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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Latin American Heritage Month

    Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement in celebration of Latin American Heritage Month:

    “Each July, British Columbia marks Latin American Heritage Month – a time to honour the cultures, histories and contributions of Latin American communities that help shape our province.

    “Latin America spans more than 20 countries and territories where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken alongside hundreds of Indigenous languages. The region’s cultural diversity is rooted in ancient civilizations, such as the Aztec, Inca and Maya. It has been shaped by European colonization, the resilience and traditions of Africans brought through the transatlantic slave trade, and waves of immigrants from around the world who have made Latin America their home.

    “This diversity is a source of pride and strength for Latin Americans and reflects values shared in British Columbia, where multiculturalism defines our communities. Today, more than 66,000 Latin Americans call B.C. home and their presence has grown steadily in recent years. We celebrate their warmth, joy and strong sense of community. Through music, dance, language and food, they bring people together and keep cultural traditions alive throughout the province.

    “Our government is proud to work with organizations, such as the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre and Latincouver, which play a crucial role in preserving and uplifting Latin American heritage. Through public events, performances and exhibitions, they help strengthen cross-cultural connections and foster a deeper sense of belonging for all.

    “As we celebrate Latin American Heritage Month, let us recognize the resilience, creativity and cultural legacy of Latin American communities. Their stories are part of the fabric of British Columbia.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Court Orders Chicago Commodity Pool Operators, Owner, Former Chief Portfolio Manager to Pay More Than $6M in Fraud Action

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a consent order imposing permanent injunctive relief, civil monetary penalties, disgorgement, and equitable relief against Chicago commodity pool operators LJM Partners Ltd and LJM Management Ltd (collectively, LJM); former LJM chairman, owner, and registered associated person Anthony J. Caine of Colorado; and former LJM chief portfolio manager and registered AP Anish Parvataneni of Illinois. 
    The consent order requires Caine and Parvataneni to pay civil monetary penalties of $500,000 and $200,000, respectively. Additionally, the consent order requires LJM and Caine to pay $4,624,271 in disgorgement, jointly and severally, which includes pre-judgment interest, and Parvataneni to pay $721,093 in disgorgement, which includes pre-judgment interest. It also imposes registration bans of three years for Caine and one year for Parvataneni and enjoins them from managing or advising the trading for or on behalf of any third parties for three years and one year, respectively, except for themselves, their wives, or children. The order permanently enjoins the defendants from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, as charged.   
    Case Background
    The consent order stems from a CFTC complaint filed against defendants LJM, Caine, and Parvataneni in May 2021. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8392-21]. 
    The CFTC’s complaint alleged from at least June 2016 through February 2018, LJM managed several commodity pools, a mutual fund, and individual managed client accounts and made several false and misleading statements to prospective and existing pool participants and others in connection with its short options trading strategies. According to the complaint, the defendants made misleading statements related to LJM’s maximum daily loss, risk management, and the failure to disclose changes to LJM’s risk profile, including changes in late 2017 and early 2018 that dramatically increased the portfolio’s vulnerability to loss in certain scenarios.
    According to the complaint, in January 2018, LJM had more than $1 billion in assets under management; however, on Feb. 5 and 6, 2018, LJM’s portfolios suffered over 80% trading losses when the Chicago Board Options Exchange’s Volatility Index spiked over 20 points. Shortly thereafter, LJM closed its business. 
    The CFTC previously ordered LJM’s former Chief Risk Officer Arjuna Ariathurai to pay $247,444 in civil monetary penalties, disgorgement, and pre-judgment interest for failing to disclose certain information when speaking to prospective and existing pool participants about LJM’s risk management. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8392-21].
    The court also entered an order resolving the Securities and Exchange Commission’s related charges against the same defendants. 
    The CFTC acknowledges and appreciates the cooperation and assistance of the SEC, National Futures Association, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this action are W. Derek Shakabpa, Patrick Daly, Nicole Buseman, David Oakland, Michael Cazakoff, Elizabeth May, Jordon Grimm, Lenel Hickson, Manal Sultan, Charles Marvine, and former employee David Acevedo.
    CFTC’s Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory
    The CFTC has issued several customer protection fraud advisories, including the Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory, which warns customers about a type of fraud involving individuals and firms, often unregistered, offering investments in commodity pools. 
    The CFTC also strongly urges the public to verify a company’s registration with the CFTC at NFA BASIC before committing funds. If unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that entity.
    Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, can be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the Whistleblower Office. Whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected, paid from the Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement of Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson Regarding CFTC Settlement with LJM Funds Management Ltd.

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Today, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) announced settlement agreements with LJM Funds Management Ltd., LJM Partners Ltd. (together with LJM Funds Management Ltd., LJM), Anthony J. Caine (Caine), and Anish Parvataneni (collectively, Defendants). As described in the Complaint,[1] the Defendants violated multiple provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Commission’s Regulations by engaging in deceptive and manipulative practices in connection with transactions involving commodities over an extended period of time.[2]
    As stated more comprehensively in the Complaint, Defendants’ violations of the CEA and Regulations were rooted in deceptive and manipulative practices.[3] Defendants made intentional and reckless decisions to make false or misleading statements when describing their risk management practices to prospective and existing commodity pool participants.[4] In doing so, Defendants significantly downplayed worst-case losses by stating they were, in the most aggressive analysis, capped at 40%, when internal emails show that one of LJM’s controlling persons, Caine, knew that losses could reach 100%.[5] Further, Defendants advertised that their risk management included historical analysis when their risk management did not, committing a series of acts which put investors’ hard-earned funds at levels of risk they were not adequately informed of.[6] 
    Further, Defendants continuously misled investors about the risk profile of its portfolio over the course of two years by maintaining that its risks remained consistent with historical practices.[7] Instead, Defendants’ risk profile had significantly deviated from their traditional norms and nearly doubled the size of potential losses associated with a significant drop in the S&P and an upward spike in volatility – which is exactly what happened. None of these changes were disclosed to investors and, eventually, it was the investors who paid the price, suffering substantial losses due to the Defendants’ conduct as LJM collapsed.
    Careful risk management enables market participants to detect and address the kinds of volatility that led to LJM’s collapse. Effective risk management oversight enhances the integrity and stability of global derivatives markets.
    Where risk management fails or is completely neglected, we must endeavor through enforcement actions to achieve greater accountability, reduce repeated compliance failures through both general and specific deterrence,[8] and enable the Commission to maximize the use of limited resources.
    LJM’s Implosion
    In late 2017, Defendants knew that LJM’s portfolio risk was increasing and that their investment strategies left investor assets vulnerable to a market move. Defendants were also aware that the risk profiles for certain of their investment strategies were becoming increasingly risky but made no efforts to reduce the risk levels of their investment strategies or disclose to investors that their risk of loss was skyrocketing. Instead of telling investors the truth and revealing the risks that investors faced, Defendants intentionally misrepresented the rising risk levels that threatened investors’ assets. 
    LJM’s high-risk investment strategies imploded on February 5-6, 2018, when the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index (VIX) spiked more than 20 points. LJM lost almost $1 billion in customer assets and LJM shuttered its doors. 
    Deterring Deceptive and Manipulative Practices
    LJM intentionally deceived commodity pool and mutual fund investors. The penalties imposed should reflect our commitment to protecting investors and serve to deter future misconduct by the Defendants and dissuade any future bad actors from electing to deceive investors by misrepresenting risk levels associated with their investment strategies.
    Many hard-working investors who suffered significant losses as a result of LJM’s misrepresentations may question whether today’s settlement achieves these goals. I continue to have questions regarding the Commission’s calculation of civil monetary penalties, particularly in enforcement matters that involve intentional, willful deception of vulnerable investors. I have previously raised my concerns regarding the methodology for calculating civil monetary penalties and urged CFTC staff leadership and my fellow Commissioners to provide greater clarity and transparency regarding the Commission’s civil monetary penalty calculation methodology. In addition, I have consistently questioned the impact of lower penalties. Reduced penalties may not achieve deterrence, which is a foundational goal of our enforcement regime. 
    It has been suggested that we can distinguish the poor risk management decisions at LJM from a sham business that was created solely for the purpose of separating unwitting investors from their money. I disagree. Investors in LJM’s commodity pools and mutual funds selected their investment based on what was represented to them as a lower risk profile. Defendants’ choice to then expose investors’ assets to excessive risk levels violated the compact of trust and confidence that the investors had with LJM. Even if the risk management decisions could be excused, the affirmative acts of deception should not be overlooked. 
    Promoting Customer Protection Through Disclosure and Supervision
    If our mission is to protect investors from the devastating effects of fraud, the businesses that set out to engage in fraud cannot be distinguished from those that start out well-intentioned but later adopt deception as a mantra. A well-heeled firm that has gained the public’s trust and confidence by demonstrating the ability to operate in accordance with the rigorous compliance and reporting obligations of U.S. financial markets regulation that later transforms into a vehicle of garden-variety fraud is, perhaps, more concerning than the fly-by-night fraudster selling snake-oil from the trunk of his car. 
    Disclosure has served as a foundation in U.S. financial markets regulation for almost a century for a reason. Creating sunlight in contexts where conflicts of interest and asymmetries of information flourish in the shadows is one of most time-tested means of protecting customers, preserving investor capital, and fostering healthy markets.   
    Moreover, supervision is a cornerstone of customer protection. From its inception in the 1970s, the Commission has emphasized that supervision is a linchpin in our regulatory framework. Under Regulation 166.3, each Commission registrant “must diligently supervise the handling by its partners, officers, employees and agents (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) of all commodity interest accounts carried, operated, advised or introduced by the registrant and all other activities of its partners, officers, employees and agents (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) relating to its business as a Commission registrant.”[9] 
    I commend the Division staff who investigated and resolved this case and worked with the SEC on a parallel case.

