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Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ukrainian preschool with children from displaced families reopens after EU-backed renovation

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • “Berizka preschool in Ukrainian village of Ulaniv southwest of Kyiv reopens after major renovation supported by EU.
    • Renovation financed through EIB’s Ukraine Recovery Programme to restore critical social infrastructure in Ukrainian communities.

    The “Berizka” preschool in the Ukrainian village of Ulaniv reopened after a major upgrade supported by the European Union lending arm – the European Investment Bank (EIB). The €420,000 renovation highlights the EU’s commitment to restoring social infrastructure in Ukraine.

    Berizka, serves more than 110 children aged two to six, including many children from internally displaced families. It is one of 100 educational institutions across Ukraine being renovated with support of the EIB. The building is now equipped with full thermal insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors – upgrades that are especially important amid Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, by reducing electricity consumption and utility costs.

    The preschool also has a new metal roof, renovated porches and two ramps that ensure easier entry for people, including children and parents with limited mobility. It offers an environment, where children and their families can feel a sense of normalcy and stability despite the war.

    EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who oversees the Bank’s operations in Ukraine said: “The renovated preschool shows how the EIB supports Ukraine’s long-term recovery: we invest in resilient, energy-efficient infrastructure that strengthens local communities and ensures continuity of vital services for people.”

    The renovation took place between May 2024 and June 2025 under the “Ukraine Early Recovery Programme” – a joint EU-EIB initiative implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories and Ministry of Finance as well as the Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration and the Ulaniv Village, with technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    This is one of seven EIB-backed recovery projects in Vinnytsia region, with a combined investment value of €7.6 million. These projects include the reconstruction of four schools, two water and wastewater facilities and one community and administrative services center. In 2024 alone, three projects were completed, including two schools in Stryzhavka and a sewer system in Zhmerynka.

    Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine Stefan Schleuning said: “Berizka preschool in Vinnytsia Oblast is a powerful example of how EU support, channelled through the EIB’s recovery programmes, is already making a tangible difference. Together with Ukraine, we are restoring essential services, strengthening communities, and building for the future of the next generation.”

    Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba said: “Restoring access to education is a shared priority with our European partners. Together, we’re rebuilding social infrastructure and introducing modern energy-efficient solutions that make communities more resilient.”

    First Deputy Head of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration Natalia Zabolotna said: “This preschool is the fourth EU- and EIB-supported recovery project completed in our region over the past two years. These results are possible thanks to the strength and dedication of local workers, who continue delivering essential services despite the war.”

    Head of Ulaniv Village Council Oleksandr Hotsulyak said: “For our village, this preschool is essential. Thanks to support from the EU and the EIB, over 110 children, including those from displaced families — now have a modern, comfortable space to learn and grow. Investing in early childhood education lays the foundation for children’s resilience, recovery, and long-term development.”

    UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers said: “By connecting Ukrainian communities with EIB financing mechanisms, UNDP helps ensure that recovery efforts are truly community-led, with local leaders determining how EU support can best serve their reconstruction priorities.”

    Background information

    The EIB in Ukraine 

    The EIB Group has supported Ukraine’s economy since day one of the Russian invasion, providing €3 billion in financing to date, with €2.3 billion already disbursed. The EIB continues to focus on securing Ukraine’s energy supply, restoring damaged infrastructure and maintaining essential public services across the country. Under a guarantee agreement signed with the European Commission, the EIB is set to invest at least €2 billion more in urgent recovery and reconstruction. This funding is part of the European Union’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027 and is fully aligned with the priorities of the Ukrainian government.

    EIB recovery programmes in Ukraine

    The reconstruction of the preschool in Ulaniv village was carried out under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, one of three recovery programmes supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). As of June 2025, the EIB has provided €740 million across these programmes to support Ukraine’s recovery. The funding helps the government to restore essential services in communities across the country – including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, housing, heating and water systems. These EIB-backed programmes are further supported by €15 million in EU grants to facilitate implementation. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees programme implementation, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to local communities, supporting project implementation and ensuring independent monitoring for transparency and accountability. More information about the programmes is available here.

    Ukrainian preschool with children from displaced families reopens after EU-backed renovation

    ©EIB
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    Ukrainian preschool with children from displaced families reopens after EU-backed renovation

    ©EIB
    Download original

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Members and Associates of the Transnational 18th Street Gang Charged with Racketeering Crimes in Queens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The Defendants’ Crimes Involved Brutal Assaults, Extortion, Drug Trafficking, Production and Sale of Fraudulent Identification Documents, and Counterfeit Currency

    Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging eight members and associates of the 18th Street gang, a violent transnational criminal organization, with serious crimes.  Six defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, including predicate acts involving narcotics and firearms trafficking, production and sale of fraudulent identification documents, and extortion. Seven defendants are also charged with assaults in aid of racketeering.  One defendant is charged with being an alien in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition. 

    Seven defendants were taken into custody in New York City and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl M. Pollak.  Another defendant, currently in custody on separate criminal charges, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow. 

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Melinda Katz, Queens District Attorney, announced the arrests and charges.

    “This indictment represents a significant step in our ongoing effort to dismantle violent gang networks in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The 18th Street gang exploited a Queens neighborhood as a hub for violence and illicit activity.  Today’s arrests show the community that my Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to put these violent criminals behind bars.”

    Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General – New York Office, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York City Field Office, for their invaluable assistance with the case.

    “These violent members and associates of the 18th Street gang allegedly relied on violence—including assault of innocent civilians and rival gang members—to exert and maintain control over a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. Those arrested today acted and behaved with callous and cruel disregard for those around them. Our actions today represent yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to crushing the violent transnational gangs plaguing our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

    “The defendants in this case are accused of unleashing terror onto Queens communities through brutal assaults, extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking—all in furtherance of the 18th Street gang’s agenda. Every resident deserves to feel safe walking down the street, without having to worry about gang violence. My office will continue to combat violent criminal enterprises and assist partner investigations to dismantle gangs as they try to establish themselves in our neighborhoods, stated Queens District Attorney Katz.  “We thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI and the NYPD for their hard work in this case.”

    As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the 18th Street gang is a violent transnational criminal organization with members and associates throughout the United States and Central America.  The gang is divided into several “cliques.”  The defendants are members and associates of the “54 Tiny Locos” clique, which controls a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. For years, 18th Street has maintained control over this area through violence, including assaults on perceived rival gang members that often result in harm to innocent civilians.  The gang financed its operations through drug-dealing and various other crimes, including trafficking in fraudulent identification documents and counterfeit currency.  The gang’s production and sale of fraudulent documents—including fake passports, permanent resident cards, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cards—was a primary driver of income for its members and associates.  Members of 18th Street, including the defendants, also committed extortion by charging “rent” to other illicit businesses operating in the area, including unregulated brothels. 

    Certain of the defendants are also charged in connection with three assaults in-aid-of racketeering in Queens, New York, that wounded four individuals.

    The December 2021 Assault

    As alleged, on December 31, 2021, members of 18th Street, including Bonilla Ramos, Ramirez, and a co-conspirator, assaulted two victims, including John Doe #1, outside of a bar in Queens, New York, after asking if they were in a gang.  The defendants violently beat both John Doe #1 and his friend, including twice smashing John Doe #1’s head with a glass bottle of tequila, leaving him with severe lacerations to his face and nerve damage.

    The January 2022 Assault

    As alleged, on January 15, 2022, members of 18th Street attacked two victims, John Doe #2 and John Doe #3, outside a bar in Queens, New York. A co-conspirator stabbed John Doe #2 while two other defendants held him in place.  John Doe #2 sustained serious injuries, including injuries to his lung. The defendants then attacked a second victim, John Doe #3, with large wooden planks, causing lacerations that required sutures.  The serious injuries to John Doe #2, the victim who was stabbed, were reflected in the blood left behind after the assault.

    The June 2024 Assault

    As alleged, on June 20, 2024, members of 18th Street attacked a victim, John Doe #4, who they believed was a rival gang member, in a parking lot in Queens, New York.  The assailants, including certain of the defendants, beat John Doe #4 with a bike lock and a metal chair, among other things.  John Doe #4 received medical care for lacerations to his head, which required sutures. 

    1. The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
    2. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
    3. This prosecution also is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF targets the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S., using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  More info is available here: www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Bowman, Andy Palacio, and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendants:

    FELIX BONILLA RAMOS (also known as “Chabelo” and “Ferras”)
    Age: 36
    Corona, New York

    URIEL LOPEZ (also known as “Tanke”)
    Age: 30
    Jackson Heights, New York

    REFUGIO MARTINEZ (also known as “Cuco”)
    Age: 32
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARGARITO ORTEGA (also known as “Pinocchio”)
    Age: 38
    Elmhurst, New York

    ORLANDO RAMIREZ (also known as “Niñote”)
    Age: 24
    Elmhurst, New York

    GERMAN RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Loco”)
    Age: 34
    Woodhaven, New York

    DAVID VASQUEZ CORONA (also known as “Teba”)
    Age: 29
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARCO VIDAL MENDEZ (also known as “Matute”)
    Age: 36
    Formerly of Elmhurst, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-196

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Port Charlotte Man Indicted For Production And Distribution Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Tyler Russell Kuhn (29, Port Charlotte) with one count of production and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Kuhn faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment and court records, in October 2019, Kuhn engaged in an online conversation with another individual. During the conversation, Kuhn produced a video and image of child sexual abuse material involving himself and a toddler. Kuhn distributed this video and image over the internet, to the individual to whom he was speaking.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa and Houston Field Offices. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Husband & wife plead guilty to wire fraud related to pandemic relief funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CINCINNATI – A West Chester couple pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to committing wire fraud to obtain pandemic relief funds. The husband and wife were owners or associates of multiple transportation firms. 

    Ajay Chawla, 60, and his wife, Ruhi Chawla, 50, admitted that they fraudulently received more than $900,000 in pandemic relief funds. Specifically, they received four Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans and three Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

    According to their court documents, on their loan applications, the Chawlas falsely reported the number of employees and gross revenues for their businesses: Prime Transportation and Logistics Inc., ABC Trucking Inc., Apex Truck Lines LLC and A1 Diesel Truck Repair LLC. Ajay Chawla also submitted a false statement to Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the ownership of Apex Truck Lines.

    “The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Kelly Moening. 

    “Today’s guilty pleas underscore our steadfast commitment to identifying and addressing fraud that undermines the integrity of Department of Transportation programs and requirements,” said Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “Greed has no place in pandemic relief programs, and together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable.”

    The couple were charged in March 2025 by a bill of information.

    Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

    Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – MPS accelerated book-building procedure and breach of European banking rules – E-002276/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002276/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left)

    On 13 November 2024, the MEF[1] sold approximately 16% of the share capital of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), a stake acquired in 2017 during the public bailout, through an ABB[2] procedure taking advantage of derogations from the BRRD. The MEF appointed Banca Akros, part of the Banco Bpm Group, to handle the sale, which divided the stake up between four entities: Caltagirone (3.6%), Delfin (3.5%), Banco Bpm (5%) and Anima – Sgr, controlled by Banco Bpm – (3.5%)[3], after rejecting an offer submitted by Unicredit, according to press reports. To the buyers’ benefit, the shares were sold at below market rate, going against standard practice of selling at a premium. The government thus appears to have favoured the industrial conglomerates Caltagirone and Delfin, which were already involved in the 2023 takeover of Generali and attempted a similar coup with the MPS takeover bid for Mediobanca, Generali’s main shareholder. This would appear to be part of a strategy to circumvent EU restrictions prohibiting entities without a banking licence (Caltagirone and Delfin) from gaining a controlling interest in supervised banks.

