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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Role in International Human Smuggling Conspiracy that Resulted in the Death of a Family of Four

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    CategoriesEnglish, MIL OSI, US State Governments, US State of North Dakota

    Two men were sentenced today in the District of Minnesota after being convicted at a jury trial for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and 11-year-old child, in January 2022.   

    Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national formerly of Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Patel will be removed from the United States following his sentence. His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to evidence presented at trial, Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on fraudulent student visas and then smuggled them into the United States across the northern border. Patel organized the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, with other co-conspirators, and Shand picked up the aliens just south of the Canadian border in the United States and drove them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed to the aliens by the cold weather at the northern border. According to evidence at trial, the going rate to be smuggled from India through Canada into the United States was $100,000.

    “Patel and Shand endangered thousands of lives for their personal enrichment and are responsible for the deaths of two small children who froze to death on their watch,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the U.S. and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States.”

    “Every time I think about this case I think about this family—including two beautiful little children—who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota.  “As we’ve seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity. I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes.”

    On Jan. 18 and 19, 2022, Patel and Shand, despite repeated warnings about the dangers, organized the smuggling of 11 aliens from Canada into the United States on foot in severe winter weather conditions, including a family of four – two adults, and their 11-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. On the evening of January 18, Shand sent Patel a screenshot with a blizzard alert warning of wind gusts as high as 50 mph and wind chill temperatures below -45 degrees. The recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of Jan. 19 was -36 degrees. In the early morning hours of Jan. 19, during blizzard conditions in Minnesota, a U.S. Border Patrol agent found Shand’s van stuck in the snow and arrested Shand along with two aliens. Contrary to Shand’s statement to law enforcement that there were no other aliens out in the snow, five more aliens emerged from the fields, including one suffering hypothermia with an internal temperature below 90 degrees who was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the dead bodies of the family of four frozen in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the international border. The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father’s frozen glove covering his face. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the United States.

    In November 2024, a federal jury convicted both defendants of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens.

    “Today’s sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in our mission to work with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity.”

    HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. The RCMP and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

    The sentencings are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    This case was also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride of the District of Minnesota prosecuted the case.

    This case is 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Man Sentenced for Immigration Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Joseph Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in or around August 2021, Sanchez was living in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. A foreign national who worked at a convenience store near Sanchez’s residence offered to pay Sanchez if he found a woman willing to marry the foreign national so he could obtain lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a Green Card. Sanchez ultimately agreed to the request in exchange for $10,000 in cash. The understanding was that $5,000 would be paid upon the marriage being final, and another $5,000 would be paid once the foreign national received his Green Card.

    Sanchez arranged to have his sister-in-law marry the foreign national. Sanchez told his sister-in-law about the purpose of the arrangement and the financial benefits associated with it. The sister-in-law had only occasionally interacted with the foreign national, as a customer at his convenience store. The sister-in-law and Sanchez had no social connections to the foreign national beyond frequenting the convenience store.

    In September 2021, Sanchez’s sister-in-law and the foreign national were married in White Sulphur Springs. In March 2023, Sanchez traveled with the sister-in-law and the foreign national to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was for the sister-in-law and the foreign national to attend an interview with U.S. immigration officials to trick those officials into believing the marriage was entered into in good faith and that the relationship between the sister-in-law and the foreign national was genuine. The scheme was unsuccessful, and the foreign national’s application was denied.

    The foreign national, Aakash Prakash Makwana, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft. Makwana, 29, a citizen of India unlawfully residing in Ronceverte, admitted that he included the name and signature of a residential property manager without the individual’s authorization when he falsified a lease agreement as part of the marriage fraud scheme. Makwana is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025.

    The sister-in-law, Kalee Ann Huff, pleaded guilty on February 20, 2025, to marriage fraud and perjury. Huff, 28, now living in Fairbury, Illinois, admitted to her role in the marriage fraud scheme and to testifying falsely before a federal grand jury about material facts relating to the government’s investigation. Huff is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-198.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced for Role in International Human Smuggling Conspiracy that Resulted in the Deaths of a Family of Four During a January Blizzard

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Two men were sentenced today in the District of Minnesota after being convicted at a jury trial for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and 11-year-old child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    “Every time I think about this case I think about this family—including two beautiful little children—who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “As we’ve seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity.  I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes.”

    “Today’s sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling. The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul Special Agent in charge Jamie Holt. “At HSI, we remain steadfast in our mission to work with out partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity.”

    Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for his role in a human smuggling scheme.  The Court did not impose a term of supervised release on defendant Patel, citing the likelihood that Patel will be deported following his prison sentence.  Patel’s co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, received a sentence of 78 months followed by 2 years of supervised release.

    Trial evidence showed that Patel and Shand were involved in a major human smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals into Canada using fake student visas then illegally moved them across the U.S.-Canada border. Patel handled the coordination of smuggling individuals from Manitoba into the United States, while Shand picked them up after they crossed into the U.S. and transported them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their participation and ignored the life-threatening risks posed by the frigid conditions at the northern border. Testimony revealed that the going rate to be smuggled from India to U.S. from Canada was around $100,000.

    During a blizzard in January 2022, Shand and Patel, working with other co-conspirators, attempted to smuggle 11 aliens into the Unites States from Canada. Due to the storm conditions that night, Shand’s van got stuck in the snow. That turn of events forced the aliens to travel on foot for approximately seven hours in minus-36-degree wind chill and severe winter weather conditions while they searched for Shand’s vehicle. Two migrants found Shand while his van was stuck; the rest did not.

    A passerby pulled Shand’s van from the ditch. Soon thereafter, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent arrived and suspected alien smuggling. Eventually, five additional aliens were located, one of whom was suffering from hypothermia so severe she had to be airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police located the bodies of a family of four, two adults and two young children, who had separated from the larger group during the night.  The family died of hypothermia. The father was found still holding his infant child wrapped in a blanket. None of the 11 migrants was dressed appropriately for the severe, cold weather conditions.

    In November 2024, a federal jury found both defendants guilty of multiple charges, including conspiracy to bring aliens to the Unites States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the Unites States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens.

    “This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of Human Smuggling. It is a clear example of how organizations exploit people for financial gain, regardless of the risk. The victims experienced the worst-case scenario firsthand; horrific conditions, injury, and death. We’re glad the smugglers are receiving consequences, but the crimes remain inexcusable. I’m proud of our agent’s persistence and collaboration between agencies; it is a testament to our commitment to border security,” said Special Operations Supervisor Ryan Gilberg of U.S. Border Patrol.

    In imposing sentence, U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim explained that “Border smuggling is a very serious problem,” one that “exploits victims.” He noted that the night this family died was one “one of the coldest nights of the winter” and that these were “very dangerous conditions.”  Judge Tunheim said that the defendants “could have done something” and it “might have made a difference”—but they did nothing.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). The RCMP and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

    The sentencings are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    This case is 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 organization and protect our communities for the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. Acting United States Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick represented the government at the sentencing hearings.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wewoka Resident Sentenced to 27 Years for Second-Degree Murder and Federal Firearm Crime

    Source: US FBI

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Celdon Mullins, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.  Mullins was also sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The terms are set to be served consecutively.

    The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

    On November 6, 2024, Mullins pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators on June 20, 2023, Mullins pulled a 9mm pistol during an argument with a neighbor and fired twice.  One bullet struck the victim, who died on the scene.  The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

    The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Mullins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Role in International Human Smuggling Conspiracy that Resulted in the Death of a Family of Four

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two men were sentenced today in the District of Minnesota after being convicted at a jury trial for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and 11-year-old child, in January 2022.   

    Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national formerly of Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Patel will be removed from the United States following his sentence. His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to evidence presented at trial, Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on fraudulent student visas and then smuggled them into the United States across the northern border. Patel organized the logistics of smuggling aliens from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, with other co-conspirators, and Shand picked up the aliens just south of the Canadian border in the United States and drove them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed to the aliens by the cold weather at the northern border. According to evidence at trial, the going rate to be smuggled from India through Canada into the United States was $100,000.

    “Patel and Shand endangered thousands of lives for their personal enrichment and are responsible for the deaths of two small children who froze to death on their watch,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the grave danger associated with human smuggling operations. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in the U.S. and in Canada who are working to secure the northern border and end the perilous smuggling of aliens into the United States.”

    “Every time I think about this case I think about this family—including two beautiful little children—who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota.  “As we’ve seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity. I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes.”

    On Jan. 18 and 19, 2022, Patel and Shand, despite repeated warnings about the dangers, organized the smuggling of 11 aliens from Canada into the United States on foot in severe winter weather conditions, including a family of four – two adults, and their 11-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. On the evening of January 18, Shand sent Patel a screenshot with a blizzard alert warning of wind gusts as high as 50 mph and wind chill temperatures below -45 degrees. The recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of Jan. 19 was -36 degrees. In the early morning hours of Jan. 19, during blizzard conditions in Minnesota, a U.S. Border Patrol agent found Shand’s van stuck in the snow and arrested Shand along with two aliens. Contrary to Shand’s statement to law enforcement that there were no other aliens out in the snow, five more aliens emerged from the fields, including one suffering hypothermia with an internal temperature below 90 degrees who was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later that day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the dead bodies of the family of four frozen in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the international border. The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father’s frozen glove covering his face. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the United States.

    In November 2024, a federal jury convicted both defendants of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens.

    “Today’s sentencing marks a crucial moment of accountability in a case that revealed the harrowing realities of human smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “The callous disregard for life that led to the tragic deaths of an entire family will not be forgotten. At HSI, we remain steadfast in our mission to work with our partners across borders to dismantle criminal smuggling networks, bring justice to those responsible, and safeguard human dignity.”

    HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. The RCMP and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

    The sentencings are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    This case was also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride of the District of Minnesota prosecuted the case.

    This case is 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • PM Modi calls Ghulam Nabi Azad to enquire about his health, wishes speedy recovery

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to enquire about his health after he was hospitalized in Kuwait.

    Azad is part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, which is visiting partner countries to highlight India’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. PM Modi extended his best wishes and hoped for Azad’s speedy recovery.

    Earlier on Tuesday, in a post on X, Azad shared an update on his health, saying that he is recovering well. “Blessed to share that despite the extreme heat in Kuwait affecting my health, by God’s grace I’m doing fine and recovering well. All test results are normal. Thank you all for your concern and prayers — it truly means a lot!” he said.

    Baijayant Panda responded to Azad’s post, also wishing him a speedy recovery. “That is wonderful news indeed! Wishing you a speedy recovery. We were touched by your warm bonhomie, and truly admired your dedication to speak for India despite poor health through a grueling schedule in two countries,” Panda said.

    He also praised Azad’s contributions during the visit. “Halfway into our delegation’s tour, Shri @ghulamnazad has had to be admitted to hospital. He is stable, under medical supervision, and will be undergoing some tests and procedures. His contributions to the meetings in Bahrain and Kuwait were highly impactful, and he is disappointed at being bedridden. We will deeply miss his presence in Saudi Arabia and Algeria,” Panda added.

    The Baijayant Panda-led delegation has now reached Saudi Arabia after presenting India’s position on terrorism in Kuwait. The delegation was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the India-Saudi Arabia Friendship Committee of the Shura Council.

    “India’s stand on terrorism is resolute and uncompromising — a message we bring to Saudi Arabia with our all-party delegation. Appreciate the warm welcome by H.E. Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Friendship Committee, Shura Council, as we begin key engagements to strengthen our growing partnership,” Panda said in his X post.

    The all-party delegation includes BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Satnam Singh Sandhu; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

    (ANI)

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Announces Financial Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2026

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Revenue of $44.1 billion, up 12% from Q4 and up 69% from a year ago
    • Data Center revenue of $39.1 billion, up 10% from Q4 and up 73% from a year ago

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today reported revenue for the first quarter ended April 27, 2025, of $44.1 billion, up 12% from the previous quarter and up 69% from a year ago.

    On April 9, 2025, NVIDIA was informed by the U.S. government that a license is required for exports of its H20 products into the China market. As a result of these new requirements, NVIDIA incurred a $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 associated with H20 excess inventory and purchase obligations as the demand for H20 diminished. Sales of H20 products were $4.6 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 prior to the new export licensing requirements. NVIDIA was unable to ship an additional $2.5 billion of H20 revenue in the first quarter.

    For the quarter, GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins were 60.5% and 61.0%, respectively. Excluding the $4.5 billion charge, first quarter non-GAAP gross margin would have been 71.3%.

    For the quarter, GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.76 and $0.81, respectively. Excluding the $4.5 billion charge and related tax impact, first quarter non-GAAP diluted earnings per share would have been $0.96.

    “Our breakthrough Blackwell NVL72 AI supercomputer — a ‘thinking machine’ designed for reasoning— is now in full-scale production across system makers and cloud service providers,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Global demand for NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure is incredibly strong. AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate. Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure — just like electricity and the internet — and NVIDIA stands at the center of this profound transformation.”

    NVIDIA will pay its next quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per share on July 3, 2025, to all shareholders of record on June 11, 2025.

    Q1 Fiscal 2026 Summary

    GAAP
    ($ in millions, except earnings
    per share)    		   Q1 FY26     Q4 FY25     Q1 FY25   Q/Q   Y/Y  
    Revenue $44,062   $39,331   $26,044   12%   69%  
    Gross margin   60.5%     73.0%     78.4%   (12.5) pts   (17.9) pts  
    Operating expenses $5,030   $4,689   $3,497   7%   44%  
    Operating income $21,638   $24,034   $16,909   (10)%   28%  
    Net income $18,775   $22,091   $14,881   (15)%   26%  
    Diluted earnings per share* $0.76   $0.89   $0.60   (15)%   27%  
    Non-GAAP
    ($ in millions, except earnings
    per share)    		   Q1 FY26     Q4 FY25     Q1 FY25   Q/Q   Y/Y  
    Revenue $44,062   $39,331   $26,044   12%   69%  
    Gross margin   61.0%     73.5%     78.9%   (12.5) pts   (17.9) pts  
    Gross margin excluding H20 charge   71.3%          
    Operating expenses $3,583   $3,378   $2,501   6%   43%  
    Operating income $23,275   $25,516   $18,059   (9)%   29%  
    Net income $19,894   $22,066   $15,238   (10)%   31%  
    Diluted earnings per share* $0.81   $0.89   $0.61   (9)%   33%  
    Diluted earnings per share excluding H20 charge and related tax impact $0.96          
     
     
    *All per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect NVIDIA’s ten-for-one stock split, which was effective June 7, 2024.
     

    Outlook
    NVIDIA’s outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 is as follows:

    • Revenue is expected to be $45.0 billion, plus or minus 2%. This outlook reflects a loss in H20 revenue of approximately $8.0 billion due to the recent export control limitations.
    • GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins are expected to be 71.8% and 72.0%, respectively, plus or minus 50 basis points. The company is continuing to work toward achieving gross margins in the mid-70% range late this year.
    • GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be approximately $5.7 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively. Full year fiscal 2026 operating expense growth is expected to be in the mid-30% range.
    • GAAP and non-GAAP other income and expense are expected to be an income of approximately $450 million, excluding gains and losses from non-marketable and publicly-held equity securities.
    • GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates are expected to be 16.5%, plus or minus 1%, excluding any discrete items.

    Highlights
    NVIDIA achieved progress since its previous earnings announcement in these areas: 

    Data Center

    • First-quarter revenue was $39.1 billion, up 10% from the previous quarter and up 73% from a year ago.
    • Announced that NVIDIA is building factories in the U.S. and working with its partners to produce NVIDIA AI supercomputers in the U.S.
    • Introduced NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra and NVIDIA Dynamo for accelerating and scaling AI reasoning models.
    • Announced partnership with HUMAIN to build AI factories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to drive the next wave of artificial intelligence development.
    • Unveiled Stargate UAE, a next-generation AI infrastructure cluster in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, alongside strategic partners G42, OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank Group and Cisco.
    • Revealed plans to work with Foxconn and the Taiwan government to build an AI factory supercomputer.
    • Announced NVIDIA is speeding the IT infrastructure transition to enterprise AI factories with NVIDIA RTX PRO™ Servers.
    • Unveiled NVLink Fusion™ for industry to build semi-custom AI infrastructure with NVIDIA’s partner ecosystem.
    • Announced NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ and NVIDIA Quantum-X silicon photonics networking switches to scale AI factories to millions of GPUs.
    • Introduced the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD™ built with NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs to provide AI factory supercomputing for agentic AI reasoning.
    • Announced joint initiatives with Alphabet and Google to advance agentic AI solutions, robotics and drug discovery.
    • Announced integration between NVIDIA accelerated computing and inference software with Oracle’s AI infrastructure.
    • Revealed that NVIDIA Blackwell cloud instances are now available on AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
    • Announced that the NVIDIA Blackwell platform set records in the latest MLPerf inference results, delivering up to 30x higher throughput.
    • Announced NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ to connect developers to NVIDIA’s global compute ecosystem.
    • Launched the open Llama Nemotron family of models with reasoning capabilities, providing a foundation for creating advanced AI agents.
    • Introduced the NVIDIA AI Data Platform, a customizable reference design for AI inference workloads.
    • Announced the opening of a research center in Japan that hosts the world’s largest quantum research supercomputer.

    Gaming and AI PC

    • First-quarter Gaming revenue was a record $3.8 billion, up 48% from the previous quarter and up 42% from a year ago.
    • Announced the NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 5070 and RTX 5060, bringing Blackwell graphics to gamers at prices starting from $299 for desktops and $1,099 for laptops.
    • Unveiled NVIDIA DLSS 4 is now available in over 125 games, including Black Myth Wukong, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Marvel Rivals and Star Wars Outlaws.
    • Announced the Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by an NVIDIA processor and AI-powered DLSS, delivering up to 4K gaming.
    • Launched the NVIDIA RTX Remix modding platform, attracting over 2 million gamers, alongside the release of the Half-Life 2 RTX demo.

    Professional Visualization

    • First-quarter revenue was $509 million, flat with the previous quarter and up 19% from a year ago.
    • Announced the NVIDIA RTX PRO™ Blackwell series for workstations and servers.
    • Unveiled NVIDIA DGX Spark and DGX Station™ personal AI supercomputers powered by the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform.
    • Announced that leading industrial software and service providers Accenture, Ansys, Databricks, SAP, Schneider Electric with ETAP, and Siemens are integrating the NVIDIA Omniverse™ platform into their solutions to accelerate industrial digitalization with physical AI.

    Automotive and Robotics

    • First-quarter Automotive revenue was $567 million, down 1% from the previous quarter and up 72% from a year ago.
    • Announced a collaboration with General Motors on next-generation vehicles, factories and robots using NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA Cosmos™ and NVIDIA DRIVE AGX™.
    • Launched NVIDIA Halos, a unified safety system combining NVIDIA’s automotive hardware, software and advanced AV safety AI research.
    • Announced NVIDIA Isaac™ GR00T N1, the world’s first open humanoid robot foundation model, followed by NVIDIA Isaac™ GR00T N1.5; NVIDIA Isaac GR00T-Dreams, a blueprint for generating synthetic motion data; and NVIDIA Blackwell systems to accelerate humanoid robot development.
    • Released new NVIDIA Cosmos™ world foundation models and physical AI data tools.

    CFO Commentary
    Commentary on the quarter by Colette Kress, NVIDIA’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, is available at https://investor.nvidia.com.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information
    NVIDIA will conduct a conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2026 financial results and current financial prospects today at 2 p.m. Pacific time (5 p.m. Eastern time). A live webcast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be accessible at NVIDIA’s investor relations website, https://investor.nvidia.com. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay until NVIDIA’s conference call to discuss its financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2026.

    Non-GAAP Measures
    To supplement NVIDIA’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the company uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP other income (expense), net, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income, or earnings, per diluted share, and free cash flow. For NVIDIA’s investors to be better able to compare its current results with those of previous periods, the company has shown a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures. These reconciliations adjust the related GAAP financial measures to exclude stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related and other costs, other, gains/losses from non-marketable and publicly-held equity securities, net, interest expense related to amortization of debt discount, H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges, and the associated tax impact of these items where applicable. The inclusion of H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges in the reconciliations to adjust the related GAAP financial measures was a result of the U.S. government informing NVIDIA on April 9, 2025 that it requires a license for export to China of H20 products. H20 products were designed primarily for the China market. Free cash flow is calculated as GAAP net cash provided by operating activities less both purchases related to property and equipment and intangible assets and principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets. NVIDIA believes the presentation of its non-GAAP financial measures enhances the user’s overall understanding of the company’s historical financial performance. The presentation of the company’s non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the company’s non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

     
    NVIDIA CORPORATION
     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (In millions, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
               
               
          Three Months Ended
          April 27,   April 28,
            2025       2024  
               
    Revenue $ 44,062     $ 26,044  
    Cost of revenue   17,394       5,638  
    Gross profit   26,668       20,406  
               
    Operating expenses      
      Research and development   3,989       2,720  
      Sales, general and administrative   1,041       777  
        Total operating expenses   5,030       3,497  
               
    Operating income   21,638       16,909  
      Interest income   515       359  
      Interest expense   (63 )     (64 )
      Other income (expense), net   (180 )     75  
        Total other income (expense), net   272       370  
               
    Income before income tax   21,910       17,279  
    Income tax expense   3,135       2,398  
    Net income $ 18,775     $ 14,881  
               
    Net income per share:      
      Basic $ 0.77     $ 0.60  
      Diluted $ 0.76     $ 0.60  
               
    Weighted average shares used in per share computation:      
      Basic   24,441       24,620  
      Diluted   24,611       24,890  
               
    NVIDIA CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (In millions)
    (Unaudited)
                 
                 
            April 27,   January 26,
              2025     2025  
    ASSETS        
                 
    Current assets:        
      Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities   $ 53,691   $ 43,210  
      Accounts receivable, net     22,132     23,065  
      Inventories     11,333     10,080  
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets     2,779     3,771  
        Total current assets     89,935     80,126  
                 
    Property and equipment, net     7,136     6,283  
    Operating lease assets     1,810     1,793  
    Goodwill     5,498     5,188  
    Intangible assets, net     769     807  
    Deferred income tax assets     13,318     10,979  
    Other assets     6,788     6,425  
        Total assets   $ 125,254   $ 111,601  
                 
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                 
    Current liabilities:        
      Accounts payable   $ 7,331   $ 6,310  
      Accrued and other current liabilities     19,211     11,737  
        Total current liabilities     26,542     18,047  
                 
    Long-term debt     8,464     8,463  
    Long-term operating lease liabilities     1,521     1,519  
    Other long-term liabilities     4,884     4,245  
        Total liabilities     41,411     32,274  
                 
    Shareholders’ equity     83,843     79,327  
        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 125,254   $ 111,601  
                 
    NVIDIA CORPORATION
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In millions)
    (Unaudited)
               
               
          Three Months Ended
          April 27,   April 28,
            2025       2024  
               
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income $ 18,775     $ 14,881  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash      
    provided by operating activities:      
      Stock-based compensation expense   1,474       1,011  
      Depreciation and amortization   611       410  
      (Gains) losses on non-marketable equity securities and publicly-held equity securities, net   175       (69 )
      Deferred income taxes   (2,177 )     (1,577 )
      Other   (98 )     (145 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:      
      Accounts receivable   933       (2,366 )
      Inventories   (1,258 )     (577 )
      Prepaid expenses and other assets   560       (726 )
      Accounts payable   941       (22 )
      Accrued and other current liabilities   7,128       4,202  
      Other long-term liabilities   350       323  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   27,414       15,345  
               
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
      Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities   3,122       4,004  
      Proceeds from sales of marketable securities   467       149  
      Proceeds from sales of non-marketable equity securities   –       55  
      Purchases of marketable securities   (6,546 )     (9,303 )
      Purchase related to property and equipment and intangible assets   (1,227 )     (369 )
      Purchases of non-marketable equity securities   (649 )     (190 )
      Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   (383 )     (39 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (5,216 )     (5,693 )
               
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
      Proceeds related to employee stock plans   370       285  
      Payments related to repurchases of common stock   (14,095 )     (7,740 )
      Payments related to employee stock plan taxes   (1,532 )     (1,752 )
      Dividends paid   (244 )     (98 )
      Principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets   (52 )     (40 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (15,553 )     (9,345 )
               
    Change in cash and cash equivalents   6,645       307  
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   8,589       7,280  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 15,234     $ 7,587  
               
      NVIDIA CORPORATION  
      RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES  
      (In millions, except per share data)  
      (Unaudited)  
                       
            Three Months Ended  
            April 27,   January 26,   April 28,  
              2025       2025       2024    
                       
      GAAP cost of revenue $ 17,394     $ 10,608     $ 5,638    
      GAAP gross profit   $ 26,668     $ 28,723     $ 20,406    
        GAAP gross margin     60.5%       73.0%       78.4%    
        Acquisition-related and other costs (A)   123       118       119    
        Stock-based compensation expense (B)   64       53       36    
        Other     3       –       (1 )  
      Non-GAAP cost of revenue $ 17,204     $ 10,437     $ 5,484    
      Non-GAAP gross profit $ 26,858     $ 28,894     $ 20,560    
        Non-GAAP gross margin     61.0%       73.5%       78.9%    
                       
      GAAP operating expenses $ 5,030     $ 4,689     $ 3,497    
        Stock-based compensation expense (B)   (1,410 )     (1,268 )     (975 )  
        Acquisition-related and other costs (A)   (37 )     (43 )     (21 )  
      Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 3,583     $ 3,378     $ 2,501    
                       
      GAAP operating income $ 21,638     $ 24,034     $ 16,909    
        Total impact of non-GAAP adjustments to operating income   1,637       1,482       1,150    
      Non-GAAP operating income $ 23,275     $ 25,516     $ 18,059    
                       
      GAAP total other income (expense), net $ 272     $ 1,183     $ 370    
        (Gains) losses from non-marketable equity securities and publicly-held equity securities, net   175       (727 )     (69 )  
        Interest expense related to amortization of debt discount   1       1       1    
      Non-GAAP total other income (expense), net $ 448     $ 457     $ 302    
                       
      GAAP net income   $ 18,775     $ 22,091     $ 14,881    
        Total pre-tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments   1,813       756       1,082    
        Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments (C)   (694 )     (781 )     (725 )  
      Non-GAAP net income $ 19,894     $ 22,066     $ 15,238    
                       
      Diluted net income per share (D)            
        GAAP   $ 0.76     $ 0.89     $ 0.60    
        Non-GAAP   $ 0.81     $ 0.89     $ 0.61    
                       
      Weighted average shares used in diluted net income per share computation (D)   24,611       24,706       24,890    
                       
      GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 27,414     $ 16,628     $ 15,345    
        Purchases related to property and equipment and intangible assets   (1,227 )     (1,077 )     (369 )  
        Principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets   (52 )     (32 )     (40 )  
      Free cash flow   $ 26,135     $ 15,519     $ 14,936    
                       
         
                       
                       
      (A) Acquisition-related and other costs are comprised of amortization of intangible assets, transaction costs, and certain compensation charges and are included in the following line items:  
            Three Months Ended  
            April 27,   January 26,   April 28,  
              2025       2025       2024    
        Cost of revenue   $ 123     $ 118     $ 119    
        Research and development $ 28     $ 27     $ 12    
        Sales, general and administrative $ 9     $ 16     $ 8    
                       
      (B) Stock-based compensation consists of the following:    
            Three Months Ended  
            April 27,   January 26,   April 28,  
              2025       2025       2024    
        Cost of revenue   $ 64     $ 53     $ 36    
        Research and development $ 1,063     $ 955     $ 727    
        Sales, general and administrative $ 347     $ 313     $ 248    
                       
      (C) Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments, including the recognition of excess tax benefits or deficiencies related to stock-based compensation under GAAP accounting standard (ASU 2016-09).  
                       
      (D) Reflects a ten-for-one stock split on June 7, 2024.  
         
                       
                       
                       
                       
                    Three Months  
                    Ended  
                    April 27,  
                      2025    
                    ($ in millions)  
      GAAP gross profit           $ 26,668    
      GAAP gross margin             60.5%    
        Stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs           190    
        H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges           4,538    
      Non-GAAP gross profit (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)         $ 31,396    
      Non-GAAP gross margin (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)           71.3%    
                       
                       
      GAAP net income           $ 18,775    
        Total pre-tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments and H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges           6,351    
        Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments and H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges           (1,491 )  
      Non-GAAP net income (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)         $ 23,635    
                       
      Diluted net income per share            
        GAAP           $ 0.76    
        Non-GAAP (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)         $ 0.96    
                       
      Weighted average shares used in diluted net income per share computation           24,611    
                       
    NVIDIA CORPORATION  
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP OUTLOOK  
           
       
        Q2 FY2026
    Outlook    		  
        ($ in millions)  
           
    GAAP gross margin   71.8%    
      Impact of stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs   0.2%    
    Non-GAAP gross margin   72.0%    
           
    GAAP operating expenses $ 5,700    
      Stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs   (1,700 )  
    Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 4,000    
           

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the impact of H20 export licensing requirements; global demand for NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure; the demand for AI computing accelerating; countries recognizing AI as essential infrastructure and NVIDIA’s role; AI factories fueling a new industrial revolution and their impact; expectations with respect to growth, performance and benefits of NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, including Blackwell, and related trends and drivers; expectations with respect to supply and demand for NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, including Blackwell, and related matters including inventory, production and distribution; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments and related trends and drivers; future NVIDIA cash dividends or other returns to stockholders; NVIDIA’s financial and business outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and beyond; projected market growth and trends; expectations with respect to AI and related industries; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX Cloud Lepton, DGX Station, GeForce RTX, NVIDIA Cosmos, NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, NVIDIA Isaac, NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA RTX PRO, NVIDIA Spectrum-X, and NVLink Fusion are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aabe86db-ce89-4434-b83c-495082979801

    The MIL Network –

  • Our relationship, our connect, our empathy is truly special: Jaishankar on India-Africa ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday described the relationship between India and Africa as “truly special,” highlighting shared values, historical ties, and mutual development goals at the Africa Day 2025 celebrations in New Delhi.

    Addressing the event, Jaishankar said, “Our relationship, our connect, our empathy is truly special. Many of you would be aware of the deeply held view in this country that our independence would not be complete until Africa secured hers. Today that logic extends to development, to prosperity, and to progress as well. When we speak of food, health, and energy security, it is not just a concern about our national prospects. It is equally about the challenges that Africa faces and the solutions that could emerge from international partnerships.”

    Jaishankar expressed India’s commitment to development of Africa by keeping India’s market open, sharing experiences with the digital revolution to support Africa’s development, improving delivery of public services, spreading education and digital literacy in Africa, strengthening African agriculture and working with African nations to keep the oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations.

    During his address, the external affairs minister recalled the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized the vaccine apartheid and travel restrictions that disproportionately affected Africa. He underscored the urgent need for stronger global partnerships to address shared challenges in food, health, and energy security.

    On the Global South, the EAM said India and Africa are its pillars, asserting that those who question its relevance do not understand it. He also noted Africa’s growing transformation and affirmed India’s support during its G20 presidency for granting full membership to the African Union.

    The foreign minister reiterated India’s call for greater African representation in global institutions, including the UN Security Council, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus.

    India has expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa to 46 missions and has trained over 37,000 Africans under the ITEC and ICCR scholarship programs. Initiatives such as IIT Zanzibar and various IT and training centers reflect India’s commitment to education and capacity-building.

    Jaishankar also underlined support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063, stating India’s approach is inclusive and demand-driven—focused on local capacity building and self-sustaining ecosystems.

    He highlighted India’s USD 700 million grant assistance to African nations, including health equipment, ambulances, Jaipur Foot prosthetics, and food grains, demonstrating India’s enduring partnership in times of need.

    ANI

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 723, Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 723 would require the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to process and review mortgage packages involving property located on tribal land held in trust by deadlines specified in the bill. The bill also would establish a position within BIA to serve as an intermediary between the bureau and tribes, tribal members, and lenders.

    In addition, the bill would require BIA to provide federal agencies and Indian tribes with access to relevant land documents from the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System. Finally, S. 723 would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress about the digitization of documents related to mortgages on tribal land.

    Using information from the Department of the Interior, CBO expects the agency would need three employees at an average annual cost of $125,000 per employee in 2025. On that basis, and accounting for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates it would cost BIA $2 million over the 2025‑2030 period to implement those requirements. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that the cost to GAO to complete the report would not be significant. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Julia Aman. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 642, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 642 would authorize the appropriation of $34 million in fiscal year 2026 for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as compensation for the loss of land under the Swamp Land Act of 1850 and the Canal Land Act of 1852. The funds could be used by the tribe for any lawful purpose, including governmental services, economic development, natural resources protection, and land acquisition for purposes other than gaming. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the Congress will appropriate the specified amount in fiscal year 2026.

    S. 642 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). The cost of the mandates would not exceed the annual threshold established in that act ($103 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    The bill would extinguish claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community against owners of the Reservation Swamp Lands and the Reservation Canal Lands. Eliminating an existing right of action is a mandate because the right to seek redress and recover damages beyond what is provided in the bill would be lost. Based on information from the tribe, CBO expects it is unlikely that the tribe would pursue such claims. Therefore, CBO estimates that the cost, if any, of the mandate would be small.

    The bill would prohibit gambling on tribal land obtained by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community with funds from the settlement awarded under the bill. Because gaming on such land is currently allowed under federal law, the proposed ban would be a mandate. However, because the tribe has no plan to use settlement funds to obtain land for gaming purposes, the cost of the mandate would be small.

    The bill contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.

    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Julia Aman (for federal costs) and Rachel Austin (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • PM GatiShakti: 94th Network Planning Group meeting reviews key metro and aviation projects

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 94th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) was held on Wednesday to assess five major infrastructure proposals aimed at strengthening India’s multimodal connectivity and regional development. The proposals, spanning both Metro Rail and Civil Aviation sectors, were evaluated for their alignment with the core principles of PM GatiShakti, including last-mile connectivity, intermodal integration, and enhanced logistics efficiency.

    The meeting, chaired by Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), reviewed four Metro Rail projects submitted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and one Greenfield Airport project proposed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

    The first project involves a 2.16 km underground extension of the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor to Indira Gandhi Domestic Terminal-1. It includes the development of a new metro station at IGD T-1 and aims to improve airport connectivity for key residential areas such as Tughlakabad, Khanpur, Saket, Mehrauli, and Vasant Kunj, while also benefiting commuters from Faridabad via the Tughlakabad interchange.

    The second proposal is a 9.913 km fully underground extension of the Magenta Line from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha. This corridor will link major landmarks like Central Vista, India Gate, Pragati Maidan, the War Memorial, and Delhi High Court. A proposed station at India Gate is intended to offer safe and convenient public transport access while promoting clean and sustainable mobility.

    Another project reviewed is a 9 km elevated extension of the Golden Line from Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj. It passes through areas including Ali Village, Ali Vihar, and Madanpur Khadar, with a vital interchange planned at Kalindi Kunj connecting the Violet and Magenta lines. This initiative is expected to improve airport access and strengthen connectivity between Noida, Greater Noida, and Delhi.

    A 17.435 km metro corridor linking Noida Sector-51 to Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida was also discussed. Spanning 7.263 km in Noida and 10.172 km in Greater Noida, the corridor is designed to serve the growing commuter needs of the expanding Greater Noida West township, enhancing urban transit efficiency.

    In the civil aviation sector, a Greenfield Airport has been proposed near Bundi, Kota in Rajasthan. Spread over 400 acres, the airport will be equipped to handle A321-200 type aircraft and feature a modern terminal with the capacity to process 500 arrivals and 500 departures during peak hours. The planned infrastructure includes a runway, apron, taxiways, ATC tower, fire station, and associated facilities. The project aims to support the economic development of the region, boost tourism and trade, and provide better travel access for the large number of students and families visiting Kota, a national hub for competitive exam preparation.

    All the evaluated projects are strategically aimed at enhancing transit systems, reducing congestion, and facilitating regional integration.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Great Falls man sentenced to prison for strangulation and child abuse

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who assaulted a woman and her child on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 31 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Lane Thomas Lamere, 37, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of strangulation and one count of felony child abuse.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that on Friday, January 12, 2024, Lamere broke into the residence of Jane Doe 2, who was home with her three-year old daughter, Jane

    Doe 1. Lamere dragged Jane Doe 2 to her back bedroom and choked her. Jane Doe 1 walked into the room while this was happening. When Lamere saw Jane Doe 1, he grabbed her head and put her into a headlock. Jane Doe 2 was able to get away, but Lamere would not let go of Jane Doe 1. When Jane Doe 2 could not get Lamere to let go of her daughter, she ran next door to get help from her neighbor, who called the police as they ran back to Jane Doe 2’s house.

    When Jane Doe 2 and her neighbor returned to the house, Lamere was in the bathroom attached to the bedroom atop Jane Doe 1. The neighbor recalled seeing him bite Jane Doe 1 on her face. The neighbor also recalled Lamere squeezing Jane Doe 1, pulling her hair, and covering her nose and mouth. Both the neighbor and Jane Doe 2 tried to pull him off Jane Doe 1 and even struck him with a snow shovel, but he did not release Jane Doe 1.

    Law enforcement bodycam footage shows the neighbor hysterically crying for help, but Lamere remained in the back bathroom on top of Jane Doe 1. When he refused to follow law enforcement orders to get off Jane Doe 1, an officer tased him. The officer then removed Jane Doe 1 from beneath Lamere. EMTs arrived and transported Jane Does 1 and 2 to Northern Montana Hospital. Jane Doe 1 was treated for various contusions to her body as well as bite marks to her arm and face.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gary Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Using a Firearm to Commit Murder

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HAMMOND–Devonte Hodge, 29 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and using a firearm to commit murder following a 6-day jury trial, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Hodge was sentenced to life in prison for using a firearm to commit murder. He was also sentenced to 480 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

    According to documents in the case, in the summer of 2016, Hodge and others conspired to sell and sold cocaine and heroin from a residence located in Gary, Indiana. Additionally, on October 8, 2016, Hodge shot and killed a victim who was sitting in a car in Gary, believing the victim was cooperating with law enforcement about the drug conspiracy.   

    This case was investigated by the FBI/GRIT Task Force and ATF/HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the Hobart Police, the Indiana State Police, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Gary Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Joel Mathur.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Fraud Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Donald A. Ennis, 43, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $513,072.28 in restitution for two counts of wire fraud. Ennis admitted that he filed false insurance claims to obtain $347,237.70 after setting fire to his residence and defrauded a volunteer fire department of $153,728 while serving as its finance and operations manager.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018 Ennis purchased a residence on Ridgeview Way in St. Albans with assistance from a mortgage company that required him to insure the residence for loss. Ennis obtained a residential insurance policy with a maximum value of $161,100 for the dwelling and $120,825 for its contents. Ennis paid an annual premium of approximately $979.35 for the policy, which had effective dates from November 8, 2020, through November 8, 2021. The policy covered losses for multiple contingencies including fire, and explicitly excluded intentional acts of loss or damage by Ennis.

    Ennis admitted that he intentionally set fire to his residence on February 15, 2021. The fire department responded but could not extinguish the fire, which consumed the residence and left it and its contents a total loss. Ennis falsely reported the fire to his Indiana-based insurance company as an accident later that day and began the process of filing a claim. Ennis admitted that he placed a series of claims electronically from February 21, 2021, to March 19, 2021, fraudulently claiming losses from the fire. Ennis further admitted that he obtained $347,237.70 from the insurance company as a result of this wire fraud scheme. The fraudulent insurance funds were deposited in Ennis’ bank account.

    From at least 2009 through 2022, Ennis worked for a volunteer fire department serving the Tornado area of Kanawha County. As its finance and operations manager, Ennis had access to the fire department’s North Carolina-based bank debit card and regularly acted as its accountant. Ennis admitted that from some time prior to March 19, 2020 through about September 18, 2022, he fraudulently obtained $153,728 of the fire department’s funds through a series of ATM withdrawals and dozens of unauthorized online purchases with its debit card for his personal benefit.

    “This prosecution sends an important and firm message that those who commit arson for financial gain will be prosecuted and brought to justice,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The fire put others at risk – first responders as well as neighbors. The defendant also deprived the volunteer fire department of vital funds.”

    Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner-Special Investigations Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-129.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    jejohnson6

    PINE KNOLL SHORES

    Guests to the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will have an opportunity to watch some exciting otter enrichment during World Otter Day on May 28 with North American river otters Eno, Pee Dee, and Rocky. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The World Otter Day celebration at the Aquarium will include some otter-inspired activities in the Discovery Classroom and a special enrichment for the three otters at 11 a.m.

    “Otters have such a playful nature — the littlest thing makes them happy. They are charismatic animals and watching them always rejuvenates me. We should celebrate World Otter Day every day,” said Kristen Cook, NCAPKS otterkeeper. “Watching the otters inspires me and our guests to help protect them and their habitats.”

    Otters at the N.C. Aquariums

    All three N.C. Aquariums are home to different otter species that inspire guests to appreciate and conserve otters worldwide. Both N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island care for North American river otters. N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a family of Asian small-clawed otters.

    There are 14 species of otter around the world and World Otter Day was founded by the International Otter Survival Fund to highlight and bring awareness to threats otter species are facing.

    While North American river otters are listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species, their numbers had been reduced significantly in the late 1800s due to over-trapping and habitat degradation and are still not found living in the entirety of their historic range. Their population made a comeback from the brink of extinction in the 1900s thanks to conservation and reintroduction efforts.

    What can you do?

    While one person can’t do everything, everyone can do something — individual actions in your community can protect local species and they can create a ripple effect that can lead to protections for species across the globe

        • Keep local watersheds clean from litter and pollution.

        • Join a local trash pick-up or beach clean-up event.

        • Find a citizen science monitoring opportunity to help researchers and conservation gain more insight on otters.

        • Buy bird-friendly coffee—it’s produced on farms with a shade cover that provides important habitat for different species, preventing deforestation and destruction of homes for animals like Asian small-clawed otters.

        • Don’t ever support illegally traded wild animals as pets.

    Advanced Tickets Required
    Summertime is always busy at the Aquarium and otters are always a guest favorite. Seeing a special enrichment may increase interest and make the day busier than normal. For an enhanced visitor experience, get tickets online and in advance at www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-pks

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 28, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nearly 2,000 Acres Adjacent to Moores Creek National Battlefield Added to N.C. Natural Heritage Areas Registry

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Nearly 2,000 Acres Adjacent to Moores Creek National Battlefield Added to N.C. Natural Heritage Areas Registry

    Nearly 2,000 Acres Adjacent to Moores Creek National Battlefield Added to N.C. Natural Heritage Areas Registry
    jejohnson6

    Almost 2,000 acres of forestlands adjacent to the National Park Service’s Moores Creek National Battlefield in Pender County were recently added to the State of North Carolina’s Registry of Natural Heritage Areas. The registry is managed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Natural Heritage Program. The newly conserved lands are on five tracts of properties owned and managed by the Clint North family.

    Inclusion of properties on the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas recognizes their value as important natural areas. The registry is a voluntary pledge by landowners to remain conscientious stewards of important natural areas under their safekeeping. A registry agreement signed by the landowner declares their intention to continue to protect and manage the special biological assets and other ecological characteristics of their property.

    During a May 22 meeting at the Battlefield, Charles (Chuck) Roe, the founding director of North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, presented a certificate of recognition to the North family for their efforts to conserve these important properties.

    Moores Creek National Battlefield is also on the state’s Registry of Natural Heritage Areas, as one of the early sites to be registered. At the May 22 meeting, another certificate of recognition was presented by Roe to NPS Moores Creek National Battlefield superintendent Matthew Woods, duplicating the award presented by Roe to National Park Service staff in 1986 for inclusion of the battlefield’s natural habitat areas on the state’s registry of protected natural areas.

    Presentations of the Natural Heritage Areas Registry certificates were made on the fortieth anniversary of the North Carolina Nature Preserves Act, signed by Governor James Martin on May 22, 1985.

    About the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas
    The Registry of Natural Heritage Areas is administered by North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program, which is a unit of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Division of Land and Water Stewardship. The property of an interested landowner is evaluated by staff of the Natural Heritage Program for the presence and condition of natural habitats and biotic resources of exceptional quality or uniqueness. For more information, please contact the N.C. Natural Heritage Program (www.ncnhp.org).

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 28, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Cabinet decision to increase MSP of kharif crops will raise farmers’ income: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Cabinet’s decision to increase the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops will help boost crop production and raise farmers’ incomes.

    “We are fully committed to the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters across the country. In this direction, an increase in the MSP of 14 crops—including paddy, oilseeds, and pulses—has been approved for the Kharif season of 2025–26. This will enhance the production of these crops and increase the income of farmers,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the hike in MSP for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025–26 marketing season. The government said the increase aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers’ produce.

    India follows three cropping seasons: Summer, Kharif, and Rabi. Kharif crops are sown in June–July and depend on monsoon rains, with harvest in October–November. Rabi crops are sown in October–November and harvested from January onwards, while Summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.

    ANI

  • India-Italy relations on upward trajectory; Jaishankar expresses gratitude for support after Pahalgam attack

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lauding the strengthening ties between India and Italy, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the relations between the two nations are on an upward trajectory, marked by renewed momentum in political dialogue, official visits, and growing mutual interest. He reiterated India’s commitment to consolidating the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.

    Speaking at Italy’s National Day celebrations in Delhi on Wednesday, Jaishankar highlighted the shared maritime interests and commitment to freedom of navigation between the two peninsular nations.

    “Whether in the Indo-Pacific or the Indo-Mediterranean, India and Italy share maritime interests and a common commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and shipping. Italy’s increased presence in the Indo-Pacific, as well as its participation under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) pillar of science and technology, will certainly enhance our cooperation further,” he said.

    “India-Italy relations are undoubtedly progressing positively. There is new momentum in political dialogue, exchanges, and interest in each other’s potential, which I am confident will be fully tapped by stakeholders. Let me reaffirm our government’s commitment to strengthening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership,” he added.

    Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Italy for its support following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He noted India’s “firm, resolute, and measured response” in targeting terror centers and launch pads.

    “Let me begin by conveying our best wishes to the government and people of Italy on your National Day. We are thankful, Ambassador, for Italy’s solidarity and support following the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the attack, Jaishankar said, “India responded firmly and decisively by destroying relevant terror centers and launch pads. The global community has recognized India’s right to defend its people against acts of terror. We believe the world must uphold a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and cross-border terrorism.”

    The foreign minister noted that the strategic partnership between India and Italy is rooted in shared values and converging interests and recalled the recent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of the G20 and G7 summits.

    “Our strategic partnership is founded on shared values and converging interests, as reflected in multilateral platforms such as the G20. As the Ambassador mentioned, our Prime Ministers met at both the G20 and G7 summits, and our collaboration continues through initiatives like the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), the Global Biofuels Alliance, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.”

    He added, “Our bilateral relations have gained momentum following the adoption of the Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025–29 by our Prime Ministers last November. We are optimistic that the roadmap outlined in the GASAP will yield concrete and practical outcomes for both our economies and societies.”

    Jaishankar identified trade and economic cooperation as a vital pillar of the partnership and recalled attending the India-Italy Business, Science, and Technology Forum alongside Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini.

    “Trade and economic cooperation are vital elements of our partnership. Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the India-Italy Business, Science and Tech Forum with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tajani and Minister Bernini. The event brought together business leaders and representatives from universities and research centers in both countries to explore collaboration across multiple sectors. This forum also presents an opportunity to boost our bilateral trade, which currently stands at USD 15 billion annually.”

    “As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India offers numerous opportunities for investment. Italy’s technologies and best practices in clean energy, agri-tech, logistics, and shipbuilding, among other sectors, can significantly contribute to India’s progress toward becoming a developed nation — Viksit Bharat — by 2047,” he said.

    The foreign minister also acknowledged the strong Indian diaspora in Italy and expressed confidence in the future growth of mobility for professionals and academics between the two countries.

    “The Indian diaspora in Italy is among the largest in the European Union. They are well-received and recognized for their contributions across sectors including agriculture, dairy, industry, and healthcare. We are confident that in the future, increased mobility of professionals, academics, and researchers will facilitate a greater exchange of knowledge and talent between our two countries,” Jaishankar said.

  • Centre pulls up e-commerce giants over ‘dark patterns’, calls for immediate compliance

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a sharp message to e-commerce platforms, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs on Wednesday urged companies to eliminate the use of “dark patterns” — deceptive user interface designs aimed at misleading consumers — warning that failure to comply could invite regulatory action.

    Chairing a high-level stakeholder meeting in New Delhi, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi said today’s consumers are informed and will not tolerate manipulative online practices. He directed e-commerce companies to conduct self-audits and remove such patterns proactively, instead of waiting for intervention from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).

    The meeting saw participation from major industry players including Amazon, Flipkart, Google, Zomato, and Meta, as well as law universities, consumer organisations, and industry bodies like FICCI and NASSCOM.

    Officials highlighted a surge in complaints related to dark patterns on the National Consumer Helpline, prompting the development of tools like the Jagriti App, Jago Grahak Jago App, and the Jagriti Dashboard to help consumers report deceptive designs and access platform safety scores.

    Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, said that dark patterns undermine consumer rights and breach the safety pledges many firms had taken on National Consumer Day 2024. Additional Secretary Bharat Harbanslal Khera pointed out that India is among the first countries to issue dedicated guidelines defining and prohibiting 13 types of dark patterns under the Consumer Protection Act.

  • MIL-OSI USA: MPP Workers Escalate Fight for Fair Contract as Tensions Rise in Indiana and Pennsylvania

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    Union Members Protest Unfair Labor Practices in Campbellsburg and Authorize Strike in St.Marys Amid Concerns Over Mill Point Capital’s Real Estate Deal

    CAMPBELLSBURG, IN — Union workers at Metal Powder Products (MPP) on Tuesday, May 27, protested the company’s failure to negotiate a fair contract and its ongoing pattern of alleged labor violations. The informational picket took place outside the Company’s facility on Oak Street, Campbellsburg, during both morning and afternoon shift changes while employees were not working.

    For nearly a year, the union has been at the bargaining table with MPP management; yet there is still no tentative agreement in sight. Workers complain the company continues to delay progress, reject basic improvements—including fair wages and raises, 401(k) matching, affordable insurance, and the restoration of earned vacation time that was taken away and replaced with an “earn-as-you-go” system.

    Adding to frustrations, the National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating four open Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against MPP. The charges allege that the company:

    • Coercively interrogating employees and removing union literature from employees’ personal belongings
      Case No. 25-CA-344432 – Filed June 14, 2024
    • Surveilling employees for union activity 
      Case No. 25-CA-347666 – Filed August 5, 2024
    • Withholding raises for 2024 and refusing to perform annual evaluations
      Case No. 25-CA-352384 – Filed October 9, 2024
    • Coordinating a surprise search with police and K-9 units without bargaining with the union to impasse
      Case No. 25-CA-364136 – Filed April 21, 2025

    “It felt like a raid — police with dogs going through the facility with no warning,” said one MPP worker. “There was no incident or reason for it. It felt like an attempt to scare us, to punish us for standing together. We’re not the enemy. We’re the people who’ve kept this place running and helped build MPP into what it is. This community has always supported this company, but we deserve respect and fairness in return.”

    These charges allege serious violations of federal labor law, including surveillance, interrogation, unilateral changes to working conditions, and bad faith bargaining. More information about the open cases can be found at the National Labor Relations Board’s public docket: https://www.nlrb.gov/search/case.

    Though MPP remains a major employer in the close-knit town of Campbellsburg, Indiana, workers argue the company has not acted in a way that reflects shared values or community responsibility.

    MPP’s private equity owner, Mill Point Capital, recently sold the company’s real estate to an outside firm in a sale-leaseback deal. The union is concerned this real estate transaction delivered a large cash payout to investors while saddling the company with long-term lease obligations and is investigating further. The union workers feel that that real estate decision, combined with the company’s perceived stalling at the bargaining table, raises serious questions about the company’s long-term stability and commitment to the workers and town it relies on.

    MPP Workers are calling on company leadership to stop their tactics and negotiate in good faith. They are also encouraging community members to show support, as the fight for a fair contract is also a fight for good jobs and economic stability in Campbellsburg.

    Campbellsburg, Indiana, isn’t the only MPP site experiencing rising labor tensions. On Wednesday May 21, 2025, MPP union workers at MPP’s St.Marys, Pennsylvania, facility overwhelmingly authorized a strike after rejecting the company’s contract offers for the fourth time. Workers described the proposal as deeply offensive, citing that the modest raises offered would be wiped out by increased healthcare costs and other cuts, including a reduced 401(k) match and the elimination of bonus pay for perfect attendance, which many rely on to make ends meet.

    MPP is a manufacturer of powder metal components intended for the automotive, hydraulic and medical sectors. Workers at MPP make customized engineered gears and sprockets. Some of its major customers include Danfoss Power Solutions, Hydro-Gear, Takako America Co., Inc, Tuff Torq Corporation, Bosch Rexroth Corporation, Pentair, Fass Diesel Fuel Systems, JB Industries. MPP is a privately held portfolio company of Mill Point Capital.

     
    Union workers at Metal Powder Products (MPP) on May 27, protested the company’s failure to negotiate a fair contract. The informational picket took place outside the Company’s facility on Oak Street in Campbellsburg.  

    # # #

    As the Industrial Division of CWA, IUE-CWA represents a force of 150,000 active and retired men and women united collectively to seek dignity on the job and a secure future for ourselves, our children and all future generations. IUE-CWA represents production workers at 3 of the 7 US-based MPP plants. MPP has one additional plant in China.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Coach and Child Predator Sentenced for Sexual Crimes Against Three Minor Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Brandon Earl Presley, 30, of Bixby, for two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country,  and one count each of Production of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Hill ordered Presley to serve 264 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Upon his release, Presley will also be required to register as a sex offender.

    “Presley is a child predator who used his position as a coach to groom and seek out minor children through social media. His actions were undetected until someone had the courage to report him,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to encourage parents and teens to learn about the dangers of social media.”

    Law enforcement began investigating a tip that Presley had sex with a 14-year-old on a college campus during a high school track meet. The tip included a photo of Presley from social media and described how Presley would often hang out in his car or help at high school track practice or meets.

    While investigating the tip, law enforcement discovered a photo Presley took while sexually abusing an unknown minor child. Law enforcement found the location of the minor child and discovered that the child was only 13 years old. Presley chatted with the minor child through social media. When the minor child was at home alone, Presley showed the minor child pornography for “education,” coerced the minor child to engage in sexual activity, and photographed it. Court records show that Presley admitted to sexually abusing the minor child, taking a photo of the sexual abuse, and keeping the photo.

    During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Presley had other minor victims.

    In the summer of 2022, Presley found another 13-year-old minor victim online through social media. He lied to the minor victim, stating he was 18 years old. Presley attempted to coerce the minor child to engage in sexually explicit activity. Court records show that Presley admitted to abusive sexual contact with the minor child. 

    Presley further admitted to abusive sexual contact and sexual abuse of a 15-year-old minor victim in 2019, which led to his termination as an assistant football coach. He approached the minor at school, groomed and coerced her using social media. When Presley convinced the minor child to meet, he showed her a video of himself engaging in sexual activity to “teach” the minor. He repeatedly told the minor not to tell anyone.

    Presley is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    Homeland Security Investigations, the Bixby Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Norman Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Brandon, Alicia Hockenbury, and Elliot Anderson prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Evansville Duo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Death of a Toddler and Non-Fatal Overdose of an Infant

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EVANSVILLE – Arcinial Montreal Watt, 36, and Jazmynn Alaina Brown, 27, both of Evansville, have been sentenced for their roles in a fentanyl dealing operation that resulted in the death of a three-year-old girl.

    Watt has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Watt has also been ordered to pay $6,007 in restitution.

    Brown has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    According to court documents and evidence presented during Brown’s sentencing hearing, between August and October of 2021, Watt obtained at least 400 grams of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and stored them in a bedroom he shared with his girlfriend, Jazmynn Brown. Brown sub-leased the room in a shared residence on East Sycamore Street in Evansville, where she lived with two other women and their four children—ages 4, 3, 18 months, and 2 months. Pills were sold and divided for sale by Brown inside the residence.

    On October 26, 2021, the three older children accessed the bedroom where the pills were stored and removed a plastic bag containing fentanyl pills prepared for sale. The pills spilled, exposing the children to direct contact. Although Brown recovered some of the pills, several remained unaccounted for.

    The three-year-old girl who came into contact with the pills was pronounced dead the following morning as a result of fentanyl poising. The 18-month-old girl was taken to the hospital, where she was placed on a NARCAN drip and survived her fentanyl poisoning.

    During the investigation, agents seized over 5,750 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills marked M30, more than $25,000 in cash, and a firearm. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.

    “This heartbreaking case underscores the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking—not just for those who use these drugs, but for innocent children caught in the crossfire,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The loss of a young life is a tragedy that no family should endure, and those who recklessly endanger others by distributing these deadly substances must be held fully accountable. We remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting our communities and pursuing justice for the most vulnerable among us.”

    “The sentencings of Mr. Watt and Ms. Brown are righteous. This case is a heartbreaking example of individuals who recklessly stored Thousands of illicit fentanyl pills in their residence, leading to the tragic poisoning death of one child and the overdose of another. The victims in this case were innocent children. The DEA, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to keeping our communities safe and holding drug traffickers fully accountable,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Gannon.

    The Evansville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crime Task Force also provided invaluable assistance. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy Kemper, Lauren Wheatley, and Todd S. Shellenbarger, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kristian R. Mukoski, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Heavy rains lash Mumbai, waterlogging disrupts daily life

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Heavy rain lashed Mumbai on Wednesday, flooding several parts of the city. Thane too saw intense showers, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) having earlier predicted overcast skies throughout the day.

    Parts of Mumbai’s Sion locality were waterlogged following the heavy rain, disrupting normal life and raising concerns about the city’s monsoon preparedness. Earlier on Tuesday, visuals from Swami Vivekananda Road near National College showed streets partially submerged in rainwater, with vehicles and pedestrians navigating through flooded areas. Water accumulation on key roads slowed traffic movement, creating difficulties for commuters during peak hours.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that the southwest monsoon rainfall over India is expected to be 106 percent of the Long Period Average, which is higher than the 105 percent forecast in April. The Long Period Average rainfall in India is 868.6 mm.

    The IMD further stated that above-normal rainfall is likely over the country as a whole during the monsoon season from June to September 2025. Region-wise, the southwest monsoon rainfall is projected to be above normal over Central India and South Peninsular India, normal over Northwest India, and below normal over Northeast India.

    During the June to September period, normal to above normal rainfall is expected over most parts of the country, except for some areas in Northwest and East India as well as many areas in Northeast India, where below-normal rainfall is likely, the IMD added.

    For June 2025, the average rainfall for the country is forecast to be above normal. Normal to above normal monthly rainfall is expected over most parts of the country, except for some southern parts of Peninsular India and certain regions in Northwest and Northeast India, where below-normal rainfall is anticipated.

    ANI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Claremore Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact of Two Minors

    Source: US FBI

    TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury yesterday convicted Ryan Duke Haight, 45, of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

    At trial, the jury heard the testimony of the two minor victims, who were 14 and 15 years old at the time of the offenses, as well as other individuals. According to evidence presented at trial, Haight began making sexual comments to the 14-year-old victim in the summer of 2023. Haight also began touching the minor victim on the buttocks, claiming it was an accident, and played with the seam of her panties. He even told the victim that he preferred “butts” over “boobs,” which was why he liked the victim. In the spring of 2024, Haight’s physical contact escalated. On multiple occasions, while driving the victim home, Haight rested his hand on the victim’s leg and touched her underneath her clothing. Then in July 2024, Haight told the victim he wanted to give her a massage as his “prize” for winning a bet. While massaging the victim, Haight sexually abused her.

    Also in July 2024, Haight sought out the second victim at a Fourth of July party at his home. The second victim was 15 years old. During the party, Haight reached under the victim’s clothing to touch her bra strap and purposefully touched the minor’s buttocks. He later called her a “vagina” for being scared of a spider. When Haight testified, he admitted that he called the second victim a “gina,” and claimed that the term was a “buzz word the teens were saying,” that meant vagina, and he was trying to fit in with the teenagers. Haight also told the second victim that she “owed him” because he removed the spider for her.

    While awaiting trial, Haight was allowed to remain on bond. After the guilty verdict was returned, Haight was taken into custody, where he will await sentencing, which will be scheduled for a later date.

    The FBI and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Scaife and Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Govt clears ₹3,399 crore railway projects in Maharashtra, MP to enhance connectivity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two significant railway infrastructure projects in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with a combined estimated cost of ₹3,399 crore.

    The projects involve the construction of additional railway lines on the Ratlam–Nagda and Wardha–Balharshah routes. Aimed at improving connectivity and enhancing the seamless movement of passengers and freight, these projects are expected to play a vital role in regional development.

    Scheduled for completion by the fiscal year 2029–30, the projects will span approximately 176 kilometers, covering four districts across the two states These initiatives fall under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity. Enabled by integrated planning, the projects aim to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.

    The enhanced capacity is expected to benefit approximately 784 villages, impacting a population of nearly 19.74 lakh. These corridors are vital for the transportation of key commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural produce, and petroleum products.

    The capacity augmentation is projected to handle additional freight traffic of 18.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). This is expected to optimize supply chains, lower logistics costs, and accelerate economic growth.

    The multitracking work will also have a strong environmental impact. It is expected to reduce oil imports by 20 crore litres and cut CO₂ emissions by 99 crore kilograms, equivalent to the plantation of 4 crore trees. The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.

    In terms of job creation, the projects are set to generate approximately 74 lakh person-days of direct employment during the construction phase.

    The projects align with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a “New India” and aim to make the local population Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) by enabling comprehensive regional development and improving employment and self-employment opportunities.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 2025 Annual Meetings: Africa’s Vast Human and Natural Capital Key to Achieving African Union’s Agenda 2063, experts affirm

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Africa, the world’s youngest continent with immeasurable natural resources, has all it needs to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063, provided the right public policies are implemented, according to government officials and development experts.

    The experts expressed this shared conviction on Monday during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.”

    Speaking at a knowledge event titled “Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063: An Opportunity to Develop and Finance Africa’s Capital,” Koffi N’Guessan, Ivorian Minister of Vocational Training and Apprenticeships, reaffirmed that Agenda 2063 — adopted in January 2015 by the African Union – remains the strategic framework for the continent’s economic and social transformation.

    N’Guessan noted that, despite a challenging global environment, the last decade has seen notable progress in Africa, particularly in economic and political integration, gender equality, and access to employment opportunities.

    However, he acknowledged that previous efforts have often fallen short of addressing the continent’s structural transformation needs, including job creation for youth and poverty reduction.

    “The second Agenda 2063 implementation plan, adopted in February 2024 by the African Union, offers a crucial opportunity to tackle these challenges and accelerate development outcomes,” he said.

    According to the Ivorian Minister, Africa is poised to become a major global power, alongside China and India, due to its demographic potential. However, he stressed that African countries should prioritize vocational and technical training to fully harness this demographic dividend.

    He highlighted a worrying trend: approximately 22.5 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed with no education or training. Additionally, 250 million children and young people in low-income countries are not in school, underlining the disconnect between education systems and labor market needs. “Youth can become a liability if robust training policies are not implemented – from nursery school through to university,” he warned.

    Taking natural capital into account when calculating GDP

    Hervé Lohouès, Division Manager in the Country Economics Department at the African Development Bank, emphasized the importance of natural wealth in calculating the GDP of African countries.

    “The GDP of a country like the Central African Republic would increase by 300 percent if its natural resources were taken into account in the calculation of its GDP,” he asserted.

    He added: “It is essential to go beyond natural enhancement and ensure that all African countries adopt a compulsory development plan. We also need to ensure that governments provide incentives for transformation while considering accountability that can directly help the transition from natural to social infrastructure.”

    Jide Okeke, Regional Program Coordinator for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, and Dagmawit Moges Bekele, former Eritrean Minister of Transport and Director of the Peace Fund at the African Union Commission, both stressed the need to leverage human, financial, natural and digital resources to drive inclusive and sustainable development — key to achieving the objectives outlined in the second decade of Agenda 2063.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

    Source: US FBI

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 12, 2025.

    Bryant Heideman, age 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Heideman will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

    Heideman was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.

    The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in November 2023 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Heideman had sexual contact with the victim, who was 12 years old, after allowing her to stay in his home between November 13 and November 14, 2024.

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

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

    This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: WSO2 Acquires Leading API Analytics and Monetization Startup Moesif

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX , May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2, the leader in enterprise digital infrastructure technology, today announced it has acquired Moesif, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in advanced API analytics and monetization. The all-cash acquisition marks a strategic milestone in WSO2’s long-term plan to accelerate global growth through targeted inorganic opportunities.

    As part of the agreement, Moesif will operate as an independent subsidiary under WSO2’s API Management Business Unit. The Moesif brand and current product offering will be retained, and its leadership along with its team will continue to drive existing business and expand customer growth globally. Moesif customers will continue receiving the same level of service and support, while benefiting from WSO2’s global presence and expanded product offerings. Moesif’s advanced API analytics and monetization capabilities will also be integrated into WSO2’s product portfolio, bringing enhanced value to existing and future customers.

    “This acquisition is a first step in our strategy to establish WSO2 as a global technology leader through select inorganic opportunities,” said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, founder and CEO of WSO2. “Moesif brings market-leading capabilities in API analytics and monetization, areas that are increasingly critical to digital businesses today. This is just the beginning—we’re committed to exploring further opportunities that align with our long-term goal to help enterprises deliver seamless, high-impact digital experiences.”

    The acquisition enhances WSO2’s positioning in the API management space by adding best-in-class analytics and monetization tools that help businesses optimize, measure, and generate revenue from their APIs. Moesif’s offerings will complement WSO2’s comprehensive API management platform, creating a synergy that benefits both customer bases.

    “Joining WSO2 is a natural next step in Moesif’s journey,” said Derric Gilling, founder and CEO of Moesif. “We share a deep commitment to empowering developers and businesses to build powerful digital experiences. As part of WSO2, we’ll continue to innovate rapidly, serve our customers with excellence, and now reach an even broader global audience.”

    WSO2 customers will start gaining access to Moesif’s capabilities as part of an enhanced product suite, while Moesif customers will benefit from WSO2’s global support infrastructure and expanded services.

    About WSO2
    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) to thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence and APIs for securely delivering the next generation of AI-enabled digital services and applications. Our open-source, AI-driven, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in and enables rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has more than 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with over USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    About Moesif
    Moesif is the leading AI-driven API analytics and monetization platform that helps companies build better developer experiences, monitor API usage, and drive revenue. With powerful tools for observability, governance, and product-led growth, Moesif empowers engineering and product teams to optimize APIs as a business channel. Moesif serves customers across many industries including logistics, fintech, and enterprise software including leading enterprises like UPS, Covetrus, and UK Royal Mail. Moesif was founded in 2017 and is based in San Francisco, US. Investors include Craft Ventures, Merus Capital, Heavybit, and Fresco. Visit www.moesif.com to learn more.

    Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • Three Indians missing in Iran; India takes up matter with Iranian authorities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Embassy in Iran said on Wednesday it had raised with Iranian authorities the case of three Indian nationals from the same family who went missing after arriving in the country on May 2.

    The embassy said that India has urged Iranian authorities to trace the missing individuals and ensure their safety. It also said that the families are being regularly updated on the efforts being made.

    In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Iran said: “Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after traveling to Iran. The Embassy has strongly taken up this matter with the Iranian authorities and requested that the missing Indians be urgently traced and their safety ensured.”

    “We are also keeping the family members regularly updated on the efforts being made by the Embassy.”

    ANI

  • Cabinet approves continuation of Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for FY 2025–26

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for the financial year 2025–26. The scheme will retain the existing 1.5% interest subvention offered to eligible lending institutions, ensuring that short-term agricultural loans remain affordable and accessible to farmers across the country.

    The Modified Interest Subvention Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at making short-term credit available to farmers at a reduced interest rate through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) system. Under the scheme, farmers can avail loans of up to ₹3 lakh at a standard interest rate of 7%. A 1.5% interest subvention is provided to lending institutions, effectively reducing the lending burden. Furthermore, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive an additional incentive of up to 3% as a Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), bringing down the effective interest rate to just 4%. For loans taken specifically for animal husbandry or fisheries, the interest benefit is available for amounts up to ₹2 lakh.

    No changes have been introduced in the structure or other operational aspects of the scheme for the upcoming financial year.

    As of now, there are more than 7.75 crore active Kisan Credit Card accounts in India. The continued implementation of MISS is expected to play a crucial role in sustaining the flow of institutional credit to the agriculture sector, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers. This support is vital for enhancing farm productivity and ensuring financial inclusion in rural areas.

    In recent years, India has witnessed significant growth in agricultural credit. Institutional credit disbursed through KCC increased from ₹4.26 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹10.05 lakh crore by December 2024. Overall agricultural credit flow also rose substantially, from ₹7.3 lakh crore in the financial year 2013–14 to ₹25.49 lakh crore in 2023–24.

    In addition to credit expansion, digital reforms have improved efficiency and transparency in the credit system. The launch of the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) in August 2023 has streamlined the claim processing mechanism under the scheme, reducing delays and promoting accountability in interest subvention disbursements.

    Given the current lending cost environment, including trends in the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) and repo rate movements, maintaining the 1.5% interest subvention is considered essential. This will help rural and cooperative banks continue providing low-cost loans, enabling farmers to access timely credit without additional financial pressure.