NewzIntel.com

Category: Intelligence Agencies

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty in ‘Cryptojacking’ Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – Joshua Paul Armbrust, currently of St. Paul, Minnesota, pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal “cryptojacking” scheme that caused significant financial losses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, in February 2020, Joshua Paul Armbrust, 44, formerly of Orr, Minnesota, resigned from his employment at Digital River, a Minnetonka-based global e-commerce and payment processing company. After leaving his job, between December 2020 and May 2021, Armbrust engaged in a cryptojacking scheme using accounts belonging to his former employer. Cryptojacking is a form of cybercrime where an unauthorized party uses someone else’s computing resources to mine cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, by leveraging the victim’s hardware, which can lead to reduced system performance, increased energy consumption, and higher operating costs.

    As part of the scheme, Armbrust remotely accessed the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) account on multiple occasions without authorization and utilized AWS computers to mine Ethereum cryptocurrency. This unauthorized access resulted in substantial costs for the company, totaling over $45,000. The mined Ethereum was directed into a digital wallet and subsequently transferred to Armbrust’s Coinbase accounts. Armbrust then liquidated the mined Ethereum, totaling over $7,000, and transferred the proceeds to his Wells Fargo banking account.

    “Cryptojacking is simply high-tech thievery,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Cybercriminals like Armbrust—who use their technical skills to victimize others—will continue to see federal justice.”

    Armbrust pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to one count of computer fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley M. Endicott is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Columbia Citizens Academy Application Period Extended

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    LEXINGTON, SC—The FBI Columbia field office announced today the FBI Citizens Academy nomination period has been extended. As the spring session has been postponed, nominations are now due June 1. The class begins Thursday, August 7 and meets every Thursday from 4—6 p.m., culminating with a graduation on Sept. 18.

    The mission of the FBI Citizens Academy is to foster a greater understanding of the role of federal law enforcement in the community through frank discussion and education.

    More information about Citizens Academy can be found on the Community Outreach section of our website at: fbi.gov/columbia. The nomination form can be accessed directly by clicking on the following hyperlink: https://forms.fbi.gov/fbi-citizens-academy-nomination-form-columbia/view.

    Candidates must meet the following criteria:

    • Be a recognized business, religious, or community leader
    • Live and/or work within the division’s jurisdiction
    • Be at least 21 years old
    • Consent to a limited background investigation, to include fingerprint checks
    • Agree to attend all sessions, with no more than two excused absences

    Individuals chosen through the selection process will be notified by email. There is no cost to attend the academy.

    Questions can be emailed to the Community Outreach team at Columbia_Outreach@fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boone Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a Minor

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    DES MOINES, Iowa – A Boone man was sentenced on March 28, 2025, to five years in federal prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a person he believed to be a minor.

    According to public court documents, Travis Lee Morgan, 40, used a Facebook account to communicate with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female, but was instead a law enforcement officer. Between June and August 2023, Morgan sent numerous videos and images to the female, including images of his genitals and himself engaged in a sex act, and discussed in-person sex acts Morgan desired to occur with the minor female.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Morgan will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, the Altoona Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Boone Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charles County Man Pleads Guilty to Four Armed Commercial Robberies

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, Daniel Michael Harris, Sr., 43, of Waldorf, Maryland, pleaded guilty to committing an armed robbery while using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Malik Aziz, Prince George’s County Police Department; Sheriff Troy D. Berry, Charles County Sheriff’s Office; and Chief Marc Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department. 

    According to his guilty plea, Harris and his co-conspirators planned and committed armed robberies of two businesses in Prince George’s County, one business in Charles County, and one business in Montgomery County.  On March 23, and March 28, 2023, Harris and his co-conspirators robbed two convenience stores in Prince George’s County and stole cash from the registers and several packs of cigarettes.  Harris brandished a pistol-grip shotgun during both robberies.

    Then on April 5, 2023, Harris and his co-conspirators robbed a convenience store in Charles County and stole cash from the registers and the wallet and phone of a store employee.  Harris also brandished a pistol-grip shotgun and held the store employee at gunpoint while pinning a customer into a wall corner with his forearm.

    On April 6, 2023, Harris and his co-conspirators robbed a convenience store in Montgomery County, stealing cash from the register and a store employee’s purse and phone.  Harris also brandished the same pistol-grip shotgun used in the earlier robberies.

    Then on April 12, 2023, a Prince George’s County Police Department officer observed the getaway vehicle used by Harris and his co-conspirators in two of the robberies, resulting in a traffic stop.  The occupants of the vehicle fled and escaped.  Law enforcement recovered several items from the vehicle and submitted the items for Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing.  A subsequent DNA report revealed a high stringency match between Harris and a DNA sample from a bottle recovered from the vehicle.

    On November 9, 2023, Charles County Sherriff’s Office detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for Harris’s storage unit.  Detectives accessed the storage unit and identified the clothing items Harris wore and the same pistol-grip shotgun he used during the robberies.

    Harris and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, he faces 13 to 17 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow scheduled the sentencing for Friday, July 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

    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.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the FBI, Prince George’s County Police Department, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who is prosecuting the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlyn DeGhetto, Associate Professor of Management, University of Dayton

    To attract business investment, American cities and states offer companies billions of dollars in incentives, such as tax credits. As the theory goes, when governments create a business-friendly environment, it encourages investment, leading to job creation and economic growth.

    While this theory may seem logical on its face, it’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation. Business investment follows employees, not just the other way around. In fact, our research suggests workers care less about whether a city has business-friendly policies and more about how safe they feel living in it. And interestingly, we found that politics influence people’s risk perceptions more than hard data such as crime statistics.

    Our findings have major implications for cities and businesses. If people choose where to live and work based on perceived safety rather than economic incentives, then entrepreneurs and city leaders may need to rethink how they approach growth and investment.

    The many faces of risk

    We are management professors who surveyed more than 500 employees and entrepreneurs from across the country to better understand how they rate 25 large U.S. cities on various dimensions of risk.

    We asked about three different types of risk: risk related to crime, government function and social issues. Risk related to government function includes corruption and instability, while risk related to social issues includes potential infringements on individual rights.

    We found that people’s views of risk weren’t driven primarily by objective statistics, such as FBI crime data. Instead, they were shaped by factors such as media representations, word of mouth and geographic stereotypes.

    For example, studies suggest that crime in Denver has been rising, and U.S. News and World Report recently ranked it as the 10th most dangerous city based on FBI crime reports. However, the employees and entrepreneurs we surveyed ranked Denver as the safest city in the country.

    It’s all politics

    We found that political perspectives were the main factor biasing the rankings. For example, conservative-leaning employees and entrepreneurs believed that Portland, Oregon, is dangerous, ranking it as America’s ninth-riskiest city. In contrast, those who are liberal-leaning ranked it as the second-safest city in the country.

    Both of these beliefs can’t be accurate. Instead, when basing the ranking on objective crime data from the FBI, U.S. News ranked Portland the 15th most dangerous city in the country.

    When assessing risk related to how the government functions, conservatives praised politicians in Nashville, Charlotte and Dallas, while the liberals praised those in Denver, Minneapolis and Portland. Similarly, when considering risk related to social issues, conservatives said New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco were “risky,” while the liberals said Tampa, Miami and Houston should be avoided.

    Our findings also suggest that political perspectives influence the types of risk that employers and employees care about. For example, conservatives tend to care more about crime-related risk than liberals, and liberals care more about risk related to social issues.

    Now what?

    We’re not advocating that city leaders drop financial incentives altogether, or that employers ignore them. Evidence suggests that financial incentives and other business-friendly policies may be effective at attracting businesses and strengthening local economies.

    However, our research suggests that when individuals are making important life decisions about where to live, work and invest, a city’s level of risk matters. Importantly, beliefs about risk are subjective and are biased by political perspectives.

    In our view, city leaders must recognize and address concerns about crime, governance and social issues while actively working to improve public perceptions of their cities. Likewise, businesses may want to consider investing in cities that are less politically polarized when making investment decisions.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe – https://theconversation.com/cities-that-want-to-attract-business-might-want-to-focus-less-on-financial-incentives-and-more-on-making-people-feel-safe-250247

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Dallas Conducts Federal Civil Rights Training with San Angelo-Area Law Enforcement

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    SAN ANGELO, TX—The FBI Dallas Field Office and FBI San Angelo Resident Agency partnered with the Angelo State University Police Department (ASUPD) to serve as the host for federal civil rights training for regional law enforcement this week.

    The interactive training explains how federal criminal statues related to law enforcement misconduct applies to local and state agencies, and outlines the roles of the FBI and Department of Justice. Presentation materials included body camera footage, scenario-based discussions and case study review.

    Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock explained, “Training is critical to the continued education of our law enforcement population to recognize and prevent potential civil rights violations. We are grateful for Angelo State University Police Department’s commitment to host this session for regional law enforcement, and thank them for their continued partnership.”

    The FBI is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating allegations regarding possible violations of federal civil rights statutes and works closely with its partners to prevent and address hate crimes and color of law violations.