    In view of the above: does the Commission not believe Banca Akros’ ABB and the Italian Government’s overall strategy to be in breach of European rules on the neutrality of public entities with regard to financial institutions, particularly those operating in several EU Member States?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs and Finance
    • [2] Accelerated book-building, a procedure reserved for institutional investors.
    • [3] https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/mps-mef-mette-mercato-altro-7percento-AGyzcU7; https://www.startmag.it/economia/come-caltagirone-e-delfin-sguazzano-tra-mps-mediobanca-e-generali-tutti-gli-intrecci-e-i-conflitti/.
    Last updated: 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Measures relating to insider trading by Commission staff – E-001109/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission enforces strict rules to prevent conflicts of interest, requiring staff to report any conflict of interest that may impair their independence, including those related to private financial transactions. Additionally, EU and national law prohibiting insider trading apply to EU staff.

    The Commission believes the existing rules are sufficient but invests in awareness and training for staff, ensuring they understand and comply with their obligations.

    The Investigation and Disciplinary Office of the Commission is competent to investigate any breach of the rules applicable to the Commission staff.

    Investigations may also be carried out by the European Anti-Fraud Office in case of serious misconduct by staff and by the national instances.

    Last updated: 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chandrima Chakraborty, Professor, English and Cultural Studies; Director, Centre for Global Peace, Justice and Health, McMaster University

    The June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, with 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard is sending deep reverberations through a group of Canadians who know all too well the shock, grief and horror of losing loved ones in hauntingly similar circumstances.

    They are the families of those killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 en route from Canada to India 40 years ago this month.

    I work closely with these families as a researcher and advocate. I began interviewing these families in 2014 and have witnessed firsthand their pain, advocacy and emotional turmoil of living in the shadow of a historical event.

    As reports of the Ahmedabad crash came in, the WhatsApp account of the Air India Flight 182 families immediately flooded with expressions of shock, concern, sympathy and memories triggered by the latest incident.

    On June 23, 1985, Flight 182 was brought down by terrorist bombs created and planted on Canadian soil. The devastating mid-air explosion occurred over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland. It killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadians. The crew and most of the passengers were of Indian origin.

    Investigations into the causes of the crash of Air India Flight 171, en route to London’s Gatwick airport, shortly after take-off are still underway. At least 279 people died in the crash, which also impacted people on the ground.

    Acknowledging losses as significant

    A recent public conference at McMaster University commemorated the 40th anniversary of Flight 182, bringing together Indian and Canadian families, researchers, creative artists and community members.

    Book cover for ‘Remembering Air India The Art of Public Mourning,’ edited by Chandrima Chakraborty, Amber Dean and Angela Failler.
    University of Alberta Press

    The conference dealt with critical themes, including the challenge of Flight 182 families recovering from their losses within a climate of broad indifference among their fellow Canadians.

    Regardless of what may have caused the more recent crash in western India, these Canadian families know the shock and loss that a new set of victims’ families are facing, and how important it is to support them.

    Hopefully, the home countries of last week’s crash victims — most of them Indian and British citizens, with at least one Canadian reported to have been aboard — will regard their deaths as significant losses. If so, this would be unlike what the 1985 victims’ families experienced in Canada.

    A little-mourned Canadian tragedy

    In Canada, we have a national day to remember on June 23, 1985. The bombing has been called a Canadian tragedy in a public inquiry report.

    Yet according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll, “nine out of 10 Canadians say they have little or no knowledge of the worst single instance of the mass killing of their fellow citizens.” That essentially means the bombing has yet to penetrate the consciousness of everyday Canadians or evoke shared grief or public mourning.

    The families continue to carry the torch of remembrance as they organize annual memorial vigils every June 23. Few others attend. Many victims’ relatives have died since 1985. Some spouses, siblings or parents are now in their 80s, wondering why the bombing is still not widely discussed in schools or in public discourse.

    The grinding and unsatisfying criminal proceedings, the belated public inquiry and the welcome but lukewarm apology by the Canadian government 25 years after the fact have all contributed to the failure of this tragedy to adhere more solidly to the Canadian consciousness. In fact, many continue to deny the Canadian significance of Flight 182 and view the bombing as a foreign event.

    A torch of remembrance

    At last month’s conference, my research team launched the Air India Flight 182 archive to counter this collective amnesia and lack of acknowledgement.

    Canadian archival consultant and writer Laura Millar has said that archives act as “touchstones to memory” and can aid the process of transforming individual memories into collective remembering. Adopting NYU professor Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care for the archive, we have been consulting with families to find ways to share their grief with the public.

    The Flight 182 memory archive — both physical and digital — serves as a repository for artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members. Family donations of artefacts such as dance videos and pilot wings redirect notions of archives away from a documental deposit. Hopefully, they can move the public to learn and care for the impacts of the Flight 182 bombing.

    The archive is a publicly accessible record of the tragedy, where scholars and everyday citizens can learn about the victims and their families.

    Since the past involves both the present and the future, the archive will enable a meaningful recognition of marginalized voices and histories. It can offer a form of memory justice for those who would otherwise be forgotten by sustaining memory from generation to generation.

    While the archive articulates the demand from families that the bombing of Flight 182 and its aftermath be incorporated into Canadian national consciousness, establishing this archive alone will not be enough to elevate the memory of Flight 182 to the place it deserves.

    But at least it establishes a rich, permanent academic and personal legacy for the community of mourners, and for the Canadian and global public to find it, use it and learn from its many lessons.

    Families of those on board the 1985 flight are preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the terror bombing of Flight 182 that has devastated their lives.

    As we learn more about the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, the lessons of Flight 182 will hopefully prevent a new set of families from feeling the pain of indifference on top of the unimaginable agony of loss they’re already experiencing.

    Chandrima Chakraborty receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182 – https://theconversation.com/air-india-crash-in-ahmedabad-sends-reverberations-to-canadian-families-of-air-india-flight-182-258991

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • P.K. Mishra reviews Gujarat infra projects, inspects expressway & heritage complex

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, conducted site inspections and chaired high-level review meetings in Dholera and Lothal, Gujarat, on Monday to assess the progress of key infrastructure projects. These initiatives align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for industrial growth and economic development in the region.

    Dr. Mishra visited the under-construction Ahmedabad-Dholera Greenfield Expressway, a project led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He emphasized its potential to reduce travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera to just 45 minutes and stressed the need for timely completion while maintaining global-quality road standards. At the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), he reviewed the Dholera International Airport, where officials reported that cargo operations are slated to begin by October 2025. Dr. Mishra directed authorities to ensure strict adherence to timelines and seamless integration with the expressway.

    The Principal Secretary also inspected Tata Electronics’ Semiconductor Fabrication (Fab) project, a cornerstone of India’s domestic chip manufacturing efforts. The facility will produce chips for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and automotive applications. Additionally, Dr. Mishra visited social infrastructure developments, including schools, hospitals, and residential complexes managed by Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL). He underscored the importance of incorporating stakeholder feedback to enhance user experience.

    In a comprehensive review meeting with senior officials from DICDL, Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), NHAI, Airports Authority of India, and Indian Railways, Dr. Mishra evaluated progress on critical projects, including the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, Bhimnath-Dholera Freight Rail Link, Ahmedabad-Dholera Semi-High-Speed Rail Line, and Dholera International Airport. He reaffirmed the Government of Gujarat’s commitment to transforming Dholera into a world-class smart industrial city, emphasizing timely execution, skilled workforce availability, and robust planning.

    Dr. Mishra also inspected the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, a flagship project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Chairing a review meeting with Shri T. Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry, and officials from the Gujarat Maritime Board, Archaeological Survey of India, NHAI, and Indian Railways, he stressed that the NMHC should serve as a scholarly tribute to India’s rich maritime history. He called for in-depth research, academic collaboration, and a well-curated visitor experience to highlight India’s maritime legacy from the Harappan civilization onward. Dr. Mishra reviewed Phase I-A construction, which includes six galleries, and directed its completion by August 2025.

    Additionally, Dr. Mishra assessed environmental sustainability efforts, such as local species plantation and water management systems, to ensure the NMHC’s ecological responsibility. He highlighted the project’s unparalleled scale and significance in preserving and showcasing India’s maritime heritage.

  • P.K. Mishra reviews Gujarat infra projects, inspects expressway & heritage complex

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, conducted site inspections and chaired high-level review meetings in Dholera and Lothal, Gujarat, on Monday to assess the progress of key infrastructure projects. These initiatives align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for industrial growth and economic development in the region.

    Dr. Mishra visited the under-construction Ahmedabad-Dholera Greenfield Expressway, a project led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He emphasized its potential to reduce travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera to just 45 minutes and stressed the need for timely completion while maintaining global-quality road standards. At the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), he reviewed the Dholera International Airport, where officials reported that cargo operations are slated to begin by October 2025. Dr. Mishra directed authorities to ensure strict adherence to timelines and seamless integration with the expressway.

    The Principal Secretary also inspected Tata Electronics’ Semiconductor Fabrication (Fab) project, a cornerstone of India’s domestic chip manufacturing efforts. The facility will produce chips for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and automotive applications. Additionally, Dr. Mishra visited social infrastructure developments, including schools, hospitals, and residential complexes managed by Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL). He underscored the importance of incorporating stakeholder feedback to enhance user experience.

    In a comprehensive review meeting with senior officials from DICDL, Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), NHAI, Airports Authority of India, and Indian Railways, Dr. Mishra evaluated progress on critical projects, including the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, Bhimnath-Dholera Freight Rail Link, Ahmedabad-Dholera Semi-High-Speed Rail Line, and Dholera International Airport. He reaffirmed the Government of Gujarat’s commitment to transforming Dholera into a world-class smart industrial city, emphasizing timely execution, skilled workforce availability, and robust planning.

    Dr. Mishra also inspected the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, a flagship project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Chairing a review meeting with Shri T. Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry, and officials from the Gujarat Maritime Board, Archaeological Survey of India, NHAI, and Indian Railways, he stressed that the NMHC should serve as a scholarly tribute to India’s rich maritime history. He called for in-depth research, academic collaboration, and a well-curated visitor experience to highlight India’s maritime legacy from the Harappan civilization onward. Dr. Mishra reviewed Phase I-A construction, which includes six galleries, and directed its completion by August 2025.

    Additionally, Dr. Mishra assessed environmental sustainability efforts, such as local species plantation and water management systems, to ensure the NMHC’s ecological responsibility. He highlighted the project’s unparalleled scale and significance in preserving and showcasing India’s maritime heritage.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Drug Trafficker Caught with Tens of Thousands of Fentanyl Pills, Cocaine, Heroin, and Stolen Guns Sentenced to Federal Prison in Washington State

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jose Efrain Gonzalez-Rodriguez, age 24, of Mexico, who was unlawfully present in the United States, was sentenced after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearm charges. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.                              

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in May and June of 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration developed information that Gonzalez-Rodriguez was working for a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico that was responsible for transporting drugs from California to Spokane and distributing them across Eastern Washington.

    On June 24, 2024, after execution of a search warrant on Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s vehicle, agents located almost 2 pounds of methamphetamine and 6,855 fentanyl pills. Investigators also executed a search warrant at Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s apartment in Spokane where they located an additional 59,529 fentanyl pills, almost 3 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 1 pound of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin. Additionally, 4 four pistols were found in the kitchen wrapped in tape and plastic for transport. Two of the firearms had been reported stolen.

    “Fentanyl is killing people across Eastern Washington. Those who traffic in this poison—along with other deadly drugs and illegal firearms—will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez brought significant quantities of poison and stolen weapons into our community, putting lives at risk. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to disrupt violent drug trafficking networks.”

    “This case highlights the intersection of drug trafficking, firearms, and illegal immigration,“ said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Gonzalez Rodriguez endangered our community on all three of these fronts and this sentence ensures his accountability, thanks to DEA and our partners.”

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Spokane Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement and Narcotics (RAVEN) task force and the United States Border Patrol.

    Case 2:24-cr-00091-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Charged in Albuquerque Alien Harboring, Kidnapping Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two men face federal charges for harboring illegal aliens after a kidnapping and human smuggling investigation in Albuquerque.

