Category: DJF

MIL-OSI Africa: Work underway to eliminate waste in government spending

Source: South Africa News Agency

In an ongoing effort to ensure that government manages its finances efficiently, the state is currently consulting on options for a formal fiscal anchor.

This was outlined in the March 2025 discussion document issued by the National Treasury to prevent a recurrence of the cycle of high spending, large deficits, and rising debt.

“Efficiency reforms continue to underpin our broader agenda. We are closing underperforming programmes, eliminating ghost workers through improved payroll systems, and establishing a centralised state-owned entity holding company to strengthen governance.

“Our tax administration continues to improve, with enhanced data systems and compliance measures supporting higher revenue performance,” Finance Deputy Minister, Ashor Sarupen, said on Thursday in Johannesburg.

He was addressing the launch of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) research on South Africa’s economy.

The OECD Economic Survey of South Africa is an independent and internationally peer-reviewed assessment of South Africa’s macroeconomic trends, structural reforms, and policy challenges.

It suggested, among the other recommendations, that South Africa introduce stricter spending controls, reinforce spending rules and improve governance and administrative efficiency and reform state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to reduce fiscal transfers.

The Deputy Minister noted the OECD’s recommendations while asserting that South Africa was already working towards achieving sustainable public finances.

“We find strong alignment between our national reform agenda and the OECD Survey’s five priority recommendations for South Africa, which include enhancing fiscal sustainability while promoting inclusive growth, maintaining low and stable inflation, expanding job creation and workforce integration, enabling a just climate transition, and reforming the electricity sector.

“Our commitment to inclusive economic growth and development remains firm, with 61% of non-interest spending being directed toward the social wage.

“Even as baseline spending has been reduced, we have shielded frontline services and protected the most vulnerable, focusing priority support on health, education, and social protection,” the Deputy Minister said.

At the same time, government is investing boldly to drive growth and economic transformation.

Over R1 trillion has been allocated to infrastructure over the medium term, with a focus on energy, transport and water. Inclusive growth also requires labour market integration to spur job creation.

Government is scaling up youth employment programmes, technical training, and informal sector support.

Operation Vulindlela

Furthermore, government launched Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela as a step toward further accelerating structural reform.

Phase 2 focuses on digital infrastructure, dynamic cities, and improved basic services.

This work complements government’s broader strategy to build a capable state and reduce regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks – priorities the OECD has rightly emphasised.

Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative between The Presidency and National Treasury which focuses on accelerating structural reforms to enable economic growth and job creation.

With the OECD’s recommendations to revise municipal funding models and better align electricity revenues with infrastructure investment, the Deputy Minister highlighted work that was already taking place.

“As part of Operation Vulindlela Phase 2, we are working to shift both water and electricity services to a utility model. This will help ensure that municipal services are financially sustainable and better managed.

“A broader review of the local government funding model is also underway to strengthen how infrastructure is funded and delivered at the local level.

“Nowhere is the impact of reform more visible – or more necessary – than in the electricity sector. Load shedding has declined markedly, supported by improvements in generation capacity and the growing participation of the private sector. Investments in embedded generation are rising, and procurement has accelerated, helping to unlock new capacity and diversify the energy mix,” he said.

The operationalisation of the National Transmission Company (NTCSA) marks a major milestone in the unbundling of Eskom.

“It lays the foundation for a more competitive and transparent electricity market. Independent power producers are expanding their footprint. At the same time, we are scaling up investment in the transmission network and addressing long-standing weaknesses in distribution.

“Restoring energy security remains essential to unlocking growth and enabling a just transition. A sentiment echoed by both ourselves and the OECD.

“Looking ahead, we will deepen these reforms by prioritising the full restructuring of Eskom, establishing an independent transmission system operator, and creating a wholesale electricity market under Operation Vulindlela Phase 2,” Sarupen said. –SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: ACSA ordered to engage in mediation efforts with ACS

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has issued a ministerial order to the Airports Company SA (ACSA) Board to engage in a mediation process with a company that conducts the baggage screening at its airports.

This follows various engagements with the ACSA Board on several occasions to discuss its dispute with the Airports Co-ordination Services (ACS) Pty Ltd in relation to hold baggage screening and related services at ACSA’s airports.

ACSA is an entity of the Department of Transport.

The dispute also involves the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

The order was issued in terms of section 10(1)(a) of the Airports Company Act No. 44 of 1993, which empowers the Minister to take necessary steps to safeguard national security where a risk to critical infrastructure, public safety, or the national interest has been identified.

“I am concerned about the negative impact the protracted litigation could have on the integrity and reliability of hold baggage screening (HBS) as the first line of defence against threats in the aviation system at ACSA’s airports,” Creecy said on Thursday.

The dispute has resulted in multiple review applications, interdictory proceedings, and related appeal proceedings in the High Court.

“In this regard, I am satisfied that intervention is necessary to prevent potential disruption, compromise of national security, and reputational harm.

“As such, my engagements with the ACSA Board have, in the main, related to finding a solution to resolve the dispute amicably and timeously to obviate any destabilisation of an essential national security function,” the Minister said.

The objective of the mediation is to reach a settlement within the parameters of the applicable regulatory framework, which avoids a protracted legal dispute and safeguards national security.

The board has therefore been ordered to finalise and execute a mediation agreement, which contains the following terms of reference:
• Prepare and submit a comprehensive report within two weeks of the order setting out the total costs incurred in relation to the dispute to date. This report must include a detailed breakdown of all the legal fees, disbursements, and any other associated expenses borne by the State.
• Negotiate, during the mediation proceedings must be in good faith as the legal prescripts require that parties to the mediation, act in the best interests of national security.
• The long-term issues relate to the provision of service of HBS and its maintenance, compliance with the applicable regulatory frameworks, budgetary and fiscal constraints, the safety of passengers who use ACSA’s airports, potential revision of agreements, and the commercial relations between the parties.
• Transitional – there is a short-term issue relating to the continued and efficient functioning of the HBS system at ACSA’s airports and compliance with regulatory and international frameworks; compliance with international safety standards, which include the implementation of interim measures relating to the maintenance regime; and whether ACS / ACSA can or should install any HBS maintenance-related equipment, including the back-up HBS units.
• That the dispute pertaining to the entity that is statutorily responsible for the provision of the HBS and interrelated services, and by implication, the application of Section 217 of the Constitution, be addressed at the mediation. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: SA’s plan to shield coastal assets from climate change

Source: South Africa News Agency

With the impact of climate change intensifying globally, government has launched a plan that aims to effectively manage South Africa’s coastal assets.

This as the country’s coastline or coastal cities are at the frontline of climate change, facing severe and multifaceted complexities that threaten livelihoods, communities, economies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

“With climate change projected to increase the frequency and intensity of coastal storms, accelerate sea-level rise, and compound vulnerabilities due to population growth, the risks to infrastructure and ecosystems are escalating.

“Our coastal future rests on our ability to innovate and to act with unity and urgency. By investing in nature-based solutions, strengthening climate governance, and unlocking sustainable finance, we can shield our people and ecosystems from the harshest impacts of climate change,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George said on Thursday in Pretoria.

The Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Response Plan builds on the National Coastal Management Programme – the department’s guiding instrument for coastal governance – by prioritising climate-focused interventions that protect natural heritage, support sustainable livelihoods, and foster inclusive economic growth.