    More than 25 law enforcement officers from 10 departments participated.

    For additional information on the FBI’s Civil Rights program please visit https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bank Contractor Admits to Conspiracy to Load Debit Cards with Fraudulent Funds

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    HOUSTON – A 23-year-old Houston woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jaysha Victorian worked for a bank contractor from late 2020 to early 2021. She used her access to the systems of a national banking institution to load prepaid debit cards with fraudulent funds. These included prepaid cards that were used to provide unemployment benefits, including for the state of California. 

    The cards were distributed to other recipients, who withdrew the funds at ATMs and other locations. In total, Victorian credited at least 187 cards with nearly $8.6 million in fraudulent funds. Over $7.6 million of that amount had been withdrawn or spent before the bank could freeze the cards.

    Victorian admitted she used some of the funds to conduct ATM transactions on her own, including a $1,000 withdrawal at a branch in Houston.

    She also received approximately $300,000 in cash proceeds from her role in the scheme.  

    U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen will impose sentencing July 7. At that time, Victorian faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

    She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. 

    The FBI, Houston Police Department, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General’s Covid Fraud Unit and Department of Labor conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Karen Lansden are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixteen Charged in Sweeping Houston-Based Multimillion-Dollar Illegal Gambling and Money Laundering Conspiracy

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    “Operation Double Down” leads to seizure of over $16 million in currency, accounts, and assets, as well as arrest of illegal aliens

    HOUSTON – Several Houston-area residents are now in custody on various charges including conspiracy, operating illegal game rooms, bribery and money laundering in one of the largest ever law enforcement operations in the Southern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m.

    In addition to those indicted in the scheme, authorities also arrested 31 illegal aliens on various immigration and firearms charges during the operation April 2. One of those included an illegal alien who allegedly assaulted a law enforcement officer.

    The indictment, returned March 26 and unsealed upon the arrests, alleges Nizar Ali, 61, Richmond, and others allegedly conspired to own, operate or assist in the operation of illegal game rooms. All also conspired to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of the illegal gambling business, which totaled more than $22 million, according to the charges.

    More than 700 law enforcement officers from 18 agencies served a total of 45 search and 40 seizure warrants at locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area. The locations included 30 illegal game rooms with names such as El Portal and Yellow Building.

    During the operation, authorities recovered more than $4.5 million in cash as well as $5 million in property and vehicles, 2000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches and eight firearms. Law enforcement also seized approximately $6.5 million from bank accounts and other financial institutions pursuant to the court-issued warrants.

    In addition to Ali, others taken into custody include Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both of Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both of Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both of Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all of Houston.

    Two others – Sayed Ali, 59, Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, Houston – are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests.

    All are charged with conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering which each carry possible prison terms of five years as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering which has a maximum 20-year possible prison term.

    Ali is also charged with 32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying more than $500,000 to an undercover officer in an attempt to protect the illicit game rooms from law enforcement intervention. If convicted, he faces up to 10 more years in prison on each count.

    With the exception of the money laundering charge which has the possibility of a $500,000 maximum fine or twice the value of the property involved, the remaining counts carry a maximum $250,000 potential fine.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) led the investigation along with IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and the assistance of Houston Police Department (HPD); FBI; High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program; Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct One; Harris County District Attorney’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies providing support include ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties, Houston Fire Department, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and police departments in Baytown and Pasadena.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre, John Marck and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Fyffe and Tyler Foster are handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Murder on the Colville Reservation

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Joseph Zacherle, age 38, to 204 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Threats in Interstate Commerce. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release and restitution payable to the Colville Confederated Tribes for the murder victim’s funeral expenses.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on the evening of October 18, 2022, Zacherle was in a domestic dispute with his intimate partner (Victim 1) near a gas station on the Colville Indian Reservation. During the dispute, Victim 1 drove away from the area without Zacherle, who had gone inside a nearby store.

    When Zacherle realized Victim 1 had left him, he began calling and texting her, demanding she return, or he was going to “kill” and “hurt people.” About the same time as Zacherle was making these threats to Victim 1, Dion Boyd, an elder within the Colville Tribe, exited the nearby gas station. Zacherle and Mr. Boyd walked the same direction for a short distance. Zacherle then attacked Mr. Boyd, striking him in the head.

    Within minutes of that attack, Zacherle called Victim 1 and referenced the assault, bragging that he had knocked someone out.  He then asked Victim 1 whether she wanted to see what Zacherle had done.  Victim 1 reported that she could hear garbled breathing and snorting on the phone line.

    Shortly after the assault, Omak Police and first responders located Mr. Boyd, who was unresponsive and face down, bleeding from his head. Medical providers later determined Mr. Boyd was braindead and that Mr. Boyd would never recover from the injuries Zacherle inflicted. Mr. Boyd’s family spent the next twenty days at Mr. Boyd’s bedside in the hospital hoping for a miracle, but Mr. Boyd ultimately died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault.  The Medical Examiner determined Mr. Boyd suffered a severe brain hematoma and cracked skull because of the unprovoked attack.

    “My heart goes out to the Boyd family, who have suffered so much pain as a result of Mr. Zacherle’s unprovoked attack,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “My office is fully committed to working federal, state, local, and Tribal leaders to fully prosecuting violent crimes on Tribal land. The victims and survivors of these terrible crimes deserve nothing less.”

    At sentencing, MMIP AUSA Bree Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s family and friends have uniformly described Mr. Boyd as a kind, generous person who helped raise his younger siblings and later his own children. Mr. Boyd also served his Tribe as an IT technician, ensuring Colville Tribal members living in rural areas could have cell service.”

    In recommending the Court impose a 17-year sentence, MMIP AUSA Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s violent and senseless death at the hands of Zacherle has severely impacted the large family Mr. Boyd has left behind. And, Mr. Boyd is now among the disproportionate number of murdered Indigenous people and Mr. Boyd’s family has joined the ranks of too many other MMIP families throughout Eastern Washington and elsewhere.”

    “This appalling attack was truly senseless.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Mr. Zacherle displayed a shocking disregard for the value of human life when he took his frustrations out on an innocent bystander, recklessly costing that person his life.  The Colville Indian Reservation is a safer place with him off the streets.”

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.

    2:23-cr-00007-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kaitlyn DeGhetto, Associate Professor of Management, University of Dayton

    To attract business investment, American cities and states offer companies billions of dollars in incentives, such as tax credits. As the theory goes, when governments create a business-friendly environment, it encourages investment, leading to job creation and economic growth.

    While this theory may seem logical on its face, it’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation. Business investment follows employees, not just the other way around. In fact, our research suggests workers care less about whether a city has business-friendly policies and more about how safe they feel living in it. And interestingly, we found that politics influence people’s risk perceptions more than hard data such as crime statistics.

    Our findings have major implications for cities and businesses. If people choose where to live and work based on perceived safety rather than economic incentives, then entrepreneurs and city leaders may need to rethink how they approach growth and investment.

    The many faces of risk

    We are management professors who surveyed more than 500 employees and entrepreneurs from across the country to better understand how they rate 25 large U.S. cities on various dimensions of risk.

    We asked about three different types of risk: risk related to crime, government function and social issues. Risk related to government function includes corruption and instability, while risk related to social issues includes potential infringements on individual rights.

    We found that people’s views of risk weren’t driven primarily by objective statistics, such as FBI crime data. Instead, they were shaped by factors such as media representations, word of mouth and geographic stereotypes.

    For example, studies suggest that crime in Denver has been rising, and U.S. News and World Report recently ranked it as the 10th most dangerous city based on FBI crime reports. However, the employees and entrepreneurs we surveyed ranked Denver as the safest city in the country.

    It’s all politics

    We found that political perspectives were the main factor biasing the rankings. For example, conservative-leaning employees and entrepreneurs believed that Portland, Oregon, is dangerous, ranking it as America’s ninth-riskiest city. In contrast, those who are liberal-leaning ranked it as the second-safest city in the country.

    Both of these beliefs can’t be accurate. Instead, when basing the ranking on objective crime data from the FBI, U.S. News ranked Portland the 15th most dangerous city in the country.

    When assessing risk related to how the government functions, conservatives praised politicians in Nashville, Charlotte and Dallas, while the liberals praised those in Denver, Minneapolis and Portland. Similarly, when considering risk related to social issues, conservatives said New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco were “risky,” while the liberals said Tampa, Miami and Houston should be avoided.

    Our findings also suggest that political perspectives influence the types of risk that employers and employees care about. For example, conservatives tend to care more about crime-related risk than liberals, and liberals care more about risk related to social issues.

    Now what?

    We’re not advocating that city leaders drop financial incentives altogether, or that employers ignore them. Evidence suggests that financial incentives and other business-friendly policies may be effective at attracting businesses and strengthening local economies.

    However, our research suggests that when individuals are making important life decisions about where to live, work and invest, a city’s level of risk matters. Importantly, beliefs about risk are subjective and are biased by political perspectives.