    According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, a complainant told the FBI their spouse had been kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers demanded 90,000 quetzales (about $11,600) and threatened to turn the victim over to the Zeta Cartel if payment was not made. “Proof of life” videos were sent to the family.

    Using phone data from the ransom calls, agents traced the location to a residence in southwest Albuquerque. On March 2, agents executed a search warrant and found 11 undocumented immigrants, including an unaccompanied minor and defendants Isaias David Jose and Tomas Mateo Gaspar. The house was sparsely furnished and contained over 20 cell phones and a ledger of smuggling activity.

    Victims said they were locked in rooms, threatened with violence or being turned over to criminal organizations, and told not to talk to law enforcement. Both Jose and Gaspar were identified as running the stash house and making ransom videos.

    Jose and Gaspar were indicted for harboring an illegal alien and aiding and abetting and will remain in custody pending trial, which is scheduled for August 11, 2025. If convicted of the current charges, Jose and Gaspar each face up to five years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine Members of Lopez Human Smuggling Organization Plead Guilty to Federal Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Nine of the 10 members of the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization indicted in June 2023 have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into their roles in an extensive alien smuggling conspiracy. All nine defendants admitted to conspiring to bring, harbor, and transport groups of undocumented individuals into and within the United States for financial gain.

    The defendants are identified as Rosa Adriana Lopez-Escobar, 43, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Deysi Marisela Lopez-Ambrosio, 27, illegal residing in Long Beach, California; Franklin Leonardo Chilel-Ramirez, 39, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Junior Vanegas Portillo, 22, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel, 26, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; and Mildred Yanira Lopez-Ambrosio, 23, illegal residing in Long Beach, California, all citizens of Guatemala, as well as Jose Gianluca Lopez-Perez, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, Sebastian Rolando Cortez, 22, of Tempe, Arizona, and Carlos Chavez-Hernandez, 22, of Avondale, Arizona.

    According to court records, between October 2021 and April 2023, these individuals operated in Luna County, New Mexico, and elsewhere, coordinating and executing the transportation and harboring of undocumented aliens. The organization used peer-to-peer money transfer apps to facilitate payments among co-conspirators and instructed others to pick up and move groups of undocumented individuals in exchange for money.

    The organization coordinated pick-ups near the U.S.-Mexico border, including attempts to move individuals from Animas, New Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona. In one instance, a defendant was apprehended by Border Patrol while en route to pick up a group of undocumented aliens.

    To date, four defendants have been sentenced. Junior Vanegas Portillo was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Sebastian Rolando Cortez was sentenced to one year of probation. Carlos Chavez-Hernandez was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release. Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel was sentenced to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sentencing for the remaining defendants is pending.

    As part of his plea agreement, Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel agreed to forfeit several items used in furtherance of the conspiracy. These include two firearms, ammunition, a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2017 Ford Mustang, a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2020 Polaris Can-Am Side by Side UTV.

    Ronaldo Galindo Lopez-Escobar, 47, of Guatemala City, Guatemala, the alleged leader of the Lopez Crime Family, remains a fugitive.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

    HSI New Mexico led U.S. investigative efforts, with enforcement assistance from HSI in Arizona and the Central District of California. HSI received investigative assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Deming, Lordsburg, Blythe, El Centro, Yuma, and Tucson, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division also provided support in this matter.

    The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Alyson Hehr as part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by MLARS; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 380 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 340 U.S. convictions; more than 290 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Nimanode’s $NMA Presale Explodes Past 20% Softcap Target, is this the next 10X DeFi Mover?

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Imagine the future where your entire workflow on the Blockchain is powered by AI to get maximum benefits of it. This goes from investing, security, compliance, monitoring and every significant interaction being automated via AI agents. That is the future of work and that is where Nimanode comes in as the first platform of its kind to deliver a zero-code solution for launching on-chain AI agents that can perform these complex blockchain tasks.

    Nimanode has drawn massive investor confidence with its $NMA Presale, having so far surpassed expectations by rapidly filling 20% of its softcap target with support of early adopters seeking exposure to the next phase of Web3 technology.

    Join $NMA Presale

    Pioneering the AI x Blockchain Tech on XRP Ledger

    Built natively on XRPL, Nimanode leverages the blockchain’s speed, low fees, and scalability to enable high-frequency, low-latency AI agent execution. The platform’s agents are capable of:

    • Executing smart contracts via XRPL Hooks
    • Scanning wallets and tokens for real-time risk
    • Monitoring compliance in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs)
    • Managing liquidity and maximizing APY across XRPL protocols
    • Operating 24/7 as decentralized customer support interfaces

    NMA Token: Powering DeFi Innovation

    At the core of Nimanode is the Agent Marketplace, where users can license, share, and monetize AI agents with other users and businesses. Combined with its SDK for developers and drag-and-drop builder for creators, Nimanode is positioning itself as a hub for Web3 automation and on-chain labor.

    $NMA, the platform’s utility token, is used for:

    • Deploying and upgrading agents
    • Licensing agents via the marketplace
    • Staking to earn protocol rewards
    • Participating in decentralized governance

    Market Analysts already predict strong upside upon exchange listing of $NMA as demand for agent-based infrastructure gains traction.

    This is a chance to invest in $NMA before its Listing at 25% higher than Presale value, however whales position for more as they eye a 10X surge on Launch.

    $NMA Token Sale is Ongoing

    With a total of 90 million $NMA representing 45% of $NMA allocated for the presale, this marks a unique and promising chance to claim early access into one of XRP Ledger’s most innovative projects, spearheading the AI ecosystem on the blockchain.

    Joining in the NimaNode Presale is quite straightforward

    Purchase XRP: Acquire XRP from reputable exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit

    Send to an XRP-Compatible Wallet: Ensure you have a non-custodial wallet capable of receiving XRP native tokens Xaman recommended.

    Participate in the Presale: Visit the NimaNode presale page (https://nimanode.com/presale), send your XRP to the provided presale address, and secure your $NMA tokens.

    As Nimanode Presale gains momentum, now is a perfect opportunity to position at the next wave of Blockchain innovation poised for massive gains through the integration of Web3 and AI.

    Final Word

    The future of blockchain is autonomous AI agents working for you and it begins with Nimanode. As the XRP ecosystem continues to attract global attention, Nimanode is entering the scene with purpose — to become the backbone of autonomous Web3 infrastructure.

    By merging artificial intelligence with no-code tools on one of the fastest blockchains in existence, Nimanode is redefining how value, automation, and intelligence move through decentralized systems.

    Connect with Nimanode

    Website: https://nimanode.com

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/nimanodeai

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a7bf532-c402-4839-a707-e75cd5949aad

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Completes the Fourth Reviews Under the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements and Approves US$13.7 Million Disbursement for Seychelles

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 16, 2025

    • The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed today the fourth reviews of Seychelles’ economic performance under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) Arrangements. Completion of the reviews allows for an immediate disbursement of about US$13.7 million intended to strengthen macroeconomic stability, sustain growth, and reinforce fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, while also supporting efforts to strengthen resilience to climate change, exploit synergies with other sources of official financing, and catalyze financing for climate-related investments.
    • Economic growth for Seychelles in 2024 is estimated at 2.9 percent, reflecting lower dynamism in the tourism sector. Inflation remained subdued and fiscal performance was tighter than budgeted, driven mainly by underspending on capital expenditure. For 2025, economic growth is projected at 3.2 percent, reflecting slower growth projected for Europe—Seychelles’ most important tourism source market.
    • Performance under the EFF has been strong with all quantitative targets and structural benchmarks for end-December 2024 met. However, two SBs scheduled for 2025 have encountered minor delays due to capacity constraints. Progress has been satisfactory under the RSF implementation, and the authorities remain committed to the programs’ objectives.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed today the fourth reviews of Seychelles’ economic performance under the 36-month EFF and RSF Arrangements approved on May 31, 2023. The completion of the reviews allows for the authorities to draw the equivalent of SDR 6.1 million (about $8.3 million) under the EFF and SDR 3.9 million (about $5.3 million) under the RSF, bringing total disbursements to SDR 30.5 million (about $41.7 million) and SDR 13.3 million (about $18.2 million) under the EFF and RSF, respectively.

    Economic growth for Seychelles in 2024 is estimated at 2.9 percent, slightly lower than earlier forecasts due to lower activity in the tourism sector. Year-on-year inflation reached 1.7 percent as of December, driven by an increase in utility prices and pass-through effects of currency depreciation. Fiscal performance was tighter than budgeted driven mainly by underspending on capital expenditure, with a  primary surplus equivalent to 3.2 percent of GDP in 2024. The Central Bank of Seychelles has maintained an accommodative monetary stance. The current account deficit widened to 7.9 percent of GDP in 2024, but gross international reserves increased to $774 million, equivalent to 3.8 months of imports or 115 percent of the Assessing Reserve Adequacy (or ARA) metric.

    EFF-supported program implementation has been strong. All quantitative program targets (QPCs) and structural benchmarks (SBs) for end-December 2024 were met. However, two SBs scheduled for the first half of 2025 have encountered minor delays due to capacity constraints. Progress has been satisfactory on RSF implementation. All reform measures (RMs) for March 2025 have been implemented. However,  one component of an RM scheduled for April 2025 (related to energy pricing and the issuance of a new multi-year electricity tariff system) is delayed and expected to be completed in November. The authorities requested minor modifications for two RMs slated for December 2025. 

    The outlook suggests low but stable growth for 2025 and beyond but is subject to considerable uncertainty. Real GDP growth is projected at 3.2 percent for 2025 compared to 4.3 percent at the previous reviews. The downward revision reflects slower a weaker outlook for tourist activity on the back of slower growth in Europe (Seychelles’ most important tourism source market). Year-on-year inflation is expected to moderate to 1.2 percent by end-2025 due to lower utility, fuel and food prices. Reserve coverage is expected to increase to 3.9 months of import cover in 2025. Near-term downside risks relate mainly to how slower global growth and higher uncertainty translate into tourism arrivals and spending.

    Going forward, continuation of prudent macroeconomic policies is paramount for maintaining resilience. The authorities’ near-term priorities are to support economic growth, strengthen fiscal and external positions, and maintain prudent monetary policy and a sound financial sector. In the medium-term, the authorities’ aim to continue a steady fiscal consolidation to reduce the ratio of public debt to GDP, while simultaneously improving the efficiency of public spending. Building capacity with respect to public financial management and financial sector supervision is another key focus. The structural reform agenda emphasizes revenue administration, public financial and investment management, climate change resilience, and governance improvements, including digitalization and transparency.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director, and acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “Seychelles has continued to demonstrate sound macroeconomic management and commitment to structural reforms. Lower than expected GDP growth for 2024 reflected lower tourism income and weakened performance in such sectors as accommodation, food services, and transportation. Fiscal outturns have been tighter than projected, reflecting delays in execution of capital projects, bottlenecks in public procurement, and civil service recruitment delays. Monetary policy remains accommodative in the face of low inflation. Good progress has been made on essential macrostructural reforms.

    “For the fourth reviews, program performance under the EFF was strong, with all quantitative program targets and structural benchmarks through end-December successfully met. Progress has also been satisfactory on RSF implementation, with all RMs through March implemented and only one component of an RM scheduled for April has been delayed. The authorities continue to implement an ambitious reform agenda and prudent fiscal and monetary policies in the face of an increasingly challenging external environment.

    “The authorities should remain vigilant with respect to near and medium-term risks as the outlook is subject to rising uncertainty. These include a slowdown in tourism activity due to slower growth projected for Europe—Seychelles’ most important tourism source market. Commodity price volatility could also feed through to inflation, while global trade tensions may reduce FDI and lead to tighter financial conditions. The EFF arrangement will continue to help protect macroeconomic stability and support stronger fiscal and external buffers, while advancing the authorities’ structural reform agenda.