    [1] Complaint, CFTC v. LJM Funds Management Ltd, et al., No. 1:21-cv-02863 (N. D. Ill. May 25, 2021), ECF No. 1 (Complaint).

    [2] Complaint ¶¶ 95-112.

    [3] Id. The deceptive and manipulative practices and failure to supervise described in the Complaint violated Sections 4o(1)(A)-(B); 4c(b); and 6(c)(1) of the CEA and Regulations 33.10, 180.1(a), and 166.3. 

    [4] Specifically, Section 4o(1)(A)-(B) of the CEA states that it is unlawful for a commodity pool operator (CPO) or a commodity trading advisor (CTA) to “employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud any client or pool participant or prospective pool participant.” 7 U.S.C. § 6o(1)(A)-(B). Section 4c(b) of the CEA and Regulation 33.10 make it unlawful for a person to enter into a transaction that involves any commodity regulated under the CEA known as an “option” contrary to any other rule or regulation of the Commission which would prohibit such transaction and makes it unlawful to directly or indirectly cheat, defraud, or deceive any other person in connection with such transactions. 7 U.S.C. § 6c(b); 17 C.F.R. § 33.10. Further, Section 6(c)(1) of the CEA makes it unlawful to use “any manipulative or deceptive device, in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission shall promulgate” in connection with the contract of sale of commodity or future delivery of a commodity in interstate commerce. 7 U.S.C. § 9(1); see also 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a).

    [5] Complaint ¶¶ 46-79. In an internal email, Caine admitted “In extreme cases, theoretically we model to 100% loss.” Complaint ¶ 55.

    [7] Complaint ¶¶ 71-79.

    [8] References to general deterrence describe the effect on the general public of observing consequences of compliance failures or misconduct and the impact of such observations on their future conduct. Specific deterrence refers to the impact of a consequence on the future behavior or conduct of a party that has engaged in conduct that leads to a penalty.

    [9] 17 C.F.R. § 166.3. See also Adoption of Customer Protection Rules, 43 Fed. Reg. 31886, 31889 (July 24, 1978)(“the basic purpose of the rule is to protect customers by ensuring that their dealings with the employees of Commission registrants will be reviewed by other officials in the firm.”).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington State leads lawsuit against Department of Education’s mental health funding cuts

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — A coalition of 16 state attorneys general, led by Washington, filed a lawsuit late Monday against the U.S. Department of Education for illegally cutting congressionally approved funding for mental health programs in K-12 schools.

    After the tragic deaths of 19 students and 2 teachers during a mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a bipartisan Congress appropriated $1 billion in order to permanently bring 14,000 mental health professionals into the schools that needed it the most. The programs have delivered. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), grantees served nearly 775,000 students and hired nearly 1,300 school mental health professionals during the first year of funding. NASP also found a 50% reduction in suicide risk at high-need schools, decreases in absenteeism and behavioral issues, and increases in positive student-staff engagement based on data from sampled programs.

    The Department of Education awarded grants spanning a five-year project period and makes yearly decisions to continue each grant’s funding. As required by its regulations, the Department of Education considered the grantee’s performance when deciding whether to continue funding.

    On April 29, 2025, the Department of Education sent boilerplate notices to grantees claiming On April 29, the Department of Education sent boilerplate notices to grantees claiming that their grants now conflicted with the Trump Administration’s priorities and funding would be discontinued. The Department of Education’s non-continuation decision means that students in at least three educational service districts in Washington, which cover 90 school districts in the northwest part of the state, may no longer have access to critical mental health services starting this fall.

    “School-based mental health programs can be a literal life saver for our students,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “The Department of Education’s decision threatens the safety and well-being of our youth.”

    The attorneys general filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The complaint alleges that the Department of Education’s funding cuts violate the  Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution. The attorneys general ask a federal judge to rule the funding cuts are illegal and seek an injunction rescinding the non-continuation decision.

    Joining the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

    The complaint can be found here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

    Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Trump to discuss Gaza, Iran with Netanyahu at Monday meeting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will discuss the situations in Gaza and Iran when he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week, adding that he hopes to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza soon.

    Trump plans to meet Netanyahu on Monday. A senior Israeli official, Ron Dermer, has been in Washington this week holding talks ahead of the meeting.

    Trump and Netanyahu worked together on a military operation against Iran’s nuclear sites in June that culminated with American B-2 bombing raids. Trump said the strikes “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear capability, although there remains a debate about the degree of damage done to the Iranian nuclear program.

    Trump said he is hopeful that a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement can be achieved next week between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza.

    “We hope it’s going to happen. And we’re looking forward to it happening sometime next week,” he told reporters as he departed the White House for a day trip to Florida. “We want to get the hostages out.”

    Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

    The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s post-Oct. 7 military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The assault has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

    A White House official, asked about Dermer’s scheduled meetings and agenda, said: “Ron Dermer visits the White House regularly.”

    “This will continue as President Trump pursues a path to peace for Israel and Gaza,” the official added. The official did not immediately identify the Trump aides Dermer would see during his visit.

    -REUTERS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU Master’s Student Among Winners in Sirius

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Alexandra Polyanskaya (left of monitor) and her team at the project presentation

    A graduate student of the architecture faculty of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Alexandra Polyanskaya, took part in the School-Conference “The Future of Cities” in Sirius and became part of the team whose project for the development of the urban environment of the federal territory “Sirius” was recognized as the winner.

    The conference school was attended by senior undergraduate and specialist students, master’s and postgraduate students in architectural, urban planning, environmental, biological and IT fields, whose scientific and professional activities are related to urban planning and architecture, greening of populated areas, climate-resistant design, environmental development of territories and digitalization of urban management. The participants studied advanced approaches in the field of ecology and sustainable development, visited the largest laboratory complex in Russia at the Sirius University of Science and Technology, and got acquainted with the biodiversity of the urban landscapes of the Black Sea coast.

    In addition, the participants developed their own concepts for the development of Sirius as part of teams formed by drawing lots. The teams included representatives of various universities of various specialties, including architects.

    “The concept proposed by our team is based on the “Bio-Techno-Oasis”, which is a hybrid of nature, high technology and the idea of preserving cultural traditions. We see the city sections No. 1 and No. 2 of “Sirius” as part of the city, where nature and technology do not oppose, but rather reinforce each other. The architecture is inspired by biological forms, and the social structure is built on the principles of sustainable development and harmony with the environment, including through the use of green energy. We use self-healing materials based on mycelium or bacteria, vertical garden technology, innovative technology of green facades that generate electricity. Phytowalls filter the air and are used as a bioindicator of pollution. Wind turbines provide energy to part of the blocks,” explained Alexandra Polyanskaya.

    According to the master’s student, digital twins help optimize resources and scheduled maintenance of equipment. Thus, the team designed not just a “smart city”, but a living organism, where “technologies adapt to people and there is no division into digital and natural – they merge in symbiosis,” Alexandra emphasized.

    “Participation in the school-conference at Sirius gave me experience working on real tasks for the development of the urban environment, skills in interdisciplinary cooperation, and helped me improve my professional skills,” concluded Alexandra Polyanskaya.

    Strategic Development Concept “Sea”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur and DeLauro Introduce Bill to Rein in Executive Branch Spending Abuses and Uphold Congressional Appropriations Authority

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

    Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, have introduced H.R. 4230 the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act, legislation to restore accountability to the Executive Branch and ensure that Appropriated taxpayer dollars, enacted by Congress and signed into law, are spent in strict accordance with Congressional direction.
     

    “The Power of the Purse rests with Congress. That is established quite clearly in the Constitution, and it has been repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court. This Administration has demonstrated time and again a lack of understanding — or worse, deliberate disregard for the direction Congress provides through the Appropriations process,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “This is about enforcing the Constitution and safeguarding democracy. We set policy, we provide direction, and we allocate funds. Then, based on those allocations, the Executive Branch must execute — not reinterpret or ignore — what Congress has directed on behalf of the American people. This is not about politics. It is about protecting the constitutional role of Congress, respecting the will of the American people, and ensuring every public dollar is spent lawfully and transparently.”

    “Instead of being laser-focused on the cost-of-living crisis, President Trump is making it worse by illegally stealing resources promised to the American people,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “The Trump administration has been lawless from the jump, illegally freezing or taking funding, appropriated in law by Congress, for programs and services across the federal government that help the middle class, the working class, and small businesses and make sure billionaires and big corporations pay taxes. Whether they are a Democrat or a Republican, nobody should be managing American Taxpayers’ hard-earned money if they do not understand the law. This is a common-sense requirement to defend Congress’s power of the purse and reaffirm its constitutional authority over government funding.”