This year’s celebrations of the World Environment Day (commemorated annually on 5 June) take place concurrently with the launch of the Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Response Plan to support the country’s commitment to the Group of Twenty (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, that is being led by South Africa.

South Africa assumed the Presidency of the G20 group of countries, which comprises many of the world’s largest developing and developed economies, on 1 December 2024.

“South Africa contributes to global discussions on biodiversity conservation, sustainable land and ocean management, circular economy, and pollution reduction,” George said.

This milestone initiative aligns with this year’s World Environment Day global theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution”.

“It also underscores the importance of implementation support for developing economy countries, ensuring that climate and environmental targets are not only ambitious but also achievable.

“As the G20 increasingly focuses on aligning economic recovery with green development, South Africa continues to advocate for a balanced approach – one that upholds the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities,” the Minister said.

Having a robust Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Response Plan is essential to supporting South Africa’s Operation Phakisa efforts to achieve a sustainable oceans economy.

Operation Phakisa aims to unlock the full potential of South Africa’s ocean economy—spanning sectors such as marine transport, aquaculture, tourism, and offshore resources.

“As climate change increasingly threatens coastal infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihoods through rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events, adaptation measures ensure that economic activities in the ocean space remain viable and resilient.

“However, without integrating climate resilience into planning and development, these gains are at risk. The Coastal Adaptation Response provides the necessary framework to manage risks, guide climate-smart investment, and ensure that coastal growth does not come at the cost of long-term sustainability.

“Together, these initiatives promote a balanced approach—driving economic development while safeguarding coastal ecosystems and livelihoods against the growing risks of climate change,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: RTMC online platform reaches four million transactions

Source: South Africa News Agency

Thursday, June 5, 2025

With more motorists opting for the convenience of online vehicle license renewal, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) online platform has now reached four million transactions.

“The increase in online activity since its introduction in February 2022 is a testament of public approval in our innovative initiative aimed at bringing convenience when renewing license discs and assisting motorists to avoid long queues at vehicle licensing centres,” the RTMC said on Thursday.

These transactions affirm RTMC as the biggest and most reliable online vehicle license platform in the country.

RTMC has encouraged motorists to enjoy the benefit of the service by logging on the platform and registering an account in five easy steps using a smart cell phone, laptop or computer.

To create an account follow these steps:
•    Visit natis.gov.za;
•    Click on register;
•    Select whether you are registering as an individual or business;
•    Enter your personal details, i.e. identity number, initials and surname. Click next;
•    Enter your vehicle number plate;
•    Click next and enter contact details; and
•    Submit and finish registering.

“After registration you will be entitled to receive email and SMS reminders when the renewals of your vehicle licence become due. The email reminder will contain a renewal form which you can use to fill in and renew online without hassle,” RTMC said. –SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya’s ride-hailing drivers say their jobs offer dignity despite the challenges

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julie Zollmann, Digital Planet Fellow, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

Many argue that gig work involves exploitation, as research and media coverage have highlighted. But that doesn’t seem to deter ride hailing drivers on platforms like Uber and Bolt.

In Kenya, in fact, many new drivers continued to join platforms even as fares were slashed starting in 2016.

As a PhD student studying the role of digitalisation in development, I spent several years trying to understand how digital drivers experienced the quality of their work. My research found that in 2019, a typical digital driver in Nairobi worked about 58 hours a week and earned well below the minimum wage on an hourly basis. What made this work attractive? Why did drivers stay?

In a new paper, I draw on a 2019 survey of 450 drivers in Nairobi and 38 subsequent qualitative interviews in Nairobi and Kenya’s second largest ride hailing market, Mombasa, in 2021 that explored drivers’ experiences in detail.

In addition to measuring working hours and incomes, my survey team asked drivers if they considered their work “dignified”. Nearly eight in ten (78%) of our survey participants said yes. While that specific share of drivers may have changed since then, the underlying reasons drivers found the work dignified remain unchanged.

In the global north, scholars have rung alarm bells about what “gig work” means for the erosion of standard jobs with legal protections around working hours, minimum wage and other benefits. But the drivers my team and I spoke with in Kenya felt that digital driving was a step towards formalisation rather than a drift away from an ideal formal job. Driving had diginity in contrast to the indignities of low-wage work and the vast informal sector, which was their realistic alternative for making a living.

My findings highlight that workers’ experiences on global platforms like Uber are not universal and that digitisation may deliver some improvements in work quality relative to informal work in African contexts.

How did digital work deliver dignity?

Drivers explained that app companies imposed rules and structure that provided “discipline” in a transport sector more broadly associated with rudeness, unruliness, and disrespect towards passengers. Requirements for things like driving licences, proof of insurance, and ratings seemed to make drivers feel more professional and make passengers see them as such.

Drivers felt proud to be part of a driver community that behaved professionally under these conditions. A 38-year-old male driver in Nairobi who had been working on the platforms for three years told us:

We are very respected … Everyone trusts you to carry them. It’s not like the old days, when the taxi driver might rob you and dump you or even kill you. We are getting attraction from the society, even in the slums. They know you are an app driver, and they trust you because app drivers are good people. They know you can deliver, that you will be honest.

Read more: Zimbabwe’s economy crashed — so how do citizens still cling to myths of urban and economic success?

On platforms, drivers were matched digitally with riders. Respondents said this brought dignity by ensuring drivers would receive a fairly steady stream of clients. This meant that a driver could rest assured he would earn money every day.

The alternative was to “hustle” in the informal economy to shake loose opportunities and constantly solicit those who might use their labour and beg for payment after a job was done. Constant solicitation and bargaining were exhausting and degrading.

One driver explained:

Most of us are poor. I have never walked out every morning sure that I would do a job. But now I know that if my car has been serviced and my phone is charged and working, I am going to work and not to some charity job. I used to wait at the base all day without getting a customer. Now, ….. at least two, three days are going to be good for you.

Digital matchmaking also meant that drivers were not limited to serving the few clients they already knew or who happened to pass them at a fixed base. They found themselves serving new parts of the city and carrying important people, including business people, celebrities and local politicians. Serving these high-end customers made them feel proud and important. Wealthy neighbourhoods, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants felt more open to them in otherwise exclusionary and segregated cities.

Some drivers felt that digitalisation had removed barriers to entry for taxi driving, like paying to join a parking base and building a client list.

The app did away with parking bases, and about half of drivers joined the system through a “partner”, paying a fixed weekly fee to rent their car instead of buying it themselves.

In efforts to make rides cheaper, in 2018 app companies in Kenya allowed smaller, less expensive cars on their platforms, lowering costs of ownership. Drivers in our survey showed that both formal and informal financiers were willing to offer loans to digital drivers, knowing they would have regular revenue to service their debt.

Buying a car was seen as a huge, dignifying accomplishment. One driver in the survey told us:

Growing up, I thought vehicles were owned only by the rich, but now digital driving has provided a means for me to own one and earn the respect of society.

David Muteru, then chairman of the Digital Taxi Association of Kenya, echoed this sentiment: “Owning a vehicle, that’s an asset”.

Dignity not always guaranteed

The dignifying value of order was only possible when app companies enforced their own rules and did so fairly. Drivers preferred the stringent rule enforcement of one major app over the lax enforcement of another, which made for more stressful and undignified interactions with riders.

When the rules were enforced, drivers could be sure that the app company would help if a rider refused to pay or if there was a dispute with the client. Drivers felt the stricter environment kept bad actors out.