    “The authorities are advancing with reforms under the RSF to enhance the climate-resilience of public investments, diversify financing, and strengthen assessment and disclosure of climate-related financial sector risk. Successful implementation of the reform agenda will enhance economic resilience and external financing risks by building institutional capacity for public investment in climate adaptation and diversifying Seychelles’ power generation capacity—reducing its dependence on imported energy. Continued collaboration with the IMF and other partners will be important to help fill capacity gaps and to mobilize climate finance.”

    Seychelles: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2022-30
     
     

    2022

    2023

    		  

    2024

    		  

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030
     

    Act.

    Prel.

    Proj.
     

    (Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)
                           

    National income and prices

    		                  

    Nominal GDP (millions of Seychelles rupees)

    28,807

    30,663

    		  

    31,643

    		  

    32,899

    34,464

    36,466

    38,841

    41,396

    44,121

    Real GDP (millions of Seychelles rupees)

    25,585

    26,163

    26,935

    27,808

    28,692

    29,662

    30,673

    31,731

    32,835

    Real GDP

    12.7

    2.3

    2.9

    3.2

    3.2

    3.4

    3.4

    3.4

    3.5

    CPI (annual average)

    2.6

    -0.9

    0.3

    1.0

    2.0

    2.6

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    CPI (end-of-period)

    2.5

    -2.7

    1.7

    1.2

    2.6

    2.8

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    GDP deflator average

    1.6

    4.1

    0.2

    0.7

    1.5

    2.3

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0
               
               

    Money and credit

    		            

    Broad money

    0.6

    5.8

    		  

    7.3

    		  

    7.0

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Reserve money (end-of-period)

    -3.0

    -3.5

    		  

    -4.3

    		  

    -2.2

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Velocity (GDP/broad money)

    1.2

    1.2

    		  

    1.2

    		  

    1.1

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Money multiplier (broad money/reserve money)

    3.4

    3.7

    		  

    4.2

    		  

    4.6

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Credit to the private sector 5

    4.0

    7.4

    		  

    12.1

    		  

    9.4

    9.1

    8.6

    8.4

    8.1

    8.0
                       
     

    (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    		    

    Savings-Investment balance

    		                      

    External savings

    7.5

    7.4

    7.9

    9.2

    9.2

    8.8

    8.4

    8.6

    8.8

    Gross national savings

    15.5

    17.3

    		  

    16.1

    		  

    16.6

    16.4

    16.9

    17.5

    17.3

    17.2

    Of which:  government savings

    1.2

    2.1

    		  

    3.3

    		  

    3.2

    2.5

    3.7

    4.6

    5.2

    5.4

    private savings

    14.4

    15.2

    		  

    12.8

    		  

    13.4

    13.9

    13.2

    12.9

    12.0

    11.8

    Gross investment

    23.1

    24.7

    		  

    24.0

    		  

    25.9

    25.6

    25.7

    25.9

    25.9

    26.0

    Of which:  public investment 1

    2.7

    4.2

    3.5

    5.3

    5.0

    5.1

    5.3

    5.3

    5.4

    private investment

    20.4

    20.5

    20.5

    20.6

    20.6

    20.6

    20.6

    20.6

    20.6

    Private consumption

    50.6

    49.4

    		  

    49.8

    		  

    48.6

    47.6

    48.0

    47.8

    48.9

    49.6
     

    (Percent of GDP)

    		    

    Government budget 

    		                  

    Total revenue, excluding grants

    30.0

    30.9

    		  

    33.4

    		  

    34.5

    34.3

    34.8

    35.0

    34.8

    34.7

    Expenditure and net lending

    31.6

    32.9

    		  

    33.9

    		  

    37.3

    37.2

    36.1

    35.7

    34.9

    34.7

    Current expenditure

    29.2

    29.2

    		  

    30.2

    		  

    31.6

    31.8

    31.0

    30.3

    29.6

    29.3

    Capital expenditure 1

    2.7

    4.2

    		  

    3.5

    		  

    5.2

    5.0

    5.1

    5.3

    5.3

    5.4

    Overall balance, including grants

    0.1

    0.2

    		  

    0.9

    		  

    -1.7

    -1.3

    -0.4

    0.1

    0.7

    0.7

    Primary balance

    1.0

    1.7

    		  

    3.2

    		  

    1.2

    1.8

    2.5

    2.9

    3.1

    3.1

    Total government and government-guaranteed debt 2

    62.6

    57.3

    		  

    59.6

    		  

    61.2

    61.8

    60.4

    56.8

    52.6

    49.0
                       

    External sector

    		                      

    Current account balance including official transfers
     (in percent of GDP)

    -7.5

    -7.4

    		  

    -7.9

    		  

    -9.2

    -9.2

    -8.8

    -8.4

    -8.6

    -8.8

    Total external debt outstanding (millions of U.S. dollars) 3

    5,471

    5,694

    		  

    5,945

    		  

    6,208

    6,428

    6,645

    6,585

    6,588

    6,620

     (percent of GDP)

    271.1

    260.3

    		  

    273.0

    		  

    283.8

    285.0

    282.9

    267.4

    255.0

    242.2

    Terms of trade (-=deterioration)

    -8.7

    -4.0

    		  

    2.1

    		  

    0.8

    -1.7

    -1.3

    -0.9

    -0.8

    -0.6

    Gross official reserves (end of year, millions of U.S. dollars)

    639

    682

    		  

    774

    		  

    817

    830

    862

    893

    956

    1,021

    Months of imports, c.i.f.

    3.1

    3.4

    		  

    3.8

    		  

    3.9

    3.8

    3.8

    3.8

    3.8

    3.9

    In percent of Assessing Reserve Adequacy (ARA) metric

    102

    105

    115

    118

    117

    118

    119

    124

    127

    Exchange rate

    		                      

    Seychelles rupees per US$1 (end-of-period)

    14.1

    14.2

    		  

    14.8

    		  

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Seychelles rupees per US$1 (period average)

    14.3

    14.0

    		  

    14.5

    		  

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …
                       

    Sources: Central Bank of Seychelles; Ministry of Finance; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

      1 Includes onlending to the parastatals for investment purposes.

    		      

      2 Includes debt issued by the Ministry of Finance for monetary purposes.

    		          

      3 Includes private external debt.

    		            
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/16/pr-25199-seychelles-imf-4th-rev-eff-rsf-apr-usd-13-point-7-mill

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Applauds Accomplishments of Joint Recovery Effort One Month After EF-3 Tornado Devastated St. Louis

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 16, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe praised the united recovery effort in St. Louis that is moving the community forward following the devastating May 16 EF-3 tornado that destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and businesses, killed five people, and impacted the lives of tens of thousands of St. Louisans.

    The State of Missouri’s response began immediately, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol surging troopers to St. Louis to assist with law enforcement and traffic control and the Missouri Department of Transportationdeploying emergency response trucks and barricading impacted ramps and routes to assist with cleanup efforts. Governor Kehoe activated the state’s Urban Search and Rescue team, Missouri Task Force 1, which responded to the city and began search operations on May 16. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also began initial damage assessments on May 16 and conducted joint damage assessments with city counterparts of thousands of buildings within days that have allowed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin approving FEMA assistance funding to residents last week.

    “From the moments immediately after the EF-3 tornado struck and each day since, Missourians have shown they will come to the aid for their neighbors, no matter how daunting the task before them,” Governor Kehoe said. “In our many visits to St. Louis over the last month, we have seen people come together to support one another. We could not control what occurred on the afternoon of May 16, but we are proving that we can control the path forward as we rebuild lives and homes in the months and years to come. We have directed our state disaster recovery agencies to continue to build on what they have already accomplished and do everything possible to assist in St. Louis. We are confident in St. Louis’s future because of the great work that has already been accomplished as we’ve worked as a united team.”

    SEMA’s team has worked around the clock to support the St. Louis response effort and continues to tirelessly assist in the St. Louis Emergency Operations Center and across the damage area, supplying support in emergency management command, operations, logistics, planning, finance and administration, transportation, and medical care, through the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MO DMAT-1) and the Operations Division. Approximately 35% of the SEMA workforce has worked in St. Louis or supported tornado recovery efforts from SEMA headquarters over the last month. With the exception of a few days, SEMA Director Jim Remillard and Deputy Director Terry Cassil have spent the last month in St. Louis to support the recovery effort.

    “I have never been more impressed with the performance, professionalism, and dedication of any group of public servants than with SEMA’s effort to support the people of St. Louis,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “Their commitment, alongside additional state agencies, has been tireless, and they have integrated incredibly well working with St. Louis City Government, the St. Louis Fire Department, and all our other partners, playing an essential role in the progress that has been made in the community.”

    The State of Missouri’s response and recovery assistance over the last month has included:

    Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1)

    MO-TF-1 was activated by Governor Kehoe and SEMA on May 16 and deployed an 88-person Type 1 Urban Search and Rescue Task Force and a 5-person Disaster Situation Awareness and Reconnaissance (DSAR) team to St. Louis. The team integrated with the St. Louis Fire Department and other search and rescue teams. MO-TF-1 searched and evaluated over 2,150 structures using state-of-the-art technological resources from May 16 to 18 and utilized drone technology to provide real-time situational awareness.

    SEMA Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MO DMAT-1)

    DMAT provided medical team members at St. Louis shelters housing people displaced by the tornado and Emergency Human Services staffing in the St. Louis Emergency Operations Center. In addition, DMAT team members have provided essential support to the St. Louis EOC in the areas of Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance and Administration. DMAT Logistics personnel also transported supplies and equipment to support the Disaster Assistance Center and the Multi-Agency Recovery Warehouse.

    SEMA Operations Division

    The SEMA Troop C – Urban regional coordinator responded immediately after the tornado hit on May 16 and continues to work out of the St. Louis Emergency Operations on a daily basis. Other SEMA regional coordinators from across the state have supported the St. Louis Emergency Operations Centers over the last month. The Operations Division also participated in initial damage assessments with local officials while response efforts were still ongoing. 

    SEMA Recovery Division

    The Recovery Division began conducting initial damage assessments with the local officials while response efforts were ongoing. A formal request to FEMA to conduct joint FEMA/SBA/SEMA/Local preliminary damage assessments for the Individual Assistance Program was submitted on May 19. The joint preliminary damage assessments for the were conducted May 21-24 and identified at least 512 homes destroyed, 1,321 homes sustaining major damage and 195 homes sustaining minor damage, totaling at least $17 million in expected FEMA and State of Missouri assistance to homeowners and renters. A request for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for designation of the Individual Assistance Program was signed by Governor Kehoe and submitted to FEMA on May 25. A formal request to FEMA to conduct joint FEMA/SEMA/Local preliminary damage assessments for the Public Assistance Program was submitted on May 23. Joint preliminary damage assessments for the Public Assistance Program were conducted May 28-June 3. A formal request was submitted to FEMA on June 6 for designation of the Public Assistance Program be added to the Major Presidential Disaster Declaration request for Individual Assistance submitted on May 25. These were approved by the President on June 9. FEMA had begun approving financial assistance to residents by June 12.

