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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Ireland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Northern Ireland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU to help drive growth in Northern Ireland as tariffs on key industries slashed.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers job security for workers in Northern Ireland and will create more highly skilled jobs in communities.

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU to help drive growth in Northern Ireland as tariffs on key industries slashed.

    These deals will deliver benefits that communities across Northern Ireland will feel – supporting job creation, reducing costs and expanding export opportunities.

    This means stronger economic growth across Northern Ireland – delivering our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Northern Ireland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Northern Ireland.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): 

    An SPS deal is a win and signals the beginning of making sure that businesses in Northern Ireland face less bureaucracy.

    Three deals in two weeks is a very positive start to trade negotiations. There’s more work to be done, but let’s keep it going. An agreement with the US, greater opportunities for trade with India and the UK-EU deal mark a major reset in relationships, moving us away from the stalemate of the past. This represents progress which can help drive growth and opportunity for businesses in Northern Ireland.

    We must continue to build better relationships and work more closely with our closest trading partners. If we can harness the potential which deals with the EU, India and the US provide, we can turn ambition into success.

    Last year, 143 business exported £65 million in goods to India last year. Our deal means the total number of exports from Northern Ireland is likely to grow as it is set to halve the tariffs on Irish Whiskey from 150% to 75% before they reduce to 40% over ten years.

    In addition, advanced manufacturing that accounts for 11% of employment in Northern Ireland will benefit from India reducing or eliminating tariffs across a wide range of industrial products, including aerospace, medical technologies, or electronics.

    India’s commitment to increasing trade with Northern Ireland is further demonstrated in the opening of a Consulate in Belfast in March this year.

    For the first time ever, the landmark US-UK deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef to the US market. This is a major opportunity for Northern Ireland farmers to sell their high-quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.

    The deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors. The Government is continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. 

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said:

    These deals open the door to new export opportunities for Northern Ireland, giving businesses greater access to some of the world’s largest markets.

    With smoother trade into the EU, growing export opportunities with the US and India, as well as smoother movement of goods within the UK, Northern Ireland is uniquely positioned for investment and growth, and these deals will boost key sectors like agri-food, biotech, and whiskey—strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy and supporting jobs.

    This strategic partnership with the EU will also support jobs and growth in Northern Ireland whilst protecting Northern Ireland’s unique access to the EU single market provided by the Windsor Framework. The agri-food agreement with the EU will remove Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) frictions, reducing costs and protecting the UK’s internal market. The security and defence deal will strengthen our security and support Northern Ireland defence businesses, and cooperation on law enforcement will help prevent crime and bring perpetrators to justice, and linking our Emissions Trading System schemes will help avoid hikes in bills and prices.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Northern Ireland, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southwest Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for $8.6 Million Investment Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Pike County Investors

    Source: US FBI

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Southwest Ohio man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 24 months in prison for orchestrating an investment fraud scheme in Pike County and for failing to remit money withheld from employee paychecks to employee retirement funds.

    Robert W. Walton, Jr., 55, of Loveland, Ohio, was also ordered to pay more than $8.6 million in restitution.

    According to court documents, Walton committed two distinct financial crimes that resulted in a total loss of $8,657,603. He defrauded investors in a company he co-founded and stole retirement funds of its employees.

    Walton engaged in a scheme to defraud investors of Hadsell Chemical Processing, LLC (HCP) and related entities. Walton was the president of HCP and fraudulently sought investments in the form of promissory notes from dozens of victim investors.

    Walton claimed the notes were personally guaranteed by a prominent local business owner when in fact they were not. Walton repeatedly forged the business owner’s signature from 2012 through 2015 without the business owner’s authority on several loan documents and promissory notes.

    Walton falsely represented his company’s future revenues from another business to be in the millions by creating fake invoices. The actual total legitimate business revenue HCP had with that other business was approximately $50,000. He provided the fake invoices to investors. Walton also provided investors with falsified profit and loss statements, including one that changed HCP’s net income from a loss of approximately $800,000 to a profit of nearly $395,000.

    Walton also engaged in Ponzi-type activity by paying earlier investors with money received from new investors.

    During part of his employment at HCP, Walton was responsible for approving the remittance of employee retirement funds to an employee benefit plan sponsored by HCP. Walton failed to remit approximately $53,000 withheld from employees’ paychecks, failing to transfer the funds into employee retirement funds.

    Walton pleaded guilty in March 2023 to wire fraud and embezzling from employee benefit plans.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; and L. Joe Rivers, Regional Director, United States Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Cincinnati Regional Office, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Schoolchildren from Rostov-on-Don and Nalchik presented their works in the final of the competition “PROproekt”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    As part of the final of the All-Russian competition of school projects “PROproject” at the State University of Management, teleconferences were held with schools in Rostov-on-Don and Nalchik with the organizational, informational and technical support of the Rostov-on-Don Education Department.

    Students from eight Rostov schools defended their works: MBOU “School No. 6”, MBOU “School No. 30”, MBOU “School No. 76”, MBOU “School No. 90”, MBOU “School No. 96”, MBOU “School No. 99”, MBOU “School No. 100”, MBOU “School No. 104”, and from two schools in the urban district of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic: MKOU “Secondary School No. 9”, MKOU “Lyceum No. 2”.

    The projects were presented in areas corresponding to the national development goals of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 7, 2024 No. 309: long and active life; family; youth and children; personnel; infrastructure for life; efficient transport system; environmental well-being; efficient and competitive economy; international cooperation and export; data economy and digital transformation of the state.

    The competition entries of the second stream of finalists were evaluated by the jury members: Deputy Director of the Center for Career Guidance at the State University of Management Andrey Kolchin, specialist of the Center for Career Guidance at the State University of Management Victoria Vrublevskaya, associate professor of the Department of Sociology, Psychology of Management and History Irina Shcherbakova, teachers of the Department of Project Management, as well as representatives of the Youth Association for Project Management Young Crew SOVNET: director Mikhail Zorin and marketing specialist Kamilla Bikkulova.

    The experts noted the high level of development of the projects: detailed business models, prototypes of the proposed technological solutions and the results of laboratory experiments were prepared.

    In particular, the following projects were presented in the final:

    An integrated approach to combating cybercrime Offenses using social engineering Implementation of an expanded digital platform for the project of the winner of the National Open Championship of Creative Competencies ArtMasters2024 – the shadow theater “Rose-colored Glasses” The contribution of natives of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic to the military events of 1941-1945 3D printing technologies in the tourism industry Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy: problems, prospects and incentives Tracked all-terrain vehicle We are what we eat: the struggle of natural and synthetic dyes for human health The tourism industry of the Leningrad Region: prerequisites and development prospects The problem of romanticizing drugs in cinematography Age boundaries of young people as an object of sociological analysis The influence of psychological techniques of digital advertising on the formation of consumer behavior in the youth segment and others.

    Let us recall that in 2025, over 200 projects were submitted to the PROproject Competition, and 72 students from 37 general and vocational educational organizations (schools, lyceums, gymnasiums, colleges), as well as additional education institutions (technology parks, quantum centers, creativity centers, online schools) from 22 cities of the Russian Federation took part in the competition finals: Moscow, Obninsk, Ramenskoye, St. Petersburg, Orel, Lugansk, Shira village (Republic of Khakassia), Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Ufa, Vsevolozhsk, Serpukhov, Perm, Borisoglebsk, Krasnoperekopsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Magnitogorsk, Mostovskoy urban-type settlement (Krasnodar Territory), Sergiev Posad, Nalchik, Rostov-on-Don.

    You can read about how the final went for the first group of participants in this article.

    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: Bilibili Inc. Announces Completion of US$690 Million Convertible Senior Notes and Offering of Class Z Ordinary Shares in Connection with Hedging Transactions of Certain Convertible Notes Investors and Terms of Concurrent Repurchase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced (i) the completion of its offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$690 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “Notes”), including the initial purchasers’ full exercise of option to purchase an additional US$90 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, and (ii) the completion of the previously announced concurrent offering of its 10,281,240 Class Z ordinary shares that have been borrowed from non-affiliate third parties and offered in a separate underwritten offering.

    Notes Offering

    The Notes have been offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

    The Notes constitute senior, unsecured obligations of the Company. The Notes will mature on June 1, 2030, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. Holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the seventh scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 42.1747 Class Z ordinary shares per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately HK$185.63 per Class Z ordinary share and represents a conversion premium of approximately 27.1% above the closing price HK$146.00 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 21, 2025) and a premium of approximately 32.5% to the clearing share price of the Concurrent Delta Offering of HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. Upon conversion, subject to certain procedures and conditions set forth in the terms of the Notes, the Company will cause to be delivered the Company’s Class Z ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. Holders may elect to receive the Company’s American depositary shares (“ADS”), each representing one Class Z ordinary share, in lieu of Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion.

    The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 0.625% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2025.

    The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to enhance its content ecosystem to facilitate user growth, facilitate IP asset creation, and unleash its inherent potential. The Company also plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to improve its overall monetization efficiency, fund the Concurrent Repurchase (as defined below), fund future repurchases (from time to time) under its share repurchase program, and for other general corporate purposes.

