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  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Engages with Education and Labor Nominees on Alaska Priorities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    06.09.25

    Washington, DC – This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Penny Schwinn to be Deputy Secretary of Education, Kimberly Richey to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education (ED), Daniel Aronowitz to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (DOL), and David Keeling to be Assistant Secretary  of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

    U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), pressed the nominees on a number of Alaska priorities, including requirements to meaningfully engage with Tribal representatives on education policy, support for State-Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs), the importance of clear regulations for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP), and ensuring the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has the resources to support Alaska’s employees’ safety.

    Click here to watch the Senator’s full line of questioning.

    The full transcript of Murkowski’s questions during this week’s HELP hearing is below.

    TRANSCRIPT

    Murkowski: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, for your willingness to serve.

    I want to start with you, Dr. Schwin. As you know Alaska has the greatest number of Indian Tribes in any state. A lot of the focus now on what more we can be doing on the education front. Alaska Native leaders, and parents are really interested in doing more when it comes to self-determination over their children’s education.

    In the last reauthorization of ESSA, I included language to require states and school districts to engage in meaningful consultation with tribal representatives. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen a lot of engagement as we had hoped since 2017, and it’s been across multiple administrations here. So, I would just like to put this to your attention. Recognizing that it is important to meet the requirements of meaningful consultation, whether it is in the Department of Education, or whether it is in Interior, it is across our government and so I put that in front of you here today.

    Another issue that I’d like to bring to your attention, the State of Alaska is moving forward with a pilot program to create what we call STEC [State Tribal Education Compact] Schools. Secretary McMahon has met with some of the STEC school’s representatives. This would effectively, with this education compact with the tribes, would be public schools that are open to all students to offer culturally relevant educational models. I don’t know if you’ve been brought up to speed, if you’ve had any conversations on these, but we’re hoping that you would be able to effectively advocate for additional support as we move forward with these initiatives in Alaska.

    Dr. Schawn: Thank you. I will go ahead and say that your staff gave me a little bit of information and gave me some information to follow up on, if I’m so confirmed. But I really look forward to working with your office on that and want to just congratulate you on what I think is a really innovative program and look forward to seeing more about it.

    Murkowski: Well, feel like we need to be innovative because the status quo has not helped our Native students. When our Native students did not do well, Alaskan students writ large do not do well. So, we want to be doing more in this area.

    Let me turn to you, Mr. Aronowitz. You’re probably very familiar with the angst that’s been expressed by some about the need for a single clear regulatory definition of good-faith effort for valuing ESOP stock. The concern is that instead of having a clear definition that’s spelled out in regulation, ESOPs have been operating under this kind of patchwork of litigation and investigation. There’s also been some concern that the department has taken excessive enforcement actions against ESOPs. Can you speak very briefly to your views on these?

    Mr. Aronowitz: I believe that Congress wants ESOPs, and everybody’s for ESOPs except the Department of Labor the last 20 years, and I will end the war on ESOPs. I think it’s the best way for employees to get an additional benefit, and ownership in an American company. The valuation companies have all been sued by the Department of Labor, that can’t be right that every single one of them are doing it wrong. What the department is doing is nitpicking the professional judgment of the valuation professionals. I’m going to put an end to that, because I think unless there is a clear conflict of interest, then the valuation is appropriate, when done by an independent valuation firm.

    Murkowski: Well, there are so many in my state where the ESOP is really looked at and valued as that commitment to not only business, but employee security as well. So, thank you for that.

    Mr. Keeling, OSHA has traditionally relied on NIOSH data and recommendations for many of the workplace safety standards. I come from a state where we, unfortunately, have a high incidence of accidents on the workforce. The commercial fishing industry has been tagged as one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. We have significant and severe wildfires every year, so we worry about health and safety risks to our firefighters. We have seen the administration moving forward with some pretty significant cuts to NIOSH, and I’m concerned that this is going to hamper some of the vital research that’s out there. So, I don’t know if you can speak to whether we have a plan on how we fill the data and information gap if NIOSH is unable to produce what we need in terms of timely data and recommendations, as you work to inform rule making.

    Mr. Keeling: Yes, Senator. Thank you for the question.

    There is a gap if you will, if NIOSH doesn’t exist, right? But there are ways through that, I think. Use of private entities to fill some of those gaps. Obviously, I’m not in place, I have not spoken to anyone on the career side from OSHA on that point, and NIOSH doesn’t directly report to the Department of Labor, so, there’s a little bit of a difference there, a separation there, as well. I will have questions as well, if I’m lucky enough to be confirmed, about how we do that. But I think there are paths through. I think through using the professional groups that are out there, and by using some private resources, there are ways to fill the gap. Not necessarily easily, but there are ways.

    Murkowski: Right. we don’t want to see those gaps. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Founder of Cryptocurrency Payment Company Charged with Evading Sanctions and Export Controls, Defrauding Financial Institutions, and Violating the Bank Secrecy Act

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Defendant Allegedly Laundered More Than $500M Through the U.S. Financial System, Including by Facilitating Transactions with Sanctioned Russian Banks

    A 22-count indictment was unsealed today charging Iurii Gugnin, also known as Iurii Mashukov and George Goognin, 38, a resident of New York and citizen of Russia, with various offenses related to using his cryptocurrency company Evita to funnel more than $500 million of overseas payments through U.S. banks and cryptocurrency exchanges while hiding the source and purpose of the transactions.

    According to court documents, Gugnin is charged with wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering compliance program, failing to file suspicious activity reports, money laundering, and related conspiracy charges. Gugnin was arrested and arraigned today in New York.

    “The defendant is charged with turning a cryptocurrency company into a covert pipeline for dirty money, moving over half a billion dollars through the U.S. financial system to aid sanctioned Russian banks and help Russian end-users acquire sensitive U.S. technology,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to bring to justice those who imperil our national security by enabling our foreign adversaries to sidestep sanctions and export controls.”

    “As alleged, Gugnin came to the United States and set up a money laundering operation under the guise of a cryptocurrency start-up, which he then used to evade sanctions and export controls and defraud U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrest demonstrates that this Office will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the U.S. financial system in furtherance of criminal activity, particularly when it undermines national security.”

    “Gugnin’s cryptocurrency company allegedly served as a front to launder hundreds of millions of dollars for sanctioned Russian entities and to obtain export-controlled technology for the Russian government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Let this serve notice that using cryptocurrency to hide illegal conduct will not prevent the FBI and our partners from holding you accountable.”

    As alleged in the indictment, Gugnin is the founder, President, Treasurer, and Compliance Officer of U.S-based Evita Investments Inc. (Evita Investments) and Evita Pay Inc. (Evita Pay) (collectively, Evita). Gugnin used both companies to enable foreign customers — many of whom held funds at sanctioned Russian banks — to provide him with cryptocurrency, which he then laundered through cryptocurrency wallets and U.S. bank accounts. Gugnin ultimately converted the funds into U.S. dollars or other fiat currencies and then made payments through bank accounts in Manhattan on behalf of his foreign customers. In the process, the sources of the funds were obscured, disguising the audit trail and hiding the true counterparties to the transactions. Between June 2023 and January 2025, Gugnin used Evita to facilitate the movement of approximately $530 million through the U.S. financial system, most of which he received in the form of a cryptocurrency stablecoin known as Tether, or “USDT.”

    To effectuate the scheme, Gugnin defrauded various banks and cryptocurrency exchanges through which he converted funds and made wire transfers. Gugnin repeatedly lied to these banks and exchanges, telling them that Evita did not conduct business with entities in Russia and did not deal with sanctioned entities. In fact, many of Gugnin’s customers were located in Russia, and he facilitated payments in funds held at sanctioned Russian banks, including PJSC Sberbank, PJSC Sovcombank, PJSC VTB Bank, and JSC Tinkoff Bank. Gugnin maintained personal accounts at two sanctioned Russian banks, JSC Alfa-Bank and PJSC Sberbank, with which he transacted while residing in the United States. Gugnin also facilitated payments by foreign customers to procure sensitive electronics, including an export-controlled server designed by a U.S. technology company, and laundered funds from a Moscow-based supplier to purchase parts for Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear technology company. To conceal his activities, Gugnin regularly obfuscated invoices by digitally “whiting out” the names and addresses of his Russian customers.

    Gugnin also failed to implement Evita’s own purported anti-money laundering program and failed to file suspicious activity reports, as required under the Bank Secrecy Act. Although Gugnin represented to banks and cryptocurrency exchanges that Evita followed rigorous anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements, in practice he flouted those requirements, as well as the requirement to file reports of suspicious activities with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Gugnin ultimately registered Evita Pay as a money transmitter with FinCEN and the state of Florida but did so by making materially false statements to the state of Florida about Evita Pay’s business. Gugnin used that fraudulently obtained state license to induce a cryptocurrency exchange to process transactions on his behalf.

    In the course of his scheme, Gugnin conducted web searches that confirmed his awareness that he was breaking the law, including searches for “how to know if there is an investigation against you”; “evita investments inc. criminal records search”; “Iurii Gugnin criminal records”; “money laundering penalties US”; and “penalties for sanctions violations EU luxury goods.” He also visited website pages titled, respectively “am I being investigated?”; “signs you may be under criminal investigation”; and “what are the best ways to find out if you’re being investigated and what can someone do when they think they might be under investigation.”

    If convicted, Gugnin faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud, IEEPA, money laundering, and related conspiracy counts; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for failure to implement an effective anti-money laundering program and failure to file suspicious activity reports; and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Dallas Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell for the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

    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 Security: Former Chief Financial Officer Pleads Guilty to Theft in Connection with Health Care

    Source: US FBI

    PORTLAND, Ore.—The former Chief Financial Officer of Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) pleaded guilty Thursday for stealing money from PSMFC’s health benefit trust account.

    Pamela J. Kahut, 67, of Wilsonville, Oregon, pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care.

    According to court documents, Kahut, as Chief Financial Officer of PSFMC, had access to and controlled PSMFC’s health benefit trust account that was created to pay benefits, fees, and other charges for PSFMC employees covered under its self-funded health care benefit program.

    On September 21, 2020, Kahut wrote a check in the amount of $2,812.85 from the health benefit trust account to pay for her spouse’s participation in PSFMC’s long-term care insurance program.   

    In total, between October 2014 and September 2020, defendant stole approximately $211,083 from PSMFC’s health benefit trust account. Kahut used the funds to pay for her spouse’s long-term care annual premiums, pay off her pension loans, and to pay her credit card bills.

    Theft in connection with health care fraud is punishable up to 10 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.  The charge may also result in a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gains or losses resulting from the offense.

    Kahut will be sentenced on September 3, 2025, before a U.S. District Judge.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.  It is being prosecuted by Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the University of Ottawa Accelerate Low Dose Radiation Research and Foster Next Generation of Scientists

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHALK RIVER, Ontario, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), one of Canada’s most innovative universities, are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance knowledge, education, research and innovation in low dose radiation (LDR) exposure health effects.

    Leveraging the leading research organizations’ complementary capabilities, the new partnership builds on CNL’s global leadership in LDR research with the establishment of a CNL-led LDR innovation hub, accelerating research critical to public safety and the health of Canadians. It will also serve to increase capabilities, education and training opportunities to graduate students and early career researchers.

    The partnership will also extend uOttawa researchers’ access to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s world class facilities at Chalk River Laboratories, including the unique Biological Research Facility, associated irradiation facilities and LDR Tissue Bank, and establishes a CNL satellite laboratory within uOttawa’s new Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC) – set to open in 2026. This physical presence will be co-located with the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) as well as uOttawa state-of-the-art Core Facilities, which altogether will support new research directions in radiation sciences and advanced organoid-based systems biology. These areas are rapidly developing strengths at uOttawa, positioning the university as a national, and potentially international, leader in this field. uOttawa will also offer reciprocal access to key research facilities on campus, in addition to those located at the faculty of medicine and in AMRC.

    “As a major player in the global research and development effort to support LDR research, CNL is focused on the prevention or reduction of radiation exposure effects in workers, patients and the larger population,” says Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President, Science & Technology, CNL. “We are very excited to include uOttawa as a major partner in the work needed to shed light on this complex field of research.”

    As part of this partnership, CNL will be contributing towards the acquisition of a mass spectrometer, which will be installed in the in the Metabolomics Core Facility at uOttawa. This strategic investment, supporting collaborative initiatives between OISB and CNL, will enable leading-edge single-cell metabolomics and spatial metabolomics, a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential in biomedical research. This will be the only equipment of its kind in eastern Canada, offering unique capabilities for high-resolution chemical imaging at the cellular level. The instrument will not only serve researchers at uOttawa, but also attract national and international collaborators, firmly establishing uOttawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research.