    SEMA Emergency Human Services

    SEMA’s Emergency Human Services Branch has been coordinating with local officials and faith-based and volunteer organizations, beginning with emergency sheltering needs since the May 16 tornado. SEMA has worked collaboratively with its partners to ensure the needs of those impacted by the tornado were met, including:

    • The American Red Cross has opened 21 shelters, providing 453 individuals with shelter for a total of 5,515 of shelter stays. ARC and its partners have been working to transition residents to longer-term sustainable housing solutions.
    • An array of charitable groups has provided over 285,000 hot meals.
    • The St. Louis Area Food bank has distributed over 350,000 pounds of food to organizations providing meals to storm survivors. It is also supplying community members with 500 food, water, and hygiene kits weekly at points of distribution in the impacted zone.
    • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has assembled and delivered 5,500 meal kits to those impacted.
    • The Urban League donated over 7,000 box meals to disaster survivors.
    • A 140,000 square-foot Multi-Agency Warehouse, operated for the City of St. Louis by Adventist Community Services Disaster Response, has opened to support long-term recovery operations by accepting donated supplies, including PPE and construction materials. The warehouse received its first delivery on June 8 and sent out its first truckload of supplies for distribution on June 13. The warehouse receives in-kind donated goods from companies, corporations and community collection drives and provides inventory and fair market value tracking to support FEMA’s local match disaster assistance funding requirements. Its inventory will supply an approved partner network within the impact zone to support long-term recovery.
    • United Way and AmeriCorps St Louis are coordinating the Volunteer Reception Center and to date have connected over 5,200 volunteers to disaster-related opportunities.
    • Convoy of Hope has distributed over 389,000 pounds of essential supplies to 20,379 individuals.
    • The Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) opened June 9 at Chaifetz Arena and will operate for three weeks,  providing a one-stop-shop where disaster survivors received financial assistance, information, referrals, and emergency supplies from over 30 state agencies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, St. Louis city government, and community organizations. The DAC served 1,276 households reaching 3,325 family members in its first four days of operation. State agencies involved include the Department of Social Services, which refilled SNAP benefits and signed up those eligible for SNAP benefits; Department of Commerce and Industry, which has been providing guidance and information to residents who are having insurance issues; Department of Revenue, which has had its License Office on Wheels at the DAC replacing driver licenses, motor vehicle titles, and providing all services available at fixed license offices. Missouri Department of Mental Health team members are serving as ambassadors at the DAC, providing emotional support and guidance to survivors going through the DAC process. The Attorney General’s Office has been on site advising residents about potential scams and scammers.

    Missouri Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (SAVE) Coalition

    From May 21-24 and June 7-10, the SAVE Coalition (a mobile reserve unit of SEMA) assisted the St. Louis Building Division with evaluating residences and businesses for structural integrity. Over 100 volunteer engineers, architects, and building officials from across Missouri spent more than 3,000 hours assisting St. Louis inspectors evaluate 6,748 structures, categorizing 2,136 as unsafe and 1,529 as restricted because of extensive damage. City inspectors went through SAVE’s standard one-day training class on rapid exterior building evaluations. They utilized mapping software to compile digital reports, to help guide city rebuilding efforts. “Without [the SAVE Coalition’s] assistance St. Louis would, I feel, be struggling with the task of trying to catalog the tremendous damage that occurred on May 16th,” said Ed Ware, St. Louis Building Commissioner.

    Missouri State Highway Patrol

    Troop C troopers began to assist the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department immediately after the tornado struck on May 16, with 25 troopers assisting through May 17. The Patrol also provided additional assistance May 22-May 30, after receiving an additional request.  

    Missouri National Guard

    The Guard provided a Liaison Officer to St. Louis on May 20, which resulted in a request from the city for a Guard mission to support debris removal through an Engineer Task Force that provided a comprehensive debris clearance package. Engineer Teams deployed to St. Louis on May 28 and established and operated four debris collection sites and assisted with sorting, loading, transporting, and removing debris to designated landfills beginning on May 29. Operations involved close partnership with St. Louis Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and other city agencies. In its release letter to the Guard, the City of St. Louis called the Guard’s service “remarkable and exemplary.” The letter further noted that “the support enabled the city and its residents to remove the equivalent of well over 200 football fields piled one foot high with debris.” The debris drop-offs concluded at the Guard managed sites on June 8.

    Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)

    DHSS has deployed staff to the St. Louis EOC and the Disaster Assistance Center to support public health partners, health care efforts and survivors. DHSS has sent more than 20 pallets of PPE and supplies to the St. Louis region, totaling 207,658 goggles, N95 masks, protective coveralls, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer. DHSS, in collaboration with state and local partners, provided guidance on environmental cleanup efforts and PPE recommendations for debris removal crews and citizen cleanup efforts.

    DHSS issued two important state regulatory waivers: facilitating the rapid deployment of meals to impacted senior living sites; and allowing pharmacists to fill controlled substance prescriptions for patients in impacted areas without a written prescription when they deemed it necessary. DHSS staff also received and disseminated a USDA Food and Nutrition Service waiver for replacement of the current month food benefits for WIC participants who had damaged food from the storms.

    DHSS has also assisted with data analysis from air sampling efforts in the St. Louis area and is continuing to monitor for any concerning health trends at local hospitals.

    Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI)

    DCI continues to provide consumer support and guidance for those navigating insurance policies and the post-disaster claims process, including at the ongoing Disaster Assistance Center. DCI has assisted over 360 families at the DAC as of June 13. Consumer Affairs has also fielded hundreds of calls and is currently processing insurance complaints as a result of the storms. DCI leadership has met with industry partners and community leaders on key insurance matters. To assist tornado survivors with major damage to their homes, on June 12, DCI issued a bulletin to the insurance industry that for properties with 50% or more damage the City of St. Louis had waived its mandatory claim holdback ordinance, which limited the ability to receive payment for insured losses. For insurance help, consumers can call DCI’s Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov for more information.

    Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

    DNR has waived certain requirements related to the disposal of yard waste and appliances, burning of woody vegetation, asbestos abatement and the discharge of wastewater. These actions were taken to expedite cleanup and minimize the risk to human health and the environment. DNR team members are participating at the Disaster Assistance Center events to answer questions related to storm recovery, including debris disposal, drinking water systems, water quality issues, and hazardous materials.

    Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS)

    On May 27,  the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved DSS’s request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that was lost as a result of the May 16 tornado. The waiver applies to specific ZIP Codes in the City of St. Louis City and is in effect through June 16. DSS sent an additional request for FNS to approve a second extension for Missourians in impacted areas. If approved, those in impacted areas would have until July 16 to report their loss to DSS Family Support Division (FSD) for SNAP replacement benefits.

    Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR)

    Once Missouri received a federal Major Disaster Declaration, DOLIR’s updated the state’s unemployment claims application to allow for filing of claims for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits and claims are already being received. DUA applications will be accepted through August 8. Individuals may file a DUA claim online 24/7 by visiting uinteract.labor.mo.gov/benefits. The department has also been providing claim filing assistance and information to storm survivors at the Disaster Assistance Center. 

    Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

    On May 16 and 17, the MoDOT deployed emergency response trucks and barricaded impacted ramps and routes to assist with tornado cleanup efforts, as well as staffing the State Emergency Operations Center to assist with transportation and infrastructure needs. In the month since, MoDOT has remained involved in the infrastructure recovery efforts, performing damage assessments, and providing detailed inspection reports.

    Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD)

    On May 29, DHEWD dedicated $750,000 in federal workforce funds to provide temporary wages to eligible individuals interested in helping with storm cleanup in St. Louis and southeast Missouri. The department is partnering with Local Workforce Development Boards, including the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE), local elected officials, and community organizations, such as the Urban League, to find eligible participants and provide an hourly wage for time spent assisting with removing debris and repairing infrastructure. DHEWD has also hosted jobs fairs to assist unemployed St. Louisans.

    The federal Major Disaster Declaration means DHEWD will be able to apply for a $5 million National Dislocated Worker Grant through the U.S. Department of Labor within the next few weeks. If approved, this grant will provide supplemental funding to support the community as it continues to recover.

    Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR)

    Since June 9, the DOR Mobile License Office has operated at the entrance of Chaifetz Arena to assist tornado survivors who lost licenses or other DOR documents, with the normal $6 transaction fee being waived. Through June 12, 97 individuals have been served. The mobile office is equipped to handle all license office functions, including ID card processing or replacement. The unit will continue to be available Monday, June 16, through Tuesday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. DOR has also extended certain deadlines for those in the federal disaster declaration area until November 3, 2025, to align with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

    Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH)

    The DMH Office of Disaster Services and DMH’s Behavioral Health Strike Team (BHST) were deployed to St. Louis to help deliver crisis counseling to those impacted by the May 16 tornado. They will be deployed through June to help provide crisis counseling at the Disaster Assistance Center, shelters, and in the community. They will also provide crisis counseling once FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers open. DMH is also applying for the FEMA crisis counseling program to provide continued mental health support to the community for an extended period of time.

    Photos of the State of Missouri response in St. Louis can be found at this link. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China extends VAT refund policy for foreign tourists to new regions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese authorities will implement a policy of refunding value-added tax (VAT) to foreign tourists leaving the country in northeast China’s Dalian City and central China’s Hubei Province from July 1, the Ministry of Finance said Monday.

    The policy allows foreign tourists to receive VAT refunds for eligible purchases made at covered stores before leaving China. Relevant regions can implement the policy after applying to relevant government agencies.

    China began implementing the VAT refund policy for foreign tourists upon exiting the country in 2015. Since then, the scale of the tax refund has increased annually, benefiting more and more overseas travelers.

    On April 27 this year, China adopted a package of measures to streamline this policy, including measures to lower the minimum purchase amount for refund, increase the maximum cash back amount, expand the network of participating stores, and expand the range of products covered by the return policy.

    In addition, China is promoting a VAT refund model at the time of purchase, allowing tourists to receive refunds directly at retail points of sale without waiting until they leave the country.

    According to official data, from April 27 to May 26, the number of exit VAT refund transactions processed by China’s tax authorities increased by 116 percent compared with the same period last year, while sales at eligible stores increased by 56 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Housing Starts See Remarkable 108.6 Per Cent Growth

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 16, 2025

    Figures Show Strong Gains, Ranking Province First in the Nation 

    Today, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released new data showing urban housing starts in Saskatchewan increased by 108.6 per cent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This places the province 1st in the nation for growth in this area.

    “Saskatchewan’s economy continues to show positive momentum and investor confidence,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “More homes are being built, and more people are living and working across the province than ever before.”

    In May 2025, urban housing starts across the province increased by 205.9 per cent over May 2024, placing Saskatchewan 2nd among the provinces for year-over-year growth.

    Within that total, housing starts on single family homes were up 63.7 per cent, while multi-unit residential construction increased by 617.9 per cent compared to May 2024.

    Housing starts refers to the number of housing projects that started that month.

    The provincial economy continues to see substantial growth. Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2024 real GDP reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion, increasing by $2.6 billion, or 3.4 per cent. This ranks Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

    Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

    Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.

    For more information, visit: InvestSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: TRUMP’S “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL” COULD SPELL “BIG” ENERGY PRICE HIKES & “BIG” JOB LOSSES FOR BUFFALO; STANDING AT ONE OF WESTERN NY’S LARGEST HOME SOLAR INSTALLERS, SENATOR REVEALS HOW GOP PLAN…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Buffalo Clean Energy Biz Like Solar Liberty Were Boosted By Federal Clean Energy Incentives – But Now Face Major Issues For Future Of Business Under GOP Job-Killing Bill – And Families Who Tap These Programs To Lower Their Energy Bills In WNY Could Be Left High & Dry

    House GOP Rushed Trump’s Tax Giveaway To Billionaires, Gutting Fed Clean Energy Tax Credits That Lower Energy Costs and Boost & Local Jobs – Now Even House Rs Are Regretting It, Asking Senate GOP To Reverse Cuts They Voted For; Senator – With Impacted Buffalo Businesses, Families, Union Workers – Shows Local Impact Of These Cuts, Demands GOP Block It

    Schumer: ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Is A ‘Big, Bad Blow’ To Western NY Jobs, Families & Businesses

    Standing at Buffalo’s Solar Liberty, one of the largest solar installers in the region, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer warned how the GOP plan to kill clean energy tax credits could raise energy costs for Western NY families, slash local jobs, and devastate Buffalo’s clean energy businesses & manufacturers.

    Schumer explained these unpopular, job-killing cuts in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” have already created panic among House Republicans and companies, and even House Republicans who voted for this bill last month are now begging to save these tax credits. Schumer said Solar Liberty is just one of many local Buffalo businesses that could be decimated by this bill and demanded the GOP block these tax hikes that could devastate Buffalo families and small businesses.