Over time, though, app companies slashed prices, competing for market share. Drivers felt less respected by riders who saw them as desperate for money. Low fares pressed drivers to negotiate with riders for offline trips and higher rates, reintroducing the indignity of haggling.

Lessons for the future

Digitally mediated work raises many questions about labour standards.

This research shows how important it is to keep local context in mind. Digital driving is not the same experience for drivers in every context. Where people suffer indignities and deprivations in the informal sector, digitalisation may offer gains. But this potential depends on rule enforcement and pay. Material and subjective dignity are intertwined.

– Kenya’s ride-hailing drivers say their jobs offer dignity despite the challenges
– https://theconversation.com/kenyas-ride-hailing-drivers-say-their-jobs-offer-dignity-despite-the-challenges-257845

MIL OSI Africa –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Colleagues for Spotlight Forum on Republicans’ Efforts to Gut Food Assistance for Over 41 Million Americans

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Nearly 65,000 Vermonters rely on SNAP benefits to feed their families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) for a spotlight forum entitled “Hunger by Design – The GOP’s Assault on SNAP.”
The Senators examined Republicans’ efforts to gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as 3Squares in Vermont, which is a critical anti-hunger program that helps more than 41.6 million Americans—including over 65,000 Vermonters—put food on the table.
“In Vermont, and I’m sure this is true for my colleagues, I do not have people coming up to me saying ‘Peter, what are you doing to get my tax cut?’ They’re wondering about the SNAP benefits and meals for their family, they’re worried about health care. So, it’s a bad place we’re in and I’m glad that all of you are here helping us push back on this,” said Senator Welch.
In Vermont, nearly 9% of households experience food insecurity and 80,000 people face hunger, with almost 16,000 of them being children. Conservative estimates report that people facing hunger in Vermont need over $58 million per year to meet their needs. Instead, Republicans’ proposed budget would cut billions in food assistance for Vermonters facing food insecurity.
“There’s another aspect to this. There’s what happens to a person who’s depending on it, but then there’s what happens to the community. And this is true for Medicaid cuts as well as for SNAP benefits,” said Senator Welch. “You know, in Vermont, we had a discussion with all of our food shelf providers and farmers and [folks with] gardens—all those infrastructures have been built up with care over years. If that money gets taken away, then those organizations can’t stay in business. And it’s not as though a year from now, if things change, we just flip the switch and everything’s back in place.”
Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:
Last year, Vermonters enrolled in SNAP received an average of $184.48 per month, or $6.06 per day, in benefits. SNAP provides assistance to Vermonters from every walk of life, and last year SNAP beneficiaries in Vermont included: 57% of households with a person with a disability; 45% of households with older adults; 34% of households with children; and nearly 3,000 veterans.
SNAP is also vital to helping feed Vermont’s children. In 2024, SNAP provided benefits to over 20,000 children in Vermont and provided them with eligibility to receive school meals. In addition to boosting low wages, SNAP is an economic driver, providing vital food assistance to low-income Vermonters who are between jobs, have unpredictable schedules, or lack paid sick leave and other benefits. SNAP also provides a reliable revenue stream for small businesses, with 700 Vermont retailers redeeming over $135 million in benefits in 2023.
Senator Welch has been a leading advocate for protecting and expanding access to nutrition programs in the Senate. In May, Senator Welch hosted a press call with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Hunger Free Vermont on Republicans’ efforts to gut SNAP.    Senator Welch also recently joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, legislation to help more Americans access SNAP by lifting Republicans’ punitive time limits on SNAP eligibility requirements.
Watch a livestream of the spotlight forum here.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Slams Republicans’ Legislation Kicking Millions off Health Care: “We Should Kill this Bill”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) last night took to the Senate floor to slam Republicans’ tax bill, which will rip away health care coverage for more than 16 million Americans, including 29,000 Vermonters. The Republican bill will hike health care costs, close rural hospitals, and force millions of middle-class families to lose their coverage altogether, all to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. In addition to draconian Medicaid cuts, Republicans are raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs for tens of millions of people who buy coverage on their own.
“We should kill this bill. And I would urge all of my colleagues to take into consideration how this is going to affect the people who each of us represents. You know, there’s a bipartisan element to this bill…everybody is going to share the pain of what this bill does. It’s folks in a red state, it’s folks in a blue state—whether they voted for Harris or they voted for Trump—they lose their Medicaid, that hurts. They lose their community hospital, that hurts. They pay higher interest rates, that hurts,” said Senator Welch. “Let’s come to our senses and vote against this bill.”
Watch Senator Welch’s speech below:
Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) for a virtual roundtable highlighting the harmful consequences of Republicans’ reconciliation bill for patients in Vermont. In May, Senator Welch denounced Republicans disastrous proposed budget plan that would limit Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits which help low- and moderate-income Vermonters access health coverage.
Last month, Senator Welch joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Protect Our Care for a press conference condemning the Republican budget. Senator Welch also recently spoke on the Senate floor about how health care is at risk for millions, and challenged President Trump to join him and Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in working to lower prescription drug prices through his recently introduced Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act.
Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: King Calls for Answers on Cancellation of Protected Status for Afghans Living in U.S.

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and long a fierce advocate to protect Afghans who supported and protected American troops, joined 28 of his Senate colleagues to call on the White House for answers on the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for those who served alongside America’s military. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators note the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return.
“We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions,” the lawmakers began.
They continued, “The Secretary of Homeland Security ‘may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.’ This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.”
“The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls,” the lawmakers concluded.
In addition to King, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Senator King has long supported the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for America’s Afghan allies who assisted the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan. More specifically, he cosponsored the Afghan Allies Protection Act to increase the number of authorized visas for Afghan civilians who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission, remove extraneous paperwork requirements and improve the program’s efficiency during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
+++
Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio:
We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions.
The Secretary of Homeland Security “may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.” This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS. In September 2023, the U.S. extended and redesignated TPS for Afghanistan. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan negatively impacts approximately 9,000 Afghan nationals.
In your announcement, you state that “there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.” But you also concede that threats of violence and terrorism, as well as humanitarian concerns, remain. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP. According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls. Women and girls are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk.
We are also deeply concerned about the State Department Human Rights Report finding that widespread arbitrary and unlawful killings against officials associated with the pre-August 2021 government have occurred. Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. military should not be put in harm’s way because they supported the U.S. in its fight against the Taliban. This would be a betrayal of those who bravely served alongside our servicemembers for nearly two decades.
Afghan civilians still face devastating humanitarian and economic conditions. Over half of the population in Afghanistan needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Human Rights Watch reports that in 2024, 12.4 million people were facing food insecurity and 2.9 million were at emergency levels of hunger. The World Bank also found that in Afghanistan, as of May 2025, “per capita income has stagnated, while poverty and food insecurity remain pressing challenges, exacerbated by high unemployment and restrictions on women’s economic participation.”
The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls.
In August 2021, Americans welcomed Afghan nationals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia with open arms, and we refuse to turn our backs on them now. We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan and ask that you respond to the following requests no later than two weeks of receipt of this letter:
Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023.
The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.
Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.
Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.
What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan?
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and we hope to receive your responses soon.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: WEIDE Fund: Partner in Mongolia

Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

The Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the WTO and ITC on 4 June as a partner of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund.

MNCCI will support
the WEIDE Fund’s operation in Mongolia, one of four countries which are part of the WEIDE’s Fund first activities.

More info: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/womenandtrade_e/weide_e.htm

Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6BZ9kBttnk

MIL OSI Video –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Experts Explain | Daniel Susskind | How can we rethink growth?