    In our view, city leaders must recognize and address concerns about crime, governance and social issues while actively working to improve public perceptions of their cities. Likewise, businesses may want to consider investing in cities that are less politically polarized when making investment decisions.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe – https://theconversation.com/cities-that-want-to-attract-business-might-want-to-focus-less-on-financial-incentives-and-more-on-making-people-feel-safe-250247

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ‘courage to be’ in uncertain times − how one 20th-century philosopher defined bravery

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mordechai Gordon, Professor of Education, Quinnipiac University

    Over the past few weeks, as negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine drag on, I’ve thought back to Feb. 28, 2025: the day of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heated visit to the Oval Office.

    Zelenskyy has called the tone of the meeting “regrettable” as he tries to salvage support for Ukraine. But in some ways, he has stood by his decision to speak up as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated his country, calling it ungrateful for foreign assistance. “In that conversation, I was defending the dignity of Ukraine,” he told Time magazine.

    Watching Zelenskyy left me thinking about political courage. Philosophers have written about bravery for thousands of years, but what is it?

    Plato, for instance, wrote about courage as an important virtue that can assist political leaders. Plato scholar Linda Rabieh argues that courage is the ability to be steadfast in the moment of truth. Angela Hobbs, a British scholar, says that courage might be called “spiritedness”: the ability to act boldly in adverse situations.

    Some of my own recent research in philosophy of education has also focused on courage. In particular, I have been interested in Paul Tillich’s notion of the “courage to be,” as well as its implications for politics and education. Tillich was a German philosopher and theologian who left the country after the Nazis rose to power.

    Tillich Park in New Harmony, Ind., dedicated to the philosopher and theologian.
    christina rutz/Flickr, CC BY-SA

    More than a mindset

    Born in a village in eastern Germany in 1886, Tillich lived in a Europe ravaged by two world wars. As such, he experienced firsthand the fundamental anxiety that many felt during this period of prolonged violence and destruction.

    In the early 1930s, Tillich wrote “The Socialist Decision,” which can be interpreted as a challenge to right-wing populist movements. The Nazis banned the book, and he soon immigrated to the United States, where he would spend the rest of his life and write his most important philosophical and theological works.

    Tillich’s book “The Courage to Be,” published in 1952, is based on a series of lectures that he delivered at Yale University. Tillich was inspired to address courage, since he viewed this concept as one that integrates theological, sociological and philosophical problems. Moreover, Tillich suggests that this concept was useful for understanding societies’ challenges after World War II.

    Tillich moved to the U.S. in the 1930s, after the Nazis’ rise to power.
    Fritz Eschen/ullstein bild via Getty Images

    At its core, the book springs from an attempt to respond to anxiety: people’s anxious search for meaning and security, especially as many people lost faith in the religious traditions that once anchored their sense of purpose and reality. There is courage, Tillich writes, in affirming oneself despite that sense of emptiness, and despite the knowledge that our lives are short and uncertain.

    Tillich defines “the courage to be” as “the ethical act in which man affirms his own being in spite of those elements of his existence which conflict with his essential self-affirmation.” In other words, it is not simply an attitude or disposition. The courage to be is a deed – the ability to stay true to oneself.

    When it comes to ethics or politics, Tillich’s idea of courage entails the ability to sacrifice things such as pleasure, happiness and, in the most extreme cases, one’s life for some higher cause. Such acts of courage are praiseworthy because they suggest that the most ethically essential parts – the noble aspects – of our being are prevailing over the less essential.

    In spite of, a part of

    What Tillich calls “courage to be” consists of two indivisible parts or aspects.

    The first is what he refers to as “the courage to be in spite of”: courageously choosing to affirm one’s essential being, one’s core values, despite tough and even daunting forces of resistance.

    Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle for civil rights during the 1960s provides a good example of this aspect of the courage to be. Documentary evidence indicates that the FBI tried to destroy his reputation with blackmail and wiretaps, not to mention the close to 30 times he was jailed.

    Martin Luther King Jr., kneeling on left, leads marchers singing and praying during a protest against segregated housing policies in Chicago in August 1966.
    AP Photo/File

    The second aspect Tillich describes in his book is “the courage to be as a part,” to partake in something larger than oneself. Tillich writes that “the self is self only because it has a world, a structured universe, to which it belongs.” The courage to be as a part could mean participating in a political movement, a religious community, a worker strike, or any other initiative that involves people coming together for a common purpose.

    For Tillich, these types of courage should not be considered separate qualities but two interrelated aspects of the courage to be.

    At Zelenskyy’s meeting in the Oval Office, I believe we witnessed a leader embodying both senses of the courage to be. As a president, Zelenskyy stood up for the right of his country to defend itself in the face of Russia’s assault. He remained steadfast in spite of efforts by Trump and Vance to pressure him to accept an agreement that would not have provided security guarantees for Ukraine.

    Yet it seemed to me the plainspoken, animated Zelenskyy also displayed Tillich’s notion of the courage to be as a part. He acted not only as an individual, or a politician, but as a Ukrainian trying to defend his country from an invader − a cause that has inspired protests around the globe.

    Mordechai Gordon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The ‘courage to be’ in uncertain times − how one 20th-century philosopher defined bravery – https://theconversation.com/the-courage-to-be-in-uncertain-times-how-one-20th-century-philosopher-defined-bravery-250576

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Beat the April 15 Tax Deadline, But Don’t Leave Money Behind

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the deadline to file taxes only 7 days away, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the company that pioneered the tax prep category 70 years ago, is providing crucial last-minute tips to help taxpayers navigate the final stretch of tax season while ensuring no dollar is left behind. According to IRS data, 2025 filings are slightly lower compared to last year1, which means millions of taxpayers will be scrambling to meet the April 15th deadline.

    “Each year, millions of taxpayers leave billions of dollars behind because they miss valuable deductions and credits they’re entitled to,” said Andy Phillips, Vice President of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. “Filing taxes can be stressful, especially when you’re facing a fast-approaching deadline, but it is important to be thorough and thoughtful when gathering documents and preparing a return because it could be the difference between owing or getting money back.”

    H&R Block’s The Tax Institute is a team of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents who constantly monitor and analyze federal and state tax code changes to enable the company’s vast network of 60,000 tax professionals and DIY products to address each taxpayer’s unique situation, from life changes to changing tax laws.

    Tax Codes That Maximize Your Refund

    H&R Block helps over 20 million clients each year get back or keep every dollar they’ve earned. Here are the top recommendations to reduce tax liability and maximize refunds.

    • File Even If You Can’t Pay: Many people think if they can’t pay, they shouldn’t file—but that’s a big mistake. The penalty for failing to file on time is ten times the penalty for failing to pay on time. Even if you can’t pay by the due date, you will save money by filing on time.
    • Double-Check Your Dependents: Those who support an elderly parent, an adult child, or even a non-relative living in the home, might be able to claim them as a dependent and get extra credits or deductions. Many people assume only young children qualify, but taxpayers should account for all other dependents for possible tax benefits. The child and dependent care credit is another benefit that can help cover a percentage of expenses such as daycare, childcare and summer camp, for a child under 13 years old. This credit can also be available for the costs of caring for a spouse or parent if they cannot care for themselves.
    • Don’t Leave Money Behind: The most common missed credits and deductions are:
      • Education Credits: Students and parents often overlook education credits such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).
      • Child Tax Credit (CTC): The Child Tax Credit is up to $2,000 per child under the age of 17, with up to $1,700 being fully refundable even if no taxes are owed.
      • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): This credit is designed to benefit low to moderate-income workers. Many eligible taxpayers miss out on this credit because they don’t realize they qualify.
    • Consider filing even if you aren’t required to file: Individuals who don’t meet the minimum income threshold often don’t file because they aren’t required to, but they may qualify for certain credits that result in a refund.
    • Retirement Plan/IRA Early Withdrawal Penalty: There are now two new exceptions to the 10% penalty on early withdrawals from retirement plans or IRAs for emergency personal expenses and for victims of domestic abuse.
    • Natural Disasters: Legislation passed in December allows tax filers to claim losses not reimbursed by insurance without itemizing, meaning they can deduct that loss while still claiming the standard deduction.
    • Include All Sources of Income: Everyone—and especially gig workers, side hustlers and online sellers—should pay attention to the new 1099-K rules. Many will receive a 1099-K for the first time, as the reporting threshold for online sales and third-party payment apps has lowered significantly from $20,000 to $5,000.

    Because these credits and deductions often go unclaimed, H&R Block offers a free Second Look® tax review to double-check up to three years of tax returns for missed credits or deductions. No other company offers this extensive of a review for free2.

    Expert Help No Matter How You File

    The American tax code contains nearly 10,000 sections with up to 174 pages for each, making filing taxes daunting without professional help. Filers with complex tax situations may benefit from expert assistance. H&R Block offers a range of resources and flexible filing options to help last-minute taxpayers file with confidence and get their maximum refund, guaranteed3.

    • Assisted: File in as little as one hour with options to drop off your documents, meet virtually or in-person with one of the 60,000 company tax professionals at one of 9,000 offices. H&R Block has locations in every state and within 5 miles of most Americans many of which have same-day appointments available.
    • DIY Online: File on your own with H&R Block’s DIY online filing tools, supported by AI Tax Assist and Live Tax Pro Support. Clients can ask unlimited questions through AI Tax Assist and receive live support, free of charge in all DIY paid editions.
    • Tax Pro Review: Filers using H&R Block’s intuitive DIY tax prep service, can add Tax Pro Review any time during the online filing process to have a tax pro review your tax return for any errors or missed opportunities. Once complete the tax pro will sign and file the return on the client’s behalf. This provides extra peace of mind for filers who want the flexibility of preparing their own return and the confidence of an experienced tax pro reviewing their return to ensure accuracy.
    • DIY Software: Download our award-winning desktop software trusted by millions of Americans for over twenty years.

    “Whether completing your own taxes online or getting expert assistance from one of our tax pros, we are here to help our customers file accurately, confidently and get their maximum refund guaranteed,” said Phillips.

    What To Do If You Are Unable to File On Time?

    If you are unable to file your taxes by the April 15th deadline, requesting an extension may be a good option. This will give filers until October 15th, 2025, to file a return, but it’s important to remember that an extension to file is not an extension to pay.

    Filers will still need to estimate their tax liability and pay any amount due by April 15th to avoid penalties. Remember that the IRS may have already granted extensions to those affected by natural disasters. Check the IRS website to see if you qualify for automatic relief before requesting an extension.

    To learn more about H&R Block’s tax preparation services, many ways to file, and year-round financial support, visit hrblock.com. For media assets, visit hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom and for helpful tips and information, follow H&R Block on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 

    1According to the IRS filing season statistics as of 3/28/2025.
    2At participating offices. Fees apply to file an amended return. The IRS allows taxpayers to amend returns from the previous three tax years to claim additional refunds to which they are entitled.
    3All tax situations are different. Not everyone gets a refund. See hrblock.com/guarantees for complete details.

    Editor’s Note:
    For media assets, visit hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom or a downloadable Tax Season 2025 media kit, visit https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/media-kit/tax-season-2025/.

    About H&R Block 
    H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tariffs Set to Drive Up Electronics Prices—New Survey Shows 53% of Shoppers Are Holding Out for Sales

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As new U.S. tariffs take effect, the cost of laptops, smartphones, and other electronics could increase by up to 11%, according to a Joint Economic Committee analysis. With prices climbing, consumers are adapting—seeking deeper discounts, comparing prices across multiple retailers, and timing purchases around major sales events.

    A new Ecommerce Pulse Report from Salsify and the Digital Shelf Institute (DSI), based on a survey of over 1,000 shoppers in the U.S. and U.K., highlights how economic pressures are reshaping purchasing habits. Fifty-three percent of shoppers plan to buy electronics during major sales events like Amazon Prime Day, Target Circle Week, and Walmart Deals, reinforcing that promotional pricing will be a critical driver of sales​. Meanwhile, 44% of shoppers compare prices across at least three retailers before purchasing, making price competitiveness essential for brands looking to retain sales​.

    Shoppers Are More Strategic—And Brands Must Adapt

    Electronics remain a top purchase category for consumers, but the way shoppers research and buy is evolving faster than ever. According to the Ecommerce Pulse Report:

    • Mobile Shopping is the Default – 59% of consumers shop via smartphone, making seamless mobile-first experiences critical for brands looking to capture digital sales​.
    • Shoppers Are Expanding Beyond Amazon – 54% of consumers regularly shop across multiple marketplaces, emphasizing the need for pricing consistency, optimized content, and a presence beyond a single retailer​.
    • Price Drives Buying Decisions More Than Brand Loyalty – 70% of shoppers say discounts lead to unplanned purchases, highlighting how price sensitivity is becoming a stronger motivator than brand preference.
    • Shoppers Rely on Reviews More Than Price When Deciding What to Buy – 25% of shoppers say customer reviews influence their buying decisions more than price (19%) or product images (22%), reinforcing the importance of trust through high-quality content and social proof​.

    “Tariffs and economic uncertainty are making consumers more price-conscious than ever, influencing shopping behavior across every category,” said Dom Scarlett, Research Director at Salsify. “To stay competitive, brands must optimize their digital presence across all major retailers, refine their pricing strategies, and deliver compelling product content that builds trust and drives conversions—no matter what they’re selling.”

    Tariffs Are Disrupting Ecommerce—Here’s How Brands Can Stay Competitive

    With consumer goods prices expected to rise in 2025, brands must refine their ecommerce strategies to stay competitive. The Ecommerce Pulse Report highlights key areas where brands need to focus to meet evolving consumer expectations:

    1. Mobile Shopping is the Epicenter of Ecommerce – With smartphones leading online sales (59%), brands must optimize product listings, mobile searchability, and checkout experiences to prevent drop-off​.
    2. Urgency-Based Discounts Are Key to Conversion – 62% of shoppers say flash sales and limited-time promotions influence their buying decisions, making urgency-based pricing an essential tactic​.
    3. Beyond Price Cuts—Consumers Expect More from Brands – While discounts drive unplanned purchases, 48% of shoppers prioritize free shipping, and 41% value flexible payment options, showing that brands must offer more than just lower prices to win customers​.
    4. Mobile Shoppers Favor Marketplace and Retailer Apps for Convenience – 69% of shoppers prefer using marketplace apps like Amazon and eBay, while 45% rely on retailer apps like Target and Best Buy, proving that brands must have an app-first strategy to remain relevant​.

    For deeper insights into evolving shopping behaviors and pricing strategies, download the full Ecommerce Pulse Report Q2 2025.

    About the Digital Shelf Institute (DSI)
    The Digital Shelf Institute is the commerce community for manufacturers. In the digital age, manufacturers have more opportunities to control their commerce destiny than ever before. The Digital Shelf Institute brings together an ecosystem of experience to share ideas, outcomes, and strategies in the form of virtual content, podcasts, reports, and articles that will drive revenue in the years ahead. The Digital Shelf Institute also hosts the Digital Shelf Executive Forum, an invitation-only community platform for digital shelf executives of leading brands.

    About Salsify
    Salsify helps thousands of brand manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in over 140 countries collaborate to make every product experience matter. The company’s Product Experience Management (PXM) platform enables organizations to centralize all of their product content, connect to the commerce ecosystem, and automate business processes in order to deliver the best possible product experiences across every selling destination.

    Learn how the world’s largest brands, including Mars, L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, Bosch, and ASICS, as well as retailers and distributors, such as DoorDash, E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Metro, and Intermarché, use Salsify every day to drive efficiency, power growth, and lead the digital shelf. For more information, please visit: www.salsify.com.

    Media contact:
    Carolyn Adams
    carolyn@bluerunpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Management Limited Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    • Reported quarterly adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.48
    • Total assets under management and fee-earning assets of $53.8 billion
    • Increased quarterly dividend per share to 12.5 cents

    AGF Management Limited (AGF or the Company) (TSX: AGF.B) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended February 28, 2025.

    AGF reported total assets under management and fee-earning assets1 of $53.8 billion compared to $53.6 billion as at November 30, 2024 and $45.0 billion as at February 29, 2024.

    “In a challenging market environment shaped by political change, we have excelled and continued to deliver on our strategy,” said Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, AGF. “Our long-term approach aims to deliver on our strategic imperatives; while also ensuring we can thrive through changing market cycles and uncertainty.”

    AGF’s mutual fund gross sales were $1,568 million for the quarter compared to $993 million in the previous quarter and $914 million in the prior year quarter. Mutual fund net sales were $258 million compared to $5 million in the previous quarter and net redemptions of $125 million in the prior year quarter.

    “Recent market volatility has reinforced the importance of providing investors with access to diverse capabilities and offerings,” said Judy Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, AGF. “With alternatives playing an increasingly important role in portfolios, this quarter we have focused on further building out our strategies with the launch of products across our lines of business.”

    1 Fee-earning assets represents assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.

    Key Business Highlights:

    • In January, AGF Capital Partners, AGF Management Limited’s multi-boutique alternatives business announced the launch of the AGF NHC Tactical Alpha Fund, an absolute return-oriented strategy that aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across market regimes while maintaining low beta to traditional asset classes.
    • In February, AGF Investments Inc. announced the launch of AGF Enhanced U.S. Income Plus Fund, an alternative mutual fund that seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and generate a high level of consistent income by investing in U.S. equity securities and employing dynamic options strategies such as put writing and covered call writing.
    • AGF Investments Inc. was recognized with FundGrade A+® Awards for AGF American Growth Fund, AGF Fixed Income Plus Fund and AGF Global Select Fund.
    • Taking another important step forward in our ongoing commitment to gender equity, AGF Management Limited announced a new partnership with VersaFi, (formerly Women in Capital Markets). This renowned organization is focused on addressing barriers to women’s advancement, sharing best practices and strategies for progress, and developing actionable policies and industry-leading programs to advance gender diversity in the workplace. 

    Financial Highlights:

    • Adjusted EBITDA2 for the three months ended February 28, 2025 was $47.9 million, compared to $39.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024 and $49.5 million for the comparative prior year period.
    • Net management, advisory and administration fees2 for the three months ended February 28, 2025 was $85.2 million, compared to $83.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024 and $74.9 million for the comparative prior year period.
    • Adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners for the three months ended February 28, 2025 was $23.6 million, compared to $18.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024 and $24.4 million for the comparative prior year period. The decrease year over year was driven by change in fair value adjustments, offset by the consolidation of KCPL financial results. Revenue from AGF Capital Partners can be variable quarter to quarter and can be impacted by fair value adjustments, timing of monetizations and cash distributions as well as performance fees and carried interest.
    • Adjusted selling, general and administrative costs2 for the three months ended February 28, 2025 was $63.6 million, compared to $66.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024 and $53.5 million for the comparative prior year period. The increase in adjusted SG&A from prior year reflects the consolidation of KCPL as well as increases driven by higher performance-based compensation and the market environment.
    • Adjusted net income attributable to equity owners2 for the three months ended February 28, 2025 was $32.1 million ($0.48 adjusted diluted EPS), compared to $29.8 million ($0.45 adjusted diluted EPS) and $33.7 million ($0.51 adjusted diluted EPS) for the comparative prior year period.
                       
        Three months ended
          February 28,       November 30,       February 29,  
      (in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)   2025       2024       2024  
                       
      Revenues                
      Management, advisory and administration fees $ 122.8     $ 120.2     $ 108.6  
      Trailing commissions and investment advisory fees   (37.6 )     (36.6 )     (33.7 )
      Net management, advisory and administration fees2 $ 85.2     $ 83.6     $ 74.9  
      Deferred sales charges   1.2       1.3       2.0  
      Adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners2   23.6       18.2       24.4  
      Other revenue2   1.5       2.7       1.7  
      Total adjusted net revenue2   111.5       105.8       103.0  
                       
      Selling, general and administrative   67.8       70.2       57.9  
      Adjusted selling, general and administrative2   63.6       66.2       53.5  
                       
      EBITDA2   44.2       36.9       45.1  
      Adjusted EBITDA2   47.9       39.6       49.5  
                       
      Net income – equity owners of the Company   30.9       28.7       30.5  
      Adjusted net income – equity owners of the Company2   32.1       29.8       33.7  
                       
      Diluted earnings per share   0.46       0.43       0.46  
                       
      Adjusted diluted earnings per share2   0.48       0.45       0.51  
                       
      Free cash flow2   31.6       21.4       21.2  
                       
      Dividends per share   0.115       0.115       0.110  
                       
      (end of period) Three months ended
          February 28,     November 30,     February 29,  
      (in millions of Canadian dollars)   2025     2024     2024  
                       
      Mutual fund assets under management (AUM)3 $ 31,167   $ 30,662   $ 26,186  
      ETFs and SMA AUM   2,913     2,537     1,676  
      Segregated accounts and sub-advisory AUM   6,529     6,977     7,162  
      Total AGF Investments AUM   40,609     40,176     35,024  
      AGF Private Wealth AUM   8,623     8,567     7,836  
      AGF Capital Partners AUM   2,468     2,752     48  
      Total AUM $ 51,700   $ 51,495   $ 42,908  
      AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets4   2,142     2,111     2,104  
      Total AUM and fee-earning assets4 $ 53,842   $ 53,606   $ 45,012  
                       
      Net mutual fund sales (redemptions)3   258     5     (125 )
      Average daily mutual fund AUM3   30,853     29,173     25,197  

    2 Net management, advisory and administration fees, adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners, total net revenue, adjusted selling, general and administrative, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are not standardized measures prescribed by IFRS. The Company utilizes non-IFRS measures to assess our overall performance and facilitate a comparison of quarterly and full-year results from period to period. They allow us to assess our investment management business without the impact of non-operational items. These non-IFRS measures may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. These non-IFRS measures and reconciliations to IFRS, where necessary, are included in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis available at www.agf.com.
    3 Mutual fund AUM includes retail AUM and institutional client AUM invested in customized series offered within mutual funds.
    4 Fee-earning assets represents assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.

    For further information and detailed financial statements for the first quarter ended February 28, 2025, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which contains discussions of non-IFRS measures, please refer to AGF’s website at www.agf.com under ‘About AGF’ and ‘Investor Relations’ and at www.sedarplus.com.

    Conference Call

    AGF will host a conference call to review its earnings results today at 11 a.m. ET.

    The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4ch7jtxw. Alternatively, the call can be accessed over the phone by registering here or in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com, to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.

    A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $52 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs. AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    About AGF Capital Partners

    AGF Capital Partners is AGF’s multi-boutique alternatives business with diverse capabilities across both private assets and alternative strategies. Clients benefit from the specialized investment expertise of Affiliate Managers1 combined with the organizational support and breadth of resources of AGF Management Limited (AGF). With over 18 years average experience, AGF Capital Partners Affiliate Managers including, Kensington Capital Partners Limited, New Holland Capital, LLC and AGF SAF Private Credit, manage approximately C$13.8 billion* in alternative AUM and fee earning assets on behalf of institutional and retail clients. Affiliate Manager AUM may not be consolidated into AGF Management Limited’s reported AUM.

    *US AUM converted FX rate at February 28, 2025 (1.44)

    The term ‘Affiliate Manager’ refers to any partner regardless of relationship structures or revenue sharing agreements. The form of AGF’s structured partnership interests in Affiliate Managers differs from Affiliate Manager to Affiliate Manager. The structure of the relationship with a particular Affiliate Manager, or the revenue that AGF agrees to share in, may change. Affiliate Managers only provide investment advisory services or offer products in the jurisdiction where such firm, individuals and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    AGF Management Limited shareholders, analysts and media, please contact:

    Nick Smerek
    VP, Financial Planning & Analysis
    416-865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com

    Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements about the Company, including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as ‘expects,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘intends,’ ‘plans,’ ‘believes’ or negative versions thereof and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘should,’ ‘would’ and ‘could.’ In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including income, revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, fund performance, and possible future action on our part, is also a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations, business prospects, business performance and opportunities. While we consider these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the financial services industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us due to, but not limited to, important risk factors such as level of assets under our management, volume of sales and redemptions of our investment products, performance of our investment funds and of our investment managers and advisors, client-driven asset allocation decisions, pipeline, competitive fee levels for investment management products and administration, and competitive dealer compensation levels and cost efficiency in our investment management operations, as well as general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, taxation, changes in government regulations, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, technological changes, cybersecurity, the possible effects of war or terrorist activities, outbreaks of disease or illness that affect local, national or international economies, natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply or other catastrophic events, and our ability to complete strategic transactions and integrate acquisitions, and attract and retain key personnel. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, we are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors that may impact actual results, please refer to the ‘Risk Factors and Management of Risk’ section of the 2024 Annual MD&A.

    FundGrade A+® Awards:

    FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the “best of the best” among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from “A” to “E” receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund’s average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

    AGF American Growth Fund won in the U.S. Equity CIFSC Category, out of 237 funds. The FundGrade A+ start date was 12/31/2014 and the FundGrade A+ end date was 12/31/2024.

    AGF Global Select Fund won in the Global Equity CIFSC Category, out of 306 funds. The FundGrade A+ start date was 12/31/2014 and the FundGrade A+ end date was 12/31/2024.

    AGF Fixed Income Plus Fund won in the Canadian Fixed Income CIFSC Category, out of 137 funds. The FundGrade A+ start date was 12/31/2014 and the FundGrade A+ end date was 12/31/2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s opening remarks on financial services at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST’s opening remarks on financial services at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting 
    Chairman and Honourable Members,
     
         I will briefly introduce the estimates of expenditure for financial services and our key areas of work in 2025-26.
     
    Estimates of expenditure
     
    The allocation to the Financial Services Branch (FSB) and departments under its purview for 2025-26 is around $1.6 billion. The allocation is decreased by around $0.6 billion over the revised estimate of last year, mainly due to the one-off provision of $200 million to the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council last year, but no such special expenditure is estimated for 2025-26. Secondly, most of the system development costs of the eMPF Platform have been settled in previous years, and the eMPF Platform Company Limited has to repay a one-off cash advance to the Government, resulting in a decrease in cash flow requirement for the Platform in 2025-26. Furthermore, allocation for various funding schemes/initiatives under the “Funding for promoting and facilitating the development of the financial services sector” in 2025-26 is revised.
     
    Key areas of work
     
    In the coming year, our work will focus on six main themes, namely, continuously supporting the vibrant development of stock market and initial public offering (IPO) market, facilitating asset and wealth management business, attracting enterprises, boosting fintech and innovation, deepening mutual access and international co-operation and taking forward institutional reforms continuously.
     
    (i) To continuously support the vibrant development of the stock market and IPO market, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is taking forward the establishment of a dedicated “technology enterprises channel” (TECH) to further assist specialist technology and biotechnology companies in raising funds and expanding business, facilitating the relevant companies in preparing for listing applications. Meanwhile, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the HKEX will take forward a comprehensive reform to the listing regime and review the market structure to dovetail with the latest economic trends and corporate needs, attracting more Mainland and overseas issuers to raise funds in Hong Kong as well as investors to increase their allocation to Hong Kong stocks. In addition, we will take forward various measures in facilitating financing of overseas enterprises and specific products, improving trading and risk management efficiency, and promoting trading of Renminbi (RMB) stocks, thereby driving the high-quality development of the Hong Kong securities market and creating more new growth areas.
     
    (ii) To facilitate the asset and wealth management business, we will formulate proposals on the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest this year, including expanding the scope of “fund” under the tax exemption regime and increasing the types of qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions for funds and single family offices. Our target is to submit the legislative proposals to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for consideration next year, and strive for the LegCo’s approval as soon as possible to apply the relevant measures with effect from the 2025-26 financial year. Furthermore, Invest Hong Kong has assisted over 160 family offices to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. The third edition of the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, themed “Hong Kong of the World, for the World”, was successfully held last month, attracting around 360 family office principals and industry leaders, to showcase Hong Kong’s advantages as a leading global family office hub.
     
    (iii) We strive to attract enterprises from the Mainland and around the world to set up headquarters or corporate divisions in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, we submitted a bill to the LegCo for the introduction of a company re-domiciliation mechanism to provide facilitation for companies domiciled overseas to re-domicile to Hong Kong. The scrutiny of the bill is approaching the final stage, and we are thankful to Members for their support. We will pursue the passage of the bill in May for it to take immediate effect.
     
    (iv) We are at the forefront of fintech and are actively promoting innovation.
     
    On virtual assets, we will soon promulgate a second policy statement on the development of virtual assets to explore the convergence of traditional finance and virtual assets, and will conduct consultation on the licensing regimes of virtual asset over-the-counter trading services and custodian services this year. The Stablecoins Bill submitted to the LegCo at the end of last year has also reached the final stage of scrutiny.
     
    In terms of gold and commodities market, we established the Working Group on Promoting Gold Market Development last December, which will formulate a plan this year to enhance gold storage facilities, trading mechanisms, etc. The London Metal Exchange, a subsidiary of the HKEX, has included Hong Kong as an approved delivery point, further strengthening our market position.
     
    We, together with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will host the inaugural Hong Kong Global Financial and Industry Summit this year, which will, through financial empowerment, attract more leading companies in advanced industries, domestic as well as overseas enterprises and investors to establish a foothold in Hong Kong.
     
    On fixed income and currency hub, the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have set up a task force to formulate a roadmap. We will also organise a flagship forum in the second half of this year to promote Hong Kong’s strengths in this regard. We will also conduct research into the current legal and regulatory regime related to the issuance and transactions of digital bonds and explore enhancement measures to promote the wider adoption of tokenisation in Hong Kong’s bond market.
     
    (v) Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre is inseparable from our connection with the Mainland and the world. To deepen mutual access and international co-operation, we will strive to enhance the mutual access mechanism. For example, we will explore extending the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme in the Greater Bay Area. Both places are also conducting technical preparations to implement the inclusion of RMB trading counter under Southbound trading of Stock Connect, and taking forward further expansion initiatives. Offshore RMB business is also being upgraded, with the liquidity pool expanding to approximately RMB1.1 trillion.
     
    The Government and the HKEX will step up promotion in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Middle East, foster financial co-operation, attract more enterprises to list in Hong Kong, and explore co-operation including listing of exchange-traded funds to promote two-way capital flows.
     
    (vi) We will also take forward institutional reforms on different aspects continuously.
     
    On improving trading and risk management efficiency, the HKEX is gradually conducting upgrades to its post-trade system to ensure technical compatibility with the T+1 settlement cycle by the end of this year, and will also put forward recommendations on improving the trading unit system (or so-called “board lot” system) within this year. In addition, to meet the risk management needs of investors, the SFC has consulted the market on the proposal to increase the position limits for key index derivatives, so as to enhance flexibility for investors to use the relevant derivatives while safeguarding financial safety.
     
    On reforming the MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund) System, the MPFA (Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority) commenced public consultation on the proposal of MPF “Full Portability” in late March, and will submit consultation conclusions and a legislative amendment proposal to the Government upon completion of the public consultation. Subject to the results of the public consultation, the Government will proceed with legislative amendments, so that MPF “Full Portability” could be launched soon after the full implementation of the eMPF Platform.
     
    Chairman, my colleagues and I will be happy to answer Members’ questions. Thank you, Chairman.
    Issued at HKT 17:57

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rensselaer Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Edwards, age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully possessing multiple rounds of ammunition.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.

    In pleading guilty, Edwards admitted that on October 8, 2024, inside of his Rensselaer residence, he unlawfully possessed more than 40 rounds of various caliber ammunition.  A prior felony conviction prevented Edwards from lawfully possessing the ammunition. 

    When he is sentenced on August 5, 2025, Edwards faces a maximum term of fifteen years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to three years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

    The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rensselaer Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case, as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Reed, Coons Lead National Security Members in Letter Expressing Concern over Recent Firings at NSA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chris Coons (D-DE), led their committee colleagues in a letter to President Trump regarding the firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble.

    Joining Vice Chairman Warner and Ranking Members Reed and Coons in this letter are Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

    “These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure,” the senators wrote. “In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.”

    The senators also highlighted the impact this move would have on the dual-hat arrangement, in which a single officer leads both the NSA and CYBERCOM, and stressed that prematurely severing this agreement could put U.S. national security at risk.

    They continued, “Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As members of the key committees tasked with conducting oversight over NSA, the senators requested written justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts, and asked for a Congressional briefing regarding any additional actions the administration plans to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear President Trump,

    We write with alarm at the sudden and inexplicable firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble. Not only have both dutifully served this nation for decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations, but their removals were conducted in the middle of the night with no consultation with Congress and, according to reports, at the behest of a private citizen who has a record of promoting conspiracy theories.

    These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure. In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.

    Furthermore, we urge you to exercise careful consideration and consultation with Congress on any further actions that may impact NSA’s or CYBERCOM’s abilities to provide the critical intelligence and operational support to policymakers and warfighters. This includes, but is not limited to, any considerations to terminate the dual-hat arrangement. Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”

    As Members of the respective committees of oversight, we request that you formally provide in writing a justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts and provide a briefing to Congress on any additional actions you plan to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Sounds Alarm on Inexperienced Trump Nominee to Run Nuclear Arsenal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 07, 2025

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Mr. Brandon Williams, nominee for Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), with concerns over his lack of experience and potential ties to the Chinese government through his business. Mr. Williams’ nomination will be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 8, 2025. 

    The NNSA is tasked with the design, production, and maintenance of the nation’s nuclear arsenal, along with ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the country’s nuclear weapons. By law, anyone nominated for the position must “have extensive background in national security” and be “well qualified to manage nuclear weapons.” Each of the six previous Under Secretaries for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrators had strong backgrounds in fields related to nuclear technology or national security. William’s two most recent predecessors each worked for more than 30 years in nuclear security before taking on the role. 

    Mr. Williams lacks any of the extensive technical experience of his predecessors. He completed a training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and served as a junior officer on a nuclear submarine, but does not possess any advanced degree in physics or engineering. The NNSA is in the middle of a $200 billion nuclear modernization project, which the Government Accountability Office has found already exceeded initial cost estimates by more than $2 billion and is behind by almost 10 years. Williams’ lack of experience raises concerns about his ability to effectively manage the nuclear arsenal.  

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars,” said Senator Warren.

    Senator Warren also called out Mr. Williams’ ties to the Chinese government through his software cloud computing company, CPLANE.ai. In 2013, after founding the company, Mr. Williams partnered with PCCW Global, which was partially controlled by the Chinese government through China Unicom, a company banned from U.S. markets in 2018 due to “spying concerns.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security,” concluded Senator Warren. 

    Senator Warren asked Mr. Williams to explain whether he supports DOGE’s mass firings at NNSA, how he plans to address his experience shortfalls, asked him to commit to not share information that would compromise national security interests, and more, by April 14, 2025. 

    Senator Warren has long worked to ensure the stability and safety of the United States nuclear arsenal: 

    • In March 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) reckless firings of federal employees, including at the NNSA, where workers who ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear stockpile were fired and had to be rehired. 
    • In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Elon Musk with recommendations that would cut at least $2 trillion in government waste, including cutting nearly $2 billion in NNSA yearly spending on plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rolla, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Jace Fox, age 25, from Rolla, ND, appeared in United States District Court on April 4, 2025, and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 51 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release.  Fox was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.