    The bill has already received strong support, with a growing list of cosponsors including Appropriations Committee Members: Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Rep. James Clyburn (SC-06), Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-02), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Marc Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-01), and Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04).

    The Appropriations Compliance and Training Act will require high-ranking federal employees in the Executive Branch to take annual, mandatory training that will ensure their understanding and compliance with Appropriations laws, including the Antideficiency Act and the Impoundment Control Act. These laws clarify Congress’ power of the purse and prohibits the Executive Branch from spending or withholding funds beyond the explicit direction of Congress. The legislation is meant to make sure that all Executive Branch officials clearly understand their legal responsibilities and the potential consequences of violations. It also includes a review of what Congress has directed, through the Appropriations process, for each agency in that year’s funding law.

    A full copy of the H.R. 4230 the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act can be found by clicking here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 5 ways AI is supercharging research in financial services

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: 5 ways AI is supercharging research in financial services

    As the capital markets industry has expanded both in scope and complexity, research has only become more essential. Since the late twentieth century, globalization, specialization, and increasingly complex regulatory frameworks have all elevated research from an interesting competitive differentiator to a competitive imperative. Now, with the application of increasingly powerful AI solutions, research is poised to become the defining factor in determining winners and losers in a rapidly shifting landscape.  

    At Microsoft, we develop highly tailored, long-term technology partnerships with financial services firms around the world. Increasingly, this includes co-innovating with AI to help unlock new business value and deepen customer relationships. At present, enhancing research and analytics with AI is one of the primary transformation levers for investment banks, asset management firms, and financial data and analytics providers. In many cases, it is helping to solve longstanding challenges around deriving greater value from data and rapidly converting insights into competitive advantage. 

    Explore AI solutions with Microsoft for financial services

    Realizing the promise of data-driven research through AI 

    AI is rapidly changing the nature and value of advanced analytics in research. Traditional analytics have long helped firms understand what happened and why—but AI is helping them predict what will happen next and prescribe optimal courses of action in real time.

    This shift from retrospective analysis to proactive intelligence can help firms unlock new sources of value and ultimately develop groundbreaking new products that redefine the competitive landscape. 

    As innovative firms recognize the potential of AI, they also see the opportunity to address longstanding challenges that hinder effective research. Among these:  

    • Data overload and complexity
      Financial markets are inundated with massive volumes of data from diverse, often siloed sources that can be difficult to integrate and synthesize. This makes it hard to access the right data at the right time, which can slow decision-making and heighten risk. As data requirements become more complex, solutions are needed that can unify, structure, and analyze data at scale to deliver timely, actionable insights.
    • Fragmented workflows across user journeys
      Research analysts frequently struggle to navigate large volumes of disparate data housed in disconnected systems, tools, and formats, leading to time-consuming manual data compilation and synthesis. The increase in non-integrated tools, applications, and data structures disrupts business workflows and can lead to inefficiencies, duplication of effort, errors of omission, and delays in decision-making.
    • Dependency on traditional data sources
      Many firms and analysts rely heavily on conventional market reference data, company fundamentals, industry reports, and databases, which often lack real-time insights and limit the speed and accuracy of market predictions. As new opportunities arise, firms need solutions that can extract more value out of existing sources while also making it easy to incorporate alternative and real-time sources—enhancing both predictive accuracy and responsiveness to market shifts.
    • Information overload and time constraints
      Research and analyst professionals are always challenged to keep up with reports, emails, meetings, and chats. The overload tends to slow decision-making and increases the risk of missed opportunities. Stringent regulatory compliance requirements add additional demands.  

    Five ways AI redefines the value of research in financial services 

    AI gives financial services firms new solutions to these longstanding barriers and opportunities to use data in new ways that can differentiate their offerings. Here are five important areas where AI can change the game: 

    1. Advance analysis with AI-powered analytics 

    AI-powered analytics empower research analysts to cut through the noise of information overload and extract valuable insights with unprecedented speed and precision. The combination of AI with predictive analytics empowers researchers to analyze historical patterns more deeply, identify emerging trends, and make more informed investment decisions. This can ultimately help to improve engagement and win rates. 

    A prime example of this is our partnership with Moody’s where we co-developed innovative solutions for research and risk assessment. Moody’s Research Assistant significantly increases productivity and effectiveness, with users reporting up to 80% time savings on data collection and 50% on analysis during the pilot phase.1  

    2. Accelerate operational efficiency through intelligent automation 

    Traditional research processes—such as manual data compilation, synthesis, and report generation—are time-consuming and error-prone. AI-powered automation transforms them by integrating data sources, automating repetitive tasks, and promoting seamless collaboration across teams, which results in faster turnaround times, reduced operational costs, and improved operational efficiency.  

    With tools like Microsoft Copilot, Researcher agent, and Analyst agent, firms can significantly boost productivity and operational efficiency. These AI-powered assistants can handle such tasks as summarizing investor reports and earnings calls, creating presentation-ready visualizations from raw data, and drafting research documents and client-ready insights quickly. This frees up valuable time for analysts to focus on higher-value activities, such as strategic analysis and client engagement. 

    3. Deliver real-time insights 

    To help meet the accelerating pace of business, AI-powered applications empower financial services firms to surface real-time insights from a variety of sources including market news, earnings reports, and social media.  

    Bridging knowledge across platforms helps analysts identify emerging trends faster and develop better investment strategies. For example, AI can continuously monitor global news sources and sentiment signals to identify early indicators of market shifts and potential disruptions. Firms can then use this information to react swiftly and make proactive investment decisions ahead of competitors. 

    Firms can build new AI-powered solutions that incorporate real-time data into advanced searches, personalization, and recommendations, using innovations like the powerful vector database built by KX—essentially, a specialized system that understands the meaning and context of a huge set of data types such as text, images, or PDFs. It aims to help financial institutions seize opportunities faster by turning real-time data into real-time action. 

    4. Empower employees with high-value experiences 

    AI-powered tools can transform how financial services professionals work with tools and solutions that support the most critical research functions, such as financial modeling and pitchbook preparation. Processes can be significantly streamlined while remaining interoperable, secure, and compliant.  

    A good example of this is the innovation resulting from our long-term strategic partnership with LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) to transform data with next-generation productivity and analytics solutions. One recent advancement is the launch of the LSEG Workspace Add-in, which integrates AI-powered insights into Excel and PowerPoint. With features like contextual data discovery and interactive charting, the add-in can help financial professionals work faster and more insightfully. 

    Reducing the burden of manual tasks can also help boost job satisfaction. The integration of AI into daily workflows helps people focus on more intellectually stimulating activities, freeing up time for higher-value analysis and strategic thinking, and helping to attract and retain top talent. 

    5. Deepen market understanding 

    AI-powered analytics are transforming how analysts understand markets and convert insights into action. By processing vast amounts of financial data in real-time, AI can uncover complex patterns and correlations that were previously undetectable, such as market sentiment from news articles and social media or a real-time pulse on investor sentiment or market dynamics. Machine learning models can predict stock price movements with greater accuracy by integrating diverse data sources, including economic indicators and company performance metrics. 

    A richer view of market forces and dynamics translates into better decision-making and sharper investment strategies. It helps firms anticipate emerging risks and opportunities sooner, enabling them to respond faster and more confidently in an increasingly volatile market landscape. 

    Now is the time for agentic AI 

    A new class of AI tools will soon deliver the ability to plan, reason, and take actions to achieve goals. In financial services, they will be able to gather, analyze, and contextualize information autonomously from diverse sources and proactively surface relevant insights—or even suggest strategic actions based on real-time developments. 

    On the near horizon, advanced “orchestrator” agents will focus on new capabilities in distinct functional areas such as market intelligence, data aggregation, strategy simulation, reporting, and compliance. This holds the potential for powerful competitive advantages, helping analysts to stay ahead of market shifts, make more accurate predictions, and deliver higher-impact recommendations. 

    Learn more 

    Microsoft for financial services

    Unlock business value and deepen customer relationships in the era of AI

    1 Moody’s Investor Relations, “Moody’s Launches Moody’s Research Assistant,” December 2023.

    Andrew Comas

    Director of Business Strategy, Microsoft

    Andrew Comas is Director of Business Strategy at Microsoft, driving strategic initiatives and cross-functional alignment across Financial Services and Industry (FSI) sectors. With deep expertise in capital markets and digital transformation, Andrew partners closely with senior leadership to shape go-to-market priorities and accelerate innovation. He is passionate about translating complex business needs into actionable strategies that deliver measurable impact and long-term value.

    See more articles from this author

    Claudia Hauser

    Worldwide Wealth Management & Capital Markets Solutions Lead, Microsoft Financial Services

    Claudia Hauser is Director at Microsoft Worldwide Financial Services, leading global scale solutions for Capital Markets and Wealth Management. With over 25 years of experience in financial services and technology, she brings deep industry expertise, leadership, and a strong track record in customer engagement and partner strategy. Claudia is passionate about aligning business needs with innovative solutions to drive transformation and deliver value across the financial services ecosystem.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 5 ways AI is supercharging research in financial services

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: 5 ways AI is supercharging research in financial services

    As the capital markets industry has expanded both in scope and complexity, research has only become more essential. Since the late twentieth century, globalization, specialization, and increasingly complex regulatory frameworks have all elevated research from an interesting competitive differentiator to a competitive imperative. Now, with the application of increasingly powerful AI solutions, research is poised to become the defining factor in determining winners and losers in a rapidly shifting landscape.  