    “Right now, we are at Defcon 1 for America’s clean energy future. Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ would deal a ‘big bad blow’ to Buffalo, raising families’ energy costs and killing good-paying local jobs. These federal clean energy investments have boosted Buffalo’s businesses, like Solar Liberty, which is helping families and businesses save on their monthly energy bills. The current GOP bill would decimate the programs these companies rely on, which will kill jobs and drive up energy costs for consumers,” said Senator Schumer. “It guts investment to bring clean energy manufacturing back from overseas and eliminates one of the most effective tax credits middle-class families use to lower their monthly energy bills and that Buffalo families use to help weatherize their homes to make them warmer in the winter, all to give bigger breaks to billionaires; It’s outrageous. America needs to be producing more energy, investing in making sure these jobs grow in places like Buffalo, not go back overseas. That’s why I’m demanding Republicans to stop this plan to gut America’s clean energy future and block these tax hikes that will hurt Buffalo families’ wallets and decimate jobs.”

    Schumer was joined by workers from leading clean energy company Solar Liberty, who said the elimination of these investments would be a massive blow to their businesses, employees, and customers. Buffalo’s Solar Liberty employs nearly 100 workers and has helped thousands of families and businesses across the Northeast install solar panels for over two decades, reducing their energy bills by hundreds or even thousands per year.

    Three years ago, new and expanded clean energy tax credits created in the Inflation Reduction Act expanded Solar Liberty’s ability to bring the manufacturing of solar energy parts back to Western New York. Solar Liberty is growing rapidly by building out community solar projects, partnering with schools and nonprofits to take advantage of new direct-pay credits, and expanding battery storage, now eligible for a 30% federal tax credit even when deployed without solar. These IRA-driven incentives have not only boosted deployment and manufacturing but are also helping underserved communities and energy transition hubs across Western New York access affordable, reliable, clean power.

    However, the House GOP bill would make it more difficult for both residents and businesses to work with Solar Liberty to install solar panels. Cutting the Residential Clean Energy Credit – which gives New York families a 30% discount on home energy improvements, like solar panels – would make the cost of installing solar panels skyrocket for hardworking families, gutting Solar Liberty’s main customer base. Schumer said if this bill passes, it will pull the rug out from under Solar Liberty just as it is growing, rendering their investments in Buffalo worthless and forcing them to lay off local workers.

    “Since 2005, the Federal Investment Tax Credit has supported 280,000 American jobs, strengthened energy independence, and delivered cost-saving solutions for millions of families and businesses,” said Adam Rizzo, President of Solar Liberty. “As energy demand accelerates, solar’s unmatched speed of deployment makes it one of the most effective tools we have to strengthen America’s energy future. We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for his steadfast support in advancing solar energy and helping drive this progress forward.”

    Brian Gould, retired Cheektowaga Police Chief, hired Solar Liberty to install solar panels with help from the Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit. Gould said the cost would have been prohibitive without these tax credits, but now he is saving over $1,000 every year on his energy bill. If these tax credits are repealed, the cost of making homes more energy efficient will skyrocket, and families like Gould’s would not have the support they need to bring their energy costs down. Thousands of families across New York State are waiting to see what the GOP does in Washington and are holding off on new clean energy installations, hurting companies like Solar Liberty and the thousands of workers in the clean energy industry. Singer Farm Naturals used the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit to install two solar arrays, cutting a significant portion of their upfront costs and lowering long-term energy expenses. Programs like this, along with USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, have been essential to keeping operating costs down — and are now under threat in the proposed federal budget.

    “As a homeowner who installed solar back in 2013, I know firsthand how important federal tax credits are in making clean energy affordable,” said Brian Gould, a residential solar customer. “Those incentives made it possible for me to go solar—and today, I save over $1,000 a year on my electric bills. The Inflation Reduction Act builds on that foundation, making it easier than ever for families to make the switch. These credits are helping more people access solar, lower their energy costs, and invest in a cleaner future. Rolling them back now would make home solar harder to afford and deny others the same opportunity I had to take control of my energy and support local jobs.”

    The GOP bill would kill clean energy incentives already benefiting hundreds of New York businesses with ongoing projects and the families who are using them to help improve their homes’ energy efficiency and lower their electric bills. Schumer specifically highlighted how the bill:

    • Eliminates the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, which provides families in New York up to $3,200 to help weatherize their homes for better protection in the harsh winters and make improvements to their home’s energy efficiency, lowering their electric bills with qualifying items like doors, windows, better insulation and heat pumps, and more.
    • Eliminates the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which gives New York families a 30% discount on home energy improvements, like solar panels, heat pumps, or energy storage, that help lower energy bills and keep the lights on during power outages.

    It isn’t just solar that would be hurt; these cuts hurt businesses across the clean energy sector and its supply chains. Viridi Parente, a fast-growing company on Buffalo’s East Side, has added hundreds of good-paying jobs, growing the domestic battery manufacturing industry with support from clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Production tax credit. Viridi Parente helped breathe new life into the former American Axle Factory, which was once the beating heart of the community. However, if the GOP bill becomes law, it would be a major blow to Viridi Parente’s progress in growing the domestic battery manufacturing industry, gutting federal investment at a time when it is critically needed.

    Schumer said clean energy tax incentives have spurred a clean energy boom in New York State, and rolling them back would have devastating impacts. The Clean Economy Tracker estimates the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives have spurred over $5 billion worth of investments in clean manufacturing in New York, creating over 7,200 jobs. Data from NERA Economic Consulting shows that repealing clean energy tax credits could cause New York to lose up to 20,300 jobs as clean energy projects are cancelled or scaled back, with a whopping nearly $3.5 billion hit to the state’s GDP, and New Yorkers paying up to $650 in higher energy costs each year by 2032 if these devastating cuts become law.

    Already, Republicans have shown doubts about the provisions in this bill. Earlier this month, thirteen House Republicans sent a letter to Senate Republican leaders urging them to scale back clean energy cuts in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – the very bill their votes helped pass in the House.

    “The fight is far from over. House Republicans’ latest flip-flopping shows our pressure is working, and we have a real opportunity to get them to go back to the drawing board on this bill, and stop their attacks to totally eliminate these clean energy tax credits. And we are doing that by showing the real-world impacts, the jobs lost, and lives devastated by their brutal cuts,” added Schumer.

    Schumer said if this House Republican plan goes through, many of the clean energy projects spurred by the IRA could be forced to scale back or even stop, the workers building the future of American energy would be laid off, and projects that otherwise would have plugged into the grid will never come to fruition. That would impact both major NY employers and manufacturers in the clean energy, manufacturing, electric vehicle, battery, and research sectors, and also our small businesses and major economic projects slated to come to New York. Schumer said the House Republican bill would repeal the very parts of the Inflation Reduction Act that have helped companies grow in New York and spurred millions of investments, many of which are in Republican districts such as:

    • Eliminates the Clean Electricity Investment & Production Credits that support more cheap, clean electricity. With natural gas turbines on a five-year delay, the IRA’s clean electricity tax credits have ensured a robust buildout of wind and solar power while spurring demand for American-made energy products and helping keep electricity prices from increasing.
    • Sabotages the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit that has generated a more than five-fold increase in investment in manufacturing in the solar and EV supply chains, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and shifting these industries out of China to the U.S.
    • Eliminates the IRA’s Electric Vehicle Tax Credits that make it cheaper to buy new and used electric and plug-in hybrid cars, and has led to a massive onshoring of EV and battery supply chain manufacturing, undercutting China and bolstering American companies.
    • Eliminates the New Energy-Efficient Home Credit that makes it cheaper to build new, highly efficient and affordable homes, expanding the housing supply while reducing energy costs.
    • Eliminates the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit that supports American-made clean hydrogen, led by New York companies like Plug Power and Air Products, to be used for clean manufacturing and agriculture.

    Repealing the clean energy tax incentives would also be a disaster for America that Schumer said would cede energy manufacturing leadership to China, which already produces a significant amount of the world’s clean technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. If companies can no longer support clean energy manufacturing in the United States, they will bring these projects to America’s competitors, and jobs that would’ve otherwise been created in America will be created in countries like China. This will destabilize American supply chains and make American families and businesses reliant on China and other foreign countries for cheap energy.

    “We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for providing strong, common-sense leadership at a time when what we’ve fought so hard to deliver for working people is being threatened by this administration. Organized Labor has fought nationally for generational investments in clean energy and a green transition away from fossil fuels, and we’ve won many of those fights with Senator Schumer’s support. Now those wins are being threatened. The climate crisis is already making workers less safe on the job. From blistering farm fields to sweltering classrooms, workers will continue to suffer and die as long as the current President and Congress continue to deny scientific consensus and defund projects and programs that set us on an environmentally stable path. Working families in Buffalo know better than most the devastation of changing industry and the benefits of renewable energy sources for our communities. Corporate and political greed—lining the pockets of billionaires at workers’ expense—is unsustainable, and we’ll keep fighting it every step of the way forward,” said Buffalo Central Labor Council President Denise Abbott.

    “Clean Air members are working class people who have suffered the brunt of pollution from the burning of gas and coal for energy. Clean energy tax credits can lower our energy bills, reduce pollution protecting our health, and provide family- sustaining jobs. he house bill is a bad deal for the working class. We stand with Senator Schumer to ask that these clean energy credits be protected,” said Chris Murawski, Executive Director, Clean Air Coalition of Western New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM share buyback update June 9 – 13, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    June 16, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CET

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports that no transactions were executed under ASM’s current share buyback program in the week June 9 – 13, 2025.

    For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks.

    About ASM International

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Contact

    Investor and media relations

    Victor Bareño
    T: +31 88 100 8500
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    		 Investor relations

    Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Leads Congressional California Delegation Letter to Governor Newsom and State Legislators to Protect Access to Medi-Cal and In-Home Care in 2025-26 Budget 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    13 June 2025

    Contact: Jin Choi

    Rep. Barragán Leads Congressional California Delegation Letter to Governor Newsom and State Legislators to Protect Access to Medi-Cal and In-Home Care in 2025-26 Budget 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, led 16 Members of the California Congressional Delegation in a letter urging Governor Newsom and State Legislators to protect Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal, and in-home care in the 2025-26 state budget.

    Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revision proposes to cut access to Medi-Cal and in-home care through Medi-Cal’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. IHSS is a type of state and federally-funded Home and Community-Based Services that provides in-home assistance to eligible seniors and people with disabilities as an alternative to out-of-home care. This program allows Californians to remain safely and independently in their own homes and in the community.

    “Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services are essential to helping our most vulnerable community members, including seniors, adults and children with disabilities, and low-wage home care workers,” said Rep. Barragán. “Now, more than ever, it is critical that we preserve access to Medi-Cal. Investing in essential primary health care and social support services like Medi-Cal provides helps lower costs by keeping Californians out of emergency rooms, preventing chronic diseases, and reducing institutionalization or homelessness. Our healthcare system should support Californians, not require them to stay in poverty.”

    “Disability Rights California thanks Congresswoman Barragán for her longstanding commitment to ensuring access to Medi-Cal home and community-based services for disabled Californians, said Andy Imparato, CEO, Disability Rights California. “It is critical to the health, safety, and wellbeing of thousands of Californians with disabilities that the proposals to cap IHSS provider hours and reinstate the Medi-Cal asset limit do not move forward.”

    The letter also acknowledges that the State Legislature took meaningful steps to protect access to Medi-Cal and IHSS in the Legislature’s Version of the Budget.

    In addition to Barragán, the letter is signed by Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Norma Torres (CA-38), Juan Vargas (CA-35), and Maxine Waters (CA-44).

    The letter is endorsed by Disability Rights California and Justice in Aging.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Camperdown — RCMP charges a man with child pornography offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The RCMP’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit has charged a man with child pornography offences in Camperdown.

    On June 12, 2025, the RCMP’s ICE Unit, assisted by Lunenburg County District RCMP, Southwest Nova Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit, and the RCMP Digital Forensic Services, executed a search warrant at a home on Camperdown Rd. and safely arrested a 27-year-old man.

    Investigators were directed to the residence after a social media application notified law enforcement that child pornography had been transmitted using their service.

    Randy Rehberg, 27, of Camperdown, has been charged with:

    • Possession of Child Pornography
    • Distribution of Child Pornography
    • Make Written Child Pornography

    Rehberg was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on September 3.