    The mass spectrometer will be a central component of the new Spatial Biology and Single-Cell Suite (3S) within the AMRC. This cutting-edge suite will integrate transformative new technologies into a coordinated workflow that complements and enhances five existing and intensively used Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, Metabolomics, Gene Editing, Cellular Imaging, and Bioinformatics. By bridging these platforms, 3S will significantly expand research capabilities in some of uOttawa’s strongest areas of discovery, particularly brain, heart, and cancer biology—driving breakthroughs in systems biology, precision medicine, and therapeutic development.

    “This new equipment, the only one of its kind in Eastern Canada, positions the University of Ottawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research, while attracting national and international collaborations,” says Julie St-Pierre, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation, uOttawa.

    This new partnership builds on over a decade of collaborative research involving CNL and multiple uOttawa faculties, including Engineering, Science and Medicine. These collaborations have advanced understanding of the biomedical impacts of LDR, including studies on DNA damage and repair, protein synthesis, epigenetics, mitochondrial biology, metabolism, immunity, and stem cell functions. As part of this partnership, CNL has also provided funding support for postdoctoral fellow stipends, further enabling high-impact research and talent development.

    With the field of LDR research growing and Canadian leadership in LDR research well-recognized, both organizations will continue to explore additional opportunities to further strengthen this partnership.

    About CNL

    As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

    By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

    To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

    About the University of Ottawa

    The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.

    As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.

    Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.

    To learn more about uOttawa, please visit www.uottawa.ca.

    CNL Contact:
    Philip Kompass
    Director, Corporate Communications
    1-866-886-2325
    media@cnl.ca

    uOttawa contact:
    media@uottawa.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c4cd1c0-401a-44e6-83ce-e65ea78dc6b4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Amdark Limited Offers Investment Fraud Recovery Program to Combat Surge in Online Scams in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amdark Limited, a top-tier financial recovery services provider, has unveiled a fraud recovery program, emphasizing the importance of tracking and recovering funds in online scams in 2025.

    CHELMSFORD, United Kingdom, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the latest news, Amdark Limited offers an investment fraud recovery program that helps to track and recover online scams. Investment fraud happens when someone lies or misleads others into investing money, often with false promises of guaranteed profits, low risk, or quick returns. The scammer might pose as a financial advisor, broker, or company representative and may use fake websites, social media ads, or phone calls to gain your trust.

    Significance of Investment Fraud Recovery Services

    Online scams have become a significant concern in the digital finance space, affecting both novice and experienced investors. Fraudulent schemes, such as Ponzi schemes, phishing attacks, fake Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and rug pulls, are just a few of the ways scammers target their victims. The decentralized and anonymous nature of crypto transactions makes it incredibly difficult to trace and reverse these fraudulent activities.

    Many traditional banking systems offer ways to dispute transactions, the irreversible nature of crypto transactions means that stolen funds are typically lost forever. This leaves victims in a position where they may feel helpless, as recovering lost assets requires specialized knowledge and resources. In such cases, Amdark Limited steps in to help victims navigate the complex and often opaque world of crypto scam recovery.

    Reasons Behind Investment Fraud Growing in 2025

    Technology makes it easier than ever to connect with people but it also gives scammers new tools to exploit victims. However, individuals are investing and building a secure future but simultaneously face cybercrime issues. Amdark Limited helps track every scam and offers crypto forensic services for regulators, law enforcement, companies, and individuals to ensure that the individual’s transactions are safe and secure. When individuals need a high level of accuracy for witness or rediscovery, the company assists the clients in evaluating their legal situations and provides accurate and up-to-date forensic data. It also offers the latest technology and data recovery services, which help identify and extract data from computers and other advanced devices.

    Amdark Limited Investment Recovery Program Protects Investment Fraud

    The company shed light on how to avoid falling victim:

    • Do Your Research – Always investigate the company, the people involved, and the investment itself. Google reviews, search for scam warnings and check financial regulatory websites.
    • Verify Licensing – Legitimate brokers or advisors must be registered. Use government or financial watchdog websites to confirm credentials.
    • Avoid “Risk-Free” Offers – No investment is risk-free. Be wary of anyone claiming otherwise.
    • Don’t Trust Social Media Alone – Just because an ad appears on Facebook or Instagram doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Always double-check before handing over your money.
    • Consult an Expert – Before investing large amounts, speak to a licensed financial advisor or a legal expert in finance.

    Fund Recovery Services Matter

    Scammers are clever, and once they’ve taken their money, they rarely leave a trail. That’s where professionals come in. Fund recovery agencies combine legal, forensic, and digital tools to track their stolen funds and attempt to retrieve them. While not all cases lead to full recovery, many victims have successfully reclaimed a portion or even all of their lost investments through expert help.

    Furthermore, investment fraud is one of the fastest-growing financial crimes in 2025, and its consequences are both emotional and financial. To combat this online scam chain, Amdark Limited brings real solutions and become a trusted partner in investment fraud recovery that can guide them through the process of reclaiming what’s there.

    About Amdark Limited:

    For over 20 years, Amdark Limited has been an emerging provider of financial recovery services, specializing in helping victims of online scams recover their losses. The company has a team of experienced financial experts who have a proven track record of success. Amdark Limited offers a free consultation to assess each case and determine the possibility of recovery.

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: Amdark Limited
    Contact person:Alan Kalbfell
    Contact email: help@amdarklimited.com
    Website link: www.amdarklimited.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Amdark Limited. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

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    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef5fba0b-0a0f-4eb6-b2e7-b77c99f7a18c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a1a1235-e29e-4eb9-9cbc-422ef2d3cc43

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Founder of Cryptocurrency Payment Company Charged with Evading Sanctions and Export Controls, Defrauding Financial Institutions, and Violating the Bank Secrecy Act

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    Defendant Allegedly Laundered More Than $500M Through the U.S. Financial System, Including by Facilitating Transactions with Sanctioned Russian Banks

    A 22-count indictment was unsealed today charging Iurii Gugnin, also known as Iurii Mashukov and George Goognin, 38, a resident of New York and citizen of Russia, with various offenses related to using his cryptocurrency company Evita to funnel more than $500 million of overseas payments through U.S. banks and cryptocurrency exchanges while hiding the source and purpose of the transactions.

    According to court documents, Gugnin is charged with wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering compliance program, failing to file suspicious activity reports, money laundering, and related conspiracy charges. Gugnin was arrested and arraigned today in New York.

    “The defendant is charged with turning a cryptocurrency company into a covert pipeline for dirty money, moving over half a billion dollars through the U.S. financial system to aid sanctioned Russian banks and help Russian end-users acquire sensitive U.S. technology,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to bring to justice those who imperil our national security by enabling our foreign adversaries to sidestep sanctions and export controls.”

    “As alleged, Gugnin came to the United States and set up a money laundering operation under the guise of a cryptocurrency start-up, which he then used to evade sanctions and export controls and defraud U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrest demonstrates that this Office will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the U.S. financial system in furtherance of criminal activity, particularly when it undermines national security.”

    “Gugnin’s cryptocurrency company allegedly served as a front to launder hundreds of millions of dollars for sanctioned Russian entities and to obtain export-controlled technology for the Russian government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Let this serve notice that using cryptocurrency to hide illegal conduct will not prevent the FBI and our partners from holding you accountable.”

    As alleged in the indictment, Gugnin is the founder, President, Treasurer, and Compliance Officer of U.S-based Evita Investments Inc. (Evita Investments) and Evita Pay Inc. (Evita Pay) (collectively, Evita). Gugnin used both companies to enable foreign customers — many of whom held funds at sanctioned Russian banks — to provide him with cryptocurrency, which he then laundered through cryptocurrency wallets and U.S. bank accounts. Gugnin ultimately converted the funds into U.S. dollars or other fiat currencies and then made payments through bank accounts in Manhattan on behalf of his foreign customers. In the process, the sources of the funds were obscured, disguising the audit trail and hiding the true counterparties to the transactions. Between June 2023 and January 2025, Gugnin used Evita to facilitate the movement of approximately $530 million through the U.S. financial system, most of which he received in the form of a cryptocurrency stablecoin known as Tether, or “USDT.”

    To effectuate the scheme, Gugnin defrauded various banks and cryptocurrency exchanges through which he converted funds and made wire transfers. Gugnin repeatedly lied to these banks and exchanges, telling them that Evita did not conduct business with entities in Russia and did not deal with sanctioned entities. In fact, many of Gugnin’s customers were located in Russia, and he facilitated payments in funds held at sanctioned Russian banks, including PJSC Sberbank, PJSC Sovcombank, PJSC VTB Bank, and JSC Tinkoff Bank. Gugnin maintained personal accounts at two sanctioned Russian banks, JSC Alfa-Bank and PJSC Sberbank, with which he transacted while residing in the United States. Gugnin also facilitated payments by foreign customers to procure sensitive electronics, including an export-controlled server designed by a U.S. technology company, and laundered funds from a Moscow-based supplier to purchase parts for Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear technology company. To conceal his activities, Gugnin regularly obfuscated invoices by digitally “whiting out” the names and addresses of his Russian customers.

    Gugnin also failed to implement Evita’s own purported anti-money laundering program and failed to file suspicious activity reports, as required under the Bank Secrecy Act. Although Gugnin represented to banks and cryptocurrency exchanges that Evita followed rigorous anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements, in practice he flouted those requirements, as well as the requirement to file reports of suspicious activities with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Gugnin ultimately registered Evita Pay as a money transmitter with FinCEN and the state of Florida but did so by making materially false statements to the state of Florida about Evita Pay’s business. Gugnin used that fraudulently obtained state license to induce a cryptocurrency exchange to process transactions on his behalf.

    In the course of his scheme, Gugnin conducted web searches that confirmed his awareness that he was breaking the law, including searches for “how to know if there is an investigation against you”; “evita investments inc. criminal records search”; “Iurii Gugnin criminal records”; “money laundering penalties US”; and “penalties for sanctions violations EU luxury goods.” He also visited website pages titled, respectively “am I being investigated?”; “signs you may be under criminal investigation”; and “what are the best ways to find out if you’re being investigated and what can someone do when they think they might be under investigation.”

    If convicted, Gugnin faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud, IEEPA, money laundering, and related conspiracy counts; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for failure to implement an effective anti-money laundering program and failure to file suspicious activity reports; and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Dallas Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell for the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

    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: Types of Disaster Assistance Available

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Types of Disaster Assistance Available

    Types of Disaster Assistance Available

    AUSTIN – A major presidential disaster declaration was approved after the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025, in Texas

    It authorizes FEMA to provide assistance in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

     Disaster assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help residents and business owners recover from the impacts of the disaster

    FEMA’s Individual Assistance program directly helps disaster survivors with uninsured or underinsured basic critical needs such as returning a home to a safe, sanitary, functional and accessible environment during their recovery from a disaster

     Under Individual Assistance, FEMA provides several types of financial and direct assistance to eligible individuals and families

    These may include, but are not limited to:Housing AssistanceRental Assistance to rent alternate housing while an applicant is displaced from a disaster-damaged primary residence

    Rental Assistance and Continued Temporary Housing Assistance may be used to rent a house, apartment, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, or efficiency unit at a hotel or motel while your damaged residence is being repaired

    Lodging Expense Reimbursement for hotels, motels or other short-term lodging while an applicant is displaced from a disaster-damaged primary residence

    Home Repair Assistance to help restore an owner-occupied, disaster-damaged primary residence to safe and sanitary condition

    Replacement Assistance to help homeowners replace an owner-occupied primary residence when it is destroyed by a disaster

    Other Needs AssistanceDisplacement: Helps with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster

    Serious Needs Assistance: An upfront, flexible “per household” payment for essential items such as food, water, baby formula, breast-feeding supplies, medicine and other serious disaster-related needs

    Note: This is not a reimbursement for loss of power or replacing food

    It is intended for emergency needs only

    Childcare: Assistance for childcare expenses or an increase in childcare expenses caused by a disaster

    Medical/Dental: Assistance to help cover expenses related to disaster-caused injuries or illnesses

    Personal Property: Helps repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged in the disaster

    Transportation: Assistance to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle to use

    Miscellaneous Items: Assistance that may help pay for specific items that were purchased or rented after the disaster to help you recover

    For example, a chainsaw to help clear fallen trees that prevent safe access to your home

    Moving and Storage: Assistance moving and storing personal property from your home to prevent additional damage, usually while making repairs to your home or moving to a new place due to the disaster

    Learn more about FEMA’s Individual Assistance program at fema

    gov/assistance/individual

    Disaster assistance to Texas for the March 26-28 severe storms and flooding includes:$34

    2 million in FEMA awards to 6,541 individuals and households, including nearly $58,000 for rental of temporary housing and basic repair of damaged dwellings$2

    4 million in U

    S

    Small Business Administration disaster loansTo meet survivors where they are, FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas are operating seven Disaster Recovery Centers in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

    More than 3,400 people have visited these centers

    Survivors in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties may apply for federal assistance if they had damage in the March 26-28 storms

    The deadline to apply is July 22, 2025

     There are several ways to apply

    Visit a Disaster Recovery Center

    To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Ex: DRC 78552)

    Go to DisasterAssistance

    gov; download the FEMA App for mobile devices; or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a

    m

    and 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service

     For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, go to Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTubeFor more information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4871

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    toan

    nguyen
    Mon, 06/09/2025 – 18:16

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Paul Morris: Filming the Final Frontier

    Source: NASA

    Video Producer – Goddard Space Flight Center
    What sparked your interest in video production, and what drew you to NASA? 
    Ever since I saw “Star Wars” at nine years old, I knew I wanted to make movies. I would make little stop action videos with my action figures.
    How did you land this role at NASA, and what do your duties entail?
    I was working with a company in New York for about eight years, producing a daily live interactive show on Facebook. I’ve always been obsessed with NASA, so when I saw the job opportunity I knew I had to take a shot. To this day I still can’t believe how lucky I am to work here. I’ve been working with the Hubble mission for the past five years, but I’ve begun to work on other missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN), Osiris-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer), and the incredible Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

    How has your style evolved over time?
    My previous job was very steeped in “internet culture,” so it was a lot more fast-paced and crazy style videos. The main goal was to get the audience to watch past the ad break. With NASA I’ve been able to slow down my videos a bit more and focus more on quality and explaining the science result.