    At Microsoft, we develop highly tailored, long-term technology partnerships with financial services firms around the world. Increasingly, this includes co-innovating with AI to help unlock new business value and deepen customer relationships. At present, enhancing research and analytics with AI is one of the primary transformation levers for investment banks, asset management firms, and financial data and analytics providers. In many cases, it is helping to solve longstanding challenges around deriving greater value from data and rapidly converting insights into competitive advantage. 

    Explore AI solutions with Microsoft for financial services

    Realizing the promise of data-driven research through AI 

    AI is rapidly changing the nature and value of advanced analytics in research. Traditional analytics have long helped firms understand what happened and why—but AI is helping them predict what will happen next and prescribe optimal courses of action in real time.

    This shift from retrospective analysis to proactive intelligence can help firms unlock new sources of value and ultimately develop groundbreaking new products that redefine the competitive landscape. 

    As innovative firms recognize the potential of AI, they also see the opportunity to address longstanding challenges that hinder effective research. Among these:  

    • Data overload and complexity
      Financial markets are inundated with massive volumes of data from diverse, often siloed sources that can be difficult to integrate and synthesize. This makes it hard to access the right data at the right time, which can slow decision-making and heighten risk. As data requirements become more complex, solutions are needed that can unify, structure, and analyze data at scale to deliver timely, actionable insights.
    • Fragmented workflows across user journeys
      Research analysts frequently struggle to navigate large volumes of disparate data housed in disconnected systems, tools, and formats, leading to time-consuming manual data compilation and synthesis. The increase in non-integrated tools, applications, and data structures disrupts business workflows and can lead to inefficiencies, duplication of effort, errors of omission, and delays in decision-making.
    • Dependency on traditional data sources
      Many firms and analysts rely heavily on conventional market reference data, company fundamentals, industry reports, and databases, which often lack real-time insights and limit the speed and accuracy of market predictions. As new opportunities arise, firms need solutions that can extract more value out of existing sources while also making it easy to incorporate alternative and real-time sources—enhancing both predictive accuracy and responsiveness to market shifts.
    • Information overload and time constraints
      Research and analyst professionals are always challenged to keep up with reports, emails, meetings, and chats. The overload tends to slow decision-making and increases the risk of missed opportunities. Stringent regulatory compliance requirements add additional demands.  

    Five ways AI redefines the value of research in financial services 

    AI gives financial services firms new solutions to these longstanding barriers and opportunities to use data in new ways that can differentiate their offerings. Here are five important areas where AI can change the game: 

    1. Advance analysis with AI-powered analytics 

    AI-powered analytics empower research analysts to cut through the noise of information overload and extract valuable insights with unprecedented speed and precision. The combination of AI with predictive analytics empowers researchers to analyze historical patterns more deeply, identify emerging trends, and make more informed investment decisions. This can ultimately help to improve engagement and win rates. 

    A prime example of this is our partnership with Moody’s where we co-developed innovative solutions for research and risk assessment. Moody’s Research Assistant significantly increases productivity and effectiveness, with users reporting up to 80% time savings on data collection and 50% on analysis during the pilot phase.1  

    2. Accelerate operational efficiency through intelligent automation 

    Traditional research processes—such as manual data compilation, synthesis, and report generation—are time-consuming and error-prone. AI-powered automation transforms them by integrating data sources, automating repetitive tasks, and promoting seamless collaboration across teams, which results in faster turnaround times, reduced operational costs, and improved operational efficiency.  

    With tools like Microsoft Copilot, Researcher agent, and Analyst agent, firms can significantly boost productivity and operational efficiency. These AI-powered assistants can handle such tasks as summarizing investor reports and earnings calls, creating presentation-ready visualizations from raw data, and drafting research documents and client-ready insights quickly. This frees up valuable time for analysts to focus on higher-value activities, such as strategic analysis and client engagement. 

    3. Deliver real-time insights 

    To help meet the accelerating pace of business, AI-powered applications empower financial services firms to surface real-time insights from a variety of sources including market news, earnings reports, and social media.  

    Bridging knowledge across platforms helps analysts identify emerging trends faster and develop better investment strategies. For example, AI can continuously monitor global news sources and sentiment signals to identify early indicators of market shifts and potential disruptions. Firms can then use this information to react swiftly and make proactive investment decisions ahead of competitors. 

    Firms can build new AI-powered solutions that incorporate real-time data into advanced searches, personalization, and recommendations, using innovations like the powerful vector database built by KX—essentially, a specialized system that understands the meaning and context of a huge set of data types such as text, images, or PDFs. It aims to help financial institutions seize opportunities faster by turning real-time data into real-time action. 

    4. Empower employees with high-value experiences 

    AI-powered tools can transform how financial services professionals work with tools and solutions that support the most critical research functions, such as financial modeling and pitchbook preparation. Processes can be significantly streamlined while remaining interoperable, secure, and compliant.  

    A good example of this is the innovation resulting from our long-term strategic partnership with LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) to transform data with next-generation productivity and analytics solutions. One recent advancement is the launch of the LSEG Workspace Add-in, which integrates AI-powered insights into Excel and PowerPoint. With features like contextual data discovery and interactive charting, the add-in can help financial professionals work faster and more insightfully. 

    Reducing the burden of manual tasks can also help boost job satisfaction. The integration of AI into daily workflows helps people focus on more intellectually stimulating activities, freeing up time for higher-value analysis and strategic thinking, and helping to attract and retain top talent. 

    5. Deepen market understanding 

    AI-powered analytics are transforming how analysts understand markets and convert insights into action. By processing vast amounts of financial data in real-time, AI can uncover complex patterns and correlations that were previously undetectable, such as market sentiment from news articles and social media or a real-time pulse on investor sentiment or market dynamics. Machine learning models can predict stock price movements with greater accuracy by integrating diverse data sources, including economic indicators and company performance metrics. 

    A richer view of market forces and dynamics translates into better decision-making and sharper investment strategies. It helps firms anticipate emerging risks and opportunities sooner, enabling them to respond faster and more confidently in an increasingly volatile market landscape. 

    Now is the time for agentic AI 

    A new class of AI tools will soon deliver the ability to plan, reason, and take actions to achieve goals. In financial services, they will be able to gather, analyze, and contextualize information autonomously from diverse sources and proactively surface relevant insights—or even suggest strategic actions based on real-time developments. 

    On the near horizon, advanced “orchestrator” agents will focus on new capabilities in distinct functional areas such as market intelligence, data aggregation, strategy simulation, reporting, and compliance. This holds the potential for powerful competitive advantages, helping analysts to stay ahead of market shifts, make more accurate predictions, and deliver higher-impact recommendations. 

    Learn more 

    Microsoft for financial services

    Unlock business value and deepen customer relationships in the era of AI

    1 Moody’s Investor Relations, “Moody’s Launches Moody’s Research Assistant,” December 2023.

    Andrew Comas

    Director of Business Strategy, Microsoft

    Andrew Comas is Director of Business Strategy at Microsoft, driving strategic initiatives and cross-functional alignment across Financial Services and Industry (FSI) sectors. With deep expertise in capital markets and digital transformation, Andrew partners closely with senior leadership to shape go-to-market priorities and accelerate innovation. He is passionate about translating complex business needs into actionable strategies that deliver measurable impact and long-term value.

    See more articles from this author

    Claudia Hauser

    Worldwide Wealth Management & Capital Markets Solutions Lead, Microsoft Financial Services

    Claudia Hauser is Director at Microsoft Worldwide Financial Services, leading global scale solutions for Capital Markets and Wealth Management. With over 25 years of experience in financial services and technology, she brings deep industry expertise, leadership, and a strong track record in customer engagement and partner strategy. Claudia is passionate about aligning business needs with innovative solutions to drive transformation and deliver value across the financial services ecosystem.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 3 people killed, 35 hospitalized after drone attack on Izhevsk — head of Udmurtia A. Brechalov

    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

    Moscow, July 1 /Xinhua/ — Three people were killed and 35 others were hospitalized, including 10 in serious condition, after unmanned aerial vehicles /UAVs/ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine /AFU/ attacked an enterprise in Izhevsk, the head of Russia’s Udmurt Republic Alexander Brechalov said on Tuesday.

    “I visited the victims in the hospital – at the moment, 35 people are hospitalized, 10 of them are in serious condition. Our doctors are providing assistance to everyone – including consultations with colleagues from the federal center. To our great regret, we have 3 fatalities,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.

    According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense forces destroyed and intercepted 60 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions overnight. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Premier’s statement on Canada Day

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Premier David Eby has issued the following statement celebrating Canada Day:

    “Today, millions of people across our vast, beautiful land – from Bonavista to Vancouver Island, from the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes waters – are celebrating Canada Day.

    “People will gather to enjoy food and fireworks, as well as parties and parades. This is a wonderful time for communities to gather and celebrate our peaceful and democratic country.

    “This Canada Day is unlike any other in recent memory, as we face unprecedented economic and political threats. Those dangers have sharpened our appreciation for what we have accomplished in building the Canada we love, including such monumental achievements as a public health-care system. To be Canadian is to be proud of the way we take care of each other.