    In Nova Scotia it is mandatory for citizens to report suspected child pornography; anyone who comes across child pornography material or recordings must report it to the police. Failure to report could result in penalties similar to those for failure to report child abuse set out in the Child and Family Services Act. Be a voice for children who are victims of sexual exploitation by reporting suspected offences to your local police or to Canada’s national tipline: www.cybertip.ca.

    File 2025-59958

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Camperdown — RCMP charges a man with child pornography offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The RCMP’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit has charged a man with child pornography offences in Camperdown.

    On June 12, 2025, the RCMP’s ICE Unit, assisted by Lunenburg County District RCMP, Southwest Nova Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit, and the RCMP Digital Forensic Services, executed a search warrant at a home on Camperdown Rd. and safely arrested a 27-year-old man.

    Investigators were directed to the residence after a social media application notified law enforcement that child pornography had been transmitted using their service.

    Randy Rehberg, 27, of Camperdown, has been charged with:

    • Possession of Child Pornography
    • Distribution of Child Pornography
    • Make Written Child Pornography

    Rehberg was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on September 3.

    In Nova Scotia it is mandatory for citizens to report suspected child pornography; anyone who comes across child pornography material or recordings must report it to the police. Failure to report could result in penalties similar to those for failure to report child abuse set out in the Child and Family Services Act. Be a voice for children who are victims of sexual exploitation by reporting suspected offences to your local police or to Canada’s national tipline: www.cybertip.ca.

    File 2025-59958

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LIFT Program Opens Applications in Business Loan Funding

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce announces the opening of the Legacy Investment for Technology (LIFT) application process today, June 16. This funding opportunity drives economic growth in our state by fueling innovative North Dakota businesses.  

    The LIFT fund received a $10 million appropriation for the 2025-27 biennium. “We are grateful for the support from the North Dakota 69th Legislative Assembly” said Commerce Economic Development Deputy Director/Head of Investments and Innovation Shayden Akason. “Supporting North Dakota companies that are commercializing intellectual property continues to be a strong component of the state’s economic development.”

    LIFT is an innovation loan fund that supports technology advancement by providing financing for commercialization of intellectual property within the state of North Dakota. The use of the loan funds is available to enhance capacity and to the extent possible, leverage state, federal and private sources of funding.  

    Commerce collaborates with the Bank of North Dakota to manage and administer the loan fund. LIFT loan terms include 0% interest for the first three years of the loan, and 2% interest for the next two years, and an interest rate equal to a standard Bank of North Dakota loan for all subsequent years. The program is open to North Dakota companies working in advanced computing and data management, agriculture technology, autonomous and unmanned vehicles and technologies, energy, health care, value-added agriculture, value-added energy, and any area specifically identified by the LIFT committee as contributing to the diversification of the state’s economy.  

    Since its launch in 2019, the LIFT committee has awarded $44 million to 71 innovative companies, propelling North Dakota’s economic growth.

    Applications for the LIFT program will be accepted through July 25, 2025. 

    For more information, application guidelines and program details, visit https://belegendary.link/LIFT.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose XRP ETF Receives OSC Receipt, Set to Launch on TSX on Wednesday, June 18, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”) is pleased to announce that it has received a final prospectus receipt for the Purpose XRP ETF, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of digital asset investing in Canada. The ETF is expected to begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker XRPP on Wednesday, June 18.

    The Purpose XRP ETF will offer investors direct exposure to spot XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger – a decentralized, open-source blockchain designed to facilitate fast and cost-effective cross-border payments. With this approval, Purpose continues to broaden access to digital assets through regulated and transparent investment vehicles.

    “The OSC’s granting of a receipt for the Purpose XRP ETF prospectus reinforces Canada’s global leadership in building a regulated digital asset ecosystem,” said Vlad Tasevski, Chief Innovation Officer at Purpose Investments. “We’re proud to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the space by offering investors simple, secure access to the infrastructure powering real-world blockchain adoption.”

    The ETF will be available in CAD-hedged (ticker XRPP), CAD non-hedged (ticker XRPP.B), and US dollar (ticker XRPP.U) units, and will be eligible for holding in registered accounts such as TFSAs and RRSPs.

    About Purpose Investments

    Purpose Investments is an asset management company with over $24 billion in assets under management, focused on client-centric innovation across ETFs and investment funds. Purpose is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent financial technology company led by entrepreneur Som Seif.

    For further information, please email us at info@purposeinvest.com.

    Media inquiries:
    Keera Hart
    keera.hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    This offering is made only by prospectus. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from purposeinvest.com. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.

    The content of this document is for informational purposes only and is not being provided in the context of an offering of any securities described herein, nor is it a recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security. Information contained in this document is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as, an offering memorandum, prospectus, advertisement or public offering of securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority has reviewed this information, and any representation to the contrary is an offence. The information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable; however, we cannot guarantee that it is complete or current at all times. The information provided is subject to change without notice.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed; their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Crypto assets can be extremely volatile, and there is no guarantee that the amount invested will be returned to you.

    Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements (“FLS”) are statements that are predictive in nature, depend on or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate” or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are, by their nature, based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained in this document are based upon what Purpose Investments believes to be reasonable assumptions, Purpose Investments cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on the FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed, that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Capital Wins Proxy Contest at MediPharm Labs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MediPharm Labs’ Board’s Material and Unprecedented Breaches of Securities Laws Are Part of Their Undoing

    Apollo Capital’s Entire Slate of Board Nominees Constitute the New Board of Directors for MediPharm Labs Effective Today

    TORONTO, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Technology Capital Corporation (“Apollo Capital” or “Apollo”), which together with its affiliates and associates collectively is one of the largest shareholders of MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSX: LABS) (OTCQB: MEDIF) (FSE: MLZ) (“MediPharm”, “MediPharm Labs”, or the “Company”), owning approximately 3% of the Company’s common stock, announced today that it considers the results of MediPharm Labs’ 2025 Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) a clear victory for Apollo, as all of MediPharm’s proxies – solicited using the green proxy form – are illegal and invalid under securities law and cannot be counted.

    Apollo Capital has been advised by its legal counsel that MediPharm’s solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting is illegal due to material non-compliance with the notice-and-access laws under Section 2.7.1(2) of National Instrument 54-101 – Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“NI 54-101”), since MediPharm illegally included additional materials in its proxy mailing that are expressly prohibited under Section 2.7.1(1)(a) of NI 54-101.

    These legal failures, which MediPharm has itself acknowledged, are not curable under the law, and demonstrate yet again MediPharm’s complete disregard for its shareholders and the law, in favor of the incumbent board’s personal interests. Given that MediPharm did not restart the election process and re-mail compliant materials to all shareholders at least 21 days in advance of the Annual Meeting, as clearly required under securities law, all proxies submitted on the green proxy card or voting instruction form were illegally solicited and must lawfully be declared invalid and discarded by Meeting Chair Chris Halyk. Apollo Capital’s GOLD proxies are therefore the only valid proxies on record.

    Meeting Chair Mr. Halyk testified under oath that he would not favor MediPharm over the dissident shareholders in his role and affirmed that he owes a fiduciary duty to all shareholders. As Chair, Mr. Halyk does not have the authority to waive illegal activity. If Mr. Halyk does not want to further implicate himself in this tainted and illegal process, the only course of action for him is to officially declare that any votes solicited using MediPharm’s green proxy form or voting instruction form are illegal under securities law and cannot be counted.

    MediPharm committed to obeying the law at the June 16, 2025 Annual Meeting when appearing before the Honorable Madame Justice Dietrich on June 10, 2025. Apollo is fully expecting MediPharm to comply with the commitment that it made to Justice Dietrich and vacate the board in favor of the Apollo nominees today, as is required by law.

    “This is not a legal technicality. This is an unprecedented breach of securities laws governing proxy solicitation meant to ensure each shareholder is fairly and consistently informed. We have never before seen such an egregious breach of these laws. This alone underscores the urgent need for new leadership at MediPharm. MediPharm’s board of directors (the “Board”) continues to act in unlawful and nefarious ways to further entrench and enrich themselves at shareholders’ expense,” said Regan McGee of Apollo Capital.

    With management’s green proxy cards and voting instruction forms invalid as a result of MediPharm’s illegal solicitation of proxies, the outcome of the election is unequivocal: Apollo Capital’s GOLD card has won. Apollo Capital has adhered fully to the rules governing proxy solicitation, conducted a fair and lawful election process, and – given that its GOLD proxy cards are the only valid proxies under applicable securities laws – Apollo Capital has secured victory in its campaign to restore value, integrity, legal compliance and leadership at MediPharm Labs.

    +++

    “MediPharm’s current leadership has presided over massive value destruction, poor governance, repeated strategic missteps and credible securities fraud allegations. Now, the same leadership stands behind a corrupt, tainted and illegal proxy process and tactics aimed at silencing shareholders and further entrenching themselves. Shareholder rights and the integrity of the vote have not been protected. MediPharm’s shareholders deserve better,” said Regan McGee of Apollo Capital.

    “During this proxy contest, MediPharm’s management and Board have repeatedly undermined a fair process through unlawful procedural violations, obstructionist tactics, and a disregard for basic principles of corporate governance. The premise for their entire campaign was to spread disinformation to their own shareholders. This is not the behavior of a Board acting in good faith or in the best interests of shareholders – it’s the behavior of entrenched directors desperate to cling to power at any cost. This is why the Board went to such great lengths to block the appointment of an independent chair. While we respectfully don’t agree with the decision to allow Mr. Halyk to act as the Meeting Chair, we will see if he rightfully declares the GOLD proxy cards the only valid ones.

    The law is crystal clear: if you break the notice-and-access laws, the proxies you solicit are illegal and invalid.

    Now that Apollo’s nominees have won the proxy contest and constitute the lawful board of directors of MediPharm Labs, we look forward to working with all shareholders to turn the Company around, work to get the share price back to over $1 per share and build MediPharm into the world’s leading medical cannabis company,” said Regan McGee of Apollo Capital.

    Contacts

    For Shareholders:
    Carson Proxy
    North American Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-530-5189
    Local or Text Message: 416-751-2066 (collect calls accepted)
    E: info@carsonproxy.com

    For Media:
    media@curemedipharm.com

    This solicitation is being made by and on behalf of Apollo Capital, who, as of the date of this Circular, beneficially owns or controls, directly and indirectly through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nobul Technologies Inc., 12,491,500 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”), representing approximately 3% of the total Common Shares issued and outstanding, and not by the management of the Company.

    Legal Disclosures

    Information in Support of Public Broadcast Exemption under Canadian Law

    In connection with the Annual Meeting of shareholders of MediPharm, Apollo Capital has filed an amended and restated dissident information circular dated May 15, 2025 (the “Circular”), as amended and supplemented by an addendum to the Circular subsequently filed by Apollo Capital and Patrick McCutcheon (together, the “Concerned Stakeholder”) dated June 4, 2025 (the “Addendum” and together with the Circular, the “Amended Circular”), each in compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws. The Concerned Stakeholder has provided in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of NI 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”) and the corresponding exemption under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), and has filed the Amended Circular, available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Amended Circular contains disclosure prescribed by applicable corporate law and disclosure required under section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 in respect of the Concerned Stakeholder’s director nominees, in accordance with corporate and securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. The Amended Circular is hereby incorporated by reference into this press release and is available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The registered office of the Company is 151 John Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 2L1.

    SHAREHOLDERS OF MEDIPHARM ARE URGED TO READ THE AMENDED CIRCULAR CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto and further proxy circulars at no charge under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, shareholders are also able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and other relevant documents by contacting the Concerned Stakeholder’s proxy solicitor, Carson Proxy Advisors Ltd. (“Carson Proxy”) at 1-800-530-5189, local (collect outside North America): 416-751-2066 or by email at info@carsonproxy.com. Finally, the Amended Circular is available on this website https://www.curemedipharm.com/historical-filing/investor-flyer.