    What guides your process when you start a new assignment?
    Let me be clear, I feel that all astro science is super cool and interesting. However, some of it is less interesting to the general public. Therefore, the first thing I think about when approaching a potential new story is by asking the question: “Would a fifth grader think this story is awesome?” Black holes, giant explosions, stars dying…if the story is there then the imagery will be there too. 

    What’s been your favorite project so far? 
    A few years back, Hubble just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first servicing mission, (the one that corrected the mirror flaw). I got to interview some of the biggest Hubble legends of all time and created a seven-part series from the perspectives of all of these genius engineers, scientists, and even astronauts. I was super proud of how all those videos came out.

    [embedded content]

    Do you have any major goals you hope to achieve or projects you’d like to tackle someday?
    I’d love to do a full-length movie following a project from its conception to its deactivation. Obviously, this is rather hard to do and will take years, potentially decades, but there are a few projects that are on the “ground floor” at the moment, so I’d love to just check in with them every year or so.
    How has your work influenced your understanding or appreciation of space science and technology?
    I’ve been absolutely obsessed with all things NASA since around third grade, so I’ve always loved space science and technology. However, I had no idea how much the technology of space telescopes has led to incredible advances in Earth technologies. From Olympic speed skating to breast cancer research or saving whale sharks, there’s just such a huge return on investment with NASA research.

    Where do you draw inspiration from?
    The incredibly talented and creative people I work with always make me strive to make better videos.
    What hobbies fill your time outside of work?
    I’ve gotten really into running and CrossFit since Covid. I also direct plays from time to time at a local theatre near my house.

    What advice do you have for others who are interested in doing similar work?
    Always look for ways to add to your creative skillset. There are a lot of amazing training options available online, and there’s always something new you can do to make yourself even better than you are today.
    By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Orange County Supervisor Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Bribery Scheme Involving More Than $10 Million in COVID Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SANTA ANA, California – A former politician who served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for accepting more than $550,000 in bribes for directing and voting in favor of more than $10 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to a charity affiliated with one of his daughters.

    Andrew Hoang Do, 62, of Santa Ana, was sentenced by United States District Judge James V. Selna, who scheduled a restitution hearing for August 11.

    Do pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

    “Elected officials have a sworn duty to put their constituents’ interests ahead of their own,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Public money intended to assist aging and ailing pandemic victims instead filled the coffers of Do, his family, and insiders. I commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their work on this important case and for helping to remove a corrupt politician from his seat of power.”

    “As a county supervisor, Andrew Do transformed the County of Orange into an ATM available to his insiders, his loved ones, and himself, withdrawing millions of dollars to buy houses, lavish dinners, and expensive wine while the elderly, the sick, and the vulnerable who depended on Andrew Do were left to fend for themselves,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “We, along with our federal partners, are continuing to peel back the layers of conspiracy to hold every thief accountable and return those stolen monies to the communities to which they belonged.”    

    “Mr. Do abused his powerful position as a county supervisor to profit personally at the expense of individuals in need, as well as the residents of Orange County, who deserve honest leadership,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will continue to pursue corrupt public officials whose actions erode trust in government.”

    From February 2015 until his resignation in October 2024, Do was one of five supervisors on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which is responsible for the county’s $9 billion annual budget. As supervisor for the First District, Do represented the cities of Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, and Westminster.

    Beginning in 2020, in exchange for more than $550,000 in bribes, Do voted in favor of and directed millions of dollars in COVID-related funds to the Viet America Society (VAS), a charity affiliated with his daughter. Do directed and worked together with other county employees to approve contracts with – and payments to – VAS. Do further admitted he acted corruptly and abused his position of trust as a county supervisor.

    Shortly after receiving the COVID-related public funds from the county government – funds that were intended to provide meals to the elderly and disabled – VAS from April 2021 to February 2024 paid a business identified in court documents as “Company #1” $100,000 or more per month, which totaled approximately $3,804,000. In September 2021, VAS increased its payments to Company #1 from $100,000 to $108,000 per month. Company #1 then began paying Rhiannon Do – Do’s daughter – $8,000 per month, totaling by February 2024 approximately $224,000.

    In addition to the $8,000 monthly payments that Company #1 had made to Do’s daughter, in July 2023, Company #1 also transferred a total of $381,500 from the funds it had received from VAS to an escrow company. In July 2023, Do’s daughter used the escrow account funds to purchase a home, in her name, in Tustin for $1,035,000. As part of that transaction, a mortgage for more than $600,000 was obtained by a loan application that contained false information and with fabricated documents. Do’s daughter has admitted in court documents that her conduct was criminal and violated federal and state law.

    The $381,500 from Company #1 that his daughter used to purchase the Tustin house in 2023 was a disguised bribe to Do. An additional $100,000 in payments sent to his other daughter, including three $25,000 checks from Company #2 – an air conditioning company that had been paid by VAS – also were bribes to Do.

    Some of the bribe funds that had been funneled to his daughters were spent for his direct benefit. For example, during 2022, a total of $14,849 of funds that had been funneled to Do’s daughters was used to make property tax payments for properties in Orange County owned by Do and his wife. Approximately $15,000 was used to pay for one of Do’s credit card bills.

    Do knew that VAS was not providing all the meals for which the county had paid VAS. Instead, much of the funds were used for the benefit of insiders, including to buy real estate in the name of both Do’s daughter and Company #1, bribe payments to both of Do’s daughters, payments to other conspirators, payments to other companies affiliated with VAS’s listed officers, and through hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals.

    Do forfeited assets connected to the bribery scheme, including the Tustin property his daughter purchased in 2023. As part of his daughter’s related diversion agreement, she forfeited the Tustin property. The plea agreement requires Do to pay full restitution by paying back the bribe money he and his daughters received. In August 2024, the government seized more than $2.4 million from VAS’s and Company #1’s bank accounts.

    Do resigned from the Orange County Board of Supervisors as part of a related agreement with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA). He also agreed to forfeit any pension credit for the time where he participated in the bribery conspiracy.

    The FBI; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of the Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; and the United States Department of Education Office of the Inspector General investigated this matter.

    This matter is being jointly prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and OCDA. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Nandor F.R. Kiss, Rosalind Wang, and Tara Vavere of the United States Attorney’s Office and Senior Deputy District Attorney Avery T. Harrison and Deputy District Attorney Anthony J. Schlehner of the OCDA. 

    Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in Orange County is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s email tip line at https://tips.fbi.gov and/or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Founder of Cryptocurrency Payment Company Charged with Evading Sanctions and Export Controls, Defrauding Financial Institutions, and Violating the Bank Secrecy Act

    Source: United States Attorneys General 8

    Defendant Allegedly Laundered More Than $500M Through the U.S. Financial System, Including by Facilitating Transactions with Sanctioned Russian Banks

    A 22-count indictment was unsealed today charging Iurii Gugnin, also known as Iurii Mashukov and George Goognin, 38, a resident of New York and citizen of Russia, with various offenses related to using his cryptocurrency company Evita to funnel more than $500 million of overseas payments through U.S. banks and cryptocurrency exchanges while hiding the source and purpose of the transactions.

    According to court documents, Gugnin is charged with wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering compliance program, failing to file suspicious activity reports, money laundering, and related conspiracy charges. Gugnin was arrested and arraigned today in New York.

    “The defendant is charged with turning a cryptocurrency company into a covert pipeline for dirty money, moving over half a billion dollars through the U.S. financial system to aid sanctioned Russian banks and help Russian end-users acquire sensitive U.S. technology,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to bring to justice those who imperil our national security by enabling our foreign adversaries to sidestep sanctions and export controls.”

    “As alleged, Gugnin came to the United States and set up a money laundering operation under the guise of a cryptocurrency start-up, which he then used to evade sanctions and export controls and defraud U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrest demonstrates that this Office will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the U.S. financial system in furtherance of criminal activity, particularly when it undermines national security.”

    “Gugnin’s cryptocurrency company allegedly served as a front to launder hundreds of millions of dollars for sanctioned Russian entities and to obtain export-controlled technology for the Russian government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Let this serve notice that using cryptocurrency to hide illegal conduct will not prevent the FBI and our partners from holding you accountable.”

    As alleged in the indictment, Gugnin is the founder, President, Treasurer, and Compliance Officer of U.S-based Evita Investments Inc. (Evita Investments) and Evita Pay Inc. (Evita Pay) (collectively, Evita). Gugnin used both companies to enable foreign customers — many of whom held funds at sanctioned Russian banks — to provide him with cryptocurrency, which he then laundered through cryptocurrency wallets and U.S. bank accounts. Gugnin ultimately converted the funds into U.S. dollars or other fiat currencies and then made payments through bank accounts in Manhattan on behalf of his foreign customers. In the process, the sources of the funds were obscured, disguising the audit trail and hiding the true counterparties to the transactions. Between June 2023 and January 2025, Gugnin used Evita to facilitate the movement of approximately $530 million through the U.S. financial system, most of which he received in the form of a cryptocurrency stablecoin known as Tether, or “USDT.”

    To effectuate the scheme, Gugnin defrauded various banks and cryptocurrency exchanges through which he converted funds and made wire transfers. Gugnin repeatedly lied to these banks and exchanges, telling them that Evita did not conduct business with entities in Russia and did not deal with sanctioned entities. In fact, many of Gugnin’s customers were located in Russia, and he facilitated payments in funds held at sanctioned Russian banks, including PJSC Sberbank, PJSC Sovcombank, PJSC VTB Bank, and JSC Tinkoff Bank. Gugnin maintained personal accounts at two sanctioned Russian banks, JSC Alfa-Bank and PJSC Sberbank, with which he transacted while residing in the United States. Gugnin also facilitated payments by foreign customers to procure sensitive electronics, including an export-controlled server designed by a U.S. technology company, and laundered funds from a Moscow-based supplier to purchase parts for Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear technology company. To conceal his activities, Gugnin regularly obfuscated invoices by digitally “whiting out” the names and addresses of his Russian customers.

    Gugnin also failed to implement Evita’s own purported anti-money laundering program and failed to file suspicious activity reports, as required under the Bank Secrecy Act. Although Gugnin represented to banks and cryptocurrency exchanges that Evita followed rigorous anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements, in practice he flouted those requirements, as well as the requirement to file reports of suspicious activities with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Gugnin ultimately registered Evita Pay as a money transmitter with FinCEN and the state of Florida but did so by making materially false statements to the state of Florida about Evita Pay’s business. Gugnin used that fraudulently obtained state license to induce a cryptocurrency exchange to process transactions on his behalf.

    In the course of his scheme, Gugnin conducted web searches that confirmed his awareness that he was breaking the law, including searches for “how to know if there is an investigation against you”; “evita investments inc. criminal records search”; “Iurii Gugnin criminal records”; “money laundering penalties US”; and “penalties for sanctions violations EU luxury goods.” He also visited website pages titled, respectively “am I being investigated?”; “signs you may be under criminal investigation”; and “what are the best ways to find out if you’re being investigated and what can someone do when they think they might be under investigation.”

    If convicted, Gugnin faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud, IEEPA, money laundering, and related conspiracy counts; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for failure to implement an effective anti-money laundering program and failure to file suspicious activity reports; and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Dallas Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell for the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

    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 United Kingdom: National enterprise honours for Highland school

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Budding entrepreneurs from a Highland school are celebrating following triumphs at two top enterprise events.

    In the last two weeks team Solasta, from Fortrose Academy, won the Scottish Company of the Year at the Young Enterprise Scotland Awards in Glasgow and went on to triumph in Manchester at the UK Company of the Year finals event last Wednesday (4 June).

    At both events Solasta were recognised for their expertise in designing, producing and selling their intergenerational journals which encourage families to connect and record their memories.

    The team will now go on to represent the UK at the Junior Achievement European awards in Athens, Greece on 1-3 July, known as the European “Oscars” of Youth Entrepreneurship.

    Councillor John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s education committee, said: “I was delighted to hear about Solasta, the team from Fortrose Academy who won the UK Young Enterprise final in Manchester on the 4th of June.

    “As someone who has always promoted the importance of including enterprise in the work of all our schools, I congratulate Fortrose staff and pupils on their success and I wish them well in the European final in Greece on 4th July.”

    The Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme for Highland and Moray runs in partnership with local schools to encourage young people to experience the challenges of running a business.

    Over the course of a year teams from individual schools learn how to run a successful business by designing and making products, marketing them and managing the financial side.

    The scheme is aimed at 15- to 19-year-olds and teams are supported by teachers, a volunteer business adviser from the local community, and a Young Enterprise Scotland area team.

    The Solasta team involved S6 pupils Amy MacRae, Natasha Browne, Imogen Geddes, Imogen Maclarty, Roisin Beattie, Abbie Harper, Freya Campbell and Keira Chisholm.

    Their idea for producing a journal was sparked through the school’s own well established inter-generational links with community charity Black Isle Cares and the Eilean Dubh Care Home.

    Keira Lyall, Head of Business Studies at Fortrose Academy, added: “The team are still on a high after their great achievement and the tremendous experience of taking part in both finals.

     “We’d like to thank everyone who generously stepped in quickly to provide sponsorship to help us travel to Manchester and represent the Highlands on a national stage.

    “We are now making plans to get to Athens for the European finals in July and if any local business would like to get involved, please email us on keira.lyall@highland.gov.uk.” 

    Linda Thomas, Chair of Young Enterprise Highland and Moray, said: “We are absolutely delighted but not at all surprised at Solasta’s success.

    “Their hard work, tenacity and creativity have been a joy to watch and they are a true credit to the Highlands.

     “Their win at the national finals in Glasgow brings the tally of teams from the Highlands and Moray who have won the top Young Enterprise Scotland award to ten over the last 18 years – a clear demonstration that young people from this area absolutely have all it takes to succeed in the world of work.”

    Fortrose has a long tradition of supporting young enterprise in the school, having been previous UK winners in 2008.

    Press release issued by Young Enterprise Highland and Moray and The Highland Council

    Caption: Solasta at the Young Enterprise UK final with Graham Farhall, Finance Director at sponsor Delta Airline and Sarah Poretta, CEO of YE UK

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak approved the creation of a new special economic zone in Tatarstan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the creation and development of special economic zones.

    It was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Alexey Pesoshin, General Director of PJSC Tatneft named after V.D. Shashin Nail Maganov, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZs of Russia Mikhail Labudin, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Federal Customs Service.

    The participants discussed the results of the work of special economic zones in Russia and approved the creation of a new special economic zone of the industrial and production type “Green Valley” in the Republic of Tatarstan on the territory of the Zainsk municipal formation for the development of a biotechnology cluster on an area of 16.5 hectares.

    “This year, the SEZ mechanism turns 20 years old. During this time, they have become one of the key drivers of development in the territories where key projects in industry, science, logistics are being implemented, growth points in tourism are being formed – conditions are being created for fulfilling the economic tasks set by the President. Over 1.3 thousand unique projects with an investment portfolio of 6.6 trillion and plans to create 177 thousand jobs are in the active implementation stage. Based on the results of 2024, we see a record demand for special zones among businesses, 230 new residents and 1.2 trillion in investments in just one year. In the previous record year of 2023, there were 188 new residents and 636 billion in investments. Serious momentum has been gained that cannot be slowed down,” said Alexander Novak, opening the meeting.

    According to the Tatarstan authorities, by 2034 the volume of investments made by residents of the new economic zone “Green Valley” will amount to over 15 billion rubles, and 444 jobs are planned to be created. The projects of the SEZ residents include processing flax and cotton into biofiber, production of sorbents and fertilizers, etc. Tatneft plans to implement two of the six SEZ projects.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Public development banks launch Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 after original initiative delivered on its target ahead of time

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Unsplash

    • Public development banks launch Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 at the UN Ocean Conference, setting a new €3 billion financing target for 2026–2030 to tackle ocean plastic pollution.
    • The original Clean Oceans Initiative reached its €4 billion financing target for plastic pollution reduction projects seven months ahead of schedule.
    • COI 2.0 expands the partnership’s focus beyond pollution management to include waste prevention and circular economy solutions and welcomes new regional partner ADB to strengthen efforts in Asia.

    Building on a shared commitment to marine sustainability, six public development banks today launched the Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 (COI 2.0), a renewed and expanded partnership dedicated to drastically reducing plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. At the United Nations Ocean Conference in the city of Nice, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which joins the initiative as a new member, set a financing target of €3 billion for the years 2026 to 2030.

    Launched in 2018 and extended in 2022, the Clean Oceans Initiative is the largest multilateral effort dedicated to funding projects that reduce plastic pollution at sea. In May this year – seven months ahead of schedule – the initiative met its target of €4 billion in long-term financing for public and private sector projects aimed at reducing discharge of plastics, micro-plastics and other litter into the oceans through improved management of solid waste, wastewater and stormwater. Project examples include improved wastewater treatment in Sri Lanka, China, Egypt, and South Africa; solid waste management in Togo and Senegal; and flood protection in Benin, Morocco, and Ecuador.  

    According to the United Nations, if current trends continue the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could triple—from around 11 million tonnes in 2021 to 23–37 million tonnes per year by 2040. The new phase of the Clean Oceans Initiative is the international financial community’s response to these challenges. COI 2.0 will maintain its focus on reducing marine litter, while increasing its impact by placing a stronger emphasis on waste prevention and supporting circular economy solutions, including projects that develop alternatives to plastic.

    Some of the highest amounts of plastic enter the ocean in Asia, making it essential to join forces with local partners. The Asian Development Bank brings crucial regional expertise to the initiative and will be able to leverage projects in its area of action. Going forward, one of the objectives is to measure the impact of the enhanced initiative using scientifically robust and easy-to-apply indicators, especially in the areas of plastic pollution prevention.

    “Delivering on our initial target ahead of schedule demonstrates the power of partnership and collective action,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “Through the Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0, we are expanding our collaboration with local partners to deliver innovative solutions where they are needed most. The EIB is committed to supporting projects that make a real and measurable difference, setting new benchmarks for impact as we continue our mission to keep plastics out of the world’s oceans.”

    Background information

    Oceans are vital to life on Earth, providing food, income, climate regulation, and natural resources for billions of people. They absorb about 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, helping to buffer climate change.

    Plastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions who depend on healthy oceans. Most ocean plastics originate from mismanaged waste on land, often carried by rivers due to inadequate waste collection and water treatment, especially in rapidly growing cities. Microplastics alone account for an estimated 1.5 million tonnes entering the oceans each year.

    The Clean Oceans Initiative 2.0 focuses on projects in coastal areas that address plastic pollution entering the ocean, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where inadequate waste and water management in major river systems remains a critical challenge.

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Luxembourg and EIB Global team up to help Small Island Developing States confront climate change

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Luxembourg is tapping EIB Global expertise through the Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform (LCFP) to contribute €5 million to the Outrigger Impact Fund I.
    • The Fund has a target size of $100 million and aims to provide finance to projects in various sectors of the oceans economy.
    • Outrigger Impact Fund I will provide debt and equity financing to help Small Island Development States adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Luxembourg is joining forces with the European Investment Bank’s development arm (EIB Global) to pledge €5 million through the Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform (LCFP) to help Small Island Development States (SIDS) tackle climate change. The Government of Luxembourg is making the commitment to a new fund dedicated to the sustainable use of ocean resources – an area of activity known as the “blue economy” – and EIB Global is managing the contribution to ensure its optimal use.

    Luxembourg’s pledge will take the form of junior equity in the Outrigger Impact Fund I, which has a target size of $100 million and will be run by UK-based fund manager Outrigger Impact. The fund will operate in Small Island Development States, providing debt and equity finance to projects in various blue economy sectors such as sustainable aquaculture, ocean conservation, ecotourism and offshore renewable energy.

    “This investment reflects our ambition to drive more capital towards climate resilience where it is most urgently needed. By backing the Outrigger Impact Fund I through the provision of junior equity, we aim to de-risk innovative projects in the blue economy and mobilise private finance at scale. This is a targeted use of public capital to unlock impact where markets alone would not go,” said Luxembourg Minister of Finance Gilles Roth.  

    “Over the last decade, Luxembourg has been committed to supporting the most vulnerable countries in the fight against climate change. Small Island Development States are disproportionally affected and face a finance gap at the same time. The blue economy offers an opportunity for SIDS to help adapt to climate change, protect and restore nature, while generating sustainable income for the most vulnerable communities,” said Minister of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity Serge Wilmes.  

    EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle and Outrigger Impact Managing Director Simon Dent announced Luxembourg’s contribution at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

    “Small Island Developing States are disproportionately at risk of the impacts of climate change and receive immeasurably less financing than other developing or low-income countries. That’s why this fund is important – at the portfolio level it is expected to multiply investments with a significant leverage,” said Vice-President Fayolle.

    The involvement of Luxembourg and the EIB in the new fund advances an EU goal in its “Global Gateway Investment Agenda” to deepen worldwide cooperation on investment in areas including climate and the environment.

    The investments by the new fund will reduce greenhouse gas emissions through clean transport, contribute to conservation of protected areas and coral reefs, and reduce pollution including plastics in the ocean. The financing will also increase the resilience of local communities to climate change.

    The fund will leverage private investments and group projects across Small Island Development States to support new or small market players that are developing innovative business models backing the transition to a sustainable blue economy.

    “This new fund will provide catalytic investment in projects, small and medium-sized enterprises and nature-based solutions in Small Island Development States. These states steward over 30% of our oceans through their exclusive economic zones, meaning that their blue economies, ecosystems and sustainable marine assets are full of environmental, social and economic potential,” said Outrigger Impact Managing Director Simon Dent.

    Background information

    About EIB Global

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. It finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. It aims to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 – around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through its offices across the world. Photos of EIB headquarters for media use are available here.

    About the Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform (LCFP)

    The LCFP is a de-risking platform initiated by the Government of Luxembourg in collaboration with the EIB that seeks to catalyse private sector investments in high-impact climate projects in developing countries.

    About Outrigger Impact

    Outrigger Impact is a specialised blue economy platform, which is developing a dedicated financing facility to build environmental and economic resilience and drive nature-positive outcomes in Small Island Developing States, by catalysing and leveraging the blue economy and enhancing the sustainability of ocean resources. The Outrigger Impact Fund will provide investment capital for blue economy projects in a range of Small Island Developing States, and the Outrigger Technical Assistance Facility will provide grants and concessionary loans to support early-stage projects in islands, with the common aim of delivering dedicated funding of more than $100 million to catalytic projects in island states.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Seeks to Block Trump-Republicans Plan to Take From the Needy to Give to the Greedy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH THE SPEAKING PROGRAM HERE***

    PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed today joined with faith leaders and hunger prevention advocates at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to demand action against a House Republican-passed tax bill that will make the largest cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in American history.

    Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a 1,000+ page bill to take nutrition assistance from the needy in order to give billionaires a bigger tax windfall. Their so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” includes nearly $300 billion in cuts targeting SNAP, which helps millions of working families and low-income seniors afford groceries. 

    With over $85 million in annual nutrition assistance for Rhode Island at stake and approximately 17,000 Rhode Islanders at risk of losing access to nutrition assistance, the Republicans’ House-passed tax bill would devastate essential SNAP benefits at the same time that President Trump’s tariff taxes are adding over $200 to grocery bills for average American families.

    According to an analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the Trump-Republican tax bill would result in 7 million people nationwide losing food assistance.  The House-passed SNAP cuts would be a disaster for hungry families and for states – permanently saddling states with extra costs and reducing nutrition assistance that millions of low-income Americans rely upon.

    “SNAP is a proven, cost-effective lifeline for more than 144,000 Rhode Islanders, especially low-income children and seniors. When Republicans threaten to cut SNAP benefits, they’re really threatening public health, working families, and our economy.  Access to food is essential for everyone.  The Republican plan would mean less food for the poor, fewer jobs, and less economic activity in the community.  It would increase hunger and hardship,” said Reed.  “Every dollar in federal SNAP investment generates over $1.50 in economic activity.  If you start taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of the local economy, it means stores close, farms go under, and food prices keep going up. Ultimately, the Republican plan would make it harder for Rhode Island families to afford their grocery bills.  I will do everything I can to block these devastating cuts from becoming law.”

    “The impact that this cut will have on families, children, seniors, and veterans will be catastrophic,” said Lisa Roth Blackman, Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “Kids will be less ready to learn in school. Working adults won’t have the energy to work. Seniors will be forced to make terrible choices about whether to pay for prescriptions and healthcare or food. And veterans and people with disabilities will struggle to get the food they need to survive and thrive.”

    “Every month, an average of fifteen new households come through our doors for the first time because they cannot afford to put enough food on the table to meet their family’s needs,” said Kate Brewster, CEO of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in South Kingstown. “The ripple effects of the proposed SNAP cuts will be devastating at an already uncertain time. I’m grateful to Senator Reed for standing up against these cuts to the most basic human need – nourishment.”

    “We have 1,000 children who receive food at our pantry – just at one pantry,” shared Reverend Maryalice Sullivan of Pete & Andy’s Food Pantry at St. Peter & St. Andrew’s Church in Providence. “The need is already so high. We simply can’t afford a catastrophic cut like the one the administration is talking about.”

    Not only would the House-passed Republican plan cut SNAP by roughly 30 percent, it would reduce monthly nutrition assistance for children from low-income families, seniors, disabled Americans, and veterans below what is necessary to maintain a healthy diet while placing a greater burden on states while adding red tape and harsher work requirements for caregivers.

    Over 144,000 Rhode Island residents receive SNAP benefits, and the state receives roughly $343.5 million annually in SNAP benefits.  A recent analysis by Trace One placed Rhode Island 15th in the nation based on its share of individuals receiving SNAP benefits. 

    In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, SNAP participants in Rhode Island received an average of $198.52 per month in SNAP benefits.  This averages $6.52 per person per day.

    In addition to increasing hunger for people with lower incomes who are already struggling, Senator Reed warns that the Republican plan to shift the program’s cost to states will hurt taxpayers, farmers, grocers, delivery drivers, and other small businesses.  Senator Reed noted SNAP’s role in supporting public health is critical and the House-passed Republican cuts would be devastating to families and communities across Rhode Island. 

    The House-passed Republican bill would require all states to pay a 5 percent cost-share, shifting the burden from the federal government to the states.  States with higher payment error rates would have to pay even more. 

    SNAP helps ensure strong, consistent sales for American farmers by boosting low-income families’ purchasing power and demand for agricultural products. In addition to traditional retailers, SNAP directly supports local farmers through demand for produce, meat, and dairy products at farmers’ markets and through initiatives such as Bonus Bucks, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Reed emphasized that the entire state would be impacted by these SNAP cuts through lost productivity and increased expenditures in other public areas, such as health care.

    “The irresponsible Republican plan to gut SNAP would increase poverty and make people less healthy more food insecure.  That impacts recipients, neighbors, communities – all of us.  As food insecurity goes up, productivity goes down and health care costs go up,” said Reed.  “We live in the greatest country on Earth and can afford to ensure people don’t go hungry.  Funding this program is a moral, economic, and public health imperative.”

    Rhode Island food pantries have reported a spike in demand recently. Several food pantry operators across the state have put out the call for increased food donations as demand increases beyond usual expectations for this time of year, and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs could exacerbate the demand for food aid.

    The Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributes food through its 147 member agencies, reaching approximately 89,000 food-insecure Rhode Islanders each month.  The non-profit provides nutritious staples and fresh produce to food pantries, meal sites, shelters, youth programs and senior centers.  In FY2024, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributed 18.3 million pounds of food.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Crow Leads Effort for Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence to Get Justice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), an Army veteran and member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, reintroduced the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation that allows survivors and families members of victims of gun violence to hold the gun industry accountable for negligence and disregard for public safety. 

    Historically, firearms manufacturers, sellers, and interest groups have relied on provisions in the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to shield them from civil liability, leaving countless gun violence victims and survivors without a path to recourse through the justice system. This bill would repeal the PLCAA as a critical step towards delivering the justice gun violence victims, survivors, and their loved ones deserve. 

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

    Congressman Crow was joined by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), and Dwight Evans (D-PA-03). Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the U.S. Senate companion bill.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady United Against Gun Violence, Giffords, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

    Congressman Crow has been a champion of common sense gun violence prevention legislation, including reintroducing the Closing the Loophole on Interstate Firearm Sales Act. Crow also co-led efforts to ensure proper implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation he helped pass into law in 2022 and the first comprehensive gun safety reform package in nearly 30 years. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Missouri Private Nonprofits Affected by Spring Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Missouri affected by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring March 30–April 8.

    The disaster declaration covers the Missouri counties of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Wayne and Webster.

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature impacted by physical damages or financial losses directly related to the disaster are eligible to apply for both business physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA will set loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Men Sentenced for Illegally Transmitting More Than $15 Million Dollars Using Hawala Network

    Source: US FBI

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that HIRENKUMAR PATEL, the last of six defendants in a case involving an unlicensed money transmitting business that illegally sent millions of dollars in cash throughout the U.S. and between the U.S. and India, was sentenced to 21 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.  PATEL previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and one count of operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business on September 12, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik.

    “The anonymous transmission of money is a linchpin of international criminal activity, whether hacking, drug dealing, sex trafficking, or terrorism” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Unlicensed money transmission organizations, like the ‘halawa’ network operated by Patel and his cohorts, are tailor made for supporting international criminal activity.  Together with our law enforcement partners, we will seek to shut down these unlicensed networks and stop the flow of dirty money to criminals who do harm to Americans from abroad.”

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “These six defendants engaged in an unregulated money transferring scheme responsible for illegally transmitting $15 million in less than a year.  Illicit financial schemes like this one cause damage to our economic system that extends beyond the directly involved bad actors.  The sentencings announced today demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to ensuring those who attempt to carry out illegal financial schemes face the repercussions in the criminal justice system.”

    According to allegations contained in the Complaint, the Information, court filings, and public court proceedings:

    In or about April 2021, law enforcement identified a vendor (“Vendor”) on the dark web who was offering, in exchange for a fee, a service to convert cryptocurrency into cash.  The Vendor indicated to an undercover agent that some of his clients made money by selling drugs, his wealthiest clients were hackers, and that he had made approximately $30 million over the prior three years through the conversion of cryptocurrency to cash.

    In or about February 2023, law enforcement began working with a confidential source and learned that the Vendor was using a “hawala”[1] to obtain the cash that was ultimately exchanged for the cryptocurrency.  As part of this hawala, several of the defendants collected cash along the East Coast of the U.S., which was later delivered to an individual who mailed the cash to the Vendor’s customers.  All six defendants participated in the delivery of, and/or coordinated the delivery of, the collected cash.  The persons who supplied the cash for collection, in turn, used the hawala to have their cash converted into rupees delivered to designated individuals in India.

    Of the approximately $15 million sent through the hawala between in or about February 2023 and in or about September 2023, PATEL was responsible for participating in 42 deliveries of bags of cash totaling more than $7.7 million.  Neither PATEL nor his co-defendants were licensed or registered to operate as a money transmitting business in New York or under federal law.

    *                *                *

    A chart containing the names of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below.

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky in connection with this investigation.

    The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution.

    Defendant

    Age

    Convictions

    Sentence
    Rajendrakumar Patel 52 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 27 months in prison
    Brijeshkumar Patel 32 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 18 months in prison
    Hirenkumar Patel 40 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 21 months in prison
    Naineshkumar Patel 51 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 12 months and one day in prison
    Nileshkumar Patel 33 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 3 years of probation
    Shaileshkumar Goyani 36 Conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Operation of an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business Time served

    [1] A “hawala” is an unregulated method of transferring money—usually internationally—from one person to another without the money being physically transported from one location another. Rather, someone who seeks to have money transferred relies on brokers who use their own capital to disburse money and informal ledgers to track the receipt and disbursal of money.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Executive at Investor Relations Firm and Two Associates Plead Guilty to Insider Trading Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman, and Mark Jacobs Admit to Illegal Trading in Several Health Care Company Clients of Investor Relations Firm

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ROBERT YEDID, ANDREW KAUFMAN, and MARK JACOBS pled guilty to participating in a five-year insider trading scheme to reap illegal profits from stock and options trading based on inside information about several health care company clients of the investor relations firm where YEDID was employed.  Together, YEDID, KAUFMAN and JACOBS made more than $500,000 in illicit gains through this scheme.  JACOBS pled guilty today before U.S. Chief District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.  YEDID and KAUFMAN pled guilty before Chief Judge Swain on May 29, 2025.

    “Robert Yedid betrayed the trust of his employer and its clients by stealing confidential information and passing it to two friends, Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs, to make unlawful, profitable trades based on inside information,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “This Office is committed to prosecuting securities fraud and ensuring that insiders and their friends can’t cheat their way to profits.  With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to police the financial markets and hold those accountable who misuse nonpublic information for personal gain.” 

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Robert Yedid abused his authority as a former investor relations director and provided his friends with material nonpublic information to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit profits.  By betraying the trust placed in his position, Yedid established an unlawful financial advantage for his insular social circle that was not afforded to all investors.  May today’s plea serve as a deterrent to any individual who exploits confidential trading information for personal benefit.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

    Between 2019 and 2024, YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS engaged in a scheme to trade in stocks and options based on material nonpublic information about several publicly traded health care companies, in violation of the duties of trust and confidence that YEDID owed to his employer, an investor relations firm, and to the companies.

    YEDID was a director at an investor relations firm that provided public relations services to health care companies, including BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (“BDSI”), CinCor Pharma (“CinCor”), Inotiv (“Inotiv”), Inspire Medical Systems (“Inspire”), Nano-X Imaging Ltd. (“Nano-X”), and OncoCyte Corp. (“OncoCyte”).  In this role, YEDID had access to the content of upcoming press releases, which often contained highly sensitive, non-public, and potentially market-moving news, such as earning reports, regulatory approvals, clinical trial results, and merger and acquisition announcements.  YEDID owed a duty of trust and confidence to his employer and its clients and was prohibited from misusing or disclosing the firm’s confidential information for personal gain or to benefit others.

    Beginning in 2019, YEDID knowingly and willfully tipped his friends, KAUFMAN and JACOBS, with valuable, nonpublic information of upcoming corporate announcements involving at least six client companies.  That confidential information included advanced notice of an upcoming merger for BDSI; clinical trial results for healthcare products being developed by OncoCyte and CinCor; and quarterly earnings announcements for Inspire, Nano-X, and Inotiv.

    YEDID understood and intended that the information he provided to KAUFMAN and JACOBS would be used to execute securities trades before the information became public.  As expected, KAUFMAN and JACOBS executed trades based on YEDID’s tips.  In many cases, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded aggressively in the securities of the companies, often purchasing shares or options just days before major announcements were made.  Together, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded in stocks and options on at least 17 different occasions based on YEDID’s tips.  KAUFMAN generated profits of more than $480,000, and JACOBS generated profits of more than $35,000. In exchange for the tips, KAUFMAN shared half of his illegal profits with YEDID by giving him cash in envelopes during various meetings in New York City.

    In November 2024, FBI agents approached YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS as part of this investigation.  Shortly after being contacted by the FBI, KAUFMAN intentionally deleted spreadsheets he maintained that listed the illegal profits he made through trading based on YEDID’s tips.  KAUFMAN deleted these records in order to impede and obstruct the FBI’s investigation.

    *               *                *

    YEDID, 67, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

    KAUFMAN, 68, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

    JACOBS, 77, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

    YEDID is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 12, 2025, at 2:30 p.m; KAUFMAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 18, 2025, at 11 a.m; and JACOBS is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 19, 2025, at 11 a.m.

    The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. 

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Rothman is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Hacking, Fraud, and Identity Theft Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that KINGSLEY UCHELUE UTULU was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to 63 months in prison for his role in a broad hacking, fraud, and identity theft scheme targeting U.S.-based businesses and individuals.  UTULU previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    “Kingsley Uchelue Utulu took part in a scheme to hack into U.S. tax preparation businesses, trade in the stolen personal identifying information, and defraud the IRS and other governmental bodies,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Offshore scammers like Utulu and his co-conspirators may think they can target hard-working Americans with their hacking and fraud schemes and avoid prosecution.  The message from the Department and the FBI is clear, they cannot.  We are committed to protecting Americans from criminals operating offshore.”   

