à visiter le Canada ? pour découvrir ainsi la beauté de leur pays, tout près de chez eux, tout l’été durant. Grâce à la participation de l’Alberta, les familles peuvent maintenant profiter d’un accès à prix réduit dans une cinquantaine de musées provinciaux et territoriaux cet été ? en plus de tous les musées nationaux. »

    Steven Guilbeault, ministre fédéral de l’Identité et de la Culture canadiennes et ministre responsable des Langues officielles

    Pour obtenir la liste complète des musées et lieux historiques provinciaux participants et des renseignements supplémentaires sur la participation de l’Alberta au programme du laissez-passer Un Canada fort, visitez le site ExploreAlbertaHistory.com (en anglais seulement).

    En bref

    • Grâce à la participation de l’Alberta au programme de laissez-passer Un Canada fort, une famille de quatre personnes avec des enfants de moins de 17 ans peut économiser jusqu’à 20 $ par visite.
    • L’entrée est gratuite dans les 13 attractions suivantes :
    • Musée royal de l’Alberta, Edmonton
    • Musée royal Tyrrell, Drumheller
    • Musée Reynolds, Wetaskiwin
    • Musée Remington Carriage, Cardston
    • Centre de découverte des sables bitumineux, Fort McMurray
    • Lieu historique provincial Rutherford House, Edmonton
    • Lieu historique provincial Stephansson House, comté de Red Deer
    • Centre d’interprétation de Frank Slide, Crowsnest Pass
    • Lieu historique provincial Fort George and Buckingham House, comté de St-Paul
    • Parc provincial Historic Dunvegan, près de Fairview
    • Précipice à bisons Head-Smashed-In, Fort MacLeod
    • Lieu historique provincial Victoria Settlement, comté de Smoky Lake
    • Ressource historique provinciale et lieu historique national de la Raffinerie-de-Turner Valley, Diamond Valley
    • L’entrée est toujours gratuite et les dons sont acceptés dans les attractions provinciales suivantes : Archives provinciales de l’Alberta, ressource historique provinciale du Bloc-Erratique, lieu historique provincial Leitch Collieries, lieu historique national et provincial de l’Aqueduc-de-Brooks et lieu historique provincial de la Chapelle-du-Père-Lacombe.
    • En Alberta, le laissez-passer Un Canada fort permet aussi d’entrer gratuitement au parc national Jasper, au parc national Elk Island, au parc national Banff, au parc national des Lacs-Waterton, ainsi qu’au lieu historique national du Musée-du-Parc-Banff, au lieu historique national du Ranch-Bar U, au lieu historique national Cave and Basin et au lieu historique national Rocky Mountain House.

    Renseignements connexes

    • Lieux historiques, musées et archives | Alberta.ca (en anglais seulement)
    • Laissez-passer Un Canada fort – Canada.ca

    Actualités connexes

    • Redécouvrez la chasse historique au bison en Alberta (18 juin 2025)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Almy Pond

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Almy Pond in Newport due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. This HAB is caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

    Use caution in all areas of Almy Pond as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms from ingestion of water can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

    — Rinse your skin with clean water right away. — Shower and wash your cloths when you get home. — If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur. — Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day. — If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

    Affected waters might look bright to dark green, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Almy Pond

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Almy Pond in Newport due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. This HAB is caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

    Use caution in all areas of Almy Pond as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms from ingestion of water can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

    — Rinse your skin with clean water right away. — Shower and wash your cloths when you get home. — If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur. — Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day. — If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

    Affected waters might look bright to dark green, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A Maryland husband and wife were sentenced today to 12 years in prison and four years in prison, respectively, after their convictions for a scheme to commit insurance fraud.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: James and Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. The Wilsons also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that Wilson used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

    To conceal the fraud, the Wilsons transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. The Wilsons filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income or pay tax on the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively, they made from the fraud.

    In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for the District of Maryland ordered both Wilsons to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $16 million in restitution to victims of the insurance fraud scheme and $2.7 million in restitution to the United States. She also ordered the Wilsons to forfeit approximately $14.8 million in seized funds.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A Maryland husband and wife were sentenced today to 12 years in prison and four years in prison, respectively, after their convictions for a scheme to commit insurance fraud.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: James and Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. The Wilsons also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that Wilson used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

    To conceal the fraud, the Wilsons transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. The Wilsons filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income or pay tax on the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively, they made from the fraud.