    “The challenges we face in improving our country are many. We do so confident that we will find solutions by working together. Even as we debate our differences with vigour, we keep in mind far more unites us than divides us.

    “The Canada of today is the result of a long history of compromise and negotiation, reflecting the Canadian values of fairness, generosity and humility. We should be proud of the role Canada has played in the world. We have answered the call to combat tyranny, and have also been ardent peacekeepers in troubled lands. We have welcomed waves of newcomers throughout our history, and we are proud today to be able to offer sanctuary to people from war-torn countries who seek peace and security.

    “The pride we feel for our country does not mean we ignore our own troubled and complicated history. Canada Day offers an opportunity for reflection on the impact of colonialism on generations of Indigenous Peoples. Our government is dedicated to addressing these matters in a spirit of reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

    “The work of building a better Canada is never done, as nation building is an assignment without end. We will always seek to make a country that in every way is more peaceful, more prosperous and more democratic for ourselves, our families, our neighbours, our communities and for all who call this land home. An important part of that is our desire in British Columbia to build an economy that works for everyone.

    “Let’s take the opportunity this Canada Day to remind ourselves of what we have accomplished together. Happy Canada Day!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Coastal Storm Monitoring Data Informs Department of Defense Infrastructure Risk Assessments

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) makes detailed predictions of storm-induced coastal flooding, erosion, and cliff failures over large geographic scales. CoSMoS was developed for hindcast studies, operational applications and future climate scenarios to provide emergency responders and coastal planners with critical storm-hazards information that can be used to increase public safety…

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: RIDOT Closing Two Bridges in Foster for Reconstruction Starting July 11

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Starting, Friday night, July 11 the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will begin work on the first of two bridges along rural roads in Foster. Both bridges will be closed for approximately 90 days while they are demolished and replaced.

    The bridges carry a very low volume of cars, less than 100 vehicles per day, and serve to access a limited number of residential properties.

    The first closure on July 11 affects the Rams Tail Road Bridge, which carries Rams Tail Road over Ponaganset Brook, between Route 6 (Danielson Pike) and Central Pike. The bridge was built in 1955 and is one rating point away from being classified as structurally deficient. During its closure, drivers will follow a detour using Route 102 (Chopmist Hill Road).

    The second closure begins Friday night, July 18 and affects the Mill Road Bridge, which carries Mill Road over Hemlock Brook, between Route 102 (Foster Center Road) and Wright Lane. The bridge was built in 1950 and is classified as structurally deficient. During its closure, motorists can detour using Route 102, Kate Randall Road and Central Pike.

    For both locations, local traffic will be permitted on either side of the closed bridges.

    RIDOT is using accelerated bridge construction methods to replace these structures as quickly as possible. The $13.4 million project also includes work to replace the Moosup Valley Road Bridge in Foster. RIDOT began work on that bridge last October and this August will shift traffic to finish replacing it. The temporary traffic signal controlling the single-lane alternating traffic pattern will remain in place until the Moosup Valley Road Bridge is finished by next summer.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.

    The replacement of these bridges in Foster is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crimes

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Rafael Cee-Erwin Solomon, also known as “Rip,” 43, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to three counts of distribution of fentanyl.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Solomon sold a quantity of fentanyl in Dunbar on March 10, 2025, and quantities of fentanyl in St. Albans on March 24, 2025, and March 27, 2025.

    Solomon has a criminal history that includes a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 10, 2012. He also has prior convictions for assault and battery-domestic violence, malicious destruction of property, arson, and felonious assault.

    Today’s guilty pleas result from an investigation that also led to the indictment of 13 other individuals on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Solomon is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, at least six years of supervised release, and a $2 million fine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-77.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for New Child Pornography Charges and Registration Violations

    Source: US FBI

    EL PASO, Texas – An Anthony man who had previously been convicted for aggravated sexual assault of a prepubescent child was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso today to life in prison plus 10 years for producing, possessing and exchanging child sexual abuse material (CSAM), violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), and committing a sex offense as a registered sex offender.

    According to court documents, Mark Martinez, 57, was found to be distributing CSAM within a group on the social messaging application Kik. Martinez was previously convicted in 1991 for the sexual assault of a child around the age of eight years old and, as of 2022, was residing at an address unknown to his registration officer.

    FBI agents executed a search warrant in August 2022, seizing several electronic devices containing CSAM images and videos. One of those devices contained multiple photos taken at his residence in July, depicting a female approximately five to six years old. The device also contained a folder of videos of another minor female downloaded from WhatsApp. A separate device revealed chats on the messaging app Telegram, in which Martinez admitted to sexually molesting a minor. Agents discovered approximately 2,391 CSAM images and 138 CSAM videos on one device, several of which involved prepubescent minors. Martinez’s cellphone contained approximately 50 more CSAM images.

    A criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued for Martinez in October 2022. Martinez had already fled to Mexico without reporting to his registration officer and was arrested at the Columbus Port of Entry in New Mexico when he returned March 3, 2023. A federal grand jury indicted Martinez March 22, 2023. He pleaded guilty to all five counts on Aug. 21, 2024.

    “Placing this child predator behind bars for the rest of his life makes certain this predator will never again harm another child,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “The facts of this case are incredibly disturbing, and I thank all of our law enforcement partners for their work investigating this case, which led to this repeat offender’s ultimate conviction, and life imprisonment.”

    “Martinez is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on our community’s most vulnerable victims- our children. This case highlights the disturbing reality of sexual exploitation, and the sentence ensures this predator will remain behind bars and unable to continue such atrocities physically and on the web,” said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to work together to ensure no child is victimized in this way.”

    The FBI, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Winnebago County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Valenzuela and Lori Hughes prosecuted 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Holds Rays of Hope Forum To Increase Access to Cancer Care

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death on the continent, claiming around 2,000 lives every day.

    Three years ago, to close the global cancer care gap, we launched the IAEA’s #RaysOfHope initiative at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    Today, we returned to take stock:

    • More than 90 countries have joined
    • Over €90 million mobilized
    • Hospitals upgraded
    • PET/CTs, SPECTs, mammography units and LINACs delivered
    • Radiotherapy centres coming online across several countries
    • Staff trained and networks developed

    Building on this momentum, we signed a $4.5 million partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – the largest contribution from a non-traditional partner to our cancer care work to date. We also launched a new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital – one of four radiotherapy centres supported by the IAEA in Ethiopia. The hospital now has SPECT/CT scanners, a linear accelerator, trained staff, and a mammography unit on the way.

    Learn more: Rays of Hope IAEA Flagship Initiative →

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Guinea Economic Update: Domestic Resource Mobilization and Management for Inclusive and Sustainable Development


    Download logo

    The second edition of the Guinea Economic Update offers an in-depth analysis of the country’s evolving macroeconomic position and examines how Guinea can increase domestic resource mobilization and management to achieve its development goals.

    The report, “Domestic Resource Mobilization and Management for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” presents a dual focus: an evaluation of macroeconomic developments and outlook, and an examination of Guinea’s potential to enhance and manage domestic revenues, particularly in light of the expected windfall from the Simandou iron ore project.

    The first part of the report highlights Guinea’s ongoing and anticipated economic growth, with GDP growth reaching 5.7% in 2024, projected at 6.5% in 2025, and averaging 10% in 2026–27, driven by expanding mining activity. However, the report underscores that recent growth has not significantly reduced poverty, which remains high at 52%, due to limited job creation in the non-mining sectors.

    “In recent years, Guinea has achieved robust growth, primarily fueled by the mining industry and agriculture. Yet, the key challenge remains in transforming growth into employment opportunities for Guineans,” said Marilyne Youbi, World Bank Group Economist and Lead Author of the report.

    The report points to a widening fiscal deficit — 4.8% of GDP in 2024 and rising public debt, driven by infrastructure investment and still-limited revenue mobilization. Tax revenues remain low at 13.1% percent of GDP, significantly below regional targets, constraining the government’s ability to invest in essential services such as health, education, and infrastructure.

    The second part of the report presents an analysis of Guinea’s domestic resource mobilization and management landscape. It argues that increasing and better managing public revenues, especially from the mining sector, is essential for fiscal sustainability, economic diversification, and improved social outcomes. The report calls for stronger tax policy enforcement consistent with the Tax and Mining Codes, and it highlights key reform areas including enhancing tax audit capabilities, improving the integrity of the taxpayer database, ensuring timely filing and payment of taxes, and deepening digitalization of revenue administration. It also calls for reforms to strengthen management of public expenditures and public investments programs.

    “This report underscores the urgency of implementing reforms to make growth more inclusive and resilient,” said Issa Diaw, World Bank Group Country Manager for Guinea. “With the Simandou iron ore project poised to transform the economy, Guinea has a narrow window to ensure that the benefits of growth are widely shared.”

    As Guinea enters a potentially transformative phase in its development, the report calls for a renewed policy focus on debt sustainability, macroeconomic stability, as well as investments in human and physical capital.

    Download the Guinea Economic Update in English.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Economic Development and Trade Committee Chairperson Welcomes Launch of Proudly SA E-commerce Platform to Boost Local Industry


    Download logo

    The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Ms Sonja Boshoff, has welcomed the launch of Proudly SA’s new online platform for locally produced consumer goods.

    Ms Boshoff characterised the platform as a significant step towards reindustrialisation of the South African economy, which will protect local jobs.

    “This digital marketplace will serve as a vital conduit for South African businesses – particularly manufacturers and small-scale producers – to reach consumers across the country. In time, the platform is also expected to open international avenues for local exporters, contributing meaningfully to market diversification and economic resilience,” Ms Boshoff said.

    “This initiative could not have come at a more important time. South Africa continues to face the triple threat of high unemployment, sluggish economic growth and deindustrialisation. Platforms such as this are essential to reversing the tide. By creating accessible digital channels for local producers, Proudly SA is directly contributing to inclusive economic growth and supporting job retention in vulnerable sectors like manufacturing and agro processing.

    “While we commend this important intervention, it must form part of a broader localisation strategy, supported by clear procurement policies, incentives for domestic production and infrastructure support for township and rural enterprises. This is how industrialised nations have built resilient economies, and South Africa must be no different,” Ms Boshoff said.

    She added that the committee encourages businesses, big and small, to register on the Proudly SA platform and commit to local procurement wherever possible. “Consumers, too, have a critical role to play in supporting this ecosystem. Buying local is no longer just patriotic; it is an economic imperative.”

    “The committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight over the departments and entities tasked with economic development, ensuring that such platforms receive the institutional backing, marketing exposure, and policy alignment they need to succeed,” added Ms Boshoff.

    “South Africa has the capacity to produce its own goods – from furniture to fashion, food to film – and we must prioritise these industries if we are serious about reaching our growth targets and reducing the unemployment rate, which currently sits at an unsustainable 43.1%. It is time to back South African producers, not in words, but in procurement decisions, public policy, and consumer behaviour,” she said.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Morocco: His Majesty the King Congratulates Burundi’s President on Independence Day


    Download logo

    His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, on the occasion of his country’s 63rd anniversary of independence.

    In this message, the Sovereign extends His warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Evariste Ndayishimiye as well as the entire Burundian people.

    His Majesty the King praised the strengthening momentum of close cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Burundi, reaffirming His determination to work with His Excellency to further enhance it at both the bilateral and continental levels.

    The Sovereign also expressed His hope that the deep bonds of friendship, solidarity, and mutual resteem between the two countries will continue to grow.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Morocco: His Majesty the King Congratulates Somali President on National Day


    Download logo

    His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

    In this message, His Majesty the King conveys to President Sheikh Mahmoud His warm congratulations and extends to the brotherly Somali people His best wishes for continued progress and prosperity, in peace and stability.

    The Sovereign takes this opportunity to reaffirm His firm determination to work, in close cooperation with the Somali President, to strengthen the fraternal ties between Morocco and Somalia, at the service of the interests of the two brotherly peoples.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Gaza: “Level of suffering and brutality is unbearable” – Briefing to the UN Security Council

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    Briefing by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

    Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari today (30 Jun) told the Security Council that “the level of suffering and brutality in Gaza is unbearable,” and “the continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unjustifiable.”

    Khiari expressed deep concern at “Israeli military operations in Gaza that render large areas of Gaza uninhabitable,” and rejected “the forced displacement of the Palestinian population from any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which would constitute a breach of international law obligations.”

    He mourned the United Nations personnel killed in Gaza and “strongly” condemned “the killing of all health and humanitarian personnel and journalists.”

    Khiari also condemned “the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza” and called for “an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.”

    He stressed that the United Nations “will not participate in any aid delivery modality that does not comply with the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.”

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • India–Ghana relations to get fresh push with PM Modi’s landmark two-day visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Ghana from July 2, marks a landmark moment in India–Ghana relations. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in more than three decades and PM Modi’s first bilateral engagement with the West African nation. The visit is expected to deepen cooperation in trade, development partnership, capacity building and cultural exchange, strengthening a warm relationship that has endured since Ghana’s independence.

    Historical Context

    India and Ghana share historical ties rooted in anti-colonial solidarity and a shared vision for the Global South. India established its representative office in Accra in 1953, four years before Ghana gained independence in 1957. Diplomatic relations were formally established the same year, laying the foundation for a close and friendly partnership.

    Political Engagement and High-Level Visits

    High-level exchanges have played a crucial role in nurturing this bond. From the Ghanaian side, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited India in March 2018 for the International Solar Alliance Founding Conference and later addressed the Voice of Global South Summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi in January 2023. Before him, President John Dramani Mahama travelled to India in October 2015 to attend the third India-Africa Forum Summit. Other notable visits include President Kufuor’s trips in 2002 and 2008, President Rawlings’ visit in 1993, President Limann’s in 1981 and President Kwame Nkrumah’s historic visit in 1961.

    From the Indian side, President Pranab Mukherjee visited Ghana in June 2016. Before that, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s visit in November 1995 was the last by an Indian Prime Minister, making PM Modi’s upcoming trip especially significant. Recent engagements have kept the momentum alive, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar meeting President Akufo-Addo in September 2022 and Minister of State V. Muraleedharan attending the Ghanaian Presidential inauguration in January 2021.

    Institutional Mechanisms

    India and Ghana have built robust institutional mechanisms to sustain regular dialogue. The Joint Commission was established in 1995 and reinforced in 2016, while a protocol for Foreign Office Consultations was signed in 2002. Three rounds of consultations have been held since then, with the latest in New Delhi in 2022. The Joint Trade Committee, operational since 1981, held its fourth meeting in Accra in May 2024. Ghana’s Parliamentary Friendship Association also contributes to exchanges at the legislative level.

    Commercial Partnership

    India is among Ghana’s top trading partners and the largest destination for Ghanaian exports. Bilateral trade crossed two billion US dollars in 2022–23, with Ghana enjoying a positive trade balance due to substantial gold exports. Indian investments in Ghana are valued at over 1.2 billion dollars, spanning sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, construction, manufacturing and ICT. Platforms like the CII-Exim Bank Conclave on India–Africa Project Partnership continue to play an important role in strengthening commercial ties. Ghana has been an active participant, with the 19th edition of the conclave in August 2024 witnessing the participation of four Ghanaian ministers and senior regulatory officials.

    Development Partnership

    India has been a committed development partner for Ghana, extending around 450 million US dollars in concessional credit and grants for infrastructure and capacity-building projects. Landmark initiatives include the India-Ghana Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence established in 2003, the Rural Electrification Project, the Jubilee House Presidential Complex which was rehabilitated in 2017, and industrial ventures like the Komenda Sugar Plant and Elmina Fish Processing Plant inaugurated in 2016. Under Buyer’s Credit, India supported the construction of the Tema-Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway Line, which was inaugurated in November 2024 and is expected to boost regional connectivity by linking Ghana’s main port city to its hinterland and neighbouring Burkina Faso. Other key projects include the Tamale-Walewale Road and an assembly plant for agricultural machinery.

    Capacity Building & Human Resource Development

    Ghana is also one of the largest beneficiaries of India’s flagship capacity-building programmes. Over 1,600 scholarships have been offered under the e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati digital network project. Hundreds of Ghanaians have benefited from ITEC and ICCR scholarships. In 2024 alone, 128 civilians and 109 defence personnel from Ghana trained in India under ITEC, while 35 ICCR scholarships and three AYUSH scholarships were awarded. Education fairs held in Kumasi and Accra in 2024 and 2025 have strengthened linkages between Indian institutions and Ghanaian students.

    Sectoral Cooperation

    Sectoral cooperation has grown steadily over the years. Agreements have been signed to promote cooperation in areas like LPG distribution, peaceful uses of nuclear energy and standardisation through collaborations between India’s Bureau of Indian Standards and Ghana Standards Authority. Air connectivity is facilitated through the Air Services Agreement signed in 1978 and updated through subsequent MoUs. Cultural exchange remains a vibrant aspect of the partnership, anchored by a Cultural Agreement signed in 1981 and periodic Cultural Exchange Programmes. India also extended humanitarian support to Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing 50,000 vaccine doses as a grant and over 1.6 million doses through the COVAX facility.

    Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into the bilateral partnership by expanding trade, boosting investments in energy and digital infrastructure, advancing cooperation in defence and capacity building, and deepening collaboration in health, education and climate action. 

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Seychelles’ Path to Macroeconomic Stability and Resilience

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    Comprehensive reforms have fueled Seychelles’ journey out of crisis and its continued resilience in the face of shocks

    Seychelles—a nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean—today enjoys a comparatively high degree of economic stability. Inflation is below 2 percent, real GDP has largely recovered from the pandemic, public debt is on course to reach the government’s target of less than 50 percent of GDP before 2030, and per capita income is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. But this stands in stark contrast to the country’s fortunes twenty years ago when it faced an economic crisis. What’s behind this turnaround?

    From times of crisis

    In the mid-2000s, Seychelles faced significant macroeconomic challenges stemming from expansionary fiscal policies and a rigid state-led economy. Large fiscal deficits were driven by high public spending on capital projects, subsidies, transfers to state enterprises and high debt service payments, while government revenues were constrained by significant tax concessions to foreign investors in the growing tourism sector. An expansionary monetary policy within a fixed exchange rate framework and extensive exchange controls led to external imbalances and depletion of foreign reserves. By 2008, gross public debt exceeded 192 percent of GDP and reserves had dwindled to just 2 weeks of import cover. The global financial crisis exacerbated these vulnerabilities, and the crisis came to a head in mid-2008 when the Seychelles authorities missed payments on the nation’s private foreign debt and Standard & Poor’s downgraded Seychelles to selective default.