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

Given the overlapping crises facing the world today—widening inequality, accelerating climate change, rising political instability, and slowing progress in poverty reduction—it’s no longer enough to ask whether economies are growing. We need to ask at what costs and in what ways.

In our latest episode of Experts Explain, Oxford professor and author Daniel Susskind discusses how we found ourselves in today’s growth dilemma and why confronting today’s challenges demands a total rethink of prosperity, how we measure it and what we truly value.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr0_u_YpVeg

MIL OSI Video –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Introduces the Freedom to Frack Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today reintroduced the Freedom to Frack Act to withhold certain federal grants from states that issue statewide hydraulic fracturing bans.

Much of Central New York, Western New York, and the Southern Tier lie above the Marcellus Shale and the deeper Utica Shale formations. These tremendous resources alone could support the state’s energy needs for decades and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for New Yorkers. Unfortunately, despite this, in 2014, New York implemented a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The ban was then officially established in 2015 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and codified in 2020 by the New York State Legislature.

New York’s statewide fracking ban directly opposes environmental science and basic economics. American natural gas is the cleanest in the world, and its exportation has been the single greatest force behind the reduction in global CO2 emissions. The ban has also been a disaster for New York’s economy, as despite its abundant natural resources, New Yorkers pay some of the highest prices in the country for energy. While Pennsylvania has become the second largest natural gas producer in the United States, New York continues to fall behind. Albany Democrats must reverse course on their disastrous fracking ban so New Yorkers can rightfully take advantage of the liquid gold lying beneath their feet.

“President Trump has taken bold action to unleash American energy production through multiple Executive Orders, and it’s time for states like New York to follow suit. I introduced the Freedom to Frack Act to push back against Albany’s anti-science, politically motivated ban on hydraulic fracturing. States that refuse to comply with these federal energy directives should face the consequences, including the loss of federal funding. Albany’s baseless, anti-American energy policies have blocked access to valuable local resources for too long. By lifting these restrictions, we can stimulate economic growth, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and fully unlock the potential of American energy,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bassetlaw representatives explore West Burton’s fusion future
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Bassetlaw representatives explore West Burton’s fusion future

STEP hosted delegates on a visit to UKAEA’s Culham Campus, to learn about the scale of opportunity presented by the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant programme
Councillors and staff from Bassetlaw District Council – Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

A delegation of councillors and staff from Bassetlaw District Council recently visited the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) at Culham Campus, gaining first-hand insight into the cutting-edge fusion energy research that underpins the future of clean energy in the UK.

The visit included tours of the world-renowned Joint European Torus (JET) and MAST (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) Upgrade facilities – two of the UK’s most advanced fusion research programmes. These pioneering projects form the scientific and technological foundation for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, which is set to be developed at the site of the former West Burton Power Station, between Retford and Gainsborough.

The STEP programme is the UK’s flagship initiative to design and build the world’s first prototype fusion power plant by the early 2040s. The West Burton site was selected in 2022 as the future home of this ambitious project, positioning the Retford and Gainsborough area at the heart of a global energy revolution. The West Burton development is expected to bring thousands of high-skilled jobs, new infrastructure, and global scientific collaboration to the region. A recent report by Amion, commissioned by Local Councils in the area, suggested that the project could create between 5,500 and 8,500 jobs in and around the site (as well as additionally bringing further new industry, jobs and investment to the wider area), adding an average of over £500m a year to the UK economy over the coming decades.

Fusion energy, often described as the “holy grail” of clean power, replicates the process that powers the sun – fusing hydrogen atoms to release vast amounts of energy. Fusion could provide a virtually limitless, safe, and carbon-free energy source for generations to come. The STEP programme aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of this technology and to develop a UK fusion industry capable of delivering commercial fusion power plants around the world in the second half of the century.

The UKAEA, headquartered at Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, is a world leader in fusion research and development. Its work supports the UK government’s commitment to reducing emissions and securing long-term energy independence. During the visit, Bassetlaw representatives were able to see the scale of investment and innovation already underway at Culham, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of the STEP programme for the local economy. The intention of STEP is to create a similar science and engineering focused campus on the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border.

Bassetlaw District Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Jonathan Slater said:

It was good to see first-hand the scale of investment and innovation underway at the UKAEA headquarters in Culham in Oxfordshire, where it provided a real glimpse into the opportunities and potential of the STEP programme in West Burton.

As well as creating over 16,000 related employment opportunities it will also improve transport links, help bring major investment to the area and significantly boost our local economy.

STEP’s Head of Communications and Engagement, Ben Bradley, said:

The STEP team is working really hard to engage with local communities and stakeholders around West Burton, and we’re hugely grateful for the support that we’ve received for the programme. The ambition is to build on this area’s legacy of power generation and bring huge investment to this part of the world, in a way that is truly transformational for local people. I hope that, by visiting the existing campus in Oxfordshire, Bassetlaw Council colleagues were able to get a sense of the scale of its opportunity, as our investment shifts towards West Burton in the years ahead.

Notes to Editors

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group, responsible for the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme to deliver the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.

Targeting first operations in 2040, UKIFS will lead STEP’s integrated delivery team to design and build the prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton, a former coal-fired power station site in Nottinghamshire.

To sign-up for updates about STEP, visit: step.ukaea.uk or follow our social channels @STEPtoFusion.

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Published 5 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping signs decree to publish regulations on construction of military facilities

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) — Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping signed an order to publish regulations on the construction of military facilities.

The new document, which will come into force on August 1, focuses on servicing the preparation for and conduct of combat operations and is adapted to the new leadership and command system, as well as the new logistics model.

In addition, it standardizes the fundamental principles, management system, operating mechanisms and work procedures of military facility construction in a scientifically sound manner.

The regulations consist of 11 chapters and 63 articles. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Luxembourg

Source: IMF – News in Russian

June 5, 2025

Luxembourg’s fundamentals remain strong and economic recovery is projected to slowly gain pace amidst external headwinds. Downside risks prevail in the short term.
Surprising on the upside, the fiscal balance improved to a surplus of 1 percent of GDP in 2024, boosted by one-off revenues. Given structurally high revenue volatility, prudent fiscal policy should be based on a more efficient use of fiscal space.
The financial sector is resilient, with well-capitalized and liquid banks. While the risks are manageable, the housing market, and other pockets of vulnerabilities should continue to be closely monitored.

Washington, DC: On May 30, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2025 Article IV Consultation^[1] with Luxembourg, and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis.^[2]

Luxembourg’s fundamentals remain strong, but its economic performance has been lackluster. Public debt is low and the 2024 FSAP found the financial sector sound and well-diversified. After contracting by 0.7 percent in 2023, GDP growth turned positive at 1 percent in 2024, mainly driven by public consumption. Private domestic demand though remained lackluster amidst tight financial conditions and a lack of confidence in the real estate sector. The labor market is cooling, following a sizeable increase in labor costs in past years. While the headline fiscal deficit showed a large improvement from one-off revenues, the underlying structural deficit has widened, reflecting a shift from temporary to permanent support. Financial conditions remain tight, and the financial cycle has not yet decisively turned. Despite some deterioration in asset quality, the financial sector remains resilient overall.