    Proxies may be revoked in accordance with subsection 110(4) of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by a registered shareholder of Company shares: (a) by completing and signing a valid proxy bearing a later date and returning it in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy; (b) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing; (c) by transmitting by telephonic or electronic means a revocation that is signed by electronic signature in accordance with applicable law, as the case may be: (i) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting is to be held, or (ii) with the chair of the Annual Meeting on the day of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting; or (d) in any other manner permitted by law. In addition, proxies may be revoked by a non-registered holder of Company shares at any time by written notice to the intermediary in accordance with the instructions given to the non-registered holder by its intermediary. It should be noted that revocation of proxies or voting instructions by a non-registered holder can take several days or even longer to complete and, accordingly, any such revocation should be completed well in advance of the deadline prescribed in the form of proxy or voting instruction form to ensure it is given effect in respect of the Annual Meeting.

    The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of any circular or proxy solicitation by the Concerned Stakeholder and any other participants named herein will be borne directly and indirectly by Apollo Capital. However, to the extent permitted under applicable law, Apollo Capital intends to seek reimbursement from the Company of all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of its director nominees at the Annual Meeting.

    This press release and any solicitation made by the Concerned Stakeholder is, or will be, as applicable, made by such parties, and not by or on behalf of the management of the Company. Proxies may be solicited by proxy circular, mail, telephone, email or other electronic means, as well as by newspaper or other media advertising and in person by managers, directors, officers and employees of the Concerned Stakeholder who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. In addition, the Concerned Stakeholder may solicit proxies by way of public broadcast, including press release, speech or publication and any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws, and may engage the services of one or more agents and authorize other persons to assist it in soliciting proxies on their behalf.

    Apollo Capital has entered into an agreement with Carson Proxy for solicitation and advisory services in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Concerned Stakeholder for the Annual Meeting, for which Carson Proxy will receive a fee from Apollo Capital not to exceed $250,000, together with reimbursement for reasonable and out-of-pocket expenses. Apollo Capital has also engaged Gasthalter & Co. LP (“G&Co”) to act as communications consultant to provide the Concerned Stakeholder with certain communications, public relations and related services, for which G&Co will receive, from Apollo Capital, a minimum fee of US$75,000 in addition to a performance fee of US$250,000 in the event that the Concerned Stakeholder’s nominees make up a majority of the Board following the Annual Meeting, plus excess fees, related costs and expenses.

    No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will or would materially affect the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates. No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than setting the number of directors and the election of directors to the Board.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward‐looking statements. All statements contained in this filing that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward‐looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward‐looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of the Concerned Stakeholder and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof and the Concerned Stakeholder disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which the Concerned Stakeholder hereafter becomes aware, except as required by applicable law.

    Hashtags: #ShareholderActivism #CorporateGovernance #InvestorProtection #Investor Alert #Investor Fraud #FinancialRegulation #CorporateCrime #FinancialCrime #HomelandSecurity #DHS #OpioidCrisis #OpioidEpidemic #OpioidLitigation #OpioidVictims #BMO #DEA #ONDCP

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AIXA Miner Launches AI-Powered Cloud Mining Platform with FinCEN MSB Certification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AIXA Miner Image

    NEW YORK, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AIXA MINER CLOUD MINING INVESTMENT LTD (“AIXA Miner”), a U.S.-based cloud mining platform, has launched its latest phase of operations featuring artificial intelligence–driven services for Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Dogecoin (DOGE). The company is officially registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), reinforcing its position as a compliant mining operation under U.S. financial regulations.

    Founded in 2020, AIXA Miner operates over 100 data centers across North America, Europe, and Asia. All sites are powered by renewable energy sources, including monocrystalline solar panels and wind systems. The platform integrates AI cloud mining algorithms with cutting-edge GPU and ASIC technology to provide secure, automated mining services without requiring users to purchase or manage hardware.

    Mining begins in three steps: users create an account, select a contract plan, and automatically receive mining returns daily. Plan options include:

    • DOGE Beginner Plan
    • LTC Free Trial
    • BTC Plan
    • June Promotion

    AIXA Miner’s infrastructure leverages high-performance GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD for optimized energy efficiency. All operations run on a global network of 24/7 monitored data centers and adhere to environmentally responsible practices.

    Technological Advantages and Global Operations

    • Cutting-Edge GPU Technology: Incorporates the latest NVIDIA and AMD GPUs for optimized performance with reduced energy consumption.
    • Global Data Center Network: Distributed across three continents to enable uninterrupted 24/7 mining operations.
    • Clean Energy Solutions: Mining infrastructure is fully powered by renewable energy sources to support carbon-conscious computing.
    • AI Cloud Mining: Machine learning algorithms are utilized to enhance efficiency and resource management across all mining tasks.

    Security and transparency are prioritized through the use of cold wallet storage and third-party protections including McAfee® SECURE and Cloudflare® SECURE. The mining team comprises experienced IT engineers and blockchain professionals.

    With its regulatory certification, clean energy model, and automated infrastructure, AIXA Miner aims to deliver accessible and compliant cloud mining services to a global user base.

    Media Contact:
    like.Mikkelsen
    AIXA Miner Cloud Mining Investment Ltd
    like.Mikkelsen@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/590ac217-47b8-422c-92b4-7d606015aa01

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wolf Point Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

    Source: US FBI

    GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man accused of stabbing another individual on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    The defendant, Andy Kane Follet, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Follet faces 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for October 22, 2025. Follet was detained pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that on January 27, 2024, the defendant, Andy Kane Follet, and several friends, including co-defendants and the victim, John Doe, were in a yard in Wolf Point, Montana, playing a game of “slap-boxing.” The fighting escalated and the group broke up – Follet and his co-defendants returned to the Follet home. Shortly after they returned to the home, Doe approached the house demanding to get his phone back. Follet and his co-defendants exited the home and confronted Doe in the driveway.

    Several people witnessed the assault. One witness described seeing Follet and co-defendants hitting John Doe. The witness described seeing one person hit Doe with a bat, then the other two started hitting Doe as well, with one of them using a hammer. Another witness went outside after hearing a commotion. He saw Follet and his co-defendants approaching Doe while he backed away. The witness described the three then “jumping” Doe.

    One co-defendant hit Doe repeatedly in the head with a hammer. As Doe was trying to get up Follet stabbed Doe in the chest. In an interview with law enforcement, Follet said he thought Doe was wearing enough layers of clothes that he could not be injured by the knife. He also said Doe had cut him with a knife and that if didn’t do anything (after he was stabbed), his whole family would make fun of him. None of the independent witnesses reported Doe having a knife. The only knife found at the scene around Doe’s body was located in Doe’s pocket. A large knife with apparent blood was later located hidden in a hole in a wall of Follet’s home.

    Doe died at the scene before law enforcement could arrive. According to an autopsy, Doe died from blunt and sharp force injuries to the head and chest. The stab wound to the chest consisted of a 6-inch penetration that perforated Doe’s sternum, heart, and esophagus.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, Wolf Point Police Department, and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU agencies help take down largest illegal trading platform for drugs

    Source: European Union 2

    The dark web marketplace was active for over five years. Archetyp was one of the only platforms to allow the sale of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The marketplace had around 17 000 listings online, and with more than 600 000 users, it is considered one of the largest of its kind.

    Investigations into Archetyp revealed that its creator and current administrator is a German national residing in Spain. International cooperation between authorities, financial tracking and digital evidence analysis led to the identification of the people behind Archetyp. Investigators discovered the location of the servers, moderators and vendors on the marketplace. A coordinated action week was planned to dismantle Archetyp and arrest those responsible for selling and operating the platform, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.

    The action week took place between 11 and 13 June, targeting the platform’s administrator, moderators, key vendors and the servers running the website. Coordinated actions in five countries, carried out by around 300 officers, resulted in the arrest of the thirty year old administrator in Spain, seven other persons and the seizure of assets worth EUR 7.8 million. By taking Archetyp offline, authorities have dealt a severe blow to drug traffickers in Europe.

    Eurojust ensured the international investigation was efficient and effective. The Agency organised multiple coordination meetings, which enabled authorities to exchange critical information for the investigation. During the action days and the preliminary investigations, Eurojust coordinated the execution of mutual legal assistance and European Investigation Orders.

    Europol supported the investigation from the outset, facilitating the exchange of intelligence, conducting extensive cross-checks and helping to identify high-value targets. On the action days, Europol deployed a dark web specialist to Germany and set up a virtual command post to coordinate field activities and ensure real-time deconfliction across jurisdictions.

    The following authorities, with the support of the United States, carried out the operation:

    • Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Center; Federal Criminal Police Office
    • Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rotterdam; National Police, Unit Police Unit Rotterdam
    • Spain: Investigative Court num 10 in Barcelona; International Cooperation Section of PPO Barcelona; National Police
    • Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; National Public Prosecution Department, National Unit against Organised Crime in Gothenburg; Swedish National Police; National Operations Department / Swedish Cybercrime Unit
    • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT); National Police

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Fort Myers Man Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison For Child Sexual Abuse And Firearm Offenses

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Samuel Villarreal III (25, North Fort Myers) to five years in federal prison for possessing and accessing with intent to view images depicting the sexual abuse of children and possessing an unregistered firearm. He was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Villarreal entered a guilty plea on March 4, 2025.

    According to court documents, from on or about December 29, 2022, through on or about June 29, 2023, Villarreal knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view images of children being sexually abused that he sought out and downloaded from the internet. 

    In December 2022, the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from an electronic service provider reporting that Villarreal had uploaded files that depicted child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A subsequent search warrant for Villarreal’s social media account revealed CSAM.

    On June 29, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Villarreal’s residence in North Fort Myers, Florida, and seized Villarreal’s laptop and cellphones.  Villarreal agreed to speak with agents and admitted that he used his computer to access CSAM on the internet and that he had a folder on his computer where he stored CSAM images. He also admitted that he had also used his cellphone to view CSAM and having used the social media application. 

    During the search of Villarreal’s residence, agents located Villarreal’s unregistered short-barreled rifle, which they seized. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a record check of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records database and found no records of the firearm being registered, as required since the barrel was less than 16 inches. Villarreal admitted that he got the firearm as a rifle and modified it himself by putting a shorter barrel on it. He told agents that he never applied to have it registered with ATF, and that he was aware of the requirement before replacing the barrel with a shorter one.

    The subsequent forensic examination of Villarreal’s cellphones and laptop revealed images of CSAM.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Fort Myers Man Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison For Child Sexual Abuse And Firearm Offenses

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Samuel Villarreal III (25, North Fort Myers) to five years in federal prison for possessing and accessing with intent to view images depicting the sexual abuse of children and possessing an unregistered firearm. He was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Villarreal entered a guilty plea on March 4, 2025.

    According to court documents, from on or about December 29, 2022, through on or about June 29, 2023, Villarreal knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view images of children being sexually abused that he sought out and downloaded from the internet. 

    In December 2022, the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from an electronic service provider reporting that Villarreal had uploaded files that depicted child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A subsequent search warrant for Villarreal’s social media account revealed CSAM.

    On June 29, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Villarreal’s residence in North Fort Myers, Florida, and seized Villarreal’s laptop and cellphones.  Villarreal agreed to speak with agents and admitted that he used his computer to access CSAM on the internet and that he had a folder on his computer where he stored CSAM images. He also admitted that he had also used his cellphone to view CSAM and having used the social media application. 

    During the search of Villarreal’s residence, agents located Villarreal’s unregistered short-barreled rifle, which they seized. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a record check of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records database and found no records of the firearm being registered, as required since the barrel was less than 16 inches. Villarreal admitted that he got the firearm as a rifle and modified it himself by putting a shorter barrel on it. He told agents that he never applied to have it registered with ATF, and that he was aware of the requirement before replacing the barrel with a shorter one.

    The subsequent forensic examination of Villarreal’s cellphones and laptop revealed images of CSAM.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –