NewzIntel.com

Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI Security: Title Company Owner Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jonathan Yasko (46, Winter Springs) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Yasko faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the court documents, Yasko owned or controlled various title companies that conducted real estate settlement services and issued title insurance policies on behalf of title insurance underwriters. Each of Yasko’s title companies was required to deposit the funds it received from the lenders, buyers, and homeowners into an escrow account to segregate these monies from its own funds. The title companies were also legally required to disburse the lender’s funds in the manner specified in the instructions sent by the financial institutions. Yasko’s title companies also had a fiduciary duty to the financial institutions and were required to act in the best interests of the party providing the funds, rather than using these funds for its own self-interest.

    From January 2021 through August 2023, Yasko engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions using interstate wires. As part of his scheme, Yasko promised to keep the financial institution’s funds segregated in escrow accounts prior to closing in according with Florida law. He also promised to disburse the financial institution’s funds that were sent via interstate wire transfers in accordance with the financial institution’s closing instructions. Yasko initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of the lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to other escrow accounts that had insufficient funds to conduct separate closings and initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to Yasko’s title company operating accounts for illicit purposes such as paying off personal credit cards, home renovation expenses, and payments to personal credit cards. Yasko embezzled the mortgage lenders funds, which prevented the real estate settlement from taking place. As a result, the title insurance underwriter paid out settlements to the victim financial institutions. Several of the botched real estate closings involved mortgage loans purchased or owned by Freddie Mac.

    In exchange for his role in the scheme, Yasko also received ill-gotten title insurance premiums. Yasko has agreed to forfeit $201,004.57, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspection General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Franklin County Couple Admit Recording Sexual Abuse of Toddler

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A couple from Franklin County, Missouri have admitted producing pictures and videos containing child sexual abuse material, including the sexual abuse of a one-year-old.

    William Burns, 41, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. His wife, 34-year-old Rachel Burns, pleaded guilty on May 22 to the conspiracy count and two counts of production of child pornography.

    On July 30, 2023, William and Rachel Burns were arrested by the University City Police Department with two small children in their car. They were charged in St. Louis County Circuit Court with attempted enticement of a child. Rachel Burns told investigators that her husband had child sexual abuse material on multiple electronic devices, leading to a court-approved search by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found electronic devices, as well as whips, numerous sexual devices and a 3-foot-7-inch tall silicone sex doll made to resemble a prepubescent female, their plea agreements say.

    Investigators found 13,954 image and video files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a computer and digital storage devices. William Burns used a WhatsApp social media account to exchange CSAM with other WhatsApp users. Investigators then found a 2022 video showing the couple sexually abusing a one-year-old. They also found other videos and images from 2022 and 2023 showing that victim, the couple admitted in their plea agreements.

    Rachel Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25. The U.S. Attorney’s office has agreed to recommend no more than 35 years in prison. William Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3. The U.S. Attorney’s office has agreed to recommend between 35 and 40 years for him.

    The University City Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bergen County Man Sentenced to Twenty Months in Prison for COVID-19 Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK N.J. – A New Jersey man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $149,900 in federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) loans, U.S. Alina Habba announced.

    George Leguen, 51, of Paramus, New Jersey, previously plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with wire fraud and money laundering. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.

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

    From August 2020 through January 2021, Leguen participated in a scheme to defraud and receive COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses under the EIDL program. Leguen applied to the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) on behalf of a business he owned and controlled. He falsified information that he submitted in support of that application, including the number of employees, annual gross revenue figures, and fraudulent federal tax returns. Based on this false information, Leguen was approved for and received an EIDL loan in the amount of $149,900. After receiving the EIDL funds, he diverted the proceeds for his personal gain.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Leguen to 3 years of supervised release, forfeiture was ordered in the amount of $149,900, and restitution in the amount of $174,426.37.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the New Jersey Field Division; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley, Newark Field Office; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region, with the investigation.

    The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

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

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Jeffrey Lichtman, Esq. and Matthew Cohan, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Steadyhand Announces Refiling of Report of Voting Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Steadyhand Investment Management Ltd. announced today that it intends to refile the report of voting results filed on May 12, 2025, for the Steadyhand Investment Funds (the “Funds”) in order to correct certain non-material typographical errors. The updated report of voting results does not affect the outcomes of the unitholder approvals previously announced on May 12, 2025, in connection with the matters described in the Notice of Special Meetings of Unitholders and Joint Management Information Circular for the Funds dated April 7, 2025. The updated report of voting results will be available on the SEDAR+ profiles for each of the Funds at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For further information, please contact:

    David Toyne
    Chief Development Officer
    Steadyhand Investment Funds Inc.
    1-888-888-3147

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Budd, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan RISE Act for Small Businesses to Offer Retirement Plans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the bipartisan Retirement Investment in Small Employers (RISE) Act which would cut taxes for small businesses with fewer than ten employees that offer retirement plans. The current tax credit that helps small businesses start retirement accounts often leaves the smallest businesses behind because the credit depends on how many employees they have. The RISE Act would correct this by ensuring that small businesses with fewer than ten employees receive a minimum tax credit of $2,500 to help cover the expenses of establishing retirement plans.

    “America’s small businesses are the foundation of our economy and at the forefront of job growth. By equipping Main Street with the means to offer retirement plans, we are not only helping to create a pathway to financial security for millions of workers, but also laying the foundation for long-term economic growth. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Senator Hassan as we work to ensure retirement plans are within reach for hardworking Americans,” said Senator Budd.

    “Small businesses are the backbone of the Granite State economy, and they need to be able to compete with larger ones. Especially as small businesses continue to face rising costs, this bipartisan legislation will provide small businesses with the tax relief that they need to be able to offer good retirement plans to their employees, helping both business owners and workers build financial security for the future. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in advancing this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that strengthens our economy and helps hardworking Americans prepare for retirement,” said Senator Hassan.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    Senator Budd previously introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Africa Dialogue Series High-Level Policy Dialogue [bilingual as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    This year’s dialogue focuses on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.

    This is also the African Union’s theme for 2025, as it was already said.

    And it is a call gathering momentum around the world – from Freetown to Bridgetown. 

    Understandably so.

    Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility.

    But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed.

    I deeply regret that these wrongs were perpetrated by many countries, including my own.

    And they continue to distort our world today.

    Decolonization did not free African countries, or people of African Descent, from the structures and prejudices that made those projects possible.

    When African countries gained their independence, they inherited a system built to serve others — not them. 

    The inherited economic model and years of neglect in social and institutional investments during the colonial era created lasting challenges, shaping post-independence reality.

    Structures based on exploitation persisted.

    So did racism. 

    And the long shadow of colonialism can be felt in many of the continent’s current conflicts and governance challenges.

    Many African countries were under colonial domination when today’s multilateral institutions were created.

    And that injustice is reflected to this day.

    Excellencies,

    We point to the poisoned legacies of enslavement and colonialism, not to sow divisions but to heal them.

    Reparatory justice frameworks are critical – to redress historic wrongs, address today’s challenges, and ensure the rights and dignity of all.

    Such frameworks encompass a broad range of measures.

    We need a comprehensive approach, developed with the participation of affected communities, to achieve accountability and redress.

    And we must be clear-eyed about the fact that attempts to repair the past ring hollow unless they also seek to dismantle its manifestations in the present:

    From racism, to extraction of African resources, to the injustices embedded in structures, institutions, and global governance.

    Animated by honesty and justice, we can transform the legacies of slavery and colonialism into equal and respectful partnerships:

    Partnerships that ensure African countries take their rightful place in shaping global decision-making…

    That help to deliver on the priorities of African and Caribbean countries, and people of African descent…

    And that help to ensure that all Africans – and the African diaspora – have the opportunity to thrive.

    We must push for the Second International Decade for People of African Descent to deliver on reparatory justice, equal rights, and the Durban Declaration – the world’s blueprint to tackle racism and racial discrimination.

    Yes, these are turbulent times:

    Times of trade barriers…

    Deep cuts to lifesaving assistance…

    And international cooperation itself called into question.

    But that does not alter the truth that justice for Africa, for the Caribbean, and for all people of African descent requires global action and global partnerships.

    We need partnerships to reform global governance.

    The Pact for the Future agreed last year drove progress. I thank African countries sincerely for their support in getting an ambitious text over the line.

    And we must keep pushing for fair representation within international institutions – including permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council.

    We need partnerships for peace founded on the principles of justice and international law, as set out in the United Nations Charter.

    The international community must play its part – in preventing and ending conflicts, relieving their appalling effects, and ensuring justice for victims.

    And the United Nations will never relent in pursuing peace for the great continent of Africa.

    We need partnerships to advance sustainable development. 

    The Pact for the Future includes important commitments: 

    To advance an SDG stimulus…

    To reform the international financial architecture…

    And to take action on debt – which is suffocating economies and sapping investment in many countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

    The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla is an important opportunity to push this agenda forward.  

    We need concrete commitments on debt: to lower the cost of borrowing, improve debt restructuring, and prevent crises from taking hold.
                       
    We will keep pushing to boost the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, making them bigger and bolder, able to mobilise far more private finance at reasonable cost to the African continent and the Caribbean. 

    And we need action to unleash a surge in finance across the board.  

    Developed countries must keep their promises on development spending…

    Governments must strengthen domestic resource mobilization…

    And we must keep working towards an inclusive, effective global tax regime able to meaningfully reduce tax evasion and to fight elicit financial flows and money laundering that is so dramatically impacting the African continent. 

    Enfin, nous avons besoin de partenariats pour la justice climatique.

    Les pays africains ne sont pas à l’origine de la crise climatique.

    Pourtant, les effets du réchauffement planétaire font des ravages sur tout le continent :

    Ils aggravent la faim, poussent les populations à l’exil, fragilisent les économies, détruisent les moyens de subsistance et fauchent des vies.

    Les Caraïbes sont elles aussi touchées de manière disproportionnée.

    Il est grand temps de mettre fin à cette injustice :

    Il faut que, parallèlement à des sources de financement innovantes, des contributions conséquentes soient versées au nouveau Fonds visant à faire face aux pertes et dommages.

    Il faut que le financement de l’adaptation connaisse un véritable bond et, notamment, que les pays développés honorent l’engagement qu’ils ont pris de verser au moins 40 milliards de dollars par an – dès cette année.

    Il faut également des investissements massifs dans les énergies propres.

    L’Afrique concentre 60 % des meilleures ressources solaires du monde et près d’un tiers des minéraux essentiels à la révolution des énergies renouvelables.

    Pourtant, les installations présentes sur le continent ne représentent que 1,5 % des capacités solaires mondiales.

    Près de 600 millions de personnes sont toujours privées d’électricité.

    Et les pays et les populations d’Afrique sont relégués au bas de la chaîne de valeur des minéraux critiques, tandis que d’autres tirent largement profit de ces ressources.

    L’exploitation séculaire des ressources naturelles du continent, source de conflits et de misère, doit cesser.

    Nous devons agir pour permettre à l’Afrique d’occuper la place qui lui revient, celle d’un leader mondial des énergies propres…

    Pour stimuler les investissements et réduire les risques pour les investisseurs…

    Et pour que les pays et les populations d’Afrique tirent le meilleur parti de leurs minéraux critiques.

    Les nouveaux plans nationaux d’action pour le climat, ou contributions déterminées au niveau national, qui seront présentés cette année, doivent être conformes à l’objectif de limiter le réchauffement planétaire à 1,5 degré Celsius, surtout dans les pays qui sont les grand pollueurs.

    Ces plans représentent une formidable occasion d’agir.

    J’exhorte les dirigeants africains à ne pas la laisser passer. Et à intégrer dans ces nouveaux plans des objectifs en matière de climat, d’énergie et de développement durable afin d’attirer les investissements.

    Et j’exhorte les pays, les entreprises et toutes les parties intéressées à collaborer avec nous pour appliquer les recommandations formulées par le Groupe chargé de la question des minéraux critiques pour la transition énergétique – et ainsi faire en sorte que les droits humains, la justice et l’équité soient garantis tout au long de la chaîne de valeur, et que les pays d’Afrique soient les premiers à tirer parti de ces ressources.

    Excellences,

    Dans tous ces grands domaines, mobilisons-nous pour qu’aucune personne, aucun pays et aucun continent ne soit laissé de côté.

    Et ensemble, faisons en sorte que justice soit rendue à l’Afrique et aux personnes d’ascendance africaine.

    Je vous remercie.

    *****
    [all-English]

    This year’s dialogue focuses on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.

    This is also the African Union’s theme for 2025, as it was already said.

    And it is a call gathering momentum around the world – from Freetown to Bridgetown. 

    Understandably so.

    Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility.

    But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed.

    I deeply regret that these wrongs were perpetrated by many countries, including my own.

    And they continue to distort our world today.

    Decolonization did not free African countries, or people of African Descent, from the structures and prejudices that made those projects possible.

    When African countries gained their independence, they inherited a system built to serve others — not them. 

    The inherited economic model and years of neglect in social and institutional investments during the colonial era created lasting challenges, shaping post-independence reality.

    Structures based on exploitation persisted.

    So did racism. 

    And the long shadow of colonialism can be felt in many of the continent’s current conflicts and governance challenges.

    Many African countries were under colonial domination when today’s multilateral institutions were created.

    And that injustice is reflected to this day.

    Excellencies,

    We point to the poisoned legacies of enslavement and colonialism, not to sow divisions but to heal them.

    Reparatory justice frameworks are critical – to redress historic wrongs, address today’s challenges, and ensure the rights and dignity of all.

    Such frameworks encompass a broad range of measures.

    We need a comprehensive approach, developed with the participation of affected communities, to achieve accountability and redress.

    And we must be clear-eyed about the fact that attempts to repair the past ring hollow unless they also seek to dismantle its manifestations in the present:

    From racism, to extraction of African resources, to the injustices embedded in structures, institutions, and global governance.

    Animated by honesty and justice, we can transform the legacies of slavery and colonialism into equal and respectful partnerships:

    Partnerships that ensure African countries take their rightful place in shaping global decision-making…

    That help to deliver on the priorities of African and Caribbean countries, and people of African descent…

    And that help to ensure that all Africans – and the African diaspora – have the opportunity to thrive.

    We must push for the Second International Decade for People of African Descent to deliver on reparatory justice, equal rights, and the Durban Declaration – the world’s blueprint to tackle racism and racial discrimination.

    Yes, these are turbulent times:

    Times of trade barriers…

    Deep cuts to lifesaving assistance…

    And international cooperation itself called into question.

    But that does not alter the truth that justice for Africa, for the Caribbean, and for all people of African descent requires global action and global partnerships.

    We need partnerships to reform global governance.

    The Pact for the Future agreed last year drove progress. I thank African countries sincerely for their support in getting an ambitious text over the line.

    And we must keep pushing for fair representation within international institutions – including permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council.

    We need partnerships for peace founded on the principles of justice and international law, as set out in the United Nations Charter.

    The international community must play its part – in preventing and ending conflicts, relieving their appalling effects, and ensuring justice for victims.

    And the United Nations will never relent in pursuing peace for the great continent of Africa.

    We need partnerships to advance sustainable development. 

    The Pact for the Future includes important commitments: 

    To advance an SDG stimulus…

    To reform the international financial architecture…

    And to take action on debt – which is suffocating economies and sapping investment in many countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

    The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla is an important opportunity to push this agenda forward.  

    We need concrete commitments on debt: to lower the cost of borrowing, improve
    debt restructuring, and prevent crises from taking hold.

    We will keep pushing to boost the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, making them bigger and bolder, able to mobilise far more private finance at reasonable cost to the African continent and the Caribbean. 

    And we need action to unleash a surge in finance across the board.  

    Developed countries must keep their promises on development spending…

    Governments must strengthen domestic resource mobilization…

    And we must keep working towards an inclusive, effective global tax regime able to meaningfully reduce tax evasion and to fight elicit financial flows and money laundering that is so dramatically impacting the African continent. 

    Finally, we need partnerships for climate justice.

    African countries did not cause the climate crisis. 

    Yet the effects of our heating planet are wreaking havoc across the continent:

    Fuelling hunger and displacement, hobbling economies, destroying livelihoods, and taking lives.

    The Caribbean is also suffering disproportionately.

    Justice is long overdue:

    We need significant contributions – together with innovative sources of financing – to the new fund for responding to loss and damage.

    We need a boom in adaptation finance – starting with developed countries honouring their commitment to at least $40 billion a year by this year.

    And we need massive investments in clean energy.

    Africa is home to 60 percent of the world’s best solar resources and around a third of the minerals critical to the renewable energy revolution.

    Yet the continent has just 1.5 percent of global installed solar capacity.

    Around 600 million people remain without power.

    And African countries and communities are pushed to the bottom of the critical minerals value chain, while others feast on their resources.

    The centuries-old exploitation of the continent’s natural resources – which fuels conflict and misery – must end.

    We need action for Africa to take its rightful place as the clean powerhouse of the world…

    To derisk and boost investment…

    And to ensure African countries and communities receive maximum benefit from their critical minerals. 

    New national climate action plans, or NDCs – must be submitted this year and align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, especially in countries that are the major polluters.

    These represent an immense opportunity.

    I urge African leaders to take it. And to use these new plans to bring together climate, energy, and sustainable development goals to attract investment.

    And I urge countries, companies and more, to work with us to deliver on the recommendations of our Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals – to ensure human rights, justice and equity through the value chain, and to retain maximum benefit in African countries.

    Excellencies,

    Across all these critical fronts, let’s work to leave no person, no country and no continent behind. 

    And together, let’s deliver justice for Africa and people of African Descent.

    Thank you.

    ******
    [all-French]

    Le dialogue de cette année a pour thème « Justice pour les Africains et les personnes d’ascendance africaine grâce aux réparations ».

    C’est également le thème retenu par l’Union africaine pour 2025, comme il a déjà été dit.

    Cet appel prend de l’ampleur dans le monde entier, de Freetown à Bridgetown.

    Cela n’a rien d’étonnant.

    L’énergie et le potentiel du continent africain sont sans limites.

    Mais pendant trop longtemps, les immenses injustices engendrées par l’esclavage, la traite transatlantique des esclaves et le colonialisme n’ont pas été reconnues ni prises en compte.

    Je regrette profondément que ces injustices aient été commises par de nombreux pays, dont le mien.

    Elles continuent de nos jours à peser sur le monde.

    La décolonisation n’a pas libéré les pays africains, ni les personnes d’ascendance africaine, des structures et des préjugés qui ont rendu ces projets possibles.

    Lorsque les pays africains ont accédé à l’indépendance, ils ont hérité d’un système conçu pour servir d’autres qu’eux.

    Le modèle économique hérité et des années de négligence en matière d’investissements sociaux et institutionnels pendant l’ère coloniale ont créé des problèmes durables qui ont façonné la réalité de l’après-indépendance.

    Les structures fondées sur l’exploitation ont persisté.

    Le racisme aussi.

    L’ombre du colonialisme plane sur nombre des conflits et difficultés de gouvernance que connaît le continent de nos jours.

    De nombreux pays d’Afrique étaient sous domination coloniale lorsque les institutions multilatérales actuelles ont été créées.

    Cette injustice est toujours visible aujourd’hui.

    Excellences,

    Si nous pointons du doigt l’héritage empoisonné de l’esclavage et du colonialisme, ce n’est pas pour semer la division, mais pour soigner les blessures du passé.

    Les cadres de justice réparatrice sont essentiels – pour réparer les torts historiques, relever les défis d’aujourd’hui et garantir les droits et la dignité de toutes et tous.

    Ces cadres englobent un large éventail de mesures.

    Nous avons besoin d’une stratégie globale, développée avec la pleine participation des populations affectées, pour faire appliquer le principe de responsabilité et assurer l’octroi de réparations.

    Nous devons nous montrer lucides : il est vain de vouloir réparer les erreurs du passé sans s’attaquer aussi à leurs répercussions actuelles :

    Du racisme à l’extraction des ressources africaines, en passant par les injustices ancrées dans les structures, les institutions et la gouvernance mondiale.

    C’est dans un esprit d’honnêteté et de justice que nous pourrons transformer les séquelles de l’esclavage et du colonialisme en partenariats fondés sur l’égalité et le respect.

    Des partenariats qui garantissent que les pays africains occupent la place qui leur revient dans le processus décisionnel mondial…

    Qui permettent de répondre aux priorités des pays d’Afrique et des Caraïbes, et des personnes d’ascendance africaine…

    Et qui contribuent à faire en sorte que tous les Africains – et la diaspora africaine – aient la possibilité de prospérer.

    Nous devons tout faire pour que la deuxième Décennie internationale des personnes d’ascendance africaine aboutisse à une justice réparatrice, à l’égalité des droits et à la réalisation de la Déclaration de Durban – le plan mondial de lutte contre le racisme et la discrimination raciale.

    Nous vivons, certes, des temps agités :

    Des temps où se dressent des barrières commerciales…

    Où l’aide vitale fait l’objet de coupes sombres…

    Et où la coopération internationale elle-même est remise en question.

    Il n’en demeure pas moins que la justice pour l’Afrique, pour les Caraïbes et pour toutes les personnes d’ascendance africaine nécessite une action et des partenariats mondiaux.

    Nous avons besoin de partenariats pour réformer la gouvernance mondiale.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté l’année dernière, a permis certaines avancées. Je remercie sincèrement les pays africains du soutien qu’ils ont apporté à l’adoption de ce texte ambitieux.

    Nous devons continuer d’œuvrer en faveur d’une représentation équitable au sein des institutions internationales, et notamment d’une représentation permanente de l’Afrique au Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU.

    Nous avons besoin de partenariats pour la paix fondés sur les principes de la justice et du droit international, tels qu’ils sont énoncés dans la Charte des Nations Unies.

    La communauté internationale doit jouer son rôle – en prévenant les conflits et en y mettant fin, en atténuant leurs effets épouvantables et en garantissant la justice pour les victimes.

    Les Nations Unies ne relâcheront jamais leurs efforts en faveur de la paix sur le grand continent africain.

    Nous avons besoin de partenariats pour faire progresser le développement durable.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir comprend des engagements importants :

    Promouvoir un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable…

    Repenser l’architecture financière internationale…

    Et prendre des mesures concernant la dette, qui étouffe les économies et sape l’investissement dans de nombreux pays d’Afrique et des Caraïbes.

    La prochaine Conférence sur le financement du développement, qui se tiendra à Séville, est une occasion importante de faire avancer ce dossier.

    Nous avons besoin d’engagements concrets à cet égard, en vue d’abaisser le coût de l’emprunt, de faciliter la restructuration de la dette et d’empêcher les crises de s’installer.

    Nous poursuivrons l’action menée pour renforcer la capacité de prêt des banques multilatérales de développement, les rendre plus imposantes et plus audacieuses et leur donner les moyens de mobiliser bien plus de financements privés à un coût raisonnable au continent africain et aux Caraïbes.

    Nous devons prendre des mesures pour stimuler le financement dans tous les domaines.

    Les pays développés doivent tenir leurs promesses en matière de dépenses de développement…

    Les Gouvernements doivent accroître la mobilisation de ressources nationales…

    Et nous devons continuer d’œuvrer en faveur d’un régime fiscal mondial inclusif et efficace, qui permette de réduire l’évasion fiscale de manière significative et de lutter contre les flux financiers illicites et le blanchiment d’argent cela a un impact si dramatique sur le continent africain.

    Enfin, nous avons besoin de partenariats pour la justice climatique.

    Les pays africains ne sont pas à l’origine de la crise climatique.

    Pourtant, les effets du réchauffement planétaire font des ravages sur tout le continent :

    Ils aggravent la faim, poussent les populations à l’exil, fragilisent les économies, détruisent les moyens de subsistance et fauchent des vies.

    Les Caraïbes sont elles aussi touchées de manière disproportionnée.

    Il est grand temps de mettre fin à cette injustice :

    Il faut que, parallèlement à des sources de financement innovantes, des contributions conséquentes soient versées au nouveau Fonds visant à faire face aux pertes et dommages.

    Il faut que le financement de l’adaptation connaisse un véritable bond et, notamment, que les pays développés honorent l’engagement qu’ils ont pris de verser au moins 40 milliards de dollars par an – dès cette année.

    Il faut également des investissements massifs dans les énergies propres.

    L’Afrique concentre 60 % des meilleures ressources solaires du monde et près d’un tiers des minéraux essentiels à la révolution des énergies renouvelables.

    Pourtant, les installations présentes sur le continent ne représentent que 1,5 % des capacités solaires mondiales.

    Près de 600 millions de personnes sont toujours privées d’électricité.

    Et les pays et les populations d’Afrique sont relégués au bas de la chaîne de valeur des minéraux critiques, tandis que d’autres tirent largement profit de ces ressources.

    L’exploitation séculaire des ressources naturelles du continent, source de conflits et de misère, doit cesser.

    Nous devons agir pour permettre à l’Afrique d’occuper la place qui lui revient, celle d’un leader mondial des énergies propres…

    Pour stimuler les investissements et réduire les risques pour les investisseurs…

    Et pour que les pays et les populations d’Afrique tirent le meilleur parti de leurs minéraux critiques.

    Les nouveaux plans nationaux d’action pour le climat, ou contributions déterminées au niveau national, qui seront présentés cette année, doivent être conformes à l’objectif de limiter le réchauffement planétaire à 1,5 degré Celsius, surtout dans les pays qui sont les grand pollueurs.

    Ces plans représentent une formidable occasion d’agir.

    J’exhorte les dirigeants africains à ne pas la laisser passer. Et à intégrer dans ces nouveaux plans des objectifs en matière de climat, d’énergie et de développement durable afin d’attirer les investissements.

    Et j’exhorte les pays, les entreprises et toutes les parties intéressées à collaborer avec nous pour appliquer les recommandations formulées par le Groupe chargé de la question des minéraux critiques pour la transition énergétique – et ainsi faire en sorte que les droits humains, la justice et l’équité soient garantis tout au long de la chaîne de valeur, et que les pays d’Afrique soient les premiers à tirer parti de ces ressources.

    Excellences,

    Dans tous ces grands domaines, mobilisons-nous pour qu’aucune personne, aucun pays et aucun continent ne soit laissé de côté.

    Et ensemble, faisons en sorte que justice soit rendue à l’Afrique et aux personnes d’ascendance africaine.

    Je vous remercie.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Bridging national strategy and local action: Bangladesh’s success in vertical DRR integration

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Bangladesh has developed a comprehensive, multi-hazard national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy that aims to enhance the country’s resilience to natural hazards and climate-induced disasters. This strategy is closely aligned with international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and integrates risk considerations into national development planning. It marks a strategic shift from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction-focusing on saving lives, protecting livelihoods and investments, and supporting effective recovery and reconstruction.

    Underpinned by a robust legal and institutional foundation-including the Disaster Management Act 2012 and the Standing Orders on Disasters-the strategy clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders. It positions risk reduction and preparedness as foundational to reducing vulnerabilities at all levels. Key measures include the development and dissemination of early warnings for cyclones and floods investments in forecasting and risk assessment capacities, the construction and maintenance of protective infrastructure such as cyclone shelters and flood embankments, and widespread public awareness and preparedness campaigns.

    A notable feature of Bangladesh’s approach is its effective vertical integration. Recognizing that local communities are often the first responders, the national strategy prioritizes community empowerment and participation. Community-based disaster management committees (CBDMCs) have been established and supported, while local volunteers receive training in search and rescue, first aid and early warning dissemination. This ensures that local knowledge and perspectives are reflected in disaster risk planning and implementation.

    Given its acute vulnerability to climate change impacts, Bangladesh’s DRR strategy also integrates climate change adaptation. This includes developing climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices and livelihoods, and addressing the risks posed by sea-level rise, salinity intrusion and shifting weather patterns.

    Key Impacts 

    Bangladesh’s proactive and community-centred DRR strategy has yielded significant outcomes:

    Reduced disaster mortality: Despite its high exposure to hazards, Bangladesh has significantly reduced mortality from cyclones and floods. This achievement is largely attributed to improved early warning systems, greater community preparedness and the availability of cyclone shelters.

    • Strengthened institutional capacity and coordination: Legal and policy frameworks have clarified roles and responsibilities and fostered effective collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector.
    • Enhanced local resilience: Community ownership of DRR efforts has improved local capacities to prepare for and respond to disasters.
    • Improved coordination mechanisms: The established institutional framework has facilitated coherent action among various actors in the disaster risk management ecosystem.
    • Recognition as a DRR leader: Bangladesh is internationally recognized as a leader in DRR. Its models and experiences are being studied and adapted by other countries with similar risk profiles. Despite limited financial resources, it continues to demonstrate leadership in addressing disaster and climate risks.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    Bangladesh’s approach to disaster risk reduction offers several key lessons:

    1. Foster strong vertical linkages: The two-way flow of information and coordination between national and local levels is crucial. Establishing clear institutional mechanisms for such coordination enhances DRR effectiveness.
    2. Prioritise community engagement: Empowering communities and institutionalising local structures strengthens resilience and ensures that DRR measures are contextually relevant.
    3. Decentralise disaster management: The establishment of disaster management committees at all administrative levels-from national to union (local government)-provides platforms for inclusive planning and coordination.
    4. Invest in early warning systems and last-mile connectivity: Ensuring that timely, actionable warnings reach vulnerable populations is vital. Bangladesh’s volunteer networks offer a replicable model.
    5. Integrate DRR into development planning: Embedding DRR into national and sectoral development policies promotes sustainability and long-term resilience.
    6. Adopt a multi-hazard approach: Addressing a range of potential hazards ensures that preparedness and response strategies are comprehensive and inclusive.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Integrating risk into national development: Fiji’s approach to a risk-informed disaster risk reduction strategy

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Fiji’s United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 was developed with a comprehensive risk analysis integrated from the outset. Recognizing the country’s acute vulnerability to climate change, cyclones, flooding, sea-level rise and economic shocks, the UNSDCF underscored the importance of resilience-building and disaster risk reduction (DRR) across all sectors-not limited to environmental or disaster portfolios, but extending to health, education, gender, and economic sectors.

    Concurrently, Fiji updated key national frameworks, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2018-2030 and the Climate Change Act 2021. These instruments were directly informed by risk and vulnerability assessments that also contributed to the UNSDCF.

    The National DRR Policy is aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and incorporates core principles from the UNSDCF, including a whole-of-society approach, strengthened risk governance, investment in risk reduction, and the principle of building back better.

    The coordination between the Government of Fiji and the UN system was notably robust, particularly through the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). This ensured a bi-directional flow of risk information-informing both the UNSDCF and national DRR strategies.

    Fiji has transitioned from a reactive model of disaster response to a proactive, risk-informed development paradigm-saving lives, safeguarding infrastructure, and bolstering resilience to future shocks to safeguard development. The evolution of its DRR policies in tandem with the UNSDCF has repositioned resilience and risk management as central elements of national development, rather than peripheral emergency response mechanisms.

    Key impacts

    • Mainstreaming DRR across sectors: Risk reduction is now integrated into planning, budgeting and implementation across education, health, infrastructure, gender equality and climate policy. For instance, new schools and health facilities must be cyclone-resilient by design.
    • Strengthened risk governance and institutions: The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management has received enhanced capacity and resources. Local authorities now have clearer mandates for disaster preparedness and early action. Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) initiatives at the village level empower communities to manage risk.
    • Improved access to climate finance and international support: With coherent, risk-informed national strategies, Fiji has secured funding from sources such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), supporting major investments in resilient infrastructure development and early warning systems.
    • Enhanced early warning and anticipatory action systems: With support through the UNSDCF, Fiji has upgraded early warning systems for cyclones, tsunamis and floods, linking them to community evacuation plans and drills. Anticipatory actions such as evacuation and supply pre-positioning now occur before hazards strike, reducing casualties and economic losses.
    • Resilient recovery through “Build Back Better” principles: Post-disaster reconstruction projects-such as those following Tropical Cyclone Harold in 2020-have not merely restored infrastructure but have improved it to better withstand future events.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Risk-informed UNSDCFs anchor DRR in national development: In Fiji, the UNSDCF served as a strategic platform to align government priorities with international support and evidence-based risk analysis. It enabled integration of DRR at national, sectoral and community levels.
    2. Political leadership and institutional coordination are essential: The success of Fiji’s approach is attributed to strong leadership from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Disaster Management, coupled with cross-sectoral coordination among ministries.
    3. Localization and community participation are critical: CBDRM initiatives have ensured that national DRR policies are locally owned and contextually relevant, integrating indigenous knowledge into planning and action.
    4. UNSDCFs support resource for DRR and resilience investments: A clearly articulated, risk-informed development agenda helped Fiji attract international climate and development finance, while also catalyzing partnerships with civil society and the private sector.
    5. Policy coherence between DRR and climate change enhances outcomes: Fiji developed its Climate Change Act 2021 and National DRR Policy in a coordinated manner, reinforcing synergies and avoiding policy fragmentation.
    6. Investing in risk information systems strengthens accountability: Fiji’s efforts to enhance data systems-including hazard mapping, GIS, and disaggregated vulnerability data-have improved planning, monitoring and targeted interventions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mozambique bridges disaster risk reduction and internal displacement strategies to strengthen inclusive risk governance

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In Mozambique, the National Policy and Strategy for Internal Displacement Management was developed through a government-led, multisstakeholder process that addressed all major drivers of displacement-including disasters, climate change and conflict. Recognizing the country’s high exposure to climate hazards such as cyclones, floods and droughts, and the rising trend of disaster-induced displacement, the policy is closely aligned with Mozambique’s national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy. This reflects a shared commitment to minimizing the human impact of disasters through integrated, inclusive approaches.

    The policy directly supports Target B of the Sendai Framework, which aims to substantially reduce the number of people affected by disasters. It also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and well-being), 10 (reduced inequalities) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities) by protecting vulnerable populations and mainstreaming resilience into development strategies.

    To ensure strategic alignment, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management was designated as the lead coordinating body for policy implementation. This coordination ensures that displacement risks are addressed across ministries-including health, education and social protection-through integration into annual budgets and sectoral plans. This demonstrates effective institutionalization of DRR principles across government systems.

    The policy development process was guided by inclusive and participatory principles, consistent with Mozambique’s broader DRR strategy. A transdisciplinary national drafting team engaged displaced communities, local officials and civil society actors, ensuring that the strategy responded to real needs. Public consultations were widely covered in national media, bringing attention to displacement challenges and catalyzing high-level political support, which accelerated the policy’s approval. Mozambique is now focused on local capacity-building to operationalize the policy effectively.

    Key impacts

    • Policy innovation and integration: Mozambique is among the first African countries to adopt a national displacement policy that integrates DRR, climate adaptation and conflict sensitivity. This positions Mozambique as a regional leader in aligning DRR and displacement policy with the Sendai Framework.
    • Stronger institutional coordination: The policy clarified roles across government, assigning a coordinating role to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Ministries such as health, education and social protection now embed displacement-focused DRR actions into their planning and budgeting cycles, fostering cross-sectoral ownership.
    • Community-centred design: Direct engagement with displaced populations and local DRR actors ensured the policy was grounded in lived realities, enhancing relevance and the potential for effective implementation.
    • Political momentum through media engagement: National media coverage of displacement camps helped raise public awareness and generated high-levelpolitical commitment, expediting the policy’s adoption and implementation.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Integrate displacement explicitly into DRR strategies: While Mozambique’s displacement policy includes DRR, its national DRR strategy lacks a dedicated focus on displacement. Future policy updates should ensure two-way integration for greater coherence.
    2. Multisectoral collaboration enhances impact: Cross-sectoral teams and consultations with displaced populations contribute to more inclusive, legitimate and implementable policies.
    3. Clear leadership prevents fragmentation: Assigning leadership to the National Institute for DRR and Management helped avoid siloed approaches and ensured policy coherence.
    4. Budget alignment is essential for sustainability: Mandating ministries to integrate displacement-related DRR actions into budgets and programming promotes lasting, institutionalized solutions and sustainability.
    5. Media can drive political will: Strategic media engagement can raise visibility and catalyze high-level commitment, demonstrating the power of communications in advancing policy agendas.
    6. Local implementation remains a challenge: While national frameworks are advancing, local capacity gaps persist. Investments in decentralized planning, training and resources are vital for translating policy into impact on the ground.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tunisia: Inclusive, multi-hazard and multi-sectoral disaster risk reduction strategies triggering funding for resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In 2019, Tunisia formally endorsed its National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy, developed through an inclusive, participatory process. With support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UNDP Country Office, the strategy integrates biological hazards and prioritizes post-COVID-19 recovery through a ‘build back better’ approach. This forward-looking framework aligns with national strategies on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development, and now forms a cornerstone of Tunisia’s Comprehensive Strategy for Ecological Transformation, endorsed by the Council of Ministers in February 2023.

    One of the strategy’s most significant outcomes has been the launch of a six-year (2021-2027) Comprehensive Programme for Disaster Risk Management and Resilience, which has attracted US$ 125 million in investment from the World Bank and the French Development Agency . This programme aims to enhance Tunisia’s preparedness and response capacities for disasters and climate shocks.

    The programme was shaped through extensive national consultations, particularly with the Ministry of Environment, which serves as the National Sendai Framework Focal Point. It resulted in the “Blended Programme for Resilience to Natural Disasters”, built around four interlinked pillars aimed at strengthening institutional, legislative and financial systems, fostering a robust culture of preparedness and recovery.:

    1. Flood risk management in urban areas: A US$ 42 million initiative led by the Ministry of Equipment and Housing focuses on strategic flood mitigation to protect urban populations and infrastructure.
    2. Enhanced early warning systems: With a US$ 24 million investment, the National Meteorological Institute is upgrading its meteorological and hydrological capabilities to deliver timely and reliable disaster alerts.
    3. Innovative disaster risk financing: Under the Ministry of Finance, a US$ 30 million project is developing disaster insurance mechanisms to provide financial protection to families and businesses impacted by natural hazards.
    4. Institutional and legislative strengthening: A US$ 2.5 million initiative is advancing legal and institutional frameworks to enhance coordination and capacity-building for DRR.

    Key impacts

    • Mainstreaming DRR into development planning: Tunisia embedded DRR into its national ecological transformation strategy, elevating resilience as a cross-cutting development priority and aligning it with climate action goals.
    • Mobilizing high-level political and financial support: The integration of DRR into national development planning helped mobilize US$ 125 million in external funding for the implementation of the Comprehensive Programme for Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (2021-2027) .
    • Fostering whole-of-government collaboration: The inclusive development process ensured inter-ministerial cooperation, securing buy-in from all sectors and levels of government.
    • Strengthening financial governance for DRR: A newly established Resilience Unit within the Ministry of Finance has improved the mobilization and management of financial resources for resilience. Legislative updates have empowered local authorities with greater roles in disaster risk management.
    • Leveraging a joint UN approach and international partnerships: Collaboration between UNDRR, UNDP and international partners has enabled the use of global expertise and cost-sharing to support local resilience-building efforts.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Structured DRR strategies attract investment: Tunisia’s US$ 125 million funding success illustrates how well-crafted DRR strategies can unlock substantial international support when integrated into broader development frameworks.
    2. Participatory approaches ensure relevance and sustainability: Inclusive, multi-stakeholder consultation processes enhance the effectiveness of national strategies, ensure local ownership and address the needs of vulnerable groups.
    3. Policy coherence enhances impact: Linking DRR strategies with climate change, biodiversity, and post-COVID recovery policies creates a more resilient and adaptable framework for managing current and emerging risks.
    4. Financial protection reduces economic vulnerability: Tunisia’s disaster risk insurance initiative underscores the value of pre-arranged financial mechanisms to buffer families and businesses against disaster-related economic shocks.

    Institutional innovation supports resilience financing: Creating dedicated resilience units within ministries-such as Tunisia’s Resilience Unit in the Ministry of Finance-helps integrate DRR into national budgeting and development planning. Tailoring governance mechanisms to local needs also empowers municipalities to play a proactive role in DRR.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump cuts U.S. Forest Service, California deploys an extra $72 million to reduce wildfire risk and ‘rake the forest,’ fast-tracks critical projects

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 30, 2025

    What you need to know: CAL FIRE is awarding $72 million to projects across the state that help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk across California. Governor Newsom also announced 13 vegetation management projects spanning nearly 7,000 acres have already been approved for fast-tracking under his emergency proclamation.

    SACRAMENTO – As the Trump administration cuts the U.S. Forest Service and creates rampant uncertainty ahead of peak wildfire season, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the state is continuing to ramp up its efforts to reduce wildfire risk and increase forest health. 

    CAL FIRE awarded nearly $72 million today to support large-scale, regionally based land management projects aimed at restoring forest health and resilience throughout California, while enhancing long-term carbon storage.

    Additionally, Governor Newsom announced that under his wildfire prevention emergency proclamation, which became operational on April 17, the state has already fast-tracked approval for 13 projects totaling nearly 7,000 acres, on top of the 2 million acres treated in recent years. These projects involve tribes and other partners, natural resource managers and fire districts. This is part of statewide efforts to advance projects in key locations to help protect communities from catastrophic wildfires. One week after applications opened to fast-track critical wildfire safety projects in mid-April, the state began issuing fast-track approvals for wildfire safety projects.

    “California is ‘raking the forests’ at a faster pace than ever before. Where’s the federal government?”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    While 57% of California’s forests are federally managed, the state government manages only 3% of the forestland. The other 40% is privately owned and this work relies on partnership with private forestland owners. 

    More than 2,200 vegetation management projects are complete or underway, and in recent years, California has treated nearly 2 million acres – made possible by scaling up investments to 10 times the amount from when the Governor took office in 2019. California has funded over $350 million worth of projects on federal lands in the same time. CAL FIRE estimates that 83% of all tree mortality in California, which poses a significant wildfire risk, is on national forest lands. 

    ‘Raking the forest’ 

    Through its Forest Health Program, CAL FIRE is awarding 12 grants to local and regional partners carrying out projects on state, local, tribal, federal, and private lands. Designed to address critical forest health needs, these initiatives will reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem resilience, and enhance carbon sequestration across California’s diverse landscapes.

    Forest health grant projects focus on large, landscape-scale forestlands – no less than 800 acres in size – that are composed of one or more landowners and may cover multiple jurisdictions. 

    “CAL FIRE is proud to award Forest Health grants that will increase the wildfire resilience of California’s landscapes and communities and help restore ecosystems following wildfire,” said Alan Talhelm, Assistant Deputy Director of Climate and Energy at CAL FIRE. “These grants will provide our partners around the state with funds to complete projects that support local economies, protect watersheds, increase public safety, and sequester carbon.”

    The projects will employ a wide array of forest management strategies, with goals of wildfire resilience, watershed protection, habitat conservation for endangered species, recovery of fire-scarred and drought-impacted forests, and the reintroduction of fire as a natural ecological process. Projects include:

    • The Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority will conduct fuels reduction on 1,288 acres in El Dorado National Forest using mastication and hand thinning. This aims to lower wildfire risk, protect communities, improve forest resilience, and enhance wildlife habitat.
    • The Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. will treat 867 acres of forest fuel in a rural, low-income area in Northern Mendocino County. This will create over 80 forestry jobs and additional jobs/learning for young adults via California Conservation Corps trail work.

    The majority of CAL FIRE’s Forest Health grants are funded through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund (TRFRF), with additional support provided by California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative that directs billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars toward achieving the state’s climate goals.

    Fast-tracking critical wildfire prevention projects

    The approved projects for fast-tracking are focused on removing flammable dead or dying trees, creating strategic fuel breaks, creating safe egress along roadways, manual and mechanical removal of ladder fuels and beneficial fire use. Some of the approved projects include:  

    • The Prosper Ridge Community Wildfire Resilience Project in Humboldt County is the first approved project under the Governor’s emergency proclamation on wildfire. This collaborative state, federal, and tribal project will treat nearly 450 acres with a combination of mechanical thinning, manual treatments, and prescribed fire.
    • The Tonner Canyon South Vegetation Management Project aims to reduce wildfire risk on 354 acres south of Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County through hazardous vegetation removal, fuel break creation, and defensible space improvement.
    • The Scott Valley/Callahan Fuels Reduction and Forest Resiliency Project located on 2,917 acres in the Scott River watershed in Siskiyou County will use mechanical and manual treatments to increase vigor of the residual stands of timber for improved carbon sequestration, fire resiliency and individual tree health.
    • The Weed Community Forest Restoration and Enhancement Project located on 1,923 acres near the 2022 Mill Fire and is designed to protect the surrounding the community of Weed in Siskiyou County and provide safe ingress/egress to emergency responders.
    • The Sycuan Wildfire Resiliency Project covers over 240 acres in San Diego County and aims to protect the Sycuan Reservation from wildfire by reducing fire hazard, ensuring defensible space, and providing safe egress with the use of 300 grazing goats. 

    To move faster without compromising important environmental protections, the state developed a new Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan. State agencies will monitor and oversee these projects from initiation to completion to provide support and ensure environmental protections and best management practices are followed.

    Accelerating investments in fuels reduction and wildfire resilience

    Following action by Governor Newsom and the Legislature last month, state conservancies are moving to deploy $170 million in voter-approved funding for wildfire resilience projects. The accelerated funding is part of the “early action” 2025 budget package. Governor Newsom signed the funding bill along with an executive order to ensure the wildfire safety projects benefit from the streamlining process created under the March 1 State of Emergency proclamation.

    Building on unprecedented progress 

    This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation signed in March to fast-track forest and vegetation management projects throughout the state. Additionally, to bolster the state’s ability to respond to fires, Governor Newsom announced last week that the state’s second C-130 Hercules airtanker is ready for firefighting operations, adding to the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world. 

    New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes builds long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate. A full list of California’s progress on wildfire resilience is available here.

    Highlights of achievements to date include:

    • Historic investments — Overall, the state has more than doubled investments in wildfire prevention and landscape resilience efforts, providing more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience since 2020, with an additional $1.5 billion to be allocated from the 2024 Climate Bond.
    • On-the-ground progress — More than 2,200 landscape health and fire prevention projects are complete or underway, and from 2021-2023, the State and its partners treated nearly 1.9 million acres, including nearly 730,000 acres in 2023.
    • Increasing transparency — The Governor’s Task Force launched an Interagency Treatment Dashboard to display wildfire resilience work across federal, state, local, and privately managed lands across the State. The Dashboard, launched in 2023, provides transparency, tracks progress, facilitates planning, and informs firefighting efforts.
    • Hardening communities — Adding to California’s nation-leading fire safety  standards, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to further improve community hardening and wildfire mitigation strategies to neighborhood resilience statewide. Since 2019, CAL FIRE has awarded more than $450 million for 450 wildfire prevention projects across the state and conducts Defensible Space Inspections on more than 250,000 homes each year.
    • Leveraging cutting-edge technology — On top of expanding the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, CAL FIRE has doubled its use of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and the state is utilizing AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    May 29, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is launching CalHeatScore – a groundbreaking tool to help protect vulnerable populations from dangerous heatwaves. The state’s new tool provides localized warnings and resources for extreme heat events. Governor Newsom is also…

    May 29, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONCalifornia is home to more than 6…

    May 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:LaCandice Ochoa, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Independent Living and Community Access Division at the Department of Rehabilitation. Ochoa has been Dean of…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Curtain falls on African Development Bank Group 2025 Annual Meetings, New President Elected

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 30, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • Nigeria provides $500 million to extend the Nigeria Trust Fund for another 15 years 
    • “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as president of the African Development Bank Group and to serve Africa “– Dr. Akinwumi Adesina 

    The African Development Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings (www.AfDB.org) closed on Friday with a plenary session, following five days of meetings and discussions on Africa’s development landscape. The meetings also saw the election of a new president for a five-year term, beginning 1 September.  

    On Thursday, governors of the Group’s 81 shareholders elected former finance minister Mauritanian Sidi Ould Tah as the new president of the continent’s premier development institution. 

    The meetings were held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 26-30 May under the theme: Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development—a call for leaders to ditch aid and look inwards to Africa’s rich capital to solve its development and economic challenges. 

    Secretary General of the Bank Vincent Nmehielle described the meetings as a “resounding success”. He thanked Nialé Kaba, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, outgoing Chairperson of the Boards of Governors, for her “sterling work, dedication and guidance of her duties over the past year.” He also thanked the 81 governors—finance ministers, economy ministers or central bank governors representing each of the African Development Bank’s shareholder countries. 

    Thirteen outgoing executive directors who have finished their term of office were recognized. Together, they represent a 75 percent change in the board composition for the next year. 

    Outgoing President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina expressed his best wishes to the president-elect. 

    “I am delighted for my brother and friend on his election as president of the African Development Bank Group. Hearty congratulations! I wish you great success in the years ahead,” Adesina said.  

    Participants also heard video congratulatory messages to Adesina from world leaders, including World Bank head Ajay Banga and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization. 

    The Board of Governors also sent a congratulatory message conveyed through the Bank governor for Zambia, Situmbeko Musokotwan, Minister of Finance and National Planning. “We thank you for the remarkable results,” he said. 

    The meetings also saw new milestones for the Bank. 

    On Thursday, the Bank signed an agreement with the Finance ministry of Nigeria to extend the Nigeria Trust Fund (https://apo-opa.co/4ko9r9u)—for another 15 years. Nigeria provided an additional $500 million to the Nigeria Trust Fund. “An impressive contribution. Thank you, Nigeria,” Adesina said. 

    The Nigeria Trust Fund, the third arm of the Bank Group, is a self-sustaining revolving fund set up to assist the development efforts of the Bank’s low-income regional member countries whose economic and social conditions and prospects require concessional financing. Its resources are allocated to projects, not to countries. 

    “I am glad this agreement was signed a day before the end of the meetings,” Adesina said. 

    In an emotional farewell, Adesina sang a few of his favorite songs—Johnny Nash’s “I can see clearly now,” and Bob Geldof’s “We are the World.” 

    “This is my last Annual Meetings as president of the African Development Bank Group, after completing two five-year terms,” Adesina said. “It has been an extraordinary ten years working together… Thank you for the opportunity, trust and resources you gave me to serve as President of the African Development Bank Group. It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as President of the African Development Bank Group and to serve Africa.”  

    In a short ceremony Kaba, handed the African Development Bank’s flag to Congolese Economy minister Ludovic Ngatse and announced that the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Bank Group will take place in Congo Brazzaville from 25-29 May 2026. 

    Speaking on behalf of Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugre, Kaba also thanked all participants “for contributing to the strategic reflection and solidarity with a view to steering our continent to a better future. and Cote d’Ivoire, the host country.” 

    In addition to the official programme, 60 side events as well as cultural events and a spouse’s programme were part of this year’s colourful meetings. 

    To review sessions you missed or for any information on the Annual Meetings, click here (https://apo-opa.co/43T3MlS). 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Head of Jeddore — RCMP charges a man with sexual offences against a youth victim

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment (HRD) has charged a man with sexual offences committed against a youth victim known to him.

    Yesterday evening, in relation to an ongoing sexual assault investigation, RCMP officers, assisted by the RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division and the RCMP Emergency Response Team, executed a warrant to enter a residence near the 9500 block of Hwy. 7.

    Inside the home, officers located and safely arrested a 30-year-old Dartmouth man involved in a sexual assault, and two other men for unrelated matters. At the scene, a stolen motorcycle was also recovered.

    Codie Kenneth Bruce Horne has been charged with:

    • Uttering Threats
    • Sexual Assault
    • Sexual Interference
    • Invitation to Sexual Touching
    • Failure to Comply with a Release Order (two counts)
    • Intimidation of a Justice System Participant

    Horne was held in custody and will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today.

    File: 25-47019, 25-74832

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Elizabeth Man Charged with Making Antisemitic Threat to Injure Local Public Official

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Edward Arthur Owens Jr., 29, a resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with making a threat to injure a local public official, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Owens was arrested on the criminal complaint this morning by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    According to the complaint, on May 20, 2025, Owens knowingly and willfully transmitted via a social media messaging app the following threat to injure a local public official: “We’re coming for you [emoji of person raising right hand] [German flag emoji] be afraid. Go back to Israel or better yet, exterminate yourself and save us the trouble. 109 countries for a reason. We will not stop until your kind is nonexistent.” The complaint explains that the reference to “109 countries,” according to the Anti-Defamation League, is an antisemitic assertion that Jews have been expelled from 109 different countries; it is used by antisemites to call for the expulsion of Jews from other countries and otherwise to promote hatred. The recipient of the message is a local official who regularly engages with the public.

    The United States has filed a request for detention of the defendant pending trial, asserting that he is a danger to the community and should be held without bail. A hearing on the government’s motion will be held June 5, 2025, at 10 a.m.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint against Owens.

    A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: KIS Finance Unpacks the Global Ripple Effects of Trump’s Presidency in “The Trump Legacy” Analysis

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK , May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KIS Finance has published a comprehensive article titled “The Trump Legacy: The Most Significant President,” offering a critical examination of the far-reaching effects of Donald Trump’s presidency on global economics, politics, and democratic institutions.

    The article delves into the consequences of Trump’s aggressive trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs at levels not seen in nearly a century, which have sparked unprecedented trade wars and economic uncertainty worldwide. It highlights the resulting volatility in the U.S. dollar, a decline in foreign investment, and the erosion of trust in American financial markets.

    Beyond economics, the piece explores the geopolitical shifts prompted by Trump’s foreign policy decisions, notably the retreat from traditional alliances and the inadvertent empowerment of rival nations like China. It also addresses concerns over democratic backsliding, citing instances of institutional undermining and the propagation of misinformation.

    “The Trump Legacy” serves as a crucial resource for understanding the lasting implications of Trump’s leadership on the international stage. It underscores the importance of informed analysis in navigating the complexities of contemporary global affairs.

    About KIS Finance

    KIS Finance is a UK-based financial services company specialising in bridging loans and financial news analysis. Committed to providing insightful commentary on economic developments, KIS Finance aims to inform and guide readers through the evolving financial landscape.

    Press Contact

    Alan Andrews
    Alan@kisfinance.co.uk

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Libya becomes a full participating state and shareholder of Afreximbank

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    CAIRO, Egypt, May 30, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The State of Libya has taken a critical step towards its full membership of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) with the acquisition of shares in the African multilateral Bank, making the country both a participating state and a shareholder of the Bank. The country submitted its payment for the acquisition of the Bank’s shares on 13 May 2025.  

    Libya acceded to Afreximbank’s Establishment Agreement in October 2024, becoming the 52nd African nation to do so, and marking an important step towards full continental coverage and advancement of the Bank’s continental integration agenda; through trade and investments. 

    The acquisition of Afreximbank’s shares by Libya further strengthens ties with the oil rich nation and enhances critical support to the Libyan economy. Target areas of intervention by Afreximbank include infrastructure and oil and gas, and export of manufactured goods to the rest of Africa, while also supporting regional integration projects targeting other countries in North Africa. 

    “Libya’s shareholding in Afreximbank puts the Bank in a strong position to support the government’s reconstruction efforts while also helping to deepen its regional connectivity through investments in critical projects such as the oil pipeline and road projects between Egypt and Libya, and the electricity transmission and linkage project covering Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. It reaffirms the confidence of African governments in their Pan-African Multilateral Financial Institution,” said Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Afreximbank.  

    Prof. Oramah commended Libya for its investment in the Bank which demonstrates increased confidence in the organisation’s activities, primarily its mandate of transforming African Trade. He noted that the shareholding in the Bank will help to expand its services, reach and influence in the region, besides enhancing its capital base.  

    In acceding to the Establishment Agreement, His Excellency Dr. Khaled Al-Mabrouk Abdullah, Minister of Finance for the State of Libya, highlighted the importance of the partnership in supporting reconstruction and economic diversification efforts in his country and said that the nation’s accession was a milestone in its journey towards rebuilding its economy and re-establishing its role as a regional trading hub. He said: “Libya is grateful to His Excellency, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Afreximbank, for his persistent efforts in facilitating Libya’s full participation in the Bank’s foundational agreement. The acquisition of shares in Afreximbank solidifies Libya’s position as a full member state and shareholder in this esteemed multilateral African institution. This represents a historic achievement, following our accession to the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in October 2024. 

    “We regard this development as a critical step forward in Libya’s journey towards greater economic integration within the African continent. Our accession as the 52nd African nation to Afreximbank underscores our commitment to fostering robust trade and investment relationships across Africa.” 

    Dr. Abdullah noted that the partnership between Libya and Afreximbank would help unlock new avenues for economic growth, diversification, and development in his country. “We eagerly anticipate leveraging the Bank’s expertise and resources to support our national economic agenda and to contribute effectively to the advancement of intra-African trade and continental integration. We commend Afreximbank for its unwavering commitment to African economic advancement and look forward to a fruitful and mutually beneficial collaboration,” he added.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With Over $42 BILLION In Vital Broadband Funding Still Held Up By Trump Administration, Leader Schumer, Ranking Member Cantwell, And Senator Luján Demand Admin Stop The Delays & Immediately Release The Funding Into American Communities; Senators Say 25 Million Americans Still Lack High-Speed Internet As Bipartisan Funding Lingers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), sent the following letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick and President Trump demanding that the Commerce Department immediately release the $42 billion allocated for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

    Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), sent the following letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and President Trump demanding the immediate release the $42 billion allocated for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This program was designed to help our country on its path to creating universal access to high-speed internet – vital for remote work, education, job training and applications, telehealth, emergency services, and more. With the endless delays to get the crucial funding out the door and into American communities, 25 million people across our country risk going without access to the internet. 

    “States have spent years developing implementation plans under the BEAD program to reach every American with high-speed internet access. These plans reflect local needs, technical realities, and the bipartisan intent of Congress,” the Senators wrote. “States are ready to put shovels in the ground and have been waiting for months to get started connecting communities and building networks that will support the industries of tomorrow. Additional delays and onerous changes to the program at this stage threaten to further stall urgently needed deployment and leave communities behind.”

    The Senators also noted that beyond everyday applications of high-speed internet, this money is also essential to ensuring that America is able to maintain its competitive edge over countries such as China. Al systems – including data centers, chip manufacturing facilities and more – require access to power and internet. Without proper broadband networks in place, communities will not be able to house these job-creating facilities. Our government must work to ensure that all areas in our country – especially rural ones – are able to contribute to America’s innovative edge and technological dominance. Without BEAD funding getting out the door, these rural communities risk falling either further behind. 

    States have spent months developing plans to break ground and build high-speed, scalable, and reliable networks everywhere. The Trump administration should not throttle this process or delay it just to give more money to the world’s richest man. The Senators urge the immediate and swift release of all BEAD program funding.

    BEAD Grant Allocations By State

    State Amount
    Texas $3,312,616,455.45
    California $1,864,136,508.93
    Missouri $1,736,302,708.39
    Michigan $1,559,362,479.29
    North Carolina $1,532,999,481.15
    Virginia $1,481,489,572.87
    Alabama $1,401,221,901.77
    Louisiana $1,355,554,552.94
    Georgia $1,307,214,371.30
    Washington $1,227,742,066.30
    West Virginia $1,210,800,969.85
    Mississippi $1,203,561,563.05
    Florida $1,169,947,392.70
    Pennsylvania $1,161,778,272.41
    Kentucky $1,086,172,536.86
    Wisconsin $1,055,823,573.71
    Illinois $1,040,420,751.50
    Arkansas $1,024,303,993.86
    Alaska $1,017,139,672.42
    Arizona $993,112,231.37
    Indiana $868,109,929.79
    Colorado $826,522,650.41
    Tennessee $813,319,680.22
    Oklahoma $797,435,691.25
    Ohio $793,688,107.63
    Oregon $688,914,932.17
    New Mexico $675,372,311.86
    New York $664,618,251.49
    Minnesota $651,839,368.20
    Montana $628,973,798.59
    Idaho $583,256,249.88
    South Carolina $551,535,983.05
    Kansas $451,725,998.15
    Nevada $416,666,229.74
    Iowa $415,331,313.00
    Nebraska $405,281,070.41
    Wyoming $347,877,921.27
    Puerto Rico $334,614,151.70
    Utah $317,399,741.54
    Maine $271,977,723.07
    Maryland $267,738,400.71
    New Jersey $263,689,548.65
    Vermont $228,913,019.08
    South Dakota $207,227,523.92
    New Hampshire $196,560,278.97
    Guam $156,831,733.59
    Hawaii $149,484,493.57
    Massachusetts $147,422,464.39
    Connecticut $144,180,792.71
    North Dakota $130,162,815.12
    Rhode Island    $108,718,820.75
    Delaware $107,748,384.66
    District of Columbia $100,694,786.93
    Northern Mariana Islands $80,796,709.02
    American Samoa $37,564,827.53
    U.S. Virgin Islands $27,103,240.86

    The letter can be seen here and below.

    Dear Sec. Lutnick and President Trump,

    Congress created the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to finish the job of connecting everyone and building high-speed, scalable, and reliable networks everywhere. For six months, states have been waiting to break ground on scores of projects, held back only by the Commerce Department’s bureaucratic delays. If states are forced to redo or rework their plans, they will not only miss this year’s construction season but next year’s as well, delaying broadband deployment by years. That’s why we urge the Administration to move swiftly to approve state plans, and release the $42 billion allocated to the states by the BEAD Program. 

    Universal access to high-speed internet is essential for jobs, education, and telehealth—and also for the bandwidth-hungry innovation economy, from artificial intelligence and advanced robotics to smart manufacturing and semiconductor production. Further delay means 25 million Americans continue to wait for high-speed internet and the economic benefits it brings. It also means that we risk falling behind China, which is aggressively building out digital infrastructure to support its AI, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor ambitions. 

    States have already developed plans to address these needs, and restarting or slowing down the process will only hold back progress. States must maintain the flexibility to choose the highest quality broadband options, rather than be forced by bureaucrats in Washington to funnel funds to Elon Musk’s Starlink, which lacks the scalability, reliability, and speed of fiber or other terrestrial broadband solutions.

    High-speed, reliable, and scalable connectivity is essential for jobs, education, and telehealth. It’s also the backbone for the advanced industries of today and tomorrow. AI systems require massive volumes of data and low-latency networks to operate effectively. Data centers, smart warehouses, robotic assembly lines, and chip fabrication plants all depend on fast, stable, and scalable bandwidth. If we want these job-creating facilities built throughout the United States, including rural areas, we must ensure the infrastructure—including high-speed internet networks—is in place to support them. If we want AI developed and deployed in the United States, if we want to win the race for semiconductor dominance, if we want the next generation of manufacturing jobs to be created here, then we must act now—and we must build the high-speed, high-capacity networks those technologies demand.

    States have spent years developing implementation plans under the BEAD program to reach every American with high-speed internet access. These plans reflect local needs, technical realities, and the bipartisan intent of Congress. States are ready to put shovels in the ground and have been waiting for months to get started connecting communities and building networks that will support the industries of tomorrow. Additional delays and onerous changes to the program at this stage threaten to further stall urgently needed deployment and leave communities behind. 

    We urge you to move forward with the submitted BEAD plans and deliver on the promise of the BEAD program without further delay. Every American and every community needs access to reliable, scalable, and high-speed internet if we are to remain the world’s innovation leader.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas’ Brightest, Bravest, And Best

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    As the son of a career Air Force officer who flew B-17s during World War II, I hold the men and women of the United States Armed Forces in the highest regard. That’s why it’s both an honor and a privilege each year to nominate some of our state’s finest young Texans to our nation’s prestigious military service academies.

    What makes this task so special is knowing that some of Texas’ brightest, bravest, and best have chosen to step into a life of service that demands courage and sacrifice. The nomination and selection process is highly competitive, and great care is taken in reviewing hundreds of applications from outstanding high school students from all throughout our state. I am grateful to the current and former service men and women on my academy review board for their assistance in identifying those who are the best fit for this unique and tremendously rewarding university experience.  

    One of my favorite events each year is inviting all Texas students who are about to embark on their journey to a service academy to my annual send-off ceremony in San Antonio. This year, more than 120 students, along with hundreds of their family members and friends from all across the state, came together to meet their fellow cadets and midshipmen before kick-starting their journey of military service. I take great joy in offering them a few words of encouragement and personally congratulating them on earning admission into some of the most selective and rigorous institutions in the country.

    Every year, I invite a keynote speaker to also address the students. The speaker offers a unique perspective to the students about the career path on which they are about to embark. This year, I was joined by my friend and the President of Texas A&M University, Gen. Mark Welsh III, who spoke about his four decades of service, including his time as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. 

    The young leaders joining our service academies come from all walks of life across Texas—from families of many generations that have served in the military to first-generation service members. These students have excelled in their academics, ranking at the top of their classes and earning test scores well above their peers. Many have also excelled in extracurricular activities, leading as captains on their varsity team and serving as class presidents. Some have even obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, earned their pilot’s license, are active in JROTC, and are leaders in their schools and churches. But most importantly, their calling to serve our country is what brings them together.

    We also recognize the families who raised these exceptional young men and women, as they are their bedrock of support, instilling strong values and an unwavering sense of duty to serve our country.

    My father flew with the 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, known as the Hell’s Angels, based in Molesworth, England. His decades of service, including his time as a prisoner of war, taught me to deeply respect and appreciate our military and the sacrifices they make to protect our nation and make the world a safer place. 

    The send-off events I hold are especially meaningful because they take place on Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. By honoring these heroes, we uphold the values they lived and died for, and seeing a new generation of leaders answering their call to serve is inspiring.

    I am honored to host this event and am grateful to the students and families for embarking on this journey of service and for the sacrifices they will make for our freedom. May God bless our fallen heroes, their families, and our newest service members, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.

    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Central America and Dominican Republic: Regional Intergovernmental Organizations strengthen national disaster risk reduction financing strategies

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has collaborated with the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) and the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN) to enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) financing across Central America and the Dominican Republic. This partnership marks the region’s initial steps towards establishing a comprehensive regional DRR financing strategy.

    In partnership with the World Bank, UNDRR convened a ministerial meeting that brought together high-level representatives from CEPREDENAC and COSEFIN. At this meeting, the two regional entities issued a joint declaration, committing to work with their Member States to improve financing for DRR.

    Ministers of Finance and DRR authorities reaffirmed their “regional commitment to promote resilient and sustainable public investment, ensuring alignment with regional DRR guidelines and the search for innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms.” This led to the establishment of a technical support group-comprising CEPREDENAC, COSEFIN, the World Bank, and UNDRR-tasked with developing a regional DRR financing strategy designed to complement and strengthen existing national strategies.

    By shaping regional policy and encouraging intergovernmental collaboration, UNDRR and its partners have generated momentum for innovative financing approaches to resilience, thus contributing to enhanced protection for communities throughout the region. The Minister of Finance of Costa Rica, Mr. Nogui Acosta, remarked, “The impacts on one country affect all others, so we should address these issues at a regional level.” He further emphasized the importance of prospective planning and tailored budgetary approaches to facilitate efficient resource use and risk reduction at national level.

    Key Impacts

    • Strengthening national-regional alignment: The regional commitment – spearheaded by CEPREDENAC, COSEFIN and UNDRR, provides a framework for national governments to align their DRR financing mechanisms with regional guidelines, promoting consistency and coherence across DRR investment strategies.
    • Influencing policy and mobilizing resources: By involving Ministries of Finance alongside DRR authorities, the initiative strengthens the integration of DRR into national public investment planning and budgeting, a cornerstone of effective DRR governance.
    • Supporting national DRR implementation: The emerging regional DRR financing strategy is intended to bolster national DRR strategies, facilitating implementation of commitments under the Sendai Framework, particularly Priority 2 (strengthening disaster risk governance) and Priority 3 (investing in DRR).
    • Enhancing institutional coordination and technical support: The technical support group, involving regional IGOs and global partners, fosters multi-level institutional collaboration and provides sustained technical assistance to national DRR governance structures.
    • Promoting whole-of-government approaches: By framing DRR financing as a cross-sectoral issue of fiscal governance, the initiative integrates DRR into broader national development planning and central government portfolios, thereby encouraging broader institutional engagement and implementation.
    • Elevating DRR financing as a regional-to-local priority: This initiative represents a shift from reactive disaster response to systemic, finance-driven disaster risk governance, highlighting the need for dedicated financing pathways and institutional collaboration across sectors and all levels of government.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Integrate DRR into national financial planning: Engaging both DRR authorities and Ministries of Finance ensures that DRR is embedded in national budgeting and public investment systems, moving beyond siloed emergency responses.
    2. Leverage regional IGOs to reinforce national action: Regional bodies can catalyse national commitments by promoting shared policy frameworks and facilitating peer learning. In some contexts, their influence may be strengthened through legally binding DRR frameworks (e.g. ASEAN).
    3. Formalize political commitments: Ministerial declarations and joint statements can solidify intent, mandate follow-up actions and foster political momentum for sustained DRR engagement.
    4. Establish technical support mechanisms: Creating regional working groups that include global partners facilitates continuous follow-up and helps countries translate commitments into actionable strategies.
    5. Align with existing frameworks to enhance ownership: Building on national and regional DRR strategies avoids duplication, increases relevance, and supports long-term sustainability and legitimacy.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: XenDex Offers Final Presale Access to $XDX as XRP Community Eyes Major Announcements at Las Vegas Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex’s $XDX presale is entering its final 24 hours, with most tokens already sold and only a limited allocation remaining for last-minute participants. The timing aligns with growing momentum across the XRP ecosystem, driven by increased community engagement and anticipation surrounding the XRP Las Vegas 2025 Conference. As the first fully integrated decentralized exchange built on the XRP Ledger, XenDex offers a final opportunity to acquire $XDX tokens at presale rates before listings go live.

    $XDX presale

    Once the presale ends, $XDX is expected to be listed on select centralized exchanges currently in discussion with the team—meaning any future purchases will occur at market rates, which may be higher than the current presale price.

    What is XenDex on XRP Blockchain?
    XenDex is a next-generation decentralized exchange built on the XRP Ledger, offering ultra-fast transactions, low fees, and all-in-one DeFi functionality.

    $XDX At Presale Price

    Features and Problems XenDex Aims to Solve on XRP Ledger
    XenDex brings key DeFi solutions to XRP, including:

    • AI Copy Trading: Mirror top traders automatically
    • Lending & Borrowing: Lend or borrow XRP assets without intermediaries
    • Cross-Chain Swaps: Trade XRP tokens across Solana, Ethereum, BNB, and more blockchains
    • DAO Governance: $XDX holders vote on platform upgrades

    Why Should I Buy $XDX?

    Holding $XDX gives users:

    • rewards through Staking and liquidity provision
    • Platform fee discounts
    • Early access to features, airdrops, and listings
    • Voting power on future platform decisions and upgrades

    $XDX At Low Price

    Where Can I Trade $XDX?
    Following the presale, $XDX is expected to become available on multiple centralized exchanges currently in discussion with the XenDex team.

    Is XenDex a Legit Project on XRP?
    Yes, XenDex is built by an experienced team from Cardano and SUI, is undergoing audits, and integrates with Xaman Wallet and XRP Toolkit.

    How Do I Buy $XDX?

    XenDex Presale Details

    • Soft Cap: Reached
    • Hard Cap: Almost Sold Out
    • Time Left: 24 Hours
    • Presale Rate: 150 XRP = 1200 XDX

    Join XenDex Community
    Website: https://xendex.net
    Presale: https://xendex.net/presale
    Telegram: https://t.me/xendexcommunity
    Twitter: https://x.com/xendex_xrp
    Docs: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io

    Contact:
    Frank Richards
    Frank@xendex.net

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. 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/d7c8ccc2-abf4-461b-a2ea-5a0316b1f201

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quantum eMotion Announces Upsized Brokered LIFE Financing of C$12,000,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    MONTREAL, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quantum eMotion Corp. (“QeM” or the “Corporation”) (TSX.V: QNC; OTCQB: QNCCF; FSE: 34Q0) is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its previously announced best efforts brokered private placement due to increased institutional demand for total gross proceeds of C$12,000,000 (the “Offering”), consisting of 8,000,000 units of the Corporation (each a “Unit”) at a price of C$1.50 per Unit (the “Offering Price”), pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the “LIFE Exemption”) under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”).

    A.G.P. Canada Investments ULC (“Agent“) is acting as the sole bookrunner and agent for the Offering and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as sole U.S. placement agent for the Offering.

    Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with NI 45-106, the securities issued pursuant to the LIFE Exemption are expected to be immediately freely tradeable and will not be subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Units may also be offered to persons in the United States pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) and all applicable U.S. state securities laws, as well as outside Canada and the United States on a basis which does not require the qualification or registration of any of the Corporation’s common shares or require the Corporation to be subject to any ongoing disclosure requirements under any domestic securities laws.

    There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Corporation website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

    It is expected that closing of the Offering will take place on or about June 2, 2025 (the “Closing Date”). Closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals.

    This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act” ), and such securities may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. “ United States” and “ U.S. persons” have the meanings ascribed to them in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

    About Quantum eMotion

    The Company’s mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. Thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions. This security solution exploits quantum mechanics’ built-in unpredictability and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems. For further information, please visit our website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/ or contact us at: info@quantumemotion.com

    The Company intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Krown Technologies and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography.

    For further information, please visit our website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/ or contact:

    Francis Bellido, Chief Executive Officer

    Tel: 514.956.2525

    Email: info@quantumemotion.com

    Website: www.quantumemotion.com

    Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which is based upon the Corporation’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Corporation’s expectations with respect to the use of proceeds and the use of the available funds following completion of the Offering, the completion of the Offering, if it is to be completed at all; the expected Closing Date; and the completion of the Corporation’s business objectives, and the timing, costs, and benefits thereof. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Corporation. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating risks inherent to the cybersecurity industry, the value of the Corporation’s intangible assets, completing proof of concept studies, protecting intangible assets rights, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms or at all, the possibility that future results will not be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations, increases in costs, changes in legislation and regulation, changes in economic and political conditions and other risks involved in the cybersecurity industry and inherent to new technologies, such as risk of obsolescence, slow adoption and competing technological advances; and those risks set out in the Corporation’s public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Corporation and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Corporation’s annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Corporation provides no assurance that forward-looking statements or forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Mexico Man Indicted in El Paso for Drug, Firearm and Murder Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EL PASO, Texas – A New Mexico man is in federal custody after being indicted by a federal grand jury in El Paso in 2021 and expelled to the U.S. by Mexican authorities earlier this week.

    Jaime Renteria-Fernandez, 31, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is charged in a superseding indictment with nine counts related to alleged offenses committed in support of the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization. Co-conspirator Alex Barraza was the leader of the DTO and was sentenced to life in federal prison Oct. 24, 2024.

    Renteria-Fernandez made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday. The indictment includes multiple counts related to drug possession and trafficking, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, as well as discharging firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and murder resulting from the use and carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, with a maximum of life in federal prison, and possibly the death penalty. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    Homeland Security Investigations El Paso is investigating the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston, Andres Ortega and Susanna Martinez are prosecuting the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Sentenced and Another Pleads Guilty for Roles in Transnational Drug Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Three individuals from Pennsylvania, Washington, and Arizona were sentenced, and another individual from Ohio pleaded guilty, in federal court on May 28, 2025, to charges of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws in relation to a transnational drug trafficking organization (DTO), Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 35 individuals charged through a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024 for their participation in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

    The sentences imposed by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan were:

    Defendant

    		 Age

    Residence

    Sentence
    James Pinkston 34 New Kensington, Pennsylvania 220 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release
    Alicia Parks 26 Kent, Washington 84 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release
    Marco Armenta 24 Phoenix, Arizona 12 months and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release

    According to information presented to the Court, on various dates from in and around August 2021 to in and around June 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pinkston and Parks conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Similarly, from in and around August 2022 to January 2023, Armenta conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others. Additionally, the Court was advised that, in and around March 2023, Pinkston possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of cocaine, and, from in and around April 2022 to March 2023, conspired to commit money laundering by using a payments app to receive and initiate payments for drug transactions.

    The Second Superseding Indictment alleges that the operation imported from Mexico millions of fentanyl pills, kilograms of fentanyl powder, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and dozens of kilograms of cocaine that then were distributed and sold throughout the United States. Pinkston served as the western Pennsylvania connection to the Phoenix DTO responsible for importing the drugs from Mexico.

    In addition to the sentencings, another defendant in the case—Diamond Williams-Dorsey, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio—pleaded guilty before Judge Ranjan to Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around July 2022 to August 2022, Williams-Dorsey conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for November 4, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    With this week’s three sentencings and guilty plea, 20 of the 35 defendants charged in the Second Superseding Indictment have now pleaded guilty in the case, with nine having been sentenced thus far.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Tonya S. Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Plead Guilty to Participating in Cross-State Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Three individuals from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court this week to charges of violating federal narcotics laws in connection with a cross-state drug trafficking ring, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 27 individuals charged through a Superseding Indictment unsealed in March 2023 for their participation in a cross-state narcotics conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, crack, and heroin.

    Pleading guilty this week before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan were:

    Plea Date Defendant Age Residence
    May 28 Robert Hurst 46 North Royalton, Ohio
    May 28 Melissa Frain 36 Indiana, Pennsylvania
    May 29 Kevin Thomas 48 Newark, New Jersey

    In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that, in and around October 2022 to March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Hurst conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and a quantity of a mixture of crack. Similarly, from in and around September 2021 to January 2022, Frain conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute quantities of mixtures of cocaine, fentanyl, and crack. From in and around October 2022 to March 2023, Thomas conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of cocaine and a quantity of a mixture of crack. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others.

    Hurst was one of the managers of the New Kensington-based drug trafficking group. Hurst primarily resided in Cleveland, Ohio, but maintained a premises in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, which served as a distribution point for the organization. Hurst exercised decision-making authority on behalf of the organization and dictated who could be supplied with the group’s drugs.

    Judge Horan scheduled sentencings for September 17, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.

    With this week’s guilty pleas, 22 of the 27 defendants charged in the Superseding Indictment have now pleaded guilty in the case, with 14 defendants having been sentenced thus far. Included in those sentencings is Misti Durante, 40, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, who Judge Horan sentenced this week to time served for her role in the conspiracy.

    Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE investigation leads to couple charged with marriage fraud, making false statements

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    CAMDEN, N.J. — An Albanian national was charged with marriage fraud, and he and his wife, an American citizen, were both charged with making false statements on forms submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Newark.

    The charges against Elvis Harizaj, 25, of Cherry Hill, and Natasha Flores, 27, of Newark, were announced May 28 by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Camden.

    “This couple allegedly undermined the integrity of our U.S. immigration laws by entering into a deceptive marriage for the purpose of obtaining fraudulent legal status to remain in our country,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “These charges should serve as a warning to others that marriage fraud is a federal crime, and we will investigate and prosecute those who try to circumvent our nation’s legal paths to residency.”

    According to HSI Newark’s investigation, Harizaj is a citizen of Albania and entered into a sham marriage with Flores for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence in the United States. On forms submitted to USCIS, Harizaj falsely stated that he lived with Flores and Flores falsely stated that she had never been married before. Flores, in fact, had previously been married to a Brazilian national who obtained U.S. citizenship based on his marriage to Flores. In addition, Harizaj was charged with marriage fraud.

    The counts of false statements and marriage fraud both have a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of three years of supervised release.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City council welcomes new repairs and maintenance service director.

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Friday, 30th May 2025

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council is delighted to welcome Ben Gothard as the Director of their newly created Repairs and Maintenance Service.

    The Repairs and Maintenance of the city council’s 17,500 houses and 600 public buildings, was bought back into the city council in April 2025, having previously been contracted to Unitas Stoke-on-Trent Ltd.

    Having listened to our tenants, the new service is operating with a renewed focus on first time repairs, improved customer service and a more proactive approach to maintenance.

    Ben is due to start in his post on 21 July 2025 and arrives with 20 years’ experience working in Social Housing Repairs and Maintenance and experience of working with Housing Associations and Local Authorities, having previously held the position of Head of Repairs and Maintenance for Sheffield City Council. He will manage all aspects of the RMS Team including Asset Management and Investment, Responsive Repairs and Planned Management.

    Ben said: “I am really passionate about delivering excellent services for customers and it feels like a really exciting time to be joining Stoke on Trent City Council’s team. I am looking forward to concentrating on the improvements already recognised and welcome the opportunity to deliver a top performing service.”

    Councillor Chris Robinson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the Repairs and Maintenance Service. His experience and knowledge make him ideally suited to support our expert tradespeople on delivering a service our customers deserve.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government completes exit from NatWest

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government completes exit from NatWest

    Final share sale ends nearly 17 years of public ownership

    • Final share sale ends nearly 17 years of public ownership 
    • Millions of savers and businesses protected during the financial crisis 
    • Taxpayers prioritised through value-for-money sales at market price since this government came to office

    The government has sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS) — ending public ownership that began when it stepped in to protect millions of savers and businesses during the financial crisis.

    That intervention prevented the UK economy and financial system from going over the edge – protecting millions of savers, businesses and jobs.  

    Over 2008 and 2009, the government provided £45.5 billion to stabilise RBS (now NatWest), which at the time was one of the largest banks in the world- with over 40 million customers and operations in more than 50 countries. 

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: 

    Nearly two decades ago, the then Government stepped in to protect millions of savers and businesses from the consequences of the collapse of RBS. That was the right decision then to secure the economy and NatWest’s return to private ownership turns the page on a significant chapter in this country’s history. We protected the economy in a time of crisis nearly seventeen years ago, now we are focused on securing Britain’s future in a new era of global change.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds said: 

    Bringing NatWest fully back into private ownership marks a significant milestone for the UK banking sector following the financial crisis.  

    Since coming into government, we have halted the NatWest retail share sale, which could have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Instead, we put taxpayers first by only selling NatWest shares at market value— securing more money to invest in vital public services.

    To date, £35 billion has been returned to the Exchequer through share sales, dividends and fees. While this is around £10.5 billion less than the original support, the alternative would have been a collapse with far greater economic costs and social consequences.

    The Office for Budget Responsibility are clear on this point: the cost of doing nothing would almost certainly have been far greater than the difference between the capital injected and proceeds returned.  

    Allowing the bank to fail would have devastated people’s savings, mortgages and livelihoods — and shattered confidence in the UK’s financial system. 

    Since taking office in 2024, the government has prioritised securing value for taxpayers — scrapping plans for a retail sale that could have cost hundreds of millions of pounds due to the need to sell shares at a discounted price to attract retail buyers. 

    Instead, shares were sold only at market price and when it represented value for money  — helping fund the Plan for Change to invest in the NHS, education and defence. 

    The government has now exited all banking sector interventions made during the financial crisis.

    Notes to editors

    • Shares were sold through three accelerated bookbuilds in 2015 (£2.1bn), 2018 (£2.5bn), 2021 (£1.1bn), five directed buybacks of shares by NatWest in March 2021 (£1.1bn), March 2022 (£1.2bn), May 2023 (£1.3bn), May 2024 (£1.2bn), and November 2024 (£1bn), and a trading plan from 2021–2025
    • The final shares were sold through the trading plan on 30 May 2025. In total, the trading plan generated over £13.2bn in proceeds from sales of NatWest shares
    • Peak government stake in RBS was 84.4%
    • A retail sale, proposed under the previous government, was cancelled in 2024 due to the additional costs to taxpayers, estimated in the hundreds of millions
    • UK Government Investments (UKGI), who managed the shareholding on behalf of HMT, ensured all sales delivered value for money
    • Explainer of total amount received by government in relation to NatWest shareholding:
    Type Amount (£bn) Comments
    Sale proceeds 24.77 Total combined proceeds from sales of the shareholding between 2015 and 2025.
    Dividends 4.91 Total combined dividends received since the bank recommenced dividend payments in 2018.
    Dividend Access Share 1.51 Combined value of payments made to retire the DAS, which provided enhanced dividend rights to HMT following the provision of capital support to RBS. The DAS was retired in 2016.
    Asset Protection Scheme fees 2.50 Fees paid by RBS in exchange for its participation in the APS, which protected against exceptional credit losses on certain portfolios of assets. RBS exited the APS in 2012.
    Contingent Capital Facility fees 1.28 Fees paid in return for the provision of an £8bn CCF to RBS by HMT in 2009. The CCF was terminated in 2013.
    Total £34.98  
    *Numbers may not sum due to rounding    

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Urges DOJ to Investigate Chinese Automotive Company for National Security Breaches, Export Violations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate TuSimple Holdings – a Chinese autonomous trucking company – for potential violations of U.S. export controls, unauthorized transfers of sensitive technology to the People’s Republic of China, and any associated breaches of national security.
    In the letter, Senator Hawley wrote, “According to recent investigative reports, TuSimple systematically shared proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technologies with Chinese state-linked entities, in blatant disregard of a 2022 national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). These reports also revealed communications from TuSimple personnel inside China requesting the shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips and detailed records showing ‘deep and longstanding ties’ with Chinese military-affiliated manufacturers. To date, TuSimple has not faced serious consequences for sharing American intellectual property with China.”
    He continued, “If the reports about TuSimple are accurate, they represent not just a violation of export law, but a breach of national trust and a direct threat to American technological leadership.  The American people deserve to know how and why a supposedly U.S.-based company was allowed to serve as a conduit for the transfer of sensitive innovations to the Chinese Communist Party.”
    Senator Hawley concluded, “I urge the Department to act swiftly and without hesitation. Any individual or entity found to have violated our laws must be held fully accountable.”
    Read the full letter here or below. 
    May 28, 2025
    The Honorable Pam BondiAttorney GeneralU.S. Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20530
    Dear Attorney General Bondi,
    I write to urge the Department of Justice to open a formal investigation into TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Chinese autonomous trucking company, for potential violations of U.S. export controls, unauthorized transfers of sensitive technology to the People’s Republic of China, and any associated breaches of national security.
    According to recent investigative reports, TuSimple systematically shared proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technologies with Chinese state-linked entities, in blatant disregard of a 2022 national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)[1]  These reports also revealed communications from TuSimple personnel inside China requesting the shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips and detailed records showing “deep and longstanding ties” with Chinese military-affiliated manufacturers. To date, TuSimple has not faced serious consequences for sharing American intellectual property with China.
    If the reports about TuSimple are accurate, they represent not just a violation of export law, but a breach of national trust and a direct threat to American technological leadership.  The American people deserve to know how and why a supposedly U.S.-based company was allowed to serve as a conduit for the transfer of sensitive innovations to the Chinese Communist Party.  I urge the Department to act swiftly and without hesitation. Any individual or entity found to have violated our laws must be held fully accountable.
    As you conduct your investigation, please consider the following questions:
    1. Did TuSimple provide protected information to Hydron, Foton, BAIC Group, or any other affiliated Chinese entity?2. What steps has the Department of Justice taken to ensure that Bot Auto—a new, Texas-based self-driving truck company staffed with former TuSimple employees and backed by Chinese capital—does not engage in similar behavior?3. What activities were covered by TuSimple’s national security agreement with CFIUS?4. What were the infractions of this agreement for which TuSimple paid a $6 million settlement?5. Are “national security agreements” an adequate mechanism for controlling high-risk companies with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,Josh HawleyU.S. Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 413 New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 413 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 23 through May 29.

    Among the new cases, Salvadoran national Jaqueline Del Carmen Aleman-Aguilar was charged with one count of illegal re-entry in San Antonio. According to a criminal complaint, Aleman-Aguilar was convicted for transportation of aliens in June 2015 and sentenced to six months in federal prison. She was then removed from the United States to Mexico in July 2015.

    Christian Ruben Corea-Benavides, a Nicaraguan national, was charged in El Paso with attempting to transport illegal aliens. U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed Corea-Benavides pick up five illegal aliens just over four miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during a traffic stop, the investigating USBP agent observed a female passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, and four additional passengers lying on top of one another in the backseat—all appearing to be wet and muddy.

    Mexican national Sabino Renteria-Alvarado was arrested May 28 at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after he attempted to enter through the pedestrian entrance and allegedly presented the Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) with a false claim that he had been a Legal Permanent Resident, but that police in Nevada possessed his LPR card. The CBPO referred Renteria-Alvarado to Passport Control Secondary, where records revealed he had been previously removed in January 2024 through Nogales, Arizona. His criminal record includes a 15-year prison sentence for a sexual assault of a minor conviction in 2017. Renteria-Alvarado is currently charged with one count of illegal re-entry.

    Two U.S. citizens were arrested in the Del Rio area as the result of separate human smuggling attempts, as alleged in criminal complaints. Nancy Anna Gwyn, of Houston, was encountered during a May 22 traffic stop near Carrizo Springs. USBP agents allegedly uncovered three passengers in her vehicle who were identified to be citizens of foreign countries and illegally present in the U.S. On May 24, an immigration checkpoint inspection near Eagle Pass allegedly revealed that Anastasia Lee Daneill Godfrey, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attempting to transport two illegal aliens to San Antonio in the trunk of a sedan.

    Honduran national Walter Alonso Martinez-Chandias is charged with illegal re-entry. He has one prior removal—in June 2013 through Alexandria, Louisiana—and a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions in Birmingham, Alabama for drug trafficking and homicide, for which he was sentenced in 2018 to five years and 20 years in prison, respectively. In 2017, he was convicted in Birmingham for unlawful transport of firearms and sentenced to 81 months in prison. A criminal complain alleges that when he was arrested on May 25, Martinez-Chandias refused to comply with Border Patrol agents’ commands and resisted attempts to be placed in custody and handcuffs by running and kicking.

    Luis Alberto Olivarez-Hernandez, of Mexico, was arrested May 27 near Eagle Pass for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being Feb. 25 through Laredo, five days after a felony conviction for unlawfully carrying a weapon in prohibited places. Additionally, Olivarez-Hernandez was convicted in 2010 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

    Armando Vazquez-Ruiz, also a Mexican national, is charged with illegal re-entry after being found near Eagle Pass less than two weeks after his most recent removal. Vazquez-Ruiz had been convicted in Georgetown May 7 for assault causing bodily injury and was deported May 8 through Laredo.

    In Austin, Mexican national Basilio Luna-Luna was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Travis County Jail May 24, where he was detained for what would be his seventh DWI, if convicted. Luna-Luna was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2014 and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice—once in 1998 and once in 2009.

    Juan Alberto Zarate-Salgado, also of Mexico, was encountered at the Travis County Jail as well and is charged with illegal re-entry. Zarate-Salgado has two prior removals and multiple convictions for assault of a family/household member and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

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

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Suspect Wanted in Brutal Attack of NYPD Officer Captured by U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force

    Source: US Marshals Service

    New York, NY – The U.S. Marshals (USMS) New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF), assisted by the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), on Wednesday apprehended the second suspect wanted in the violent attack of an off-duty NYPD officer.

    Wayne Lucas was identified as the second suspect involved in the brutal attack of the NYPD Officer.  The first suspect, Taveon Hargrove, was arrested by the NY/NJ RFTF with assistance from the CARTF on Tuesday in North Chesterfield, Virginia.  

    Investigators learned that Lucas fled the New York area with Hargrove and the two had remained together for some time.  Lucas appeared to have been alerted to Hargrove’s arrest and was believed to have left the North Chesterfield area. The team developed information that Lucas was at an apartment in Richmond, Virginia, and set up surveillance.  Lucas was observed in a wig, attempting to disguise himself, exiting the apartment to smoke a cigarette.  He was immediately taken into custody.  

    “The U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and NYPD has apprehended the final suspect sought in connection with the brutal assault on an NYPD Officer. I commend them for their perseverance throughout this investigation.  I hope this arrest brings a sense of justice and closure to the officer and his family,” said Jhovanny Gomez, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York.

    The NY/NJ RFTF began operations in April 2002 and was the first regional fugitive task force to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The NY/NJ RFTF was the flagship that has allowed seven other regional fugitive task forces to be created across the country. With partnership agreements with over 90 federal, state, or local agencies and 13 fully operational offices, the NY/NJ RFTF has successfully apprehended over 95,000 fugitives since inception.

    MIL Security OSI –