An economic recovery is projected to slowly gain pace amidst external headwinds. Growth is projected to increase to 1.6 percent in 2025 and accelerate in 2026–27 supported by improved confidence and a gradual recovery in external demand. The unwinding of labor hoarding and lingering uncertainty would weigh on job creation and unemployment is likely to rise in the near term, before slowly declining to its historical average. Inflation is projected to decline to about 2 percent in 2025 and stay at that level over the medium term. Downside risks prevail in the short term, with headwinds from weaker external demand and tighter and/or more volatile financial conditions triggered by trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and possibly higher interest rates for longer. Risks to growth are more balanced over the medium term, but fiscal risks are assessed to be high.

Executive Board Assessment[3]

Luxembourg’s recent economic performance has been lackluster and a projected recovery faces headwinds. Anchored in strong economic fundamentals, the economy is expected to gradually recover from a protracted slowdown. Yet, the global situation is fluid, and there are risks of setbacks stemming from weaker external demand and higher financial market volatility, alongside domestic challenges in the real estate sector and the labor market. Moreover, productivity has been declining, and Luxembourg faces fiscal pressures and risks. While Luxembourg’s current external position is assessed to be substantially stronger than the level implied by medium-term fundamentals, the assessment is subject to several limitations. The country’s specific economic features—a small open economy with a global financial center and a large share of cross-border workers —make the external position subject to significant volatility. This, together with the long-term challenges due to aging costs, call for more prudent policies while incentivizing private sector investment.

Prudent fiscal policy calls for a more efficient use of fiscal space. For 2025, a less expansionary fiscal stance would have been welcome, given low fiscal multipliers and the need to make room for more private sector-led growth. There is scope for reviewing the effectiveness and targeting of current measures, while preserving possible savings from revenue overperformance or budget execution. The authorities’ medium-term expenditure path is broadly appropriate to accommodate future spending pressures, but should be underpinned by measures, which will require containing the growth of the wage bill, enhancing spending efficiency, and avoiding any further erosion of the tax base.

There is scope for increasing revenue resilience. Luxembourg’s revenue performance depends to a large extent on a concentrated and volatile revenue base. Tax reforms should thus aim at diversifying revenue sources. This will help reduce volatility and uncertainty of fiscal receipts.

Fiscal policies should be better anchored in a medium-term perspective. The public consultations on pension reform are welcome, as there is a need for early reforms, including reducing the generosity of benefits—the highest in Europe, increasing both the effective and statutory retirement ages, and a well-calibrated increase in contributions to minimize the negative impact on the labor market. Strengthening the medium-term fiscal framework would enhance policy predictability. The planned implementation of a national fiscal rule is welcome and should combine a debt anchor with a net spending ceiling that consider revenue uncertainty and allow appropriate flexibility. Additional reforms of the budgeting framework and strengthening of the fiscal council are necessary to make the new framework more effective.

Risks in the financial sector, while manageable, should continue to be closely monitored. The financial sector appears broadly resilient. However, persistent solvency and liquidity risks in the corporate sector—especially in real estate—and the potential impact of rising financial market volatility warrant close monitoring. The authorities should continue ensuring adequate provisioning, collateral valuation, and loss absorption capacity. At the same time, continued oversight of the large nonbank financial sector—notably pockets of liquidity mismatches and leverage—and a better understanding of the intermediation role of the OFI sector should be prioritized.

Macroprudential policy should remain agile. The current CCyB level is appropriate. Should the recovery firm up, the authorities should strengthen releasable capital buffers and address still elevated household indebtedness by introducing income-based measures in line with FSAP recommendations. In the event of continued credit pressure, some loosening of the CCyB could be envisaged. Capitalizing on the commendable progress in implementing the 2024 FSAP recommendations in the supervision of banks and investment funds, the authorities should strengthen the macroprudential policy framework.

Structural reforms are needed to boost private sector-led growth and sustain living standards. Wage indexation has become a key constraint on competitiveness, and more labor market flexibility is called for. The authorities should also aim at boosting productivity and containing the cost of living by streamlining the regulatory and administrative burden, removing barriers to entry in some sectors, and addressing housing and infrastructure supply bottlenecks. Efforts should continue to capitalize on the country’s comparative advantages in AI adoption and financial sector development while minimizing potential costs of the transition. Recent measures to enhance technology diffusion and ongoing upskilling programs are welcome.

Table 1. Luxembourg: Selected Economic Indicators, 2023–26
		Est.	Proj.
	2023	2024	2025	2026
Real Economy (percent change)
Gross domestic product	-0.7	1.0	1.6	2.2
Total domestic demand	1.1	0.1	1.7	2.6
Foreign balance 1/	-1.4	1.1	0.0	0.4

Labor Market (thousands, unless indicated)
Unemployed (average)	16.2	18.0	19.5	20.1
(Percent of total labor force)	5.2	5.7	6.1	6.2
Total employment	512.0	517.8	524.8	533.9
(Percent change)	2.1	1.1	1.4	1.7

Prices and costs (percent change)
GDP deflator	6.3	5.2	2.6	1.2
CPI (harmonized), p.a.	2.9	2.3	2.2	2.1
CPI core (harmonized), p.a.	3.9	2.5	2.1	2.1
CPI (national definition), p.a.	3.7	2.1	2.1	2.0

Public finances (percent of GDP)
General government revenues	46.2	47.9	47.4	47.6
General government expenditures	47.0	46.9	48.3	49.0
General government balance	-0.8	1.0	-0.8	-1.3
General government cyclically-adjusted balance	0.0	0.8	-1.0	-1.3
General government structural balance	1.8	0.8	-0.7	-1.3
General government gross debt	25.0	26.3	26.7	27.6

Balance of Payments (percent of GDP)
Current account	11.2	13.8	8.8	7.8
Balance on goods	0.4	1.7	1.8	1.6
Balance on services	43.5	43.6	42.9	42.0
Net factor income	-31.5	-31.1	-35.5	-35.4
Balance on current transfers	-1.1	-0.4	-0.4	-0.4

Exchange rates, period averages
U.S. dollar per euro	1.08	1.08	…	…
Nominal effective rate (2010=100)	105.3	106.3	…	…
Real effective rate (CPI based; 2010=100)	98.7	98.5	…	…

Credit growth and interest rates
Nonfinancial private sector credit (eop, percent change) 2/	-2.9	-4.7	1.6	3.8
Government bond yield, annual average (percent)	3.1	2.7	…	…

Potential output and output gap
Output gap (percent deviation from potential)	-1.4	-2.0	-2.1	-1.6
Potential output growth	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.7
Sources: Luxembourg authorities; IMF staff estimates and projections.
1/ Contribution to GDP growth.
2/ Including a reclassification of investment companies from financial to non-financial institutions in 2015.

[1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepare a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

[2] Under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, publication of documents that pertain to member countries is voluntary and requires the member consent. The staff report will be shortly published on the www.imf.org/luxembourg page.

[3] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Eva-Maria Graf

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

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/04/pr-25177-luxembourg-imf-concludes-2025-art-iv-consultation

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: White River Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison For Possessing a Firearm As a Felon

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a White River man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025.

Michael Bettelyoun, age 31, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bettelyoun was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 19, 2024, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Bettelyoun was videotaped shooting a pistol in a rural area outside of Norris, South Dakota. Law enforcement was subsequently alerted to Bettelyoun’s conduct and collected the firearm and video as evidence.

Bettelyoun was previously convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance in 2019. He was on supervised release for this conviction at the time of the instant offense. As a result of the prior felony conviction, Bettelyoun is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

Bettelyoun was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Violent McKees Rocks Felon Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm and Violation of Federal Supervised Release

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 17-and-a-half years in prison on his conviction of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and violating his federal supervised release, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Ernest Lee Terry, 46, on June 4, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on May 12, 2024, Terry opened fire on another individual in broad daylight in McKees Rocks. Based on recovered evidence and surveillance video, Terry fired at least seven rounds at a vehicle as it fled from him. Two days later, when arrested for the shooting, Terry had a firearm in his waistband, which was later confirmed to be the same firearm Terry used during the May 12 shooting. Terry was on federal supervised release for a prior federal firearms conviction at the time of the offense. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

“After a 15-year federal prison sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and while still serving a term of supervised release for that conviction, defendant Terry pulled a gun and fired at least seven rounds at a fleeing individual,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. “Upon his arrest two days later for this egregious conduct, Terry had the same gun tucked into his waistband. We commend the Allegheny County Police Department for their outstanding work in apprehending this dangerous felon. This sentencing demonstrates that we remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners at all levels to prosecute violent recidivist offenders like Terry to the fullest extent of the law.”

“ATF’s highest priority is reducing violent gun crime, and keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous career criminals like Ernest Terry is a key means to protect public safety,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “We work tirelessly with our local, state and federal partners to prosecute the criminals that endanger our communities.”

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak stated that Terry’s conduct was “exceptionally serious,” and emphasized Terry’s significant criminal history. Judge Hornak described Terry’s conduct in committing the shooting as “calculated” and observed that Terry had “engaged in conduct that created a high risk of serious harm or death to other people.”

Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Allegheny County Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Terry.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Porcupine Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 30, 2025.

Chandler New Holy, age 28, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

New Holy was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025.

The charge related to New Holy having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female. New Holy and the female lived in the same community and corresponded with each other over a social media platform. The female represented that she was 16 years old. New Holy told the female he was only 17, when in fact, he was 25 years old. A short while later, the female told New Holy she was only 14 years of age. Despite learning that the female had not reached the age of consent, New Holy continued the relationship, and they both attempted to keep their relationship a secret. The female was reported missing by her family members. Law enforcement later located the female with New Holy, which prompted the investigation.

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

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

New Holy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Manslaughter and Firearm Possession

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2025.

Daeshawn Poor Bear, 19, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay restitution and $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Poor Bear was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 8, 2025.

Poor Bear, the victim, and two other friends consumed alcohol and edibles containing THC and smoked THC wax at an abandoned trailer in Pine Ridge on the evening of September 2, 2024. The victim and the other friends were all juveniles. The victim threw a firearm onto a bed near Poor Bear. Poor Bear picked up the firearm, pointed it at the victim, and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the victim and killed him. Poor Bear and the other two friends ran to Poor Bear’s mother’s residence. Poor Bear’s mother called 911. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety arrived at the abandoned residence and found that the victim had passed away. Poor Bear has a history of using THC, making him prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

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

This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

Poor Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Multiple Firearms and Ammunition

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Morisee Williams, 41, pleaded guilty to Count One of an Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on May 7, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence in the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. During that search, law enforcement recovered four firearms (two of which were stolen), approximately seven ammunition magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a firearm mount and rifle grip. As a previously convicted felon, Williams is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Williams.

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

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Elvis Alfonso Lopez-Perez, age 32, Guatemalan National residing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to eight months in prison by United States District Judge Keli M. Neary for illegally reentering the United States.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Lopez-Perez was removed from the United States on February 1, 2013. He illegally reentered the United States at an unknown time thereafter. On May 28, 2024, he was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Embezzling $5.8 Million From Employer

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Defendant cut his court ordered location monitoring device while on pre-trial release

BOSTON – The former finance director of a Florida-based company has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for embezzling more than $5.8 million from his employer.

Paul Schnitzer, 52, of Clermont, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo. T. Sorokin to 54 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Schnitzer was also ordered to pay $5,831,829 in restitution and to forfeit various assets that he obtained through his crime, including the full balances of two financial accounts, subscription ownership shares in certain artwork, and up to $50,000 in cash on deposit with Bulgari, the luxury jeweler.

Between January 2022 and May 2024, Schnitzer made over 100 transfers, most disguised as “equity distributions,” from his employer’s operating account into his personal account. He also secretly used a line of credit to replenish the company’s operating account after he had stolen from it and to transfer additional funds to his account. To hide these transfers, Schnitzer provided falsified financial reports with inflated cash balances for the company, to the Massachusetts-based investment firm that owned the company. He also spoofed email addresses and posed as representatives of the company’s bank and customers to send falsified confirmations to the company’s audit firms.

While on pre-trial release, Schnitzer was arrested after cutting his location monitoring device in June 2024 and using a company credit card to make over $10,000 in purchases in August 2024.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit handled the forfeiture aspects of the case.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: California Resident Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Long Beach, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Derrick Polk, 62, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Counts One and Three of the Superseding Indictment on June 4, 2025.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Polk conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Further, in and around April 2021, Polk possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Polk was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.

Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Polk. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.

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

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: District Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Traffic Stop in Northwest D.C.

Source: US FBI

WASHINGTON – Trevon Timothy Vines, 30, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025, to one count of illegal possession of a firearm following his arrest on March 15, 2025, in the District of Columbia.

According to court documents, on March 15, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the vicinity of 1820 7th Street NW after observing a traffic infraction. It is alleged that during the course of the stop, officers observed several open containers of alcohol and requested that all occupants exit the vehicle.

Court documents say that Vines was seated in the front passenger seat and holding a cup consistent with the others observed. As officers attempted to place Vines in handcuffs, they felt what they immediately recognized to be a handgun on his person in a front left jacket pocket. Officers eventually recovered the firearm and discovered that it had been reported stolen from a gun dealer in White Plains, Maryland.

An investigation revealed that Vines is a convicted felon with multiple prior convictions. At the time of the incident, Vines was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal and D.C. law. He did not have a license to carry or own a firearm in the District of Columbia.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, ATF Baltimore Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.

This case is part of Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful, an executive order surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Coral Springs Man Charged with Operating $158 Million Ponzi Scheme Through His Trucking Company, Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

Source: US FBI

MIAMI – Sanjay Singh, 45, of Coral Springs, Florida, has been sentenced to 23 years in a federal prison for a $158 million investment fraud (Ponzi) scheme run through his over-the-road trucking company, Royal Bengal Logistics, Inc. (“RBL”).

In November, a jury convicted Singh on all 8 counts of an indictment that alleged that he violated federal laws criminalizing conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and engaging in transactions in unlawful proceeds.

According to the indictment, Singh, RBL’s founder and president, organized and ran a substantial Ponzi scheme with co-conspirators. The conspiracy began in January 2020 and was ongoing at the time of his arrest. Singh and his co-conspirators held RBL out to potential investors as a thriving and successful trucking business, all while RBL’s actual trucking business lost money. In the process, Singh and his co-conspirators made material misrepresentations and material omissions about the riskiness of investing in RBL, the profitability of RBL’s trucking operations, how RBL would pay its investors, and how RBL would use investor funds. Through these material misrepresentations and omissions, Singh and his co-conspirators raised over $158 million from investors, which Singh and his co-conspirators then used in part to pay existing investors promised returns.

The indictment also alleged that Singh misappropriated millions of dollars of investor funds to renovate his home, make mortgage payments, pay for personal expenses, and trade stocks on margin.