    The Notes, the Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion of the Notes or the ADSs deliverable in lieu thereof have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons, except in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

    Concurrent Delta Offering

    The Company also completed the concurrent offering of its 10,281,240 Class Z ordinary shares that have been borrowed from non-affiliate third parties and offered in a separate underwritten offering by Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (the “Underwriters” and the “Concurrent Delta Offering”, respectively), each acting severally on behalf of itself and/or its respective affiliates, at HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share. The Underwriters used the resulting short position to facilitate hedging transactions by certain investors subscribing for the Notes, who employ a convertible arbitrage strategy (the “Convertible Arbitrage Investors”). The Company has been advised that each Underwriter has concurrently entered into off-market privately negotiated derivative transactions relating to the Class Z ordinary shares, which enabled Convertible Arbitrage Investors to establish their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes. The number of Class Z ordinary shares subject to the Concurrent Delta Offering generally corresponds to such initial short positions of the Convertible Arbitrage Investors. No new Class Z ordinary shares have been issued in the Concurrent Delta Offering.

    The Company has filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (including a prospectus) with the SEC. The Concurrent Delta Offering has been made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You may obtain these documents by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a copy of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 471-2526; or Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: prospectus@morganstanley.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 718-1649.

    The Company has subscribed for and been allocated 5,588,140 of its Class Z ordinary shares offered in the Concurrent Delta Offering for an aggregate amount of approximately HK$782.9 million at the offering price (the “Concurrent Repurchase”). The Concurrent Repurchase is being made pursuant to the Company’s existing share repurchase program. The Company used part of the proceeds from the Notes Offering for the Concurrent Repurchase. The Concurrent Repurchase enables investors to establish some of their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes and reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of these securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Bilibili may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: results of operations, financial condition, and stock price; Bilibili’s strategies; Bilibili’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Bilibili’s ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, provide quality content, products and services, and expand its product and service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; Bilibili’s ability to maintain its culture and brand image within its addressable user communities; Bilibili’s ability to manage its costs and expenses; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this announcement and in the attachments is as of the date of the announcement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    About Bilibili Inc.

    Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Bilibili Inc.
    Juliet Yang
    Tel: -86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
    Email: ir@bilibili.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Helen Wu
    Tel: -86-10-6508-0677
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: -1-212-481-2050
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government’s response to Fitch’s affirmation of Hong Kong’s “AA-“credit rating and “stable” outlook

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    In response to the report from Fitch today (May 23) on maintaining Hong Kong’s “AA-“credit rating and “stable” outlook, a Government spokesman made the following response:

    We noted Fitch’s decision to maintain Hong Kong’s credit rating at “AA-” with a “stable” outlook. Fitch recognised Hong Kong’s strong credit fundamentals, including large fiscal buffers, robust external finances, and a low level of fiscal debt. It also pointed out that our banking sector is resilient, with solid funding and liquidity.

    Hong Kong’s financial system remains robust, with a consistently healthy level of overall asset quality in the banking sector according to international standards. Bank deposits have continued to grow. As of the end of March this year, the total amount of bank deposits in Hong Kong was near $18 trillion, marking an 11 per cent year-on-year increase.

    Data have demonstrated the continuous reinforcement and enhancement of Hong Kong’s status and functions as an international financial centre. The confidence of global investors in Hong Kong is strengthening. The capital markets are active. For the stock market, the Hang Seng Index rose by 18 per cent last year, and has increased by over 15 per cent since the beginning of this year. The total market capitalisation of Hong Kong stocks has exceeded $41 trillion. The average daily turnover in the first four months of 2025 surpassed $250 billion, representing a 144 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The initial public offering (IPO) market is also thriving, with cumulative funds raised exceeding $60 billion. This week, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited welcomed the world’s largest IPO activity so far this year.

    The fiscal situation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has remained robust. In the 2025-26 Budget, reinforced fiscal consolidation was set out. It focuses primarily on containing expenditure growth, supplemented by revenue increase. It will gradually restore balance to government accounts. According to the Government’s medium-range forecast, the Operating Account (i.e. the Government’s daily income and expenses) is expected to be largely balanced in this financial year, and will return to surplus in the next financial year (2026-27). The Capital Account mainly involves capital works expenditure, which represents investments for the future, such as the development of the Northern Metropolis. Therefore, the Government will make flexible use of market resources, including increasing the scale of bond issuance, to fast-track the related projects. Even if so, the level of deficit in the Capital Account will gradually decrease starting from the 2026-27 financial year. Overall, after counting the proceeds from bond issuance, the Consolidated Accounts will return to surplus in the 2028-29 financial year.

    The tariff war has increased global economic uncertainty, and the world economy is facing broad challenges. However, international trade tensions have recently eased to a certain extent, and the Mainland’s economy has continued to grow steadily, supported by more proactive fiscal policies and moderate expansionary monetary policies. These will benefit the trade performance in Hong Kong and the region. Meanwhile, the Mainland’s high-level two-way opening up, as well as its pursuit of green transition, innovation and technology, and digital economy, will continue to create business and investment opportunities for Hong Kong. 

    Leveraging its unique advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the rest of the world under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, Hong Kong will aptly adjust to the global trade realignment and seize opportunities. In fact, more Mainland and international companies are establishing international headquarters, research and development centres and regional offices in Hong Kong to expand their global business. For example, in 2024, the number of companies in Hong Kong with parent companies located outside Hong Kong increased by about 10 per cent to nearly 10 000, reaching a new historical high. The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and Invest Hong Kong have also achieved good results in attracting businesses and investments.

    As a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, Hong Kong will continue to actively link the Mainland with the world. While reinforcing connections with traditional markets, we will also forge more economic and investment networks with new markets, particularly those in the Global South. Furthermore, Hong Kong will deepen integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. These will allow us to open up new growth points and inject greater impetus into our economy.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Focus Session – TARGET Services – Welcome address

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Focus Session – TARGET Services: A glance into the future

    Welcome address
    The go-live of the Eurosystem Collateral Management System (ECMS) on 16 June 2025 adds the final piece of the Eurosystem’s puzzle to create a more integrated and innovative European financial infrastructure, as outlined in 2015. Learn more about where we stand today and where we are heading to as we take a glance into future initiatives regarding the TARGET Services.

    Ulrich Bindseil, Director General, Market Infrastructure and Payments, ECB

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA2EUX9EG8E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • European Investment Bank is the largest lender by far to Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms developed by Norway’s Equinor and Poland’s Polenergia.
    • The two large-scale farms in the Baltic Sea will produce enough energy to power two million homes.
    • Third major renewables investment in Poland this year highlights the EU climate bank’s leading role in driving energy transition.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement to provide €700 million for the construction of two large-scale offshore wind farms developed by Norway’s Equinor and Poland’s Polenergia off the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. The twin Bałtyk 2 and Baltyk 3 wind farms will have a shared capacity of 1.44 GW and are expected to go online fully in 2028.

    “Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 are important projects for Poland’s decarbonisation plans as they will produce enough clean electricity to meet annual demand of two million households. The European Investment Bank has provided €350 million for each wind farm, which makes us the biggest lender by far among some 30 financial institutions involved,” said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska. “This is the EIB’s third major renewables investment in Poland only this year and our third financing for Polish offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea in general, which highlights our dedication to developing green energy in Poland as a prerequisite for both economic competitiveness and security.”

    Located some 30 kilometres off the Polish coastal towns of Ustka and Łeba, the two fixed-bottom wind farms will consist of a hundred wind turbines of 14.4 MW each. Primarily supplied by European companies, the joint venture between Equinor, a leading international player in the offshore wind sector, and Poland’s largest private energy group Polenergia will also contribute to modern development of the EU’s cohesion regions.

    Background information  

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

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security. In Poland, the EIB Group invested €5.7 billion euros last year, nearly half of which went to climate and environment projects, including energy transition.

    A trusted partner of the multifaceted energy transition in Poland, the EIB made a leading contribution earlier this year to the development of another offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, Baltica 2, the EU’s largest such wind park to date. In 2023, the EIB also financed Poland’s first offshore wind farm.

    InvestEU
    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
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    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
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    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
    Poland: EIB extends €700 million for development of two major new offshore wind farms
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Verdict in Nigerian Romance Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – Following a four-day trial and less than three hours of deliberation, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against two Nigerian nationals who participated in an international romance scheme.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the scheme, which began in January 2016, involved the creation of a fictitious persona named “Glenn Brown” on the dating website eHarmony.com. Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, both Nigerian nationals, worked with another individual who used this fake profile to initiate a romantic relationship with a victim in Albuquerque, New Mexico and subsequently request money from them. Throughout the course of the fraud, the victim was led to believe that their financial assistance was necessary for “Glenn Brown” to complete a purported construction project in Malaysia and return safely to the United States.

    The victim sent approximately $560,000 to various accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia between January 2016 and April 2017. On September 27, 2016, the victim wired approximately $28,000 to a Woodforest Bank account in the name of Daramola Cars, as instructed by the fraudulent “Glenn Brown” persona. Daramola subsequently wired $18,000 to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a check for $14,000.

    Daramola denied any knowledge of the romance scheme, however the FBI’s investigation uncovered extensive evidence, including text and WhatsApp correspondence on Daramola‘s phone, revealing his role as a provider of bank accounts for various fraud schemes including romance fraud schemes.

    Ogunlaja‘s involvement included using his Bank of America account for receiving fraudulent funds. Specifically, on March 9 and March 15, 2016, “Glenn Brown” instructed the victim to deposit $20,000 cash into Ogunlaja‘s account. Following these deposits, Ogunlaja made multiple cash withdrawals and transfers to Daramola’s account.

    Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Ogunlaja and Daramola remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Ogunlaja and Daramola each face up to 20 years in prison.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: A Las Cruces, New Mexico, Drug Leader Sentenced to 270 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking in Sitka, Alaska

    Source: US FBI

    JUNEAU – A Las Cruces, New Mexico woman was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess today to 270 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

    According to the plea agreement, Christina Quintana aka “Lete,” 35, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka, Alaska and she possessed and discharged a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  

    Beginning about May 2, 2017, and continuing until April 3, 2018, Quintana, along with her co-conspirators Andrea Avalos, Peter Krovina, Porter Treadway, Holly Chambers, Aaron Didrickson and Eric Morisky distributed methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka. Quintana and Avalos, who did not reside in Alaska, were responsible for the transportation and distribution of methamphetamine and heroin as well as coordinating and collecting drug debts. The other members of the conspiracy assisted Quintana and Avalos in their illicit activities. All member of the drug organization possessed firearms to facilitate their drug trafficking activities, as well as to extract retribution against members who owed drug debts. For example, the defendants organized and perpetrated a violent home invasion and robbery where Quintana shot an individual in both legs and Treadway attacked another individual with a claw hammer, to collect a drug debt owed to them. In issuing today’s sentence Chief Judge Burgess said Quintana’s conduct was beyond the pale on that day.  

    “Illicit narcotics are a cancer in our society and many Southeast Alaska communities have suffered at the hands of this epidemic for years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “The violence committed in this case has shaken the community of Sitka and is one of the worst drug offenses committed in Southeast Alaska in the last few decades.”

    “The defendant came to Alaska for the sole financial motivation of trafficking illicit narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.  “Drug traffickers who believe they can operate with impunity, while bringing poison and violence to Alaska’s communities, will be held accountable by the FBI and our local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners.” 

    “The brazenness of Quintana’s actions clearly warrant this significant sentence,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Olson. “She showed a complete disregard for the law and jeopardized the community as a whole.  The removal of Quintana and her co-conspirators from the streets will help make our communities safer.” 

    Quintana’s co-conspirators also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced:

    • Andrea Avalos, aka “Josie,” 25, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
    • Peter Krovina, aka, “Lil’ Pete,” 42, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearms charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.   
    • Holly Chambers, 28, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to time served.    
    • Aaron Didrickson, 32 of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to time served.    
    • Eric Morisky, aka “Curly,” 33, of Juneau pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and was sentenced to four years in prison.    
    • Porter Treadway, 39, of Sitka pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2022.    

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Sitka Police Department investigated the case with assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. The case is also part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the South East Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force. HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska. 

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Albany Man Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic Relief Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Solomon, age 38, of Albany, was sentenced today to 13 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for defrauding a loan program meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

    United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    In previously pleading guilty to two counts of bank fraud, Solomon admitted that in 2020, he fraudulently applied for and obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for two restaurants in Saratoga Springs, New York, that he had once operated. Solomon submitted false and forged tax documents as part of each loan application, and lied about each restaurant’s number of employees and payroll.

    At the time Solomon applied for the loans, neither restaurant was operational, and Solomon used the loaned funds, totaling $163,993, in ways he knew were prohibited by the PPP. Solomon also fraudulently obtained forgiveness of one of the loans, in the amount of $87,500, by falsely telling the lender that he used the loaned funds for payroll.

    PPP loans, which were issued by financial institutions in 2020 and 2021 and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, needed to be used by the borrowing business only on certain, permissible expenses, such as payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. 

    Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also ordered Solomon to pay $163,993 in restitution and to forfeit that same amount as proceeds of his crimes.

    Solomon has two prior felony convictions for grand larceny, as well as a prior misdemeanor conviction for possession of a forged instrument.

    The FBI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mountain Home Couple Plead Guilty to Charges in Connection with Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funds

    Source: US FBI

    Fort Smith, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that James Read, age 44, and his wife, Crystal Payne, age 42, both of Mountain Home, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their attempts to obtaining pandemic relief funds unlawfully.  The Honorable Judge P. K. Holmes III accepted the pleas in the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith.

    According to the plea agreement in his case, Read applied to the Small Business Administration for Payment Protection Program (PPP) funds, which, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, are forgivable loans intended for businesses struggling with essential expenses, such as payroll, during the pandemic. In that application, Read provided inflated wage and employee data about his business, SnowbirdBob LLC, and provided falsified tax documents. He further admitted to laundering the PPP loan proceeds by purchasing a new vehicle.

    Read also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for attempting to obtain unemployment benefits for himself and others in Louisiana. He falsely represented that he lived and worked in Louisiana to Louisiana’s state unemployment administrator.

    Payne pleaded guilty to a single count for false statements made in her own PPP loan application.

    Read and Payne’s sentencings will be later determined by the court, following the U.S. Probation Office’s completion of a presentence investigation.Based on his guilty plea, the maximum penalties Read faces include imprisonment for up to 30 years and a fine of up to $1,000,000.  Payne faces up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

    The PPP allows qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. 

    The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

    The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Hunter Bridges is prosecuting the case for the United States.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: President of North Carolina-Based Entertainment Company Agrees to Plead Guilty to Embezzling from Television Production

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A New York man who is the president of an entertainment production company based in North Carolina has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal charge for embezzling more than $200,000 from a television production.

    David Ozer, 58, of Roslyn Heights, New York, was charged via information with one count of wire fraud. In a plea agreement also filed today, Ozer agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

    Ozer is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

    As alleged in the information, Ozer is a producer and the president of Strong Studios Inc., a production company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also is the producer of “Safehaven,” a supernatural thriller television series. According to his plea agreement, Ozer defrauded Ravenwood-Productions LLC, the principal financial backer of “Safehaven” by misappropriating approximately $214,486 in production funds from bank accounts for the production.

    To create the false appearance that the funds he embezzled were spent on legitimate production costs, Ozer created fraudulent accounting records, including falsified invoices, and forged a letter purportedly from his accountant. In reality, Ozer’s accountant did not write the letter, the contents of the letter were false, and Ozer used his accountant’s name without his accountant’s authorization.

    Ozer provided these falsified documents to a lawyer for Strong Studios and caused him to transmit them in an email on January 3, 2024, to an attorney for Ravenwood-Productions.

    The FBI is investigating this case.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force and Matt Coe-Odess of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Analyst Indicted for Alleged Scheme to Manipulate Stock Market Via Media Campaigns Then Trading Contrary to His Public Positions

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A stock analyst and frequent guest on business television news channels has been charged in a 19-count indictment alleging he used his public platform to illicitly profit by manipulating stock market activity and trading contrary to the position he presented to the public, the Justice Department announced today.

    Andrew Left, 54, formerly of Beverly Hills but who now resides in Boca Raton, Florida, is charged with one count of engaging in a securities fraud scheme, 17 counts of securities fraud, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

    Left is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    “This defendant allegedly used his platform as a securities commentator to manipulate the markets and enrich himself in the process,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The integrity of our securities markets is essential to the health of our financial system, and those who undermine that integrity imperil the savings of hard-working people. My office’s Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force will continue to protect the public by rooting out malfeasance by corporate insiders who believe they are above the law.”

    “Mr. Left’s presence on financial television networks and his significant online following provided him with a credible platform to allegedly disguise his intentions and manipulate the investing public for personal gain,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our partners at the SEC and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to holding accountable individuals who manipulate stocks for personal benefit at the expense of others.”           

    “Mr. Left allegedly used his influence and platform to manipulate the market for his own gain, while lying to investors and the public to maintain his clout in front of his viewing audience and unsuspecting followers,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen, Criminal Investigations Group, United States Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors believe the market should be fair and equal for all investors, based on truth, and not fiction; when it is not, we will spare no resource to bring those to justice who violate the public trust placed in advisors in the financial field.”

    According to the indictment returned on Thursday, Left is a securities analyst, trader, and frequent guest commentator on business cable news channels such as CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg Television. He also conducted business under the name “Citron Research,” an online moniker he created as a vehicle for publishing investment recommendations. Citron’s online presence included a website and a social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    Using Citron’s online platform, Left commented on publicly traded companies and asserted that the market incorrectly valued the companies’ stock, advocating that the current price was too high or too low. Left’s recommendations often included an explicit or implicit representation about Citron’s trading position and a “target price,” which he represented as his own view of the security’s true future value. As alleged in the indictment, Left used his social media following and public platform to earn at least $16 million in quick profits by fraudulently manipulating the stock market from at least March 2018 to October 2023.

    Knowing that Citron’s reputation with investors had the power to move markets, Left allegedly selected a publicly traded company about which he intended to publish commentary with the intention of manipulating its share price. Left prepared commentary about the company for dissemination through Citron. Sometimes, the commentary represented Left’s own work. Other times, Left disseminated as his own the commentary of third parties. The commentary routinely included sensationalized headlines and inflammatory language to maximize the immediate impact their publication would have on the stock market.

    In the leadup to publication of Citron’s commentary, Left allegedly established long or short positions in a company in his trading accounts, so he profited by taking advantage of the intended short-term movement in the company’s share price caused by his commentary. To exploit his advance knowledge of the timing and subject of the forthcoming commentary on the company, Left allegedly often built his positions using inexpensive, short-dated options contracts that expired the same day that he published his commentary. 

    According to the indictment, he also submitted limit orders to close his positions as soon as the company’s shares reached a certain price – often at prices vastly different from the target prices Citron’s commentary touted. Though Left represented to the public that his recommendations were to be trusted, behind the scenes, Left allegedly took contrary trading positions to reap quick profits off the stocks he either promoted or pilloried through Citron.

    To maintain the illusion of Citron’s independence and the credibility of its commentary, Left allegedly concealed Citron’s financial relationships with hedge funds. According to the indictment, for example, Left lied to law enforcement that Citron “never” exchanged compensation with a hedge fund or coordinated trading with a hedge fund in advance of the issuance of its commentary.

    For example, in November 2018, Left allegedly wrote a portfolio manager about Nvidia Corp., a publicly traded technology company based in Santa Clara, California. In the message, Left wrote, “Do you want to make some fast money[.] Put together a thesis why nvda is oversold . . . We can destroy it . . . Just read the analyst notes from this past quarter and assemble the best of the ideas.”

    Later that morning, Left took financial positions in Nvidia, including short-dated call options that expired three days later. Short-dated options can offer quick profits if a stock suddenly moves in the narrow timeframe before expiration.

    Left then promoted Nvidia as a favorable investment on Citron’s Twitter account, stating, “Citron buys $NVDA. This is the first time in 2 years stock offers an appealing risk-reward to investors . . . We see $165 before we see $120.” At the time, Nvidia’s stock was trading at approximately $143.64. The tweet was reported on by major media outlets.

    Despite his representation that he expected Nvidia’s share price to rise to $165, less than two hours after announcing “Citron buys $NVDA,” Left sold all his pre-tweet positions Nvidia was trading within a range of approximately $150 – $151, for a profit of at least than $960,000. Nvidia closed at a high of $154 on the day of Left’s tweet and fell to $144 the next day.

    According to the indictment, Left also furthered his scheme by misrepresented his trading positions during public appearances on news programs. After denouncing one company as a “fraud” on CNBC’s “Fast Money,” for example, Left allegedly falsely claimed to have covered only a “small size” of his position in the company’s stock when, earlier that same day, he had already closed out the majority of his position following the publication of commentary through Citron.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    If convicted, Left would face a statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison for the securities fraud scheme count, up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of securities fraud, and up to five years in federal prison for the false statements count.

    The FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab and Brett A. Sagel of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force, and Trial Attorneys Lauren Archer and Matthew Reilly of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting this case.

    The Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section uses the Victim Notification System (VNS) to provide victims with case information and updates related to this case. Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York and North Yorkshire set to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    York and North Yorkshire set to benefit from recent trade deals

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers a welcome boost to a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of people in the region.

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire. 

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for more than 1,500 businesses in the region employing 43,000 people. 

    This means greater job security for workers and stronger economic growth to create more jobs across York and North Yorkshire – delivering on the priorities in our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for nearly 9% of people in York and North Yorkshire who are employed in manufacturing. 

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives. 

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across York and North Yorkshire.

    Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU, which reduces red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like crab, Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

    The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 8,400 jobs in the steel industry across Yorkshire and the Humber.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in North Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    Tom Richardson, Chief Commercial Officer, Warrendale Group Limited, said:  

    While we are yet to see the full detail of the agreement, having less red tape when exporting will be welcome to us as a UK beef production business; this will hopefully allow us to reduce time and costs when exporting our products and therefore could open up more markets in the EU to ultimately benefit the farmers producing beef for us.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including in York and North Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector.

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, India has agreed to remove tariffs on a wide variety of UK agri-food products. This will deliver significant benefits for the region’s farming and horticultural sector that produces 20% of all the UK’s agri-food.

    In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in the region that employ thousands of people. 

    The US deal also opens the way to a wider UK-US Economic Deal, opening up access for our world leading services industries – including those in York and North Yorkshire. 

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in York and North Yorkshire, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.  

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: West of England to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    West of England to benefit from recent trade deals

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor for the West of England Helen Godwin to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Agreement with the EU a huge boost to 64,000 people employed in agriculture across the South West.

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England. 

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, reducing the US tariff on cars and removing American tariffs on UK aerospace will support employers with a significant presence in the region like Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace. 

    This means job security for workers, jobs creation supported in local communities and higher living standards across the West of England – priorities that we are delivering through Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The trade deals that we have closed provides certainty for the 5% of all working people who are employed in manufacturing, delivers security for their families and puts more in people’s pockets.  

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the West of England.

    68,000 people employed in agriculture (a fifth of all agriculture workers in England) across the South West will benefit significantly from our trade deal with the EU, that removes red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like Cheddar Cheese now have easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

    In another win for local producers, the deal means goods like Gloucestershire sausages that previously could not be exported can now be sold to customers in the EU.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the West of England, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    John Harrison, Chair of Airbus UK, said:

    We welcome this new chapter in the UK-EU relationship. In an uncertain world, closer cooperation gives businesses greater certainty and unlocks new opportunities for investment, innovation and growth.

    For Airbus, with our unique industrial footprint across both the UK and EU, this reset provides a vital platform to strengthen partnerships in defence, space and civil aerospace, areas where collaboration is essential to Europe’s long-term security and competitiveness.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing major economy, including the West of England. 

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, the barriers to trading have been dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on products including advanced machinery, aerospace and medical devices that are made in the West of England. 

    Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.    

    India reduced tariffs on medical devices and machinery exported from the UK, that will deliver significant benefits for firms across Bristol and the wider region. 

    The deals both support collaboration on green energy tech, aligning with the region’s initiatives in renewables and energy innovation. They also bring benefits to the financial, digital and services companies that are based in Bristol which employ local people and generate economic growth across the region. 

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the West of England, raising standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.  

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Teesside to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Teesside to benefit from recent trade deals

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost the Tees Valley’s manufacturing industries (9% of local jobs), with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Metro Mayor of the Tees Valley Ben Houchen to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers a welcome boost to a range of manufacturing sectors that employs 9% of local jobs.

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost the Tees Valley’s manufacturing industries (9% of local jobs), with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures.   

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for the biggest employers in the region like Nissan, the engine manufacturer Cummins and Caterpillar.   

    This means greater job security for workers, stronger economic growth to support more jobs and higher living standards across the Tees Valley – priorities that we are delivering through our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for manufacturing in the Tees Valley that employs 9% of all people.   

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the Teesside.

    10,123 people employed in agriculture across the North East are also set to benefit from our trade deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning farmers and producers who grow food across the region now have easy access to the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner.

    This deal also protects British steel exports from new rules and restrictive tariffs, helping to protect 3,050 people working in the steel industry across the North East.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Teesside, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.    

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.   

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing major economy, including for businesses in the Tees Valley like independent production company Wander.

    Chloe Clover, Co Founder and CEO at Wander:

    Trade deals like these are game changing for ambitious businesses because they open doors, spark innovation and make international growth possible.

    The support Wander received from DBT on our recent trade missions to SXSW Austin and Amsterdam gave us the perfect platform to expand our services globally. We connected with major industry players, explored new markets and showcased our expertise at roundtables.

    We attended bootcamps ahead of the missions and were introduced to other agencies and potential clients & partners.

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota, while other tariff reductions on aerospace parts will also benefit Teesside’s manufacturing sector. 

    Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.     

    In the same week, we negotiated the first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in Teesside that employ thousands of people.  

    Just this week the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in Teesside, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.    

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wales to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Wales to benefit from recent trade deals

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Wales.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change
    • Delivers job security for workers in Wales and more opportunities for Welsh Industry

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Wales. 

    These deals will deliver benefits that communities across Wales will feel – supporting job creation, reducing costs and expanding export opportunities.

    This means stronger economic growth across Wales – delivering our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Wales. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.  

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Wales.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    Russell Greenslade, Director, CBI Wales, said:

    As an export-led economy, the government’s commitment to free and fair trade will be welcomed by firms across Wales.

    Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and economic headwinds, these agreements with the US, India and the EU will reduce existing barriers to trade and provide Welsh firms with a renewed sense of optimism as they look to seize new international opportunities.

    Deals like these will be critical to driving growth, creating jobs and raising living standards across our nation.

    Over 200 Welsh businesses exported goods worth £226 million to India last year and this could grow even further under the new trade deal.

    Welsh farmers will benefit from the India deal with tariffs on lamb reduced from 33% to 0%. Wales has a vibrant creative sector, and the deal provides enhanced copyright protections for producers so they can be confident that works will continue to be protected for at least 60 years.

    Welsh food and drink producers will also no longer face huge delays and red tape to export into the EU while some products like Welsh sausages and lamb mince will no longer be blocked. The deal has been welcomed by the Head of Wales at the Federation of Small Businesses and by the National Farmers Union Cymru who highlighted that Wales exports £813m of food and drink a year to the EU – 75% of all exports and more than the UK level of 57%. 

    Wales is also home to a thriving clean energy sector employing over 58,000 people and generating over £4.8 billion in revenue – this deal will support further development as we gain unprecedented access to India’s procurement market as they transition towards a net zero economy. The sector will also benefit from the new EU deal which agrees cooperate on clean energy and link our schemes for emissions trading – worth up to £3.8 billion a year to our economy in the long run.

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

    The trade deals with India, the US and the EU are great news for Welsh consumers, Welsh business, and Welsh jobs.

    Taken together these deals mean a huge boost for our key industries, from farming to green energy and the creative sector. We want to grow our economy and create secure well-paid jobs and by unlocking new markets and opportunities we can deliver on that promise.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including for Wales.

    Wales’s steel industry has also been supported by the US trade deal which has eliminated the previous steel tariffs of 25% and our deal with the EU adds further protection for steel by safeguarding steel exports from new EU tariffs.

    Under the historic deal reached with the US last week, we have agreed reciprocal market access on beef that will benefit farmers in Wales, will a total UK quota of 13,000 metric tonnes. There will be no weakening of UK food standards on imports.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For Welsh businesses, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    Just this week, the Prime Minister continued to act in Britain’s national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, create more jobs in Wales, raising living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scotland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Scotland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU slashing tariffs on key industries and opening markets are set to help drive growth in Scotland and put money in Scots’ pockets.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the First Minister of Scotland to discuss recent trade deals and the boon for Scotland.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Iconic Scottish produce such as Salmon, Whisky, Gin and Irn Bru boosted by easier access to international markets.

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU slashing tariffs on key industries and opening markets are set to help drive growth in Scotland and put money in Scots’ pockets.

    These deals represent tangible benefits for communities throughout Scotland, supporting jobs, reducing costs, expanding export opportunities for iconic Scottish products and making it easier to go on holiday.

    This means stronger economic growth for firms across Scotland – delivering on our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Scotland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Scotland.

    The new agreement with the European Union, the UK’s largest trading market, will directly address challenges faced by Scottish exporters since 2019. The Scottish salmon industry has estimated that between 2019 and 2023, Scottish Salmon export values experienced a net loss of around £75 million. Our deal makes it significantly easier to sell Scottish goods to European markets. We’ve also unlocked a new salmon market through our deal with India, with tariffs dropping from 33% to 0%.

    Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: 

    We welcome the UK Government’s efforts in moving at pace to secure trade deals that will grow and strengthen market opportunities for our farmers.

    Ministers rightly recognise salmon as the jewel in the crown of our world-class produce and its vital role in the economy of coastal communities and across the UK.

    Securing frictionless access to key markets such as the EU, along with expanding opportunities in India, is crucial to protect our producers from unnecessary barriers like tariffs and red tape.

    Scottish salmon’s high standards of quality and sustainability set it apart globally, helping to drive investment and support 12,500 jobs across the Highlands and Islands and beyond.

    We look forward to continuing to work with government to build on this momentum, including further progress with the US, and to ensure Scotland’s salmon sector continues to thrive on the world stage.

    The landmark deal with India has slashed tariffs on Scotland’s most iconic products. Scottish distillers will immediately see these halved from 150% to 75% and eventually to just 40% over the next decade.

    Other industries boosted by the deal include soft drinks and food that will ramp up Scotland’s export economy, supporting jobs and increasing prosperity across the country.

    Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said:

    Our trio of trade deals shows we are championing Scottish products and businesses on the global stage. From our world-renowned whisky distilleries to our cutting-edge green energy sector, Scotland has so much to offer international markets. But more importantly as part of our Plan for Change this means more money in people’s pockets.

    By securing better access to the European Union, United States and India, we’re creating real opportunities for Scottish businesses to grow, supporting jobs in communities from the Highlands to the Borders.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.   

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.   

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For Scottish businesses, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    In the US Tariffs on British steel and aluminium will be removed. In addition to vital assurances for life science, there are reductions for the automotive industry with US tariffs cut from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year and Indian tariffs dropping from 110% to 10% under a quota.

    New reciprocal market access has also been agreed on beef – with UK farmers given a tariff free quota for 13,000 metric tonnes without compromising the sector’s high standards.

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Committee to agree delivery plan for 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    At the meeting Economy and Infrastructure Committee next week (Thursday 28 May) members will decide how over £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used over the next 12 months to deliver a positive impact across communities.

    The proposed 2025/26 Highland UKSPF Delivery Plan is made up of a range of projects geared to delivering positive impacts across the Highlands, building on the successes of the 2022-25 Delivery Plan and introducing new interventions, all aimed at maximising the return on the 2025/26 investment.

    Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “At our meeting in February we noted the progress  being made across a range of interventions under the 2022 – 25 UKSPF priorities of Communities and Places, Supporting Local Business and People and Skills. Now we know the Highland allocation for 2025/26, we need to agree a solid delivery plan that will deliver within the timescale as it is critical that funding is used in this current financial year.

    “To ensure optimal use is made of our allocation, the report that will be presented to members recommends that we build on the successes of the 2022-25 UKSPF Delivery Plan. This will allow us to include a mix of new and extended initiatives based on impacts projects have had so far, lessons learned, and to tie in with our economic development priorities.

    He added: “This funding is a very important additional investment specifically targeted to benefit the people of Highland by supporting communities, businesses, employment and tourism. As a Council, we have been very successful in using UKSPF to support initiatives and community development throughout Highland across a very broad range of applications, so I hope the committee will support the recommendations.”

    23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: North East of England to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    North East of England to benefit from recent trade deals

    Top job creators in the North East of England’s automotive industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of North East England Kim McGuiness to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Boost for top job creators and delivers long term security for 14,000 workers employed in the automotive industry locally.

    Top job creators in the North East of England’s automotive industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.

    This means long-term stability for 14,000 people employed in the sector and security for their families. 

    It will also deliver opportunities for major job creators in the region like Nissan, Hitachi and Caterpillar to grow – the first priority of our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

      These trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for the 14,000 workers employed in the automotive manufacturing in the North East.    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the North East Combined Authority.

    10,123 people employed in agriculture across the North East are also set to benefit from our trade deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning farmers and producers who grow food across the region now have easy access to the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner.

    This deal also protects British steel exports from new rules and restrictive tariffs, helping to protect 3,050 people working in the steel industry across the North East.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

      The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the North East, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    The benefits of the India deal for local businesses and workers have been praised by Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter, Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics Limited & Director General of The Durham Institute of Research, Development & Innovation. 

    Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE said:  

      Coltraco Ultrasonics is strongly supportive of the India Free Trade Agrement and proud to have modestly contributed to and advising the British negotiating team on various chapters.   The UK private sector can now, because of the India FTA, the Windsor Framework CPTPP, and a variety of other UK FTAs, look out to the world, balancing our exporting and investment opportunities between the USA, the EU and Asia Pacific.    It is a tremendous success and we thank British and Indian Civil Servants for their public service in the UK-India FTA.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including the North East.

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota.  

    In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on car exports to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, almost the total number of UK vehicles exported to the country last year. 

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the North East, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.  

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Digital Agriculture Form Boosts Compliance Among Travelers

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Digital Agriculture Form Boosts Compliance Among Travelers

    Akamai Arrival Pilot Phase Shows Strong Results as State Moves Toward Expansion

    From left: Department of Agriculture Chairperson Sharon Hurd, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Deputy to the Chair Dean
    Matsukawa, DOA IT staff member Jason Azus-Richardson, and Plant Quarantine Manager Jonathan Ho.
    Link to Press Conference Recording
     (Courtesy: Office of the Lt. Gov.)

    HONOLULU — Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke announced today that the pilot phase of Hawaiʻi’s new Akamai Arrival digital agriculture form has shown strong results, with an average 74% compliance rate for the state’s mandatory Plants and Animals Declaration—compared to 60% under the previous paper-only system.

    The Akamai Arrival initiative is a key component of the state’s broader effort to modernize government services, protect local agriculture, and improve the travel experience for both visitors and returning residents. By transitioning from paper to digital, the state has enhanced its ability to collect accurate data in real time and respond more quickly to potential biosecurity threats.

    Launched on March 1, the three-month pilot program which ends May 31, was implemented on 30% of incoming flights—more than 100 routes. Six major airlines participated, with Southwest and American Airlines incorporating the digital form on all of their Hawaiʻi-bound flights.

    “Akamai Arrival reflects our commitment to modernizing government services in ways that make sense for both travelers and the state,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “The digital form offers convenience through quick completion, flexible submission options, and multiple language choices—while also providing real-time data that helps us identify and respond to potential biosecurity threats more effectively.”

    Based on the pilot’s success, Lt. Gov. Luke announced that the state, in collaboration with airline partners and key stakeholders, will expand the Akamai Arrival program to additional flights throughout the remainder of the year.

    The digital form, accessible up to five days before departure, is currently available in six languages, with more in development to increase accessibility for non-English-speaking travelers.

    Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity system remains the state’s first line of defense against invasive species that threaten native ecosystems, local food production, and the economy. Moving to a digital platform strengthens this system by allowing faster, more efficient monitoring and response.

    “Biosecurity is critical to protecting our local agriculture, environment, and way of life. By moving to a digital platform, we can more effectively identify potential threats and respond quickly to protect Hawaiʻi from invasive species,” said Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture chairperson.

    The Akamai Arrival platform was developed using internal resources, with no additional cost to taxpayers. It aligns with the state’s goals of sustainability, modernization, and biodiversity protection.

    ###


    Attachment: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Digital Advertising Business Owner and Operator Sentenced to Prison for $5 Million Ponzi Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner and operator who pleaded guilty to wire fraud was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 34 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for fraudulently soliciting more than $5 million in investments for his digital advertisement business.

    According to court documents, Robert Cortez Marshall, 43, operated a Ponzi scheme between January 2014 and April 2015 by fraudulently soliciting over $5 million for his business R.B.J. Generational Wealth Management LLC d/b/a Adz on Wheelz from more than 200 unwitting investors. He devised a scheme to defraud victims by falsely claiming that: (1) Adz on Wheelz owned and operated a fleet of luxury vehicles that could be customized for digital advertising; (2) Adz on Wheelz had already received millions of dollars in contracts from advertisers; (3) investors would receive a guaranteed weekly royalty payment; and (4) investors could cancel at any time or receive a refund of their investment.

    In reality, Marshall would use money solicited from new investors to make the “royalty payments” owed to prior investors. He also transferred investor funds to other accounts under his control and used investor money for his own personal expenses. Through this scheme, investors lost approximately $3.5 million.

    “The defendant wined and dined his investors, and he promised annual returns of more than 200% on investments,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who take advantage and defraud others for profit.”

    “Financial crimes like Ponzi schemes may not be violent, but they certainly are not victimless,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “Under the guise of an established business Mr. Marshall solicited investments from individuals and secured their trust, swindling more than 200 victims out of more than $5 million for his personal benefit. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to investigate financially devastating schemes and seek justice for victims of fraud.”

    The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Fang and Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Disbarred Attorney Admits Defrauding Victims in Ponzi-Like Wire Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, disbarred attorney today admitted a wire fraud scheme that caused losses of more than $1 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

    Lawrence Coven, 61, of Hillsborough, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Coven operated and controlled Sunrise Enterprises LLC, which purported to provide financial services to investors. In reality, Coven induced victim investors into sending him funds by falsely representing that he would invest their money through Sunrise in exchange for large profits by providing short-term loans to borrowers who could not obtain standard loans. He falsely guaranteed investors returns of between 10 to 15 percent on their investments and told investors that their investments were risk-free. But instead of investing the money as he promised, Coven diverted investor funds for personal expenses, including utilities, entertainment, real estate, credit card bills, and cash withdrawals. And when investors began asking questions, Coven provided them with false assurances that their money was safe and used money from existing investors to make payments to other investors in a Ponzi-like fashion.

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former FBI Director Airs Warning About Elder Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    The Websters are among millions of older Americans targeted each year in elder fraud schemes like bogus lottery and romance scams. Fraudsters string along victims with promises of love or riches in exchange for cash advances or assistance moving illegal funds. Losses from these types of scams reach into the hundreds of millions each year and are increasing as the U.S. population ages.

    The Websters’ case was featured on fbi.gov in 2019 and garnered national attention. The couple hopes the new public service announcement (PSA) will remind older people, their families, and caregivers that they need to maintain their guard against sophisticated schemes.

    “Since we have become involved with this issue, we’ve heard sad stories of millions of dollars stolen, lives threatened, and even suicides,” Lynda Webster said. “My husband has been targeted for years. And when one scammer threatened our lives we knew we had to act.”

    The PSA includes archival images of Webster as a Navy officer in World War II and Korea and later as a federal judge and head of the country’s premier intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The scammer who targeted the Websters didn’t know this background, just that Judge Webster was older and might therefore be susceptible to cons that prey on traits like trustworthiness, loneliness, and a yearning for more financial security.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kimberly Vagos Blackwood: Boston Field Office

    Source: US FBI

    Born in 1972, the first year women were permitted to be FBI special agents, I started my FBI career as a file clerk in 1996 and became an agent in early 2001. I have worked cases in a number of areas, but have focused on complex financial crimes, health care fraud, and other white-collar investigations.

    What is the best career or life advice you’ve been given?

    In the days and weeks following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we were all working extremely long hours and not getting a lot of sleep. A few weeks in, I knew I needed to get some exercise, so I snuck out for a quick run. I was feeling guilty and hoping that no one would see me. In the elevator on my way outside, I bumped into a very senior agent. I apologized profusely for sneaking out for a run. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Albuquerque Warns of Government Impersonation Scams

    Source: US FBI

    The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is issuing a public warning about Government Impersonation scams.

    The FBI, along with other federal, state, local, and tribal partners, is working to investigate cases in which scammers are using advanced spoofing scams to steal the public’s hard-earned money.

    According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), there have been Nationwide reported losses of more than $33 million due to Government Impersonation scams from January through November 2024. While these scams are not new, they have become more advanced and involve networks of criminals. These schemes could be multi-layered and may last several weeks to months until victims realize they are being scammed and their financial accounts have been depleted.

    Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Division said, “While the FBI does not want the public to ignore calls that appear to come from law enforcement, be aware that neither the FBI nor any other legitimate law enforcement agency will ever demand cash or gift cards from you or ask you to move your money into an account for safe keeping.”

    Below describes how this scam is typically carried out:

    • Scammers claim to be personnel from the FBI, IRS, U.S. Marshal Service, Secret Service, or other federal agencies or local law enforcement agencies. The scammers “spoof” or fake where they are calling from, so it appears to the victim that they are calling from a legitimate agency.
    • Victims are threatened that a warrant for their arrest has been issued, that they are being implicated in a crime, that their Social Security number is suspended, or that they are simply under investigation and that they must pay a fee or fine to avoid detention.
    • These scammers often demand that the victim act quickly, not get off the phone, and threaten or scare the victim into believing that they will be arrested imminently.
    • Subsequently, some of these scams are much more elaborate, with multiple scammers spoofing different agencies to draw the victim into the scheme. Oftentimes the scammer will send fake documents on what appears to be U.S. Government letterhead to further legitimize the scam and involvement of multiple people.
    • Scammers may also provide victims with phone numbers to call, which lead to an associate of the scammer. This person may tell the victim that they can fix the problem, but that their financial accounts have been “hacked” and the victim should move their money to a secure account number provided by the scammers.
    • The victim is commonly instructed to withdraw money from their bank account and transfer via wire transfer, or deposit into a cryptocurrency kiosk or ATM, or instructed to purchase gift cards and then provide the card information to the fraud actor. Recently, scammers are requesting the victim purchase gold or other precious metals for a courier to pick up.

    A variation of this scam was recently reported in New Mexico:

    A victim received a call from a scammer stating that he worked with The U.S. Marshal Service (USMS) and informed the victim that his social security number had be implicated in a money laundering operation. Following the initial contact, the victim received a subsequent call from a spoofed phone number appearing to be from the local Police Department, this caller confirmed that the victim was in fact under investigation and that he should follow the instructions given by the supposed Marshal. The victim was instructed to withdraw funds from his bank account and deposit them into an ATM. At the time of this scam the ATM was out of service, so the scammer sent someone to pick up the funds from the victim’s residence.

    Tips to Protect Yourself:

    • Know that the U.S. Government and Law Enforcement agencies will not email you or call you unsolicited. Nor will they ever request that you wire money or cryptocurrency, send precious metals, or purchase gift cards to avoid detention or to mitigate an alleged issue with your finances or digital devices.
    • Slow down before taking action. Scammers oftentimes depend on victims to make quick decisions.
    • Always look up your local or federal law enforcement office’s phone number on your own and contact them directly. Do not call the number provided by the caller or allow them to transfer you.
    • Never give out your personal information, including banking information, Social Security number, or other personally identifiable information over the phone to individuals you do not know.
    • Do not click on unsolicited popups, links through text messages, or email links and attachments.
    • Do not contact unknown numbers provided to you in these communications.
    • Do not authorize unknown individuals access to your computer.
    • Do not meet with unknown individuals to deliver cash or precious metals.
    • Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting donations or demanding payment.

    If you suspect you are a victim of this or any scam, immediately end communications with the subjects and contact law enforcement.

    • If you feel that you are in imminent danger, call 911
    • Contact your financial institution immediately upon suspecting or discovering a fraudulent transfer
    • Report to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov
    • Submit a complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: The Grand Health Care System and 12 Affiliated Skilled Nursing Facilities to Pay $21.3 Million for Allegedly Providing and Billing for Fraudulent Rehabilitation Therapy Services

    Source: US FBI

    Company Admits that Supervisory Officials Falsified Information in Medical Records

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Strauss Ventures LLC doing business as The Grand Health Care System and 12 affiliated skilled nursing facilities (collectively, the Grand), have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing federal health care programs for therapy services that were unreasonable, unnecessary, unskilled, or that simply did not occur as billed. Many of the settling facilities are located in upstate and central New York, including in Albany, Oneida, Madison, Columbia, and Herkimer counties.

    “Today’s settlement protects patients and taxpayers by ensuring that medical treatment is dictated by patient need and not by financial motive,” said United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman.  “Skilled nursing facilities provide important services to a vulnerable population, and we will continue to hold them accountable when they provide patients with unnecessary services and falsify records.”

    The settlement resolves allegations that from as early as January 1, 2014 to September 30, 2019, the Grand knowingly submitted false claims for rehabilitation therapy for residents at 12 facilities Strauss Ventures owned and operated. During this period, Medicare Part A (Medicare’s hospital insurance, which also pays for care in a skilled nursing facility in some circumstances) and TRICARE (the federal health care program for the Department of Defense) paid for such services at rates that varied based on the number of minutes of skilled rehabilitation therapy provided. The Grand allegedly submitted bills where the reimbursement claimed was based on providing more therapy than was reasonable and necessary, or in some cases where the therapists did not provide the amount of therapy reported. 

    As part of the settlement, the Grand admitted that certain now-former Grand management level employees implemented quotas that each of the 12 facilities was expected to reach, including quotas relating to beneficiaries’ lengths of stay and to the percentage of beneficiaries billed at the highest reimbursement level. To meet these quotas, facilities often scheduled patients to receive therapy without consideration of what was reasonable and necessary based on the individual patients’ clinical condition. In addition, the Grand directed that no more than three patients be discharged from any facility per week and instructed that no Medicare Part A patients should be discharged from rehabilitation therapy unless it had been discussed with corporate officials. The Grand admitted that this resulted in some Medicare beneficiaries “staying on therapy longer than was reasonable and medically necessary.” 

    The Grand acknowledged that there were various instances where supervisory officials, who did not personally evaluate or treat patients, set or adjusted the number of minutes of therapy that a Medicare patient would receive. The Grand also acknowledged that there were instances where supervisory personnel falsified the number of therapy minutes in the Grand’s electronic recordkeeping system or instructed subordinates to do so, well after the therapy was allegedly rendered.

    “We expect nursing facilities to provide only reasonable and appropriate amounts of skilled rehabilitation therapy service to their residents and to bill government healthcare programs only for the services actually provided,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to protecting both vulnerable nursing home patients and taxpayers against fraudulent conduct by unscrupulous actors.” 

    The settlement also resolves federal allegations that the Grand submitted false claims to Medicaid for services rendered at its Pawling, New York nursing home between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2021. These claims were allegedly false because the reimbursement rate was inflated by data inaccurately reflecting the degree of care, including rehabilitation therapy services, needed by Medicaid patients there. 

    The Grand has also entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) that requires an independent review organization to annually assess the medical necessity and appropriateness of therapy services billed to Medicare.

    “Violations of the False Claims Act are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the FBI and its partners,” said Executive Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “We will continue our work of protecting the American taxpayer by relentlessly pursuing businesses that do not comply with the rule of law. If you bill federal health care programs in an unnecessary manner, there will be consequences.”

    “The Grand admitted to providing unnecessary care to our most vulnerable, to include knowingly keeping patients in their facilities and away from their loved ones when they needed them most,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albay Field Office. “This settlement illustrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to protect federally funded healthcare programs from abuse by companies looking to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars.”

    “As a part of this settlement, the defendants acknowledged that they obtained funds from the Medicare program to which they were not entitled,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of HHS-OIG. “Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.”

    “Protecting the integrity of the healthcare system for our military members and their families is a top priority of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki of DCIS Northeast Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to hold DoD contractors accountable for their fraudulent activity and ensure America’s service members are not subject to unnecessary risk.”

    The settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by two former providers of rehabilitation therapy at the Grand. The Act allows private persons to file civil actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Under the settlement, the whistleblowers will receive approximately $4,047,000 of the settlement proceeds. The case is docketed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York under number 1:19-cv-1311.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; HHS-OIG’s New York Region; the FBI, Albany Field Office; DCIS, Syracuse Resident Agency, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office investigated the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam J. Katz and Senior Trial Counsel Christelle Klovers represented the United States.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: ‘Incognito’ Market Owner Pleads Guilty for Operating One of the Largest Illegal Narcotics Marketplaces on the Internet

    Source: US FBI

    Rui-Siang Lin Used the Identity of “Pharoah” to Operate Incognito Market, Which Sold More Than $100 Million of Illegal Narcotics to Customers Around the World

    Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that RUI-SIANG LIN, a/k/a “Ruisiang Lin,” a/k/a “林睿庠,” a/k/a “Pharoah,” a/k/a “faro,” pled guilty to narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication in connection with LIN’s operation and ownership of “Incognito Market,” an online dark web narcotics marketplace that enabled its users to buy and sell illegal narcotics anonymously around the world. LIN pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Rui-Siang Lin led a prolific online narcotics bazaar that sold more than $100 million of narcotics around the world.  While Lin profited millions of dollars from his sophisticated scheme, the community suffered.  Lin and his “Incognito Market” exacerbated the opioid and fentanyl crisis and put the community in danger.  Lin now faces a lengthy term in prison.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, Complaint, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

    Incognito Market was an online narcotics bazaar that existed on the dark web.  Incognito Market formed in October 2020.  Since that time, and through its closing in March 2024, Incognito Market sold more than $100 million of narcotics — including hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamines.  Incognito Market was available globally to anyone with internet access and could be accessed using the Tor web browser on the “dark web” or “darknet.”  LIN operated the Incognito market under the online pseudonym “Pharoah” or “faro.”  As “Pharoah” — the leader of Incognito market — LIN supervised all of its operations, including its employees, vendors, and customers, and had ultimate decision-making authority over every aspect of the multimillion-dollar operation.

    Incognito Market was designed to foster seamless narcotics transactions across the internet and across the world and incorporated many features of legitimate e-commerce sites such as branding, advertising, and customer service.  Upon visiting the site, users were met by a splash page and graphic interface, which is pictured below:

    After logging in with a unique username and password, users were able to search thousands of listings for narcotics of their choice.  Incognito Market sold illegal narcotics and misbranded prescription medication, including heroin, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, oxycodone, methamphetamines, ketamine, and alprazolam. An example of listings on Incognito market is below:

    Listings included offerings of prescription medication that was advertised as being authentic but was not.  For example, in November 2023, an undercover law enforcement agent received several tablets that purported to be oxycodone, which were purchased on Incognito Market.  Testing on those tablets revealed that they were not authentic oxycodone at all and were, in fact, fentanyl pills.

    Each listing on Incognito Market was sold by a particular vendor.  To become an Incognito Market vendor, each vendor was required to register with the site and pay an admission fee.  In exchange for listing and selling narcotics as a vendor on Incognito Market, each vendor paid 5% of the purchase price of every narcotic sold to Incognito Market. That revenue funded Incognito Market’s operations, including paying “employee” salaries and for computer servers.  LIN collected millions of dollars of profits from Incognito.  To facilitate these financial transactions, Incognito Market had its own “bank,” which allowed its users to deposit cryptocurrency on the site into their own “bank accounts.” After a narcotics transaction was completed, cryptocurrency from the buyer’s “bank account” was transferred to the seller’s “bank account,” less the 5% fee that Incognito collected.  The bank enabled buyers and sellers to stay anonymous from each other.  The bank’s graphic interface is pictured below:

    On March 12, 2020, before Incognito Market launched, LIN emailed himself a rough diagram of a darknet marketplace.  That diagram, which is pictured below, contains features consistent with the operation of Incognito Market.

    *                *                *

    RUI-SIANG LIN, 23, of Taiwan, pled guilty to one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life in prison; one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison.

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

    Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, and the New York City Police Department.  

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

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Nicholas Chiuchiolo are in charge of the prosecution.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Executive of Airline and Co-Conspirator Sentenced in a Money Laundering Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SHUKHRATJON MIRSAIDOV and SHUKHRAT ABDULLAEV were sentenced to one year and a day and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in operating a money laundering scheme from June 2019 to February 2022, using the U.S. bank account of an international airline (“Airline-1”) with a hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where MIRSAIDOV was the lead U.S.-based executive.  U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska imposed MIRSAIDOV’s sentence today and ABDULLAEV’s sentence on September 4, 2024, following the defendants’ guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “For years Shukhratjon Mirsaidov and Shukrat Abdullaev engaged in a scheme to launder healthcare fraud proceeds through the accounts of an international airline in order to conceal the illicit nature of these funds.  Laundering schemes that use real businesses to conceal crime proceeds are often particularly difficult for law enforcement to detect.  This case demonstrates that this Office will continue to root out money laundering, no matter how sophisticated, wherever it occurs and that those responsible will be held to full account.”  

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

    In the course of the money laundering conspiracy, MIRSAIDOV and ABDULLAEV used a U.S. company bank account for Airline-1 (the “Airline-1 Bank Account”) to operate a check-cashing scheme and to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars of healthcare fraud proceeds.  As a senior executive, MIRSAIDOV was one of two signatories for the Airline-1 Bank Account.  Between approximately June 2019 and August 2021, MIRSAIDOV deposited into the Airline-1’s Bank Account over 100 checks drawn from accounts controlled by seven shell companies that were used to launder the proceeds of healthcare fraud.  For example, the shell companies had received insurance payments for medical services purportedly provided by a doctor, but the doctor did not, in fact, provide such services.  The shell companies were primarily funded by payments from medical clinics, physicians, and medical diagnostic testing companies and had no relation whatsoever to the airline industry. 

    MIRSAIDOV obtained the checks from the shell companies from ABDULLAEV, who was not an employee of Airline-1 and who obtained the checks from the perpetrators of the healthcare fraud scheme.  MIRSAIDOV and ABDULLAEV collected cash generated from Airline-1 ticket sales and fees, and instead of depositing that cash into Airline-1’s bank account, used the cash to illegally cash the shell company checks.  ABDULLAEV gave the cash generated from the airline ticket sales and fees to the perpetrators controlling the shell companies.

    MIRSAIDOV and ABDULLAEV not only used the Airline-1 Bank Account to launder healthcare fraud proceeds from the shell companies, but also used the Airline-1 Bank Account to launder funds represented to be fraud proceeds in a series of sting transactions.  Between approximately June 2021 and February 2022, law enforcement, with the assistance of a confidential source (“CS-1”), conducted a series of sting money laundering transactions involving MIRSAIDOV, ABDULLAEV, and the Airline-1 Bank Account.  CS-1 asked ABDULLAEV to cash checks and transmit funds abroad and agreed to pay ABDULLAEV a four percent fee to do so.  ABDULLAEV told CS-1 a portion of the fee went to MIRSAIDOV.  During the transactions, CS-1 represented to ABDULLAEV that the funds were healthcare fraud proceeds.  Overall, CS-1 provided ABDULLAEV with 14 checks totaling $210,000 issued from a covert law enforcement account held in the name of a fictitious company.  MIRSAIDOV, working with ABDULLAEV, deposited 12 of the checks totaling $190,000 into the Airline-1 Bank Account.  CS-1 received cash from ABDULLAEV in exchange for the checks, and in one instance, ABDULLAEV coordinated the delivery of U.S. currency to an individual abroad in exchange for some of the checks.  During the course of these sting transactions, in a recorded conversation with CS-1, MIRSAIDOV admitted, in sum and substance, that he received many checks from ABDULLAEV and that MIRSAIDOV gave ABDULLAEV cash in exchange for the checks.  CS-1 informed MIRSAIDOV, in sum and substance, that the checks from CS-1 came from a medical company and that the company disguised the check payments in its financial reporting by claiming the check deposits were for business class flight tickets.  MIRSAIDOV nevertheless expressed a willingness to work directly with CS-1 to conduct check cashing using the Airline-1 Bank Account.       

    Participants in the underlying healthcare fraud scheme who laundered their crime proceeds with the assistance of MIRSAIDOV and ABDULLAEV using the Airline-1 Bank Account have been charged by this Office in U.S. v. Tariverdi, et al, No. 24 Cr. 599 (JPO).

    *                *                *

    In addition to the prison sentence, MIRSAIDOV, 46, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, was ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $674,171.  ABDULLAEV, 39, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $704,171.   

    Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia Vogel, Christopher Brumwell, and Vladislav Vainberg are in charge of the prosecution.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelve Defendants Sentenced for Violent Home Invasion Robberies to Steal Cryptocurrency

    Source: US FBI

    A Florida man was sentenced to 47 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in a scheme involving a series of home invasion robberies targeting cryptocurrency. Between Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, a total of 12 men have been sentenced for their role in the scheme.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at the trial, Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, and his co-conspirators stole over $3.5 million from victims through SIM swapping and violent home invasions in which they held victims at gunpoint, assaulted them, and bound them with plastic cable ties. St Felix was convicted on June 25 by a federal jury in Greensboro, North Carolina, after a six-day trial. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, St Felix was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $524,153.39 in restitution.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning in late 2020, St Felix’s co-conspirator, Jarod Gabriel Seemungal, 23, of West Palm Beach, and foreign co-conspirators stole cryptocurrency from victims’ accounts at exchanges. They obtained access to the accounts by gaining control of the victims’ phone numbers through SIM swapping. In 2022, Seemungal and his co-conspirators devised the home invasion scheme and recruited St Felix and others to assist with the invasions. St Felix later became the leader of the home invasion crew. In September 2022, St Felix and members of the crew committed violent home invasions in Delray Beach and Homestead, Florida. In Delray Beach, the victims were held at gunpoint in their home. In Homestead, a man and his family were held at gunpoint in their home, and then the man was abducted, held hostage, and beaten, before the man was found by law enforcement 120 miles from his home.

    Later in 2022, St Felix and his crew targeted a Little Elm, Texas, man and made several trips to attempt the robbery. In December 2022, Seemungal and a Houston-based crew comprised of Deangelo Lee Contreras, 21, Tristian Rene Gamez, 21, Victor Gonzalez, 27, Jesus Salazar, 24, Cristian Valdez, 21, and Jesus Gerardo Valdez, Jr., 27, all of Houston, Texas, committed the home invasion. The Little Elm man and members of his family were held at gunpoint and restrained in their home for over three hours, during which time members of the crew tortured the man and his mother. The perpetrators stole approximately $150,000.00 in cash, two Rolex watches, and a valuable necklace and pendant.

    In April 2023, St Felix and Elmer Ruben Castro, 23, of West Palm Beach, invaded the home of a wife and a husband in Durham, North Carolina. Prior to the invasion, St Felix’s co-conspirators obtained unauthorized access to the couple’s email account and conducted multiple days of surveillance on their home. During the invasion, the men violently assaulted the couple, threatened them with guns, and restrained them with plastic cable ties. They forced the man to provide access to his computer and cryptocurrency exchange account. Seemungal then remotely accessed the computer and stole over $150,000.00 worth of cryptocurrency. Conspirators laundered the funds through anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies, as well as “instant exchanges” and decentralized finance platforms that did not conduct know-your-customer checks.

    In July 2023, St Felix traveled from Florida to Long Island, New York, to commit a home invasion of a family of five. Before St Felix could do so, however, he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, St Felix was in possession of two firearms and plastic cable ties.

    Throughout the conspiracy, the conspirators communicated via an encrypted messaging application to plan their crimes. They identified targets and discussed how to gain entry to homes, the tools required to carry out the crimes, the technical aspects of cryptocurrency, and the patterns of life of their targets.

    They also circulated pictures of their targets and their targets’ homes. In addition to the home invasions described above, conspirators used the encrypted messaging application to plan additional home invasion robberies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Orlando, Florida; and Georgia. Seemungal and the foreign co-conspirators financed the purchase of rental cars, hotel rooms, and firearms by co-conspirators Haisel Daily, 22, of West Palm Beach, and Ruben Matias Nicolopulos Silva, 22, of Lake Worth, Florida, to use during the robberies.

    Seemungal was also sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4,038,479.39 in restitution. Seemungal pleaded guilty on December 19, 2023, for his role in the scheme to steal cryptocurrency by hacking victims’ cryptocurrency accounts as well as the home invasion and robbery scheme.

    On Feb. 6, Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1.

    On May 29 and 30, nine of St Felix’s and Seemungal’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and were sentenced as follows:

    • Jose Alfredo Avila, 27, of West Palm Beach, was sentenced on Sept. 11, to 20 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $365,100.00 in restitution.
    • Contreras was sentenced on Sept. 5, to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.
    • Daily was sentenced on Sept. 5, to 25 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $524,153.39 in restitution.
    • Gonzalez was sentenced on Sept. 6, to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.
    • Nathan Noel Quintana, 24, of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced on Sept. 6, to 16 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $365,100.00 in restitution.
    • Silva was sentenced on Sept. 5, to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $524,153.39 in restitution.
    • Cristian Valdez was sentenced on Sept. 6, to 12 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.
    • Jesus Valdez was sentenced on Sept. 6, to 12 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.
    • Jesus Manuel Santiago, III, 23, of West Palm Beach, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1.

    Also, on May 29 and 30, Salazar and Gamez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery. Salazar was sentenced on Sept. 5, to five years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution. Gamez was sentenced on Sept. 11, to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $355,800.00 in restitution.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Durham Police Department and the FBI New York, Miami, Houston, Mobile, and Newark Field Offices.

    The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina in prosecuting the case. CCIPS/NCET Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina and CCIPS Trial Attorney Brian Mund are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Texas, and Eastern District of Texas provided valuable assistance.

    NCET was established to combat the growing illicit use of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Within CCIPS, NCET conducts and supports investigations into individuals and entities that enable the use of digital assets to commit and facilitate a variety of crimes, with a particular focus on virtual currency exchanges, obfuscation services, and infrastructure providers. NCET also sets strategic priorities regarding digital asset technologies, identifies areas for increased investigative and prosecutorial focus, and leads the department’s efforts to collaborate with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as the private sector to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes involving cryptocurrency and digital assets.

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