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Kingsley Utulu, a Nigerian national, was part of a scheme that targeted and infiltrated electronic systems of U.S.-based companies to steal more than two million dollars through fraudulent tax returns.  Along with his co-conspirators, this defendant’s scheme reached across the globe to exploit sensitive information for financial gain.  The FBI will never exempt any individual who seeks to unlawfully profit through deceitful practices, regardless of where they are located.”

    According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

    Beginning in at least in or about 2019, UTULU and other Nigeria-based conspirators took part in a scheme to hack into U.S-based tax preparation businesses.  The conspirators utilized spearphishing emails to obtain access to these business’s electronic systems.  Once they had obtained access, the conspirators stole the tax and other identifying information of the business’ customers.  The conspirators hacked into several U.S.-based tax businesses, located in New York, Texas, and other states.

    The conspirators obtained the stolen identity information of thousands of individuals.  They used this information to file fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities.  The conspirators sought fraudulent refunds of at least approximately $8.4 million, of which they successfully obtained at least approximately $2.5 million.

    In addition to filing fraudulent tax returns, the conspirators used the stolen identities to file fraudulent claims with the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.  The conspirators were able to obtain at least an additional approximately $819,000 in fraudulent payouts.

    UTULU was arrested for his involvement in this scheme while being present in the United Kingdom and was thereafter extradited to the U.S. to be prosecuted. 

    *                *                *

    In addition to the prison term, UTULU, 38, of Nigeria, was ordered to pay restitution in an amount of $3,683,029.39 and forfeiture in the amount of $290,250.

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

    The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Nessim is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Conducts 2025 Article IV Consultation and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility with Zambia

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 9, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • The Zambian authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic policies and reforms needed to conclude the Fifth Review under the 38-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
    • Zambia’s economy proved resilient to the drought, and growth is projected at 5.8 percent in 2025. Rising fiscal pressures and external headwinds call for decisive domestic revenue mobilization and steadfast fiscal discipline to preserve fiscal and debt sustainability.
    • Sustaining reform momentum will consolidate gains of Zambia’s homegrown reform agenda to achieving higher and more inclusive growth, promoting job creation and building resilience amid a challenging external environment and declining official support.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ms. Mercedes Vera Martin, IMF Mission Chief for Zambia, visited Lusaka from April 29 to May 13, 2025, to conduct discussions for the 2025 Article IV Consultation and the Fifth Review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Discussions continued virtually subsequently.

    At the end of the discussions, Ms. Vera Martin issued the following statement:

    “The Zambian authorities and the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms for the Fifth Review under the ECF arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by IMF management and the Executive Board in the coming weeks. Once approved by the Executive Board, Zambia will gain access to SDR 139.9 million (about US$194 million) in financing.

    “The Zambian economy demonstrated resilience in 2024, despite a severe drought and global headwinds. Real GDP growth is estimated at 4 percent in 2024—up from 1.2 percent projected at the time of the Fourth Review—driven by stronger-than-projected mining and non-mining activity, especially in ICT, financial services and construction, as well as a less severe contraction in agriculture than initially envisaged. Fiscal performance in 2024 was tighter than initially planned, with a primary surplus of 2.9 percent of GDP, driven primarily by spending compression amid tight financing conditions. Social protection spending helped cushion the impact of the drought and rising prices on vulnerable households.

    “Growth momentum is expected to continue in 2025, with real GDP growth projected at 5.8 percent. Economic activity would be supported by a rebound in agricultural output, increased copper production, and a gradual recovery in electricity generation, although electricity shortages and reliance on energy imports are expected to persist. Driven by higher food prices and kwacha depreciation, inflation averaged 15 percent y/y in 2024 and peaked at 16.8 percent y/y in February. Inflationary pressures have started to show signs of easing since then, partly reflecting hikes in the policy rate, at 14.5 percent since February 2025. The current account deficit narrowed in 2024, while gross international reserves have continued to increase, to $4.7 billion by mid-May 2025 (4.1 months of prospective imports). The medium-term outlook remains favorable, but downside risks to the outlook dominate given increasing global uncertainty. Advancing the external debt restructuring would help lower risk premia and catalyze investment.

    “The overall fiscal balance is expected to widen to 5.3 percent of GDP, with the primary balance (cash basis, program target) projected at 1.1 percent in 2025. Higher-than-initially projected debt service and new social spending needs are adding fiscal pressures. To this end, the authorities have committed to revising the 2025 Budget, to include additional revenue measures and reprioritize expenditures to partly accommodate additional spending needs. Going forward, sustained revenue mobilization and stronger expenditure controls will be critical to safeguarding priority spending and supporting fiscal and debt sustainability. Continued efforts to strengthen tax administration and expenditure efficiency, broaden the tax base, and monitoring fiscal risks will help improve fiscal policy implementation.  

    “While inflation is projected to gradually decline in 2025 as food and fuel prices ease, continued vigilance is needed given elevated uncertainty and persistent inflationary pressures. Preserving a data-driven and forward-looking monetary policy stance will be essential to steer inflation toward the target band and support macroeconomic stability. Enhancing the monetary transmission will help develop interbank money markets. Strengthening the financial legal and regulatory framework in line with international best practices, including for bank resolution, and developing an effective deposit protection scheme, will support financial stability.  

    “Accelerating reform implementation is needed to lay the foundations for higher and more inclusive growth. Continued efforts to improve the business environment and strengthen governance are critical to boosting investor confidence, reducing the state footprint, particularly in agriculture, and fostering a level-playing field for private sector-led growth. These reforms are key to unlocking investment and creating job opportunities needed for Zambia’s rapidly growing youth population. While the open access regime in the fuel sector is being somewhat implemented, renewed efforts to enhance enforcement and transparency in fuel supply will further promote fair competition.

    “The IMF team met with His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema; Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane; Governor of the Bank of Zambia, Dr. Denny Kalyalya; Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Felix Nkulukusa; Deputy Governor, Dr. Francis Chipimo; senior government officials; and representatives from the private sector, civil society, and development partners. The IMF team extends its sincere gratitude to the Zambian authorities and stakeholders for their warm hospitality and constructive engagement throughout the mission.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/09/pr-25187-zambia-imf-conducts-2025-art-iv-consult-reaches-agreement-on-5th-rev-of-ecf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Disrupting the Stock Contract Trading Industry, Leading a New Era of Global Investment – Stockrich Launches AI Quantitative System

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Against the backdrop of rapid advancements in global financial technology, compliance intelligent financial platform Stockrich is reshaping the logic of stock contract trading through unprecedented technological innovation. With its self-developed AI quantitative system, high-frequency algorithm trading engine, and risk hedging architecture, Stockrich is ushering global investors into a new trading era characterized by “efficiency, transparency, and predictability.”

    As a strategic tool traditionally used by professional investment institutions and quantitative hedge funds, stock contract trading has not become a mainstream choice for retail investors due to its high technical barriers, heavy execution costs, and insufficient market depth. Now, Stockrich is breaking down these barriers with cutting-edge technology, allowing individual investors worldwide to compete on the same level as professional institutions.

    • · Ultra-Fast Contract Matching Engine: Based on a distributed high-performance computing architecture, it achieves millisecond-level order execution, greatly reducing slippage and latency.
    • · AI Smart Strategy Engine: Algorithms analyze global market trends and macro variables in real-time, dynamically optimizing trading paths and entry/exit timings.
    • · Cross-Market Liquidity Management System: Intelligently connects multiple markets, including US, Hong Kong, and European stock exchanges, improving order success rates and asset allocation efficiency.
    • · Quantitative Hedging Mechanism: Introduces volatility tracking models and market sentiment monitoring tools to automatically hedge systemic risks, ensuring the safety of investor assets.

    The founder and CEO of Stockrich stated at the launch: “We are redefining the concept of trading. Trading should not merely be reactive; it should combine prediction and positioning, which is the core value that data and technology can provide to investors.”

    Voices from the Investment Community: Global Experts Optimistic About Stockrich’s Transformational Potential

    Stockrich’s technological breakthroughs in contract trading have garnered high praise from several world-class investors. These endorsements not only affirm Stockrich’s leading position in technology and modeling but also indicate that its “user-system-market” closed-loop design has gained high recognition within the international capital community.

    User Experience: High-Frequency Technology + AI Strategies Empowering Global Retail Investors
    Stockrich continuously optimizes the terminal trading experience through extensive data collection and behavioral learning, addressing pain points in traditional contract trading:

    • · Faster Execution, Lower Slippage: Traditional investors often face delays in order placement and execution; Stockrich significantly enhances order matching efficiency.
    • · Lower Costs, More Stable Returns: The platform uses smart contracts and matching pool mechanisms to greatly reduce trading costs and improve capital utilization.
    • · More Accurate Strategies, More Stable Decisions: The AI system can simulate and predict various macro market scenarios, helping users maintain strategic initiative in volatile markets.

    Users are no longer passive recipients of market rhythms; instead, they actively engage through Stockrich’s intelligent collaborative system to lock in optimal return ranges.

    • Market Outlook: Building the Next Generation of Intelligent Contract Financial Ecosystem
      By 2025, Stockrich plans to fully implement its system upgrade in the contract trading market, aiming to achieve the following strategic goals within the next 12 months:
      • · Seamlessly integrate the “Sigma AI System” with stock contract modules to implement personalized strategy trading models.
      • · Launch stock contract services simultaneously in the Asian and European markets, building a global matching and liquidity pool.
      • · Localize trading strategy compliance modules for 20 major global financial markets.

    Establish strategic partnerships with third-party funds, brokerages, and asset management platforms to promote the embedded output of Stockrich’s trading system.

    The founder of Stockrich remarked: “We are not chasing a market trend; we are building the underlying structure of global intelligent finance. In the future, contract trading will no longer be a game for a few institutions but a new market paradigm shared by individuals and institutions worldwide.”

    Stockrich is leading a transformation in trading rules, moving from “being able to trade” to “being able to win at trading,” creating an intelligent investment infrastructure for the 21st century.

    Website: https://stockrich.com/

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hedgehog poo could hold important secrets about local biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Research fellow in Ecology and Conservation, University of Oxford

    Jayne Morgan

    Biodiversity, the rich variety of life found on Earth, is vanishing. I’m a conservation scientist keen to monitor this loss to better understand where efforts to reverse it will be most effective. And I might have hit on a novel solution.

    I study European hedgehogs, the popular spiky mammals that inhabit our gardens. Hedgehog populations are declining massively, with an estimated loss of up to 75% in the rural areas of the UK during the past 25 years.

    Thanks to insights gained in my research, I, Dr Hedgehog, believe that this species could be helpful for mapping wider biodiversity. More specifically, its poo.

    One probable cause of the decline in hedgehogs is a decline in insects, which form a major part of their diet. During my many nights of radio-tracking hedgehogs, I came up with the idea of analysing environmental DNA (eDNA) contained in samples of hedgehog poo to discover what the hedgehogs are eating and through that, what’s living locally.

    The eDNA method could reveal genetic traces of all organisms present in the samples in a single analysis. And, as we’ll see, these prickly mammals have a surprisingly liberal diet.

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    Due to the loss of natural habitats, hedgehogs are increasingly living in gardens, and this is where the battle to save the hedgehog will take place. My research showed that European hedgehogs in residential areas normally visit ten to 14 gardens a night.

    Here, they eat a wide selection of prey, primarily insects, snails, slugs and worms, but also birds’ eggs (from ground-nesting birds – they don’t climb trees). They are scavengers too, and will munch on all sorts of dead animals.

    What most people don’t realise is that these adorable little creatures are also ferocious predators. If they can get their paws (or perhaps more correctly, their jaws) on live prey, they will eat chicks that have fallen out of nests or amphibians such as salamanders, newts and frogs. They are excellent swimmers and sometimes catch fish in garden ponds.

    I have seen hedgehogs taking on adult pigeons or full-sized chickens, and winning. Hedgehogs also sometimes chew on the faeces of foxes and lick the saliva onto their spines, probably with the purpose of masking their scent against predators.

    Prickly, but not picky.
    Nojafoto/Shutterstock

    We are not sure whether hedgehogs eat fruit and plants intentionally, or if they are actually after the worms or insects living on them – hedgehogs are officially categorised as “insectivores” – but vegetation shows up in the stomachs of dead hedgehogs too. The DNA from plants ingested by the insects, worms and snails eaten by hedgehogs, will also show up in an analysis of hedgehog poo.

    In terms of a guide to local biodiversity, hedgehogs are the full package.

    Hedgehogs live and forage in a small area. They poop a lot, and their faeces are easy to recognise and collect. If we keep the hedgehog population going, we won’t run out of sample material any time soon.

    Before DNA analysis was invented, it was very difficult to determine the diet of a hedgehog, because a slug is reduced to nothing after a trip through its digestive tract, and it’s hard to identify a species from a chewed-off beetle leg. In contrast, it only takes a tiny fragment of a species to show up in an eDNA analysis of hedgehog faeces, so imagine what we could discover.