U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (“DOT-OIG”), Southern Region; and Russell C. Weigel, III, Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation (“OFR”), made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney O’Byrne commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, DOT-OIG, and OFR in this matter. He thanked the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Miami Regional Office for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore and Roger Cruz prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60117.

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MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Wareham Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

Source: US FBI

Defendant allegedly possessed more than 9,000 CSAM files including images of infants being sexually assaulted

BOSTON – A Wareham man has been indicted for allegedly possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Brandon Bendall, 49, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on May 2, 2028.

According to court documents, Bendall was allegedly a member of an online chat group in which members viewed and posted CSAM. During a search of Bendall’s residence and cell phone, approximately 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, including images of children as young as infants being sexually assaulted, were allegedly located.

The charges of receipt and possession of child pornography each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Wareham, Marion and East Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Four Admit Fraudulently Registering Vehicles in Missouri

Source: US FBI

ST. LOUIS –Four people, including three former employees of vehicle and driver license offices, have admitted fraudulently registering motor vehicles in Missouri.

Gary Wilds, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, 22 counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft and six counts of making a false statement.

Three former employees of contract license offices have also pleaded guilty. Ashlyn Graeff, 39, pleaded guilty on March 5, 2024, to three counts of making a false statement. Megan Leone, 42, pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of making a false statement. Michelle Boyer, 53, pleaded guilty on May 21 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Wilds’ business, Pinnacle Concierge, assisted customers in registering their vehicles with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Wilds admitted bribing employees of the motor vehicle license offices to falsely represent to the state that the vehicles had passed emissions and safety inspections and that those owners had paid their property taxes and had proof of insurance or other evidence of financial responsibility. Wilds also bribed employees into submitting forged documents claiming that vehicle owners were eligible for sales tax exemptions, thus reducing tax assessments from thousands of dollars per vehicle to as little as $11.

Some of Wilds’ customers knew that Wilds was going to use deceptive means to register their vehicles because their vehicles could not pass emissions tests, they had outstanding child support arrearages or they had been barred from registering vehicles by another state agency, the plea says. The customers who were unaware suffered financial losses because Wilds sent a fraction of the actual required taxes to the Department of Revenue, and the owners remain liable for those taxes.

As early as 2015, Boyer met Wilds at a contract licensing office and began assisting him in conducting the illegal motor vehicle transactions. Wilds knew Leone before 2017, when she began working for a licensing office in St. Charles County. After she started work as a title clerk, Wilds began paying her in exchange for her help registering vehicles and exempting vehicles from the payment of state and local taxes. When she was promoted to manager, Leone told Graeff, who was her subordinate and who began working at the office in 2018, to fraudulently complete vehicle registration documents on behalf of Wilds. Wilds paid Graeff $100 for each transaction. Graeff initially conducted one or two fraudulent registrations per week for Wilds but that eventually grew to as many as 10 per day. Graeff’s activities resulted in a loss of state tax revenue of $84,154.96.

Leone is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and Boyer on August 21. Graeff was sentenced July 17, 2024, to four years of probation and ordered to pay $84,554 in restitution.

Wilds is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2. The conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. The charge of making a false statement carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Each aggravated identity theft charge is punishable by two years in prison, consecutive to any other charge.

The case was investigated by the Missouri Department of Revenue and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Humbolt, Iowa, Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Source: US FBI

Paul William Flett, age 44, from Humbolt, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on June 3, 2025. Flett pled guilty January 23, 2025, to one count to sexual exploitation of a child.

Evidence in the case showed that Flett sent links and images of child pornography to underage girls and asked them to send images and videos of themselves to him. On June 6, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Flett’s home and in a consensual interview, Flett admitted to the conduct and that he threw his phone in a closet when law enforcement arrived because he knew they were there for him. Forensic analysis of Flett’s electronics and Kik account discovered a total of 16 videos and 60 images of child pornography including several that Flett had asked children to record of themselves. The images and videos contained material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as prepubescent children, infants, and toddlers.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Flett was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, ordered to pay $3,600 in restitution and assessments, and ordered to serve a term of supervised release of 5 years following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Flett remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Cyber-Crime Unit, and Webster County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-CR-03036.

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: NATO announces nomination of Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich as Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Source: NATO

The North Atlantic Council has approved the nomination of Lieutenant General Alexus G Grynkewich, United States Air Force, to the post of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Lieutenant General Grynkewich is currently serving as Director for Operations of the Joint Staff.

Upon completion of national confirmation processes, he will take up his appointment as the successor to General Christopher G. Cavoli, United States Army, at a change of command ceremony at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, expected in the summer of 2025.

MIL Security OSI –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Apple Arcade welcomes nine new games
Source: Apple

Headline: Apple Arcade welcomes nine new games

June 5, 2025

UPDATE

Apple Arcade welcomes nine new games

UNO: Arcade Edition is a new take on the global card game phenomenon, and Angry Birds Bounce is an exciting addition to the legendary mobile franchise

Exciting new additions are expanding Apple Arcade’s dynamic catalog of more than 200 games, all without ads or in-app purchases. Today, a new take on Mattel’s classic card game UNO is available on the service with UNO: Arcade Edition. The game features three modes where fans can enjoy solo matches with classic UNO rules in Single Player, play with others in Quick Match, or turn up the heat in Custom Games that feature special twists like Wild Swap Hands and Color Showdown. Also released today are: WHAT THE CAR? for Apple Vision Pro, a spatial adaption of the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards’ Mobile Game of the Year; physics-based racing game LEGO Hill Climb Adventures+; wholesome interactive adventure Lost in Play+; and hit 3D arcade game Helix Jump+.

Next month, four fun games bring even more reason to jump in and play. Launching exclusively on Apple Arcade on July 3, Angry Birds Bounce is a new take on one of the most iconic mobile game series of all time with over 5 billion lifetime downloads. The new game blends Angry Birds’ classic slingshot gameplay with arcade-style brick-breaker mechanics, creating an all-new adventure full of chaotic charm and action-packed fun.

“Angry Birds Bounce reinvents the classic Angry Birds formula with a vertical twist, refreshing the gameplay while staying true to the brand’s DNA,” said Bryan Cook, Angry Birds Bounce game lead at Rovio. “We are thrilled to bring this new experience exclusively to Apple Arcade, featuring the largest roster of Angry Birds characters ever, and we can’t wait to see our players’ reactions to this new title.”

Three more popular games will also be added from the App Store on July 3: Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+, the most recent entry in the acclaimed tower defense franchise; Suika Game+, a delightful fruit-merging puzzle game; and Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+, which transforms Crayola’s favorite kids’ pet toys into digital companions.

Angry Birds Bounce by Rovio
Join Red, Chuck, Bomb, and the rest of the gang on a brand-new adventure. Angry Birds Bounce combines the classic charm of Angry Birds with an innovative arcade brick-breaker twist. When the pigs take over their islands, the birds must bounce back — literally — combining into powerful flocks and launching themselves to defeat an army of piggies and reclaim their home. With strategic rogue-lite gameplay, each level is a new challenge where players will master precision shots, unlock exciting power-ups, and build unique combos during each run.