    In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for the District of Maryland ordered both Wilsons to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $16 million in restitution to victims of the insurance fraud scheme and $2.7 million in restitution to the United States. She also ordered the Wilsons to forfeit approximately $14.8 million in seized funds.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650M Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.”  

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $445,963 TRIO Grant to Virginia Highlands Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Virginia Highlands Community College, based in Abingdon, Virginia, a $445,963 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $445,963 helps Virginia Highlands Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $358,413 TRIO Grant to Mountain Empire Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Mountain Empire Community College, based in Wise County, Virginia, a $358,413 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $358,413 helps Mountain Empire Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students in DC, some of whom came from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $466,274 TRIO Grant to Wytheville Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Wytheville Community College, based in Wytheville, Virginia, a $466,274 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $466,274 helps Wytheville Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 582, Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 582 would authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide transportation for specified purposes for government astronauts after they return to Earth until they are medically cleared to operate a motor vehicle. Using information from NASA, CBO estimates that implementing S. 582 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Johnny Willing. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.

    As of 1:00 PM PT on July 8, 2025 – an earthquake swarm, consisting of hundreds of very small earthquakes have occurred since approximately 1:30 AM PDT this morning. An earthquake swarm is a cluster of earthquakes occurring in the same area in rapid succession. Currently, there is no indication that the level of earthquake activity is cause for concern, and the alert level and color code for Mount Rainier remain at GREEN / NORMAL.

    The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network is in the process of looking at each earthquake and identifying its location, depth and size, if possible. This process is called locating. Some earthquakes are too small to locate. You can follow along in that process and watch the data on their website https://pnsn.org/volcanoes/mount-rainier. This swarm consists of hundreds of very small earthquakes with the largest so far being a magnitude 1.6 at 04:52 AM PDT (11:52 UTC), ranging from depths of 1 to 4 miles (2-6 km) below the summit.  Earthquakes are too small to be felt at the surface and will likely continue for several days.  There would be no damage caused by such small events.

    Typically, earthquakes at this volcano are located at a rate of about 9 earthquakes per month. Swarms typically occur 1-2 times per year, but are usually much smaller in terms of number of events. Earthquakes are one of several parameters we monitor to indicate what a volcano is doing. Right now, this swarm is still within what we consider normal background levels of activity at Mount Rainier. Past swarms have been attributed to circulation of fluids interacting with preexisting faults.

    Seismicity beneath Mount Rainier, Washington, showing earthquakes during 2020-2025 in blue, and those that occurred as part of an earthquake swarm on July 8, 2025, in orange.

    The last large swarm at Mount Rainier in 2009 had a maximum magnitude of M2.3 and lasted three days. The 2009 swarm had over 1000 earthquakes, of which the PNSN officially located 120 earthquakes.

    To receive updates, you can sign up for USGS volcano notifications here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650M Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.”  

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Bay Area CEO Sentenced for Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time.

    Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million.

    To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee. 

    Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars.

    In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts for the Northern District of California ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: DT Midstream Achieves Investment Grade Rating with All Three Major Credit Rating Agencies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DETROIT, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has achieved an investment grade rating with all three major credit rating agencies:

    1. Fitch Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on October 3, 2024;
    2. Moody’s Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to Baa3 with a stable outlook on May 16, 2025; and
    3. S&P Global Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on July 8, 2025.

    “The investment grade ratings are a recognition of the strength of our balance sheet and the quality and scale of our business, which is well-positioned for continued growth,” said David Slater, President and CEO.

    About DT Midstream

    DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. For more information, please visit the DT Midstream website at www.dtmidstream.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DT Midstream Achieves Investment Grade Rating with All Three Major Credit Rating Agencies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DETROIT, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has achieved an investment grade rating with all three major credit rating agencies:

    1. Fitch Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on October 3, 2024;
    2. Moody’s Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to Baa3 with a stable outlook on May 16, 2025; and
    3. S&P Global Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on July 8, 2025.

    “The investment grade ratings are a recognition of the strength of our balance sheet and the quality and scale of our business, which is well-positioned for continued growth,” said David Slater, President and CEO.

    About DT Midstream

    DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. For more information, please visit the DT Midstream website at www.dtmidstream.com.

    The MIL Network –