    In these times of drastic biodiversity loss, we need to establish good and reliable methods for monitoring biodiversity. An analysis of a hedgehog poo could even reveal elusive species which may have been categorised as extinct in the area.

    My idea of biodiversity monitoring through hedgehog poo has spawned ridicule and numerous rejection letters for funding applications. I refused to let it stop me. So I have created a crowdfunding campaign where you can support the research by purchasing a hedgehog poo and getting a certificate. I have 800 hedgehog faecal samples collected from all over Denmark, England and Scotland, stored in a freezer ready to be analysed.

    The work has begun, and my colleagues and I have found some very interesting results already. One is the remarkable scarcity of bird DNA in hedgehog faecal samples collected from islands, where hedgehogs are accused of posing a threat to ground-nesting birds by eating their eggs. We are confident that our method works as we tested it beforehand by feeding quail eggs to hedgehogs, and found lots of bird DNA in the samples.

    When I have managed to raise the remaining funds, we will continue the investigation.

    This is the story of how I discovered that hedgehog droppings are gold. If you would like to know more, watch my talk on the subject here.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Sophie Lund Rasmussen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Hedgehog poo could hold important secrets about local biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/hedgehog-poo-could-hold-important-secrets-about-local-biodiversity-256644

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas York, Postgraduate Researcher in Human Geography, University of Leicester

    ShutterDesigner/Shutterstock

    The UK government’s strategy for tackling climate change received a major blow in May when Danish developer Ørsted announced that adverse economic developments had halted its 2.4 gigawatt (GW) Hornsea 4 wind farm in the North Sea.

    The government aims to generate at least 43GW of offshore wind power (current capacity is 14.7GW) and 95% of all energy from renewable sources by 2030.

    These targets are now in jeopardy. The cancellation of Hornsea 4 follows a similar decision by Swedish developer Vattenfall, which stopped work on its 1.4GW Norfolk Boreas wind farm in 2023.

    What is forcing renewable energy developers to pull out when they are due to make their final investment decision?

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

    The offshore wind industry is exposed to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials necessary to meet rising global demand for renewable energy. This vital part of the energy transition, alongside the phaseout of fossil fuels, has been impeded by inflation caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

    Building a wind turbine requires significant amounts of steel, copper and aluminium, all of which doubled or tripled in price between 2020 and 2023. Turbine manufacturers have raised prices in an effort to recover recent losses. This affects the profitability forecasts of wind energy developers like Ørsted and the viability of each of their projects.

    Impending national and international net zero targets also mean that developers globally are having to make earlier investments in transmission infrastructure. An exponential increase in demand for scarce high-voltage cabling has already led to high-profile cancellations of offshore wind farms in the US.

    Electricity network operators are scrambling to update power grids.
    Esbobeldijk/Shutterstock

    Rising demand for rare earth metals used to make magnets in turbine generators has also been snared by geopolitical issues. The mining, processing and refining of these metals is dominated by China, which manufactures over 90% of these magnets.

    A shortage of boats

    Developers need boats to build offshore wind farms. Here lies another strain on the timescales of developers.

    Ørsted ceased work on its 2.2GW Ocean Wind development zone off the coast of New Jersey in 2023, citing a vessel delay in its decision to cancel the project.

    According to the advocacy group WindEurope, demand for vessels capable of installing foundations and turbines and laying cables will outstrip availability within the next five years. The gap between the two is forecast to skyrocket between 2028 and 2030. This will make it harder to commission the wind farms that the UK government is relying on to reach its 43GW target by the end of the decade.

    Delays caused by these issues can result in a problem known as “contract erosion”. In their contracts, developers have a commissioning window within which turbines have to start generating. If they are not operational within this time, they lose their subsidies on a day-by-day basis.

    Rising costs mean that even one of the world’s biggest wind farms, Dogger Bank in the North Sea, will not be profitable for its developer, Equinor. As a prospect for generating financial returns, renewable energy still cannot compete with oil and gas.

    This is the key argument of economic geographer Brett Christophers in his recent book The Price is Wrong. Christophers argues that, if national governments continue to rely so heavily on private sector investment to build renewable energy, decarbonisation is unlikely to proceed as fast as it needs to. It is simply not profitable enough.

    Misguided planning reform

    How might the UK defy difficult global conditions and meet its 43GW target by 2030? So far, the government’s main proposal has been to relax timelines for the planning process of wind farms.

    Earlier in 2025 it opened a consultation on reforms to the contracts for difference process, which is how developers bid for long-term energy generation contracts, prior to an auction round in summer 2025.

    The main proposed change was to allow developers of fixed-bottom offshore wind projects to bid in the auction before receiving a development consent order, or a DCO. A DCO defines the approved scope of a development, taking into account environmental surveys, land rights and developer proposals.

    It can take more than two years for a DCO to be awarded. The government hopes that fast-tracking fixed-bottom developments will result in more contracts being awarded in the latest auction, but will this work?

    The government is aware of the risks. Planning permission could be refused after a contract has been awarded, and projects without consent face even greater uncertainty over costs than developments that already have a DCO.

    The government might be able to get more projects into the pipeline, but the supply chain is already stretched to its limits. Through the state-owned investment body GB Energy, the government has pledged £300 million to bolster the domestic supply chain for components required for offshore wind, like platforms and cabling.

    However, this investment largely focuses on new technologies for floating offshore wind, leaving fixed-bottom projects like Hornsea 4 at the mercy of vessel delays and raw material price rises. If something does not change to mitigate costs and increase returns for developers, the government’s 2030 target is in doubt.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Thomas York receives funding from the University of Leicester’s Future 50 doctoral training pathway.

    – ref. Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute – https://theconversation.com/why-wind-farm-developers-are-pulling-out-at-the-last-minute-256842

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hugh Stevens, Senior Lecturer Department of English Language & Literature, UCL

    When I was 19 years old, I visited New York for ten days on the way to London. I was flying from New Zealand, that small island nation in the South Pacific where all sexual acts between men were still illegal. My body was naive and innocent, but my mind had somehow (partly through conversations with older, less naive students at Auckland University) absorbed essential knowledge about gay life happening elsewhere.

    Gay life happened in London, in Paris, in San Francisco. But more than anywhere else, it happened in New York. I was terrified. What would happen to me, in those sinful cities of the plain? With any luck I would be corrupted, and thoroughly de-moralised.

    It was November 1982, and Manhattan was freezing, especially after sub-tropical Auckland. On my first day, I walked ten or so blocks south from my hostel in Chelsea to Greenwich Village. My knees trembled, but still they carried me towards my goal. The theme tune from Sesame Street went through my mind: “Come and play, everything’s A-OK, friendly neighbours there, that’s where we meet, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Christopher Street?”

    It wasn’t difficult – you just walked south on Seventh Avenue. Where Seventh met Christopher, if you turned right, you passed an improbable number of gay bars and seedy bookstores until you reached the infamous, nefarious Christopher Street pier. I turned left. I walked past the Stonewall Inn, and soon I came to a not-so-seedy bookstore, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, where Christopher Street met Gay Street. Intrigued by the name – how could I not be? – I went inside.

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    I was the only customer in the shop. Behind the counter, piled with books, were a woman, and a man. They started talking to me. The man, Edmund White, told me that he was a writer, and the books were copies of his new novel, A Boy’s Own Story (1982). A real novelist! I looked at the book, at the beautiful boy in a lilac vest on its cover – a new hardback. It was too expensive for me.

    Sensing that my hesitation was financial, the woman told me that another book by the author, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980), was much cheaper. By the time I left the shop I had a copy of States of Desire, and two invitations. One to join Ed for tea at the New York Institute for the Humanities, and another to hear him read from a novel-in-progress.

    He was billed alongside the painter Joe Brainard, who was reading from his own wonderful book, I Remember (1975). “I remember how much, in high school, I wanted to be handsome and popular. I remember when, in high school, if you wore green and yellow on Thursday it meant that you were queer.”

    I remember that Edmund’s voice, reading from his book Caracole (1985), was fluent and mellifluous. But I found his prose much more difficult to follow than Brainard’s poetry. After the reading there was a party, with biscuits, rounds of Brie and grapes. Among these confident Americans I was shy, and I thought the Brie was impossibly sophisticated – I had grown up with New Zealand Tasty Cheddar.

    Enchanted worlds

    I met Ed at the New York Institute for the Humanities on a cold, grey afternoon, and walked with him to his apartment on Lafayette Street. We chatted as we drank tea. “What authors do you like?” he asked me. “What music do you listen to?” He gave me a copy of A Boy’s Own Story, which he signed: “For Hugh, at the beginning of a friendship.”

    This was indeed the beginning of a friendship, although I haven’t seen Ed since 1998. I introduced him when he read from yet another novel, The Farewell Symphony (1997), at the University of York. Ed was extrovert and gregarious, whereas I am introverted, often painfully shy – and not good at keeping in touch.

    But over the years I have read and reread Ed’s work. His autobiographical novels, his memoirs, his short stories, his travel writing, his criticism, his biography of the French writer Jean Genet, his utilitarian guide to criminal pleasures, The Joy of Gay Sex (1977).

    Why does his writing mean so much to me – and to many other queer readers? Ed may have been confident, gregarious, never afraid to speak or to write about his own queer life, and the queer lives of others. But his writing also charted the anxieties, the anguish, the remorse, the self-loathing that were probably a part of every “gay” life in America in the 50s and 60s. And many gay lives in New Zealand in the 80s, for that matter.

    In A Boy’s Own Story the narrator remembers the enchantment of a marionette troupe performing Sleeping Beauty at his third birthday party. The performance transported him to a world in which “evil was defeated and love crowned”, in which “things devolved with the logic of art, not life”. Ed himself was such an enchanter: his art may have imitated life, but it also created magical worlds for his readers, enabling them to defeat evil and to find love.

    Our lives can imitate art. His art gives us the thrill of articulating what may not be articulated, of speaking the names that dare not be spoken, as when, on the last page of A Boy’s Own Story, the “boy” (now a remembering man) tells us how “scandalised” he was when Mr Beattie, the teacher he is seducing, “asked me to lick the bright red head, to roll my tongue around the head of his penis”. How scandalised and thrilled I was reading those words.

    Now Edmund is gone – he passed away on June 3 age 85 – but his enchanted worlds remain. They are there for us to read, and to reread, to inspire us to remember, remember, remember.

    Hugh Stevens does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers – https://theconversation.com/edmund-white-was-my-friend-i-know-first-hand-why-his-writing-meant-so-much-to-queer-readers-258504

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sinead McEneaney, Senior Lecturer in History, The Open University

    Violence has erupted on the streets of cities across southern California over the weekend, as protesters clashed with agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency detaining people they suspected to be illegal immigrants. The US president, Donald Trump, took the unusual decision on Saturday to deploy 2,000 troops from California’s national guard, despite not being requested to by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.

    Newsom has threatened to sue Trump over what he has called “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act”. Other California officials have also denounced the move, with Senator Adam Schiff calling it a “dangerous precedent for unilateral misuse of the guard across the country”.

    Raids by ICE agents have increased significantly since mid-May when the Trump administration threatened to fire senior ICE officials if they did not deliver on higher arrest quotas. Several high-profile wrongful arrests of US citizens have further inflamed tensions.

    Protests have escalated in California, a Democratic stronghold and a “sanctuary state” where local law enforcement does not cooperate with ICE to detain illegal immigrants.

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

    At around 24,000 troops, California’s national guard is the largest in the United States. Each state has its own national guard unit, a reserve force under the control of the governor which can be called upon in times of crisis – often to help out during natural disasters or other emergencies. For example, in January, Newsom activated several thousand troops to aid relief work during the devastating fires that threatened Los Angeles.

    In 1992, the then president, George H.W. Bush, backed the call of the then governor of California, Pete Wilson, call to deploy national guard members to quell the South Central LA riots.

    Now troops are back on the streets of LA. But this time not at the behest of the governor. Trump’s unilateral decision to take federal control over the national guard pits the president against the state of California – and importantly, against a state that has constantly resisted his anti-immigrant agenda. Newsom is seen by many as a possible contender for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2028 presidential election.

    Historical precedents

    Is there a precedent for this? Yes and no. The Insurrection Act (passed in 1807, but revised several times) authorises the president to call on the national guard in times of crisis or war to supplement state and local forces. This has been codified in title 10 of the US Code, which details the laws of the land.

    In 1871, the law was revised to specifically allow for the national guard to be used in the protection of civil rights for black Americans. Legal experts have long called for reform of the Insurrection Act, arguing that the language is too vague and open to misuse.

    In the past, former US presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson all invoked different sections of the Act to protect civil rights, particularly against segregationist states. While the act implies consent between governor and president, it does not require it.

    Two examples stand out. On June 11 1963, John F. Kennedy issued executive order 11111 mobilising the national guard to protect desegregation of the University of Alabama, against the wishes of Alabama governor George Wallace.

    Wallace’s determination to block the registration of two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, produced a produced a sensational media moment when Wallace physically blocked the entrance of the university. Local law enforcement stood by the governor. With the state of Alabama in defiance of federal law, Kennedy saw no alternative but to deploy the guard.

    Less than two years later, in March 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson again deployed the guard in Alabama, bypassing Governor Wallace. In February, a state trooper in the town of Marion killed a young voters-rights activist, Jimmie Lee Jackson.

    This shooting, along with several violent attacks by the local police on voter registration activists in Selma, inspired a series of marches in support of the 1965 voting rights bill. On the eve of the march from Selma to Montgomery, tensions between local police and civil rights protesters were at a high.

    Civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr, lead a march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, March 1965, to support the right to safe voter registration.
    Wikimedia Commons

    In response, Johnson bypassed Wallace and called in the national guard to ensure, as he put it, the rights of Americans “to walk peaceably and safely without injury or loss of life from Selma to Montgomery”.

    Before last Saturday, this was the last time a president circumvented the authority of the state governor in deploying the guard. But even in this instance, there was an implied request from Wallace, who explicitly requested federal aid in the absence of state resources.

    The subtext here is that Wallace did not want to be seen to call up the national guard himself, so he forced Johnson to make that decision, allowing him to claim that the president was trampling on state sovereignty.

    Insurrection Act

    This is not the current situation in California. The LAPD is the third largest police force in the US, with over just under 9,000 sworn officers. While its ranks have shrunk in recent years, it has been responding to the recent protests and unrest. There is no reason to think that Newsom would hesitate to call in the national guard if warranted.

    In reality, Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act to protect ICE agents. Indeed, the national guard has a complicated history of responding to civil unrest. The current situation is in stark contrast with the past, and faces serious questions of legitimacy.

    It is difficult not to see this as the latest move by the Trump administration to subjugate California. In early January Trump threatened to withhold federal aid to rebuild after the wildfires. In past months he threatened to withdraw all of the state’s federal funding to punish it for its stance on campus protests and the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

    Unlike his predecessors, Trump has not mobilised the national guard to protect civil rights against a hostile police force. Instead, he appears to be using this as leverage to undermine a political opponent he views as blocking his agenda. Circumventing gubernatorial powers over the national guard in this way has no precedent and heralds the next stage in an extended conflict between the president and the state of California.

    Sinead McEneaney does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents – https://theconversation.com/trumps-use-of-the-national-guard-against-la-protesters-defies-all-precedents-258486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Davies, Lecturer in Nutrition & Dietetics, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    It’s not something people often talk about at the dinner table, but your gut health plays a huge role in your overall wellbeing. And one of the most common conditions affecting the large intestine is diverticular disease.

    Diverticular disease or diverticulosis is where small bulges or pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, often due to a weakening in the muscle layer. These pouches are usually harmless, but in some cases they can become inflamed or infected – a condition known by the slightly different name of diverticulitis.

    Around 70% of people in western countries will have developed diverticular disease by the time they reach 80. It’s also increasingly showing up in younger adults, which may be linked to the low-fibre, highly processed nature of many modern diets. UK dietary surveys show that people are currently consuming only 60% of their recommended daily fibre intake.

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    The reasons some people develop diverticular disease and others don’t aren’t fully understood. However, several factors have been identified as contributors, including the structure and movement of the colon, diet, fibre intake, obesity, physical activity and genetics.

    Most people with diverticular disease don’t experience symptoms. However, some may report pain or discomfort in the lower left side of the abdomen – often worse after eating – as well as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. These symptoms can mimic other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making diagnosis more complex.

    Despite how common it is, diverticular disease is often misunderstood. Many people have no symptoms at all, while others experience ongoing digestive discomfort.

    Diverticulitis (when diverticula in the colon become inflamed or infected) is usually marked by more severe symptoms, including constant abdominal pain, a high temperature, nausea, and in some cases, changes in bowel habits. These symptoms warrant urgent medical attention, as untreated diverticulitis can lead to complications.

    Thankfully, small changes in diet and lifestyle can make a big difference and outdated advice is quickly being replaced by evidence based recommendations. Historically, people with diverticular disease were told to avoid foods like nuts, seeds and popcorn out of fear that they might get stuck in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this idea has now been debunked.

    Updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence confirms there is no need to avoid these foods unless specifically advised to do so by a healthcare professional.

    What does help is a high-fibre diet. Fibre softens stools and makes them easier to pass, which helps reduce pressure in the colon and prevent constipation – one of the known risk factors for diverticulitis. When stools are small and hard, they may become lodged in the diverticula, increasing the chance of inflammation or infection.

    In addition to eating more fibre, staying well hydrated and being physically active also support healthy digestion. Water helps fibre do its job, while regular movement can encourage normal bowel function and reduce the risk of complications.

    If you’re unable to meet fibre targets through food alone, your doctor or dietitian may recommend fibre supplements or mild laxatives.

    Official UK guidance advises adults to eat at least 30g of fibre per day. Some simple ways to do this include starting your day with a high-fibre breakfast cereal and adding fresh or dried fruit. Switching to wholemeal or granary breads, choosing wholewheat pasta or brown rice, and including more lentils, chickpeas, beans and vegetables in your meals can all help.

    For example, grated carrot, red lentils or kidney beans can easily be added to mince-based dishes, while raw vegetables such as peppers or carrots work well with dips like hummus or guacamole.



    Read more:
    Some vegetables are pretty low in fibre. So which veggies are high-fibre heroes?

    When increasing your fibre intake, it’s best to do so gradually. A sudden jump in fibre can cause bloating or gas, so give your digestive system time to adapt.

    By making small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle – like eating more fibre, staying hydrated and moving your body – you can reduce your risk of discomfort and complications. With up-to-date medical advice and a balanced approach to nutrition, it’s entirely possible to keep your gut happy, healthy and functioning well for years to come.

    Sophie Davies does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of – https://theconversation.com/diverticular-disease-the-surprisingly-common-gut-condition-youve-probably-never-heard-of-256922

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Shoemaker Clarks is turning 200. Its Quaker roots made it a pioneer of ethical business

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicholas Burton, Professor, Department of Leadership and Human Resource Management, Northumbria University, Newcastle

    DELBO ANDREA/Shutterstock

    For many, the Clarks brand is a byword for sturdy school shoes and functional footwear for those of more mature years. The manufacturing and retailing company was set up two centuries ago in Somerset, England, in the shadows of Glastonbury Tor, by brothers Cyrus and James Clark. In 2025, it is celebrating its 200th anniversary and remains a formidable force both on the high street and online.

    Less well known is that the Clark brothers, like chocolatier families Cadbury and Rowntree, were Quakers. This small religious community has produced a remarkable and disproportionate number of scientists, thinkers and campaigners for justice, peace and human rights. In addition, its contribution of ethical businesses has dominated many industries in the UK.

    The Lloyds and Barclays of the banking dynasties were Quakers. The Jacobs (of biscuits and crackers fame) were Quakers. So were the Rathbones (fund management), the Penroses (founders of Waterford Crystal) and the Waterhouse family (accountancy), to name just a few.

    The Quakers – more formally known as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) – have a history of nearly 400 years in Britain and the US. While Quakerism has Christian foundations, Quakers also emphasise moral commitments to peace, truth, integrity, simplicity and equality – the five testimonies in Quaker theology. These came to define how Quakers approach the world, and their businesses.

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    As early Quakers were deemed radical and challenged the established church, they became persecuted by the state during the 17th century. They were excluded from political and public life, as well as from universities. Perhaps as a direct consequence, Quakers became highly active entrepreneurs and came to dominate many industries through a combination of their testimonies and outward entrepreneurial action.

    This led to the reputation that Quaker firms had for trustworthiness and integrity. Their impact was perhaps so acute as to represent a distinctive form of ethical entrepreneurship.

    While not all Quakers were engaged in commerce, and not all those who were succeeded, a disproportionate number did. Such commercial success is all the more intriguing, as the Quakers were a very small (and, from the mid-18th century, declining) minority of the UK population (about 20,000 in total today).

    Zero-waste beginnings

    Quaker values and the entrepreneurial spirit are woven through the history of Clarks. For example, the original business idea by James in 1825 to produce sheepskin slippers was born of a desire to eliminate waste, with slippers produced from off-cuts of sheepskin rugs.

    Like many Quaker businesses, Clarks has always supported social and environmental causes. Family members took a central role in the anti-abolitionist movement and in women’s suffrage.

    It also invested a proportion of its profits in local community amenities, such as building homes, constructing classrooms, funding a theatre, a library, an open-air swimming pool, a town hall and playing fields near the company’s base in Street, Somerset.

    Today, Clarks continues to play an active community role. It champions corporate responsibility and high sustainability criteria in its business operations and supply chains. This focus draws interesting parallels with the modern social enterprise sector, and ethical, purpose-driven business accreditation schemes such as B Corporation status, which assesses profit-making firms on their environmental, social and governance credentials.

    The moral commitments of the members of the Clarks family in these formative years of the firm have left their mark and shaped its later development. The 200-year history of the firm represents a close affinity between the values of the company and the values of Quakers.

    A classic – the Clarks Wallabee shoe.
    Rushay/Shutterstock

    However, all firms from time to time face challenges to the way they do business. The balance between economics and ethics can be a fine line to tread. It’s no different for Clarks. Struggling to survive the impact of the COVID pandemic in 2020, and with losses mounting, the Clark family sold its stake to a private equity firm.

    Within 12 months, Clarks workers accused the new owners of betraying the company’s philanthropic roots by threatening them with dismissal if they did not accept significant pay cuts. Clarks said at the time that renegotiating workers’ terms would be a “very last resort” and that almost half of the workers in the distribution centre in question would receive a pay rise.

    The dispute involved strike action and mediation, eventually leading to a resolution. Afterwards, Clarks said in a joint statement with the Community union that the resolution had protected workers’ livelihoods and recognised their loyalty to the firm.

    This demonstrated how firms can face repeated cycles of crises, including competitive, financial and economic shocks that bring debates about ethics into focus. These crisis events are typically more acute when a founder, CEO or family departs, and especially when those involved with the company honour its tradition and legacy. Rathbones, the fund management company with Quaker origins, was faced with similar challenges when the family was no longer actively involved.

    Yet despite the economic and financial pressures that Clarks faced in this exceptional period, the firm is also attempting to protect the core of its moral backbone. It echoes an affinity – albeit a more distant one – with the Quakerism of the founding family.

    This stance can potentially be fragile, however. Businesses must remain viable as businesses – and only last year Clarks was facing up to a difficult trading environment by cutting 150 office staff. Indeed, the previous conversation within the firm and the community about betrayal clearly expresses a strong moral view, shaped by the links to Quaker values. It is also a conversation about the future strength of those ties, and one that places values at the heart of its future.

    Nicholas Burton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Shoemaker Clarks is turning 200. Its Quaker roots made it a pioneer of ethical business – https://theconversation.com/shoemaker-clarks-is-turning-200-its-quaker-roots-made-it-a-pioneer-of-ethical-business-258323

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Blackburn Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan American Music Tourism Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn cheered the Senate passage of their bipartisan American Music Tourism Act, which would support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors. The bill now awaits passage from the House of Representatives before being signed into law by the President. 

    “Colorado’s vibrant music scene attracts artists and fans from around the world,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill will help our local music venues thrive and expand.”

    “The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” said Blackburn. “Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world can continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come. The Senate’s passage of the American Music Tourism Act gets us closer to that by promoting and supporting the fast-growing music tourism industry.”

    Music tourism is projected to bring in over $11.3 billion in revenue nationwide by 2032. The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year and benefits from international interest in music tourism.

    Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would:

    • Require the Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors.
    • Require a report to Congress on the findings and achievements of the Assistant Secretary’s efforts to promote travel and tourism.

    This legislation is supported by the Colorado Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver Arts & Venues, the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, the National Independent Venues Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Chamber Players, Youth on Record, Underground Music Showcase, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Swallow Hill Music, and eTown Music.

    Full text available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Valley National Bancorp to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, announced that it will release its second quarter 2025 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

    Valley’s CEO, Ira Robbins will host a conference call on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM (ET) to discuss Valley’s second quarter 2025 earnings. Interested parties should pre-register using this link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIda64137d4a6b4cb687ae23c44d17acaa to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

    The teleconference will also be webcast live: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/mwz7wzem and archived on Valley’s website through Monday, August 25, 2025.

    Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com.

    About Valley

    As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with approximately $62 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

    Contact: Travis Lan
      Senior Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
      973-686-5007

    The MIL Network –