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+ by Ironhide Game Studio
The latest game in the award-winning tower defense saga builds upon the lightning-paced and captivating gameplay of its predecessors, but raises the stakes with more power, chaos, and strategy than ever before. For the first time in the series, players can command two heroes in each stage. With 15 epic heroes to choose from, 17 unique towers, 32 upgradable characters, 22 detailed campaign stages, and over 40 types of enemies, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+ offers thrilling gameplay, the signature humor that fans love, and endless replay. The game includes all DLCs and is playable across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Suika Game+ by XGIMI
The viral puzzle game where players drop fruits into a box is coming to Apple Arcade. The goal of Suika Game – Aladdin X+ is to combine matching fruits into bigger creations, culminating into the ultimate fruit: a watermelon. The game’s energetic physics add a fun challenge. When dropping and merging bouncing fruits, players must strategically keep them from overflowing out of the box. They will compete with other players around the world and aim for the top of the daily, monthly, or all-time leaderboards.

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+ by Red Games Co.
Creativity meets responsibility as players immerse themselves in vibrant 3D worlds to color, care, and play with over 90 adorable digital pets. Inspired by the top-selling Crayola toy, this game lets young players nurture empathy and responsibility through interactive pet care activities like grooming, feeding, and washing, while also boosting attention and memory skills with detail-oriented play. With endless creative fun using digital Crayola art tools and imaginative journeys across colorful 3D environments, Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+ transforms the traditional pet toy into an engaging digital experience.

In addition to new games, players can also look forward to brand-new updates to their favorite Arcade games, playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.
- Fruit Ninja Classic+ by Halfbrick Studios: On June 19, Bluey takes over Fruit Ninja Classic+ in this limited-time, Apple Arcade-exclusive crossover event. Featuring special Bluey-themed wands, wand powers, dojos, and many easter eggs, players of all ages will slice fruits and unlock exclusive rewards.
- Bloons TD 6+ by Ninja Kiwi: On June 19, the popular tower defense game adds the all-new Desperado monkey tower, map, and legend.
- WHAT THE CLASH? by Triband: On June 26, 50 new golf mini-games, cosmetics, missions, and achievements based on Triband’s other Arcade hit title, WHAT THE GOLF?, are introduced to the game.
This month also brings updates to highly rated games like Sonic Dream Team, Crayola Create and Play+, Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE, Tomb of the Mask+, Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Asphalt 8: Airborne+, and more.

Pricing and Availability
- Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 (U.S.) per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free.¹
- Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95 U.S.), Family ($25.95 U.S.), and Premier ($37.95 U.S.) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial.²
- Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
- An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
- Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
1. This offer is available to new subscribers only. One subscription covers one Family Sharing group. The offer is good for three months after eligible device activation. The plan automatically renews until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
2. The Apple One free trial includes only services that are not currently used through a free trial or a subscription. The plan automatically renews after the trial until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
Press Contacts

Peter Nguyen

Apple

pete_nguyen@apple.com

Jennifer Tam

Apple

jennifer_tam@apple.com

Apple Media Helpline

media.help@apple.com
MIL OSI Economics –
June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: People killed by landmines in Deir ez-Zor Syria

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

Amsterdam/Deir ez-Zor – People returning to their war-torn homes and villages in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, are being wounded or even killed after encountering unexploded devices. Between 28 May and 1 June, four incidents resulted in eight casualties, including the deaths of four children, highlighting the urgent need for the area to be cleared of explosive remnants of war and landmines. As Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams supported the reopening of the emergency room at Deir ez-Zor National hospital in response to a high number of injuries caused by explosive devices, we call for the scale-up of landmine clearance, and for medical care in response to be bolstered.

“Since 7 April, our teams working in the emergency room in Deir ez-Zor hospital have been seeing around one patient per day who has been wounded by explosions of landmines, unexploded ordnance, and booby traps,” says Will Edmond, MSF head of mission in Syria. “People have been injured mostly in the fields or on the road.”

“Of the people who have arrived to our emergency room, nearly two-thirds have life-threatening or severe injuries, and nearly a quarter have traumatic amputations,” says Edmond. “Shockingly, two out of five of the people we’ve seen have been children.”

Abdulrazzaq Mustafa Saeed, seen here with his mother, was injured while herding sheep in the desert area of the town of Al-Asharah in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. His right leg was amputated below the knee as a result. Syria, May 2025.
Asmar Al-Bahir/MSF

Years of armed conflict have destroyed critical infrastructure in Deir ez-Zor governorate, including healthcare facilities. Streets and fields across the governorate are contaminated with mines and explosive devices, making daily life hazardous for returnees and hampering rehabilitation efforts. MSF teams have already discovered four unexploded devices in health facilities we had planned to support, with more likely hidden underground.

In Syria, Deir ez-Zor governorate has the highest number of recorded incidents with explosive remnants of war; in the five months to 6 May 2025, just over one-quarter – 26 per cent – of the 471 incidents recorded in the country occurred in Deir ez-Zor.

Ahmad, a teenage boy from Hawaij, 50 kilometres southeast of Deir ez-Zor city, lost his right leg and part of his left foot while herding sheep in the desert.

“I feel sad now because I can’t run anymore,” says Ahmad. “But I like playing marbles and riding a motorbike.”

“He is not the only one from Hawaij,” his mother, Umm Mohammad, added. “The same thing happened to one of his friends, and to other people in the village.”

Between 8 December 2024 and 14 May 2025, 91 children were killed and 289 injured in accidents involving explosive ordnance across the country, according to Mine Action Area of Responsibility. Many of these tragic cases involve children who come across mines while collecting truffles, herding sheep, or playing in contaminated areas.

Ali Abd Khalaf, a former wheat farmer, also stepped on a landmine near Az-Zabari, close to Al-Mayadin.

“Two months ago, I was travelling with my brother on our motorbike,” says Ali. “We decided to stop along the way, so I stepped off the motorbike, took just a few steps, and the explosion happened – I stepped on a landmine.”

Ali received initial care in a private clinic and was later transported to Deir ez-Zor National hospital, where he underwent two surgeries and had his left leg amputated above the ankle.

A view of Deir ez-Zor, which has suffered huge destruction throughout more than a decade of armed conflict. Syria, May 2025.
Asmar Al-Bahir/MSF

Patients have reported severe challenges in accessing healthcare. Most are forced to rely on expensive private transportation due to an overstretched ambulance network; as a result, many patients from remote towns do not return for follow-up care. Others speak of the high cost of private care.

“We hurried Ali to a private clinic in Al-Mayadin, where we were required to pay an upfront fee of US$80 to initiate his treatment,” said Ali Abd Khalaf’s relatives. “Though it was a considerable amount, we paid it. Afterwards, we swiftly moved him to the hospital in Deir ez-Zor, where he received comprehensive medical care, free of charge.”

Urgent funding is needed to support mine action organisations, to scale-up explosive device and landmine clearance, and improve mapping of contaminated areas. This is essential for people to safely return, rebuild their lives, and recover from conflict.

We also urge the government of Syria, donors, and medical organisations to bolster emergency care capacity, referral systems, and blood banks. Supporting physical rehabilitation, mental health, and psychosocial services is crucial for helping survivors recover as fully as possible.

Since the fall of the previous Syrian government in December 2024, MSF has been able to gain access to new areas, including Deir ez-Zor governorate where we support public health facilities. In Deir ez-Zor city, MSF is supporting the emergency department of Deir ez-Zor National hospital. In Al-Bukamal, MSF has opened an emergency room in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and is planning obstetric and newborn care services, while rehabilitating a medium-size hospital that will offer additional services.

MSF was able to support the reopening of the emergency room at Deir ez-Zor National hospital on 7 April after needed rehabilitations were complete and the emergency room in Al-Bukamal on 28 May.

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