    Changing course

    In response to this crisis, the government launched a comprehensive reform program with support from the IMF and other development partners. Key actions included abolishing all exchange restrictions and floating the rupee, consolidating public finances, reforming state enterprises, and abolishing indirect product subsidies in favor of a targeted social safety net. Paris Club creditors agreed to a debt stock reduction. These measures quickly yielded positive outcomes: inflation fell, foreign reserves were restored to over 3 months of import cover, and public debt declined to below 70 percent of GDP within five years. This turnaround rebuilt investor confidence, and the restoration of macroeconomic stability allowed policymakers room to shift from crisis management to macro-structural reforms in support of sustainable growth. 

    Resilience and commitment tested

    The COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a sudden collapse in global tourism, was another tremendous shock. But its years of macroeconomic stability enabled Seychelles to face this new challenge from a position of strength. Confronted with an economic contraction of nearly 12 percent in 2020, the government implemented timely fiscal and monetary measures to support households and businesses, utilized emergency financing from the IMF, and moved quickly to resume tourism. As tourism rebounded in 2021 and 2022, economic growth surged to nearly 13 percent in 2022, helping to regain lost ground. Foreign exchange reserves were maintained above 3 months of import cover, and the exchange rate was allowed to move to facilitate adjustment. Key to managing the effects of the pandemic and the international commodity shock that followed were the fiscal and foreign exchange buffers built up in prior years and a commitment to macro fiscal discipline demonstrated by the government. 

    Staying on course

    Given highly volatile global economic and financial conditions, Seychelles’ hard-won macroeconomic stability will likely be put to the test again. Environmental pressures limit scope to expand tourism, while vulnerability to external shocks argues for continued strong fiscal discipline and external buffers. To ensure continued economic growth and resilience, vital investments in infrastructure will be necessary, together with deeper development of human capital, more efficient public services, and financial sector deepening and inclusion. Concerted efforts are also needed to strengthen the social safety net and address critical social ills that hamper productivity and economic development. Some of these areas fall within the reform agenda under the current IMF-supported Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility, but others will require new policy commitments.

    Seychelles’ economic record highlights the importance of sound macroeconomic management and institutional strengthening in achieving and sustaining economic prosperity. Its journey offers valuable lessons for other small economies aiming at building resilience in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.

    Todd Schneider is IMF mission chief to Seychelles and an advisor in the IMF’s African Department, where Hany Abdel-Latif is an economist, Pedro Maciel is a senior economist, and Henry Quach is a research analyst.

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/07/01/cf-seychelles-path-to-macroeconomic-stability-and-resilience

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Diab on Canada Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    Halifax, July 1, 2025—The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement on Canada Day:

    “Canada Day is a time to reflect on who we are as a country and to celebrate the people, cultures, and values that bring us together. From coast to coast to coast, Canadians can mark this day with pride in our shared commitment to democracy, equality and building a better future.

    “Canada’s story did not begin with Confederation when Canada became a country. It began with Indigenous Peoples who cared for their land and territories since time immemorial. We celebrate the Canada we know today, but we must also honour and acknowledge the enduring contributions made by the First Peoples of this land, and learn more about their histories, traditions and cultures. Let’s continue working together towards a future built on mutual understanding, respect and justice.

    “Today, I am honoured to attend a citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Many similar ceremonies will take place this year—powerful moments that demonstrate the resilience, hope, and dreams of those who choose Canada as their home. As a proud Lebanese Canadian and the daughter of immigrants, I know firsthand the courage it takes to build a new life in a new home. I encourage you to attend a citizenship ceremony in your community and share in the pride and joy of these milestones.

    “Being Canadian is more than a passport or status. It means actively participating in our communities, embracing our diverse cultures, advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and standing together with a common purpose. Whether through volunteering, voting, or simply welcoming a neighbour, every act strengthens the fabric of our nation.

    “This Canada Day, let’s celebrate the values that unite us and recommit ourselves to building a Canada where everyone belongs and can thrive. For information about Canada Day celebrations near you, visit the Canadian Heritage website.

    “Happy Canada Day to all who call this wonderful country home!”

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Media Relations Office
    People and Communications Sector
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
    613-952-1650
    media@cic.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Over 200 Communities Earned Missouri Blue Shield Designation for Commitment to Effective Law Enforcement and Community Safety

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 1, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that 201 Missouri counties, cities, and towns have received the Missouri Blue Shield designation in recognition of their dedication to enhancing public safety, strengthening support for law enforcement, and building sustainable public safety partnerships. The Blue Shield Program, as outlined in Executive Order 25-03, is part of the Governor’s Safer Missouriinitiative announced on his first day in office.

    Following the Governor’s approval of Fiscal Year 2026 budget funding yesterday, the Blue Shield communities are now able to tap into a $10 million dollar fund for grants for law enforcement training, equipment, and technology.

    “I’ve said from day one that improving public safety is the top priority of our administration and the response of communities, large and small, across our state shows that Missourians want to have safer streets and support law enforcement,” Governor Kehoe said. “Now, all 201 of the Blue Shield communities will be able to apply for funding through the Missouri Department of Public Safety to further bolster public safety through grants for training, equipment, and technology.”

    A total of 60 counties, 137 cities and four towns were approved as Blue Shield communities after applying by June 1 to the Department of Public Safety. A map of Blue Shield communities and the full list of approved jurisdictions is available here.

    The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) is administering the Blue Shield Program and opened grant applications today, the beginning of State Fiscal Year 2026. Communities may spend grant funds for any combination of training, equipment, or technology for their law enforcement agencies to strengthen public safety. Eligible expenditures include ballistic vests, body-worn cameras, security and surveillance systems, gunshot detection technology, and crime analytics software. The $10 million will be split equally among approved Blue Shield applicants.

    “We knew going into this that there was overwhelming support for law enforcement among Missourians and high interest in building stronger alliances between law enforcement and the communities they serve, but the response to the Blue Shield Program has been even stronger than we anticipated,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “We are looking forward to receiving funding proposals from the 201 communities and our DPS team will be processing grant applications quickly.”

    Blue Shield counties, cities, and towns must maintain their commitments each year to retain the Blue Shield designation via annual reporting about their ongoing efforts to support public safety to DPS. There will be another opportunity for other communities to apply for the Blue Shield designation and take advantage of future grants in 2026.

    Among the Blue Shield designation eligibility criteria were:

    • Passage of a resolution demonstrating a commitment to public safety, including to reduce violent crime within the jurisdiction;
    • Extraordinary investments in public safety funding;
    • Community policing initiatives or local partnerships to invest in and/or improve public safety;
    • Law enforcement officer recruitment and retention program;
    • Demonstrated effectiveness in reducing crime or innovative programs that attempt to reduce crime;
    • Participates in regional anti-crime task forces, or a commitment to be a willing partner with these in the future; and
    • Compliance with Missouri crime reporting and traffic stop data requirements and other related statutes.
       
    • Blue Shield Year One.png

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Founder and Former CEO of Artificial Intelligence Start-Up SKAEL Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud and Wire Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    SAN FRANCISCO – Baba Nadimpalli, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of SKAEL, Inc. (SKAEL), pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors by misleading them about the company’s revenue, annual recurring revenue (ARR), and other financial and sales information.  

    Nadimpalli, 42, a citizen of Australia who previously resided in San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 17, 2024.  According to his plea agreement, Nadimpalli founded SKAEL in 2016 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2016 until July 2022.  SKAEL was a San Francisco-based, software-as-a-service company that provided corporate clients with artificial intelligence and automation software to assist with mundane, time-intensive tasks by building “Digital Employees.”  SKAEL earned revenue by charging implementation fees for the building of Digital Employees and subscription fees for their use once built.  

    From January 2020 until about February 2022, SKAEL raised over $40 million in three rounds of financing. In order to induce prospective and existing investors to invest, Nadimpalli provided false information regarding SKAEL’s customer and sales information, revenue, and ARR.  Nadimpalli knew that ARR, which reflected the company’s monthly subscription revenue times 12, was an important metric for investors in considering their investments in SKAEL.  In or around 2021, Nadimpalli provided materially false information to investors in advance of their investments in SKAEL, including representing that SKAEL was receiving ARR from certain companies that did not subscribe to its software and services; overstating ARR from certain customers who were SKAEL customers; and representing that customers who had terminated their subscriptions were current customers with ARR.

    In or around February 2022, SKAEL raised approximately $30 million in a Series A preferred stock offering that valued SKAEL at approximately $230 million after closing.  In connection with the stock offering, Nadimpalli directed the creation of an electronic data room for potential investors that contained (1) a spreadsheet that Nadimpalli maintained that contained materially false information about the company’s ARR and customers; (2) materially false financial statements; and (3) an investor presentation that contained materially false information about the company’s ARR, revenue, and customer adoption.

    Nadimpalli further admitted to providing an investor and a financial employee with false bank account information that included purported customer payments that had not actually been deposited.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.

    Nadimpalli is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer on Sept. 17, 2025.  He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine for the count of securities fraud in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff and 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5, and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Stern and Ilham Hosseini are prosecuting this case with the assistance of Mark DiCenzo and Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI thank the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which also filed a civil enforcement action against Nadimpalli in the Northern District of California.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ninth and Tenth FCI Dublin Correctional Officers Charged with Sexual Abuse of Female Inmates

    Source: US FBI

    OAKLAND – Two former correctional officers at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., Jeffrey Wilson and Lawrence Gacad, were charged yesterday by information with sexual abuse of female inmates.  Wilson and Gacad are the ninth and tenth correctional officers to be charged in connection with the wide-ranging investigation into sexual abuse of inmates at the federal prison.  

    Wilson, 34, is charged with five counts of sexual abuse of a ward related to his alleged abuse of an FCI Dublin inmate, C.S.  The information alleges that Wilson engaged in sexual abuse of the victim on multiple occasions between March 14, 2022, and Aug. 16, 2022.  The acts allegedly occurred in a medical room at FCI Dublin.  Wilson is also charged with falsely telling federal agents that he had never had sexual contact with C.S. and that he had never given her contraband while she was an inmate at FCI Dublin.

    Gacad, 33, is charged with one count of abusive sexual contact related to his alleged abuse of an FCI Dublin inmate, S.L., between March 1, 2022, and June 14, 2022.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Hunt, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.      

    As part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation into FCI Dublin, 10 FCI Dublin correctional officers have been charged with crimes related to the sexual abuse of the female prisoners at the facility.  The status of these cases is below:

    Defendant

    		 Case Number Status
    Warden Ray J. Garcia 4:21-cr-00429-YGR Convicted on all counts by jury on Dec. 8, 2022; sentenced to 70 months in prison
    CO John Bellhouse 4:22-cr-00066-YGR Convicted on all counts by jury on June 5, 2023; sentenced to 63 months in prison
    Chaplain James Highhouse 4:22-cr-00016-HSG Pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2022; sentenced to 84 months in prison
    CO Enrique Chavez 4:22-cr-00104-YGR Pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2022; sentenced to 20 months in prison
    CO Ross Klinger 4:22-cr-00031-YGR Pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2022; sentenced to one year of home confinement
    CO Andrew Jones 4:23-cr-000212-YGR Pleaded guilty on Aug.17, 2023; sentenced to 96 months in prison
    CO Nakie Nunley 4:23-cr-000213-YGR Pleaded guilty on Sept. 5, 2023; sentenced to 72 months in prison
    CO Darrell Smith (a/k/a “Dirty Dick Smith”) 4:23-cr-00110-YGR Indicted on April 13, 2023; trial scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025
    CO Jeffrey Wilson 4:25-cr-00180 Information filed on June 25, 2025
    CO Lawrence Gacad 4:25-cr-00181 Information filed on June 25, 2025

    An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of sexual abuse of a ward in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2243(b) and eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of false statements to a government agency in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).  Gacad faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of abusive sexual contact in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4).  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson, Alethea Sargent, Sailaja Paidipaty, and Molly Priedeman are prosecuting these cases with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez and Amala James.  The prosecutions are the result of an investigation by the DOJ OIG and the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for spree of thefts following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A prolific thief captured on CCTV stealing from a series of unsuspecting victims has been jailed following a Metropolitan Police Service investigation.

    On Tuesday, 1 July at Isleworth Crown Court, Zacariah Boulares, 18 (21.02.2007) of Tennyson Road, Hounslow was jailed for 22 months for multiple thefts and an assault.

    This comes as the Met cracks down on neighbourhood crime, including phone thefts in the capital, with uniform and plain clothes officers across London proactively patrolling robbery hotspots to identify, apprehend and deter potential offenders, with dedicated teams targeting repeat offenders.

    Incidents of neighbourhood crime, which includes offences such as robbery, theft from a person and shoplifting, have reduced by 18.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. Over the past 15 months, the Met has also increased arrests per month by 10 per cent.

    Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing in Kensington and Chelsea for the Met said: “We understand the significant impact that robbery and theft can have on victims – it’s an invasive and sometimes violent crime.

    “We’re committed to protecting Londoners and tackling the kind of criminality carried out by Boulares as we make the capital safer.

    “His behaviour showed a blatant disregard for others and their belongings, even going as far to admit that he only targets vulnerable people. I commend the determination of officers who brought him to justice.”

    On Tuesday, 18 February Boulares stole a rucksack from a blind couple – a 50-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, dining with their young son at a restaurant in Kensington High Street.

    As Boulares left the restaurant, patrolling officers in the area noticed him acting suspiciously. They gave chase, but were unable to catch Boulares, who discarded the rucksack in a bush as he fled. This was later returned to the couple by police.

    Following further enquiries, Boulares was arrested at his home on Friday, 21 February, the same day as his 18th birthday. As he attempted to evade police by climbing out of the window, Boulares taunted officers and his victims, saying: “I specifically target vulnerable people”.

    Boulares was charged with theft on Friday, 21 February and remanded in custody.

    Following a series of enquiries and careful examination of CCTV, officers linked Boulares to two separate incidents.

    On Thursday, 30 January, in CCTV footage later obtained by the investigation team, Boulares and an accomplice were seen walking into the outdoor area of a busy restaurant in Kingley Street, W18. They wore their hoods up to obscure their faces.

    The two then stole a handbag belonging to a 30-year-old woman sitting nearby. Officers discovered that Boulares used the bank cards in the stolen bag to purchase items, including clothing, worth £86. He also withdrew £60 and attempted to withdraw another £150.

    While investigating what had taken place, officers were called to a theft and assault at another restaurant in Kensington High Street, on Saturday, 8 February. In video footage shown in court, Boulares was captured wearing the same hooded jacket, attempting to steal a phone from a 27-year-old woman. There was a struggle as the victim retrieved her phone, in which she sustained a head injury. Boulares fled the scene before officers could arrive.

    Following his charge on Friday, 21 February, Bouares was charged with two more counts of theft and an assault for the offences on Thursday, 30 January and Saturday, 8 February.

    He pleaded guilty to all the offences on Thursday, 29 May at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

    The Met’s focus on tackling these crimes will continue throughout the summer, using ward-level data and intelligence to make a difference in key areas.

    A new way for Londoners to hear about policing in their area is being rolled out by the Met.

    Local officers will use Met Engage to provide crime prevention advice, updates on ongoing incidents and investigations, and information about successful outcomes and operations. Sign-up to Met Engage here

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Premier League and Microsoft announce five-year strategic partnership to personalize the fan experience with AI for 1.8 billion people

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Premier League and Microsoft announce five-year strategic partnership to personalize the fan experience with AI for 1.8 billion people

    The Premier League is also migrating its core technology infrastructure to Microsoft Azure, unlocking scalability, security and agility across its digital ecosystem. This foundation will enable faster innovation, seamless integration of AI services, and a unified platform for the league.

    Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations will modernize the League’s internal operations, streamlining workflows, enhancing collaboration, and enabling data-driven decision-making across departments.

    This partnership sets a new global benchmark for how technology can elevate sport, entertainment and fan culture, making the Premier League more accessible, immersive and future-ready than ever before. Whether you are a lifelong fan or new to the Premier League, the Premier League Companion powered by Copilot can help you discover more. With only 47 days to go to the beginning of the new Premier League season, try it for yourself at http://www.premierleague.com.

    [embedded content]

     Premier League & Microsoft: transforming football experience with AI

    About The Premier League

    The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.

    About Microsoft

    Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

    For more information, press only:

    Microsoft

    Premier League

    Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit Microsoft Source at https://news.microsoft.com/source. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Premier League and Microsoft join forces to create fan-friendly digital platforms

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Premier League and Microsoft join forces to create fan-friendly digital platforms

    “For one example, moving the historic Premier League archive onto Azure, that’s all part of our ability to both curate content for our own channels but also to better serve our broadcast licensees around the world,” Brass says. “It ensures that content, which is rich and exciting and historic, is as readily available as can be, both to ourselves and our partners. It’s of enormous strategic value. And so it’s reflective, I think, of the importance of this relationship with Microsoft that they are such a critical part of the infrastructure that is not only for the Premier League but for our ecosystem of partners and licensees.”

    And while the new Premier League platforms have just launched, there are already future goals in sight, including open-ended natural language queries, increased translation/subtitling across several languages and audio summaries of match weekends.

    “It’s very important to us and the broader partnership that we don’t just do one thing and that’s it,” Willis said. “We want the products to evolve as the technology evolves and also as we understand more of the benefits that Copilot and the other tools can bring to us.”

    Everton supporters can take solace in the fact that Doucoure’s goal last year was the fourth-fastest in Premier League history, with Southampton’s Shane Long setting the bar at 7.69 seconds in 2019. That’s just one example of the plethora of information that’s just a simple prompt away for football fans and will transform the way matchday is consumed when the season kicks off in August.

    “The magical thing about sport is that it’s live and you have to be in the moment to experience it in the best possible way,” Willis said. “And we have become attuned to wanting to complement the live experience with additional information – the concept of the second screen came about for that reason. So, making sure we’re able to provide that information so that it is contextual and it is relevant is really important.

    “The Premier League is a football competition proudly staged in England but globally loved and admired. So, we want to make sure that we’re providing something for everyone.”

    MIL OSI Economics –