    As reflected in court documents, in or about February 2022, Jane Doe submitted to a forensic interview during which time she disclosed that Fox sexually abused her when she was 13 years of age.  At the time of the conduct, Fox was 20 years of age.  During a subsequent investigation, other minors made similar disclosures about having been sexually abused by Fox.

    Fox was later interviewed by the FBI in January 2023, during which he initially denied knowing Jane Doe.  Eventually, Fox admitted to knowing the victim, but he denied having sexually abused her.  Despite his denial, Fox plead guilty to the sexual abuse of Jane Doe on November 19, 2024.

    “This was a despicable crime committed against one of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our partners are fully committed to protecting children from abuse and ensuring those who exploit or harm them face justice swiftly.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota. 

                                                                                                                                 # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BILLINGS – An Atlanta, Georgia man who defrauded banks in multiple states was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.  The defendant was also ordered to pay $161,401.17 in restitution.

    Stanford Wilvin Lightfoot, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that for approximately 5 months in 2023, Stanford Lightfoot was a member of a large fraud ring that had been defrauding banks in Montana, Maine and Missouri.  In each location, Lightfoot and other coconspirators would travel to the state from the base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia.  Once there, they would recruit local homeless individuals who possessed valid ID cards.  They would then take these homeless individuals to local banks and provide them with fraudulent checks from real accounts.  These checks all possessed forged signatures of real people and were, therefore, means of identification.  The homeless individuals would then attempt to cash the checks and, if successful, would provide the money to Lightfoot and his coconspirators.  If the homeless individuals were caught by police, they would be abandoned to take the blame.  In Montana, Lightfoot hit multiple banks in Belgrade, Bozeman, and Livingston utilizing local homeless individuals to forge checks in excess of $20,000.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, Livingston Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, and Bozeman Police Department.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Louisiana Woman Who Provided a Child for Pornographic Photoshoot Pleads Guilty

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images.

    According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold.

    Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Head of the Justic Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI New Orleans Division – Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Louisiana Woman Who Provided a Child for Pornographic Photoshoot Pleads Guilty

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images.

    According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold.

    Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Head of the Justic Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI New Orleans Division – Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts Marion County drug dealer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Following a two-day trial, a jury found a Centralia man guilty of federal charges for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in Marion County.

    A federal jury convicted Broderick K. Currie, also known as Broderick K. Wooters, 36, of one count of distribution of a controlled substance: cocaine and one count of distribution of a controlled substance: fentanyl.

    “As a career offender, this defendant has sold drugs in southern Illinois and caused irrevocable harm to families for many years,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The lethality of fentanyl cannot be understated, and another dealer off the streets is a win for our region.”

    The evidence presented at trial proved Broderick sold nearly 12 grams of cocaine and one gram of fentanyl to a confidential source in February 2024 in Marion County.

    “The conviction of the defendant provides an opportunity to remind everyone that the mission of the Springfield Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force is to relentlessly pursue and destroy drug trafficking organizations operating in the Southern Illinois region,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “If you are distributing controlled substances, especially deadly fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, we will find you and hold you accountable.”

    Currie’s distribution charges are punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment per count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

    The FBI Springfield Field Office’s Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Carraway and Dan Kapsak prosecuted the case. The TOC-West Task Force has multiple members, this investigation was supported by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Carlyle Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison for Child Sex Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Monday sentenced a former Phelps County Sheriff’s deputy to 65 years in prison for soliciting and/or receiving sex acts and child sexual abuse material from multiple minors and destroying evidence to impede the FBI.

    Judge Schelp also ordered Justin Bradley Durham, of Rolla, to pay $79,160 in restitution to victims. Durham pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in October to one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography and three counts of destroying records in a federal investigation.

    Durham admitted requesting and receiving a sexually explicit video from a 15-year-old in 2013. He later provided $200 to the victim after she engaged in sex acts with him. He also admitted engaging in sex acts multiple times with a 17-year-old victim, including in his patrol vehicle. He exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with her. Durham met the second victim in 2016 when her friend contacted the police and he responded to the call.

    The FBI interviewed Durham in 2023 after learning that his PayPal account had been used to send money to another account associated with the sale of child pornography. Durham denied purchasing child pornography and claimed that he hadn’t accessed his Dropbox account for years. He refused agents’ request to search his cell phone. Two days later, Durham bought a new phone, destroyed his old phone and deleted about 37 gigabytes of data in his Dropbox account before deactivating it. Among those files were hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos, including files containing child sexual abuse material. Durham was terminated by the Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 9, 2023, and arrested by them. In jail, he told FBI agents that he also destroyed a laptop computer, threw away his phone and conducted a “digital footprint scrub” of his online accounts, his plea agreement says.

    Durham also sent sexual letters to inmates at the Phelps County Jail, solicited sexually explicit images from other women, including a woman who was on parole, according to a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman.

    “Justin Durham avoided detection by exploiting what he knew about law enforcement. He often targeted vulnerable victims, some of whom suffered from mental health issues, poverty, or sexual abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We applaud the bravery of the two victims who came forward to help end Durham’s disgraceful abuse.”

    Sheriff Michael P. Kirn expressed his firm belief that accountability and transparency are essential in maintaining public trust. “The actions of individuals like Justin Durham are not representative of our dedicated law enforcement community. We will continue to ensure that justice is served and that ethical standards are upheld,” he asserted.

    “This case serves as a reminder that the law applies equally to all, and the commitment to justice remains paramount. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to advocate for integrity and accountability within the law enforcement community and beyond,” Sheriff Kirk said.

    The FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fairbanks man guilty of firearms crimes

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

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal jury in Alaska convicted a Fairbanks man Wednesday of being a felon in possession of a firearm and violent felon in possession of body armor after a three-day trial.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in October 2006, George Moises Romero Jr, 37, was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree in the Anchorage Superior Court. The Court sentenced Romero to 24 years imprisonment but he received discretionary parole and was released in 2019.

    On June 4, 2024, a parole violation warrant was issued for Romero’s arrest. The Fairbanks Area Criminal Suppression Unit was tasked with apprehending Mr. Romero. To find him, law enforcement obtained a warrant to obtain real-time location data for Romero’s phone. As the SWAT team got ready to execute a search warrant for the Romero’s location, Romero evaded surveillance and moved to a new location in the Goldstream Valley.

    On June 6, 2024, Alaska State Troopers launched a helicopter equipped with high powered cameras and located the vehicle Romero used to flee the original location. The helicopter monitored the vehicle and occupants while the SWAT team moved into their new position. The helicopter observed Romero getting dropped off at a wooded location with what appeared to be camping equipment.

    As Romero began to walk into the woods, Troopers contacted him and arrested him. The Troopers discovered Romero was wearing body armor and had two loaded firearms on his person, as well as loaded magazines and ammunition. Romero had a third firearm and additional ammunition in a duffle bag he was carrying. 

    U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division made the announcement.

    The Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT), FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency and ATF Anchorage Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek and Trial Attorneys from the Antitrust Division, David Bernhardt and Lauren Weed are prosecuting the case.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Lummi Nation charged federally with illegal firearms possession and killing protected bald eagles

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 38-year-old member of the Lummi Nation will appear in federal court this afternoon charged with illegal firearms possession and two violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joel David Ridley was arrested by Lummi Nation Police on February 23, 2025. Police responded to reports of gunshots and encountered Ridley with a dead eagle in his SUV. 

    According to the criminal complaint, a witness on the Lummi Reservation was walking his dog when he heard a gunshot. As he walked home, the witness heard a second shot and saw a person pick up an eagle from the ground.  As the witness was on the phone with police, he saw another eagle fall from a tree on his property. The eagle was badly injured. Police captured the surviving eagle and later transported it to the Humane Society.

    Shortly after meeting with the witness, police encountered an SUV in the area that matched the description provided by the reporting party. The vehicle quickly turned into a driveway. A records check revealed the vehicle belonged to Ridley. When police responded to the residence, they observed a dead eagle in the back seat of Ridley’s vehicle. Officers subsequently spoke with Ridley in the driveway and arrested him. 

    Police obtained a search warrant for Ridley’s vehicle. Inside, officers found a dead eagle and a .22 caliber Savage rifle concealed between the rear seats. Ridely is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2003 conviction for Assault in the First Degree in Whatcom County Superior Court.

    Both eagles were taken to the Washington State Humane Society in Bellingham and found to have suffered gunshot wounds. The surviving eagle was too injured to recover and was euthanized. Both eagles were judged to be juvenile bald eagles.

    While the Lummi Tribe is permitted to possess, distribute, and transport bald or golden eagles found dead within Indian Country, the permit does not authorize the taking of eagles by gunshot, poison, or trapping.

    Unlawful Possession of a Firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

    The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee. AUSA Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Five Individuals Face Federal Charges Following Multi-Agency Immigration Enforcement Operations (DOJ)

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

    TLANTA – Five individuals have been charged in the Northern District of Georgia with firearms-related offenses during a multi-agency immigration enforcement operation in metro-Atlanta during the past week. The operations involved coordinated investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable support from several local law enforcement partners. In addition to the individuals charged federally, law enforcement seized more than a dozen firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in connection with the operations.

    “Our office is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this effort and other enforcement initiatives to protect our communities and safeguard our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “This initiative sends a strong message to those engaged in criminal activity, whether regarding immigration-related or firearms offenses, that the ongoing and determined coordinated efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners will achieve measurable results in making our communities safer.”

    “The successful enforcement actions taken during this multi-agency operation underscore HSI’s unwavering commitment to upholding immigration laws and targeting illegal aliens allegedly possessing and trafficking in firearms,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “By leveraging our partnerships and resources, we are identifying and apprehending those who exploit our immigration system to engage in criminal activities that threaten public safety and national security.”

    “ATF along with our federal law enforcement partners will utilize all resources to investigate firearms trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. “The success of these investigative efforts could not be accomplished without cohesive partnerships, which keep our communities safe.”

    “The DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, are sending a clear message to the Mexican drug cartels and their criminal associates, that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. 

    “FBI Atlanta is dedicated to supporting our federal partners in achieving our mutual objective of ensuring the safety of our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case clearly illustrates the success that can be achieved when federal agencies unite their resources and expertise to combat violent criminals.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: From March 24 to April 2, 2025, federal law enforcement agencies conducted a series of enforcement operations targeting individuals allegedly committing firearms and other violations, including those illegally present in the United States.  During the operation, law enforcement seized 13 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.  Significantly, resulting investigations revealed that many of the firearms were bound for Mexico.

    The following defendants have been charged in connection with the operations:

    Hernandez Mora made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker on April 1, 2025.  Gonzales-Hoppo made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins, III on March 28, 2025.  Vick, Macias Montes and Sambrano also made their initial appearances before Judge Larkins on March 27, 2025. 

    Members of the public are reminded that the Criminal Complaints and Indictment only contain charges.  The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, Georgia State Patrol, Sandy Springs Police Department, Doraville Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton County Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Clarkston Police Department and East Point Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys with the Northern District of Georgia, including those assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), provided valuable support for these operations.

    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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (Atlanta Strike Force) is to eliminate transnational organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Atlanta Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets, Regional Priority Organization Targets, and their associates.  The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies; and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga. 

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDIA AND UZBEKISTAN SHARE TIMELESS TIES OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    Source: Government of India

    INDIA AND UZBEKISTAN SHARE TIMELESS TIES OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    INDIA AND UZBEKISTAN NEED TO DEEPEN COLLABORATION IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND PEACEFUL NUCLEAR ENERGY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    INDIA UPHOLDS UNIVERSAL ETHOS OF ‘VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM’ AND ‘SARVJAN HITAY’: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER MEETS PRESIDING OFFICERS OF PARTICIPATING PARLIAMENTS IN TASHKENT ON THE SIDELINES OF THE 150TH ASSEMBLY OF IPU

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF INDIAN DELEGATION PAY FLORAL TRIBUTES AT THE BUST OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER SHRI LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI IN TASHKENT

    Posted On: 07 APR 2025 11:02PM by PIB Delhi

    Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today said that India and Uzbekistan share timeless ties of history and heritage.  He emphasized that this age-old cooperation between the two countries need to be expanded in emerging fields like digital technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and nuclear energy, alongside traditional sectors. Shri Birla made these remarks during his meeting with the President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in Tashkent on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union, today.

    Underlining India’s ancient democratic traditions, Shri Birla mentioned that guided by the Constitution, India has continually expanded its democratic values and prioritized social inclusion. He added that India has strengthened democracy at the grassroots level by ensuring 33 percent reservation for women in its local level governance. Shri Birla informed that by introducing the “Nari Shakti Vandan Act” as the first law in the new Parliament building, India not only reiterated its commitment to its democratic ethos but also ensured greater representation of women in state and central legislatures. 

    Shri Birla observed that India the values of “VasudhaivaKutumbakam” (The World is One Family) and “SarvajanHitaya” (For the Welfare of All) are inseparable part of Indian tradition and the Constitution of India is also inspired by these values. Mentioning that last year, India marked the completion of 75 of Constitution, Shri Birla noted that the numerous enabling laws passed by the Indian Parliament have been pivotal in realizing wide ranging socio-economic changes in India.

    Stressing on the elevation of Indo-Uzbek relationship to a Strategic Partnership and the addition of new dimensions in recent years, Shri Birla underlined that both nations have strengthened cooperation in various areas like, economy, defense, education, and trade. He noted India is now one of Uzbekistan’s 10 largest trade partners. Shri Birla also highlighted the importance of increasing Parliamentary cooperation between the two Parliaments to exchange ideas on mutual interests and strengthen people-to-people contacts. He proposed promoting parliamentary exchanges in order to help both countries’ officials better understand each other’s systems and best practices.

    In addition, Shri Birla appreciated the growing interest in Indian culture in Uzbekistan, particularly in music, dance, and yoga, as well as the increasing number of Indian students in Uzbek educational institutions. He expressed confidence that this meeting would enhance the diplomatic and parliamentary relations between India and Uzbekistan, marking a new chapter in their collaborative efforts.

    Shri Birla and members of Indian delegation also paid floral tributes at the bust of the former Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent. 

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER CONGRATULATES UZBEKISTAN FOR SUCCESSFULLY HOSTING 150TH IPU ASSEMBLY

    Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla also met Chairperson of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, H.E. Ms. Tanzila Norbaeva in Tashkent on Sunday on the sidelines of the 150th IPU. He congratulated the Chairperson for successfully hosting the Assembly and for the warm welcome accorded to the Indian Parliamentary Delegation. Mentioning Uzbekistan’s progress in various sectors, Shri Birla highlighted the growing and strengthening diplomatic ties between India and Uzbekistan.

    Shri Birla noted that both countries share deep historical connections and have fostered collaboration in various multilateral forums such as the SCO, the UN, and BRICS. Shri Birla also emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in emerging fields like digital technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and nuclear energy, alongside traditional sectors.

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER CALLS FOR EXPANDING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTS OF INDIA AND ISRAEL

    A day before at Tashkent, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) H.E. Mr. Amir Ohana. On this occasion, Shri Birla fondly recalled the pleasant memories of their previous meeting in New Delhi in April 2023 and acknowledged Mr. Ohana’s extraordinary contributions to Israel’s development.

    He highlighted the long-standing strategic partnership between India and Israel, based on shared democratic values and mutual aspirations. He added that both countries have strengthened their ties through high level leadership meetings and collaborative efforts in various sectors, such as technology, agriculture, and defense. He commended the establishment of a parliamentary friendship group between India and Israel, recognizing it as a significant step toward enhancing parliamentary cooperation.

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER CALLS FOR REGULAR DIALOGUES AND SHARING BEST PRACTICES BETWEEN PARLIAMENTS OF INDIA AND KAZAKHSTAN

    On Sunday, on the sidelines of the 150th IPU Assembly, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with the Chairperson of the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. YerlanKoshanov. Shri Birla at the congratulated Kazakhstan on the 30th anniversary of its Constitution and highlighted that India also celebrated 75 years of the adoption of its Constitution the previous year, marking a significant milestone in both countries’ democratic journeys.

    He also emphasized that India’s progress in the past 75 years has been guided by constitutional values aimed at building a welfare state. Shri Birla proposed that the parliaments of India and Kazakhstan establish regular dialogues to exchange best practices and enhance cooperation. He acknowledged the growing political and economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in defense, security, digital technology, energy, and space.

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    (Release ID: 2119920) Visitor Counter : 55

    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, law enforcement partners arrest MS-13 gang member in Virginia, wanted in El Salvador for extortion, blackmail, terrorist affiliation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, working with law enforcement partners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Virginia State Police, apprehended an illegal Salvadoran national and documented member of the notorious MS-13 street gang wanted in El Salvador for extortion, blackmail and terrorist affiliation. Officers from ICE Washington, D.C.; agents from FBI Washington, D.C.; DEA Washington, D.C. and officials from VSP arrested Silvia Lorena Bonilla-De Jandres, 40, in Alexandria, Feb. 25.

    “Silvia Lorena Bonilla-De Jandres is not only the member of a transnational criminal enterprise known for violence, she has also apparently attempted to flee justice in her home country and hide out in Northern Virginia,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russ Hott. “We will not allow our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities to become safe havens for the world’s bad actors. ICE Washington, D.C. remains dedicated to our mission of prioritizing public safety and protecting our residents by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Bonilla after she illegally entered the United States, Feb. 21, 2016, near Rio Grande Valley, Texas. USBP placed Bonilla into removal proceedings. Authorities in El Salvador issued a warrant for Bonilla’s arrest, Aug. 28, 2017, charging her with aggravated extortion, blackmail and terrorist affiliation due to her documented MS-13 membership. Interpol issued a red notice for Bonilla, Nov. 24, 2017.

    On July 11, 2025, a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Bonilla removed from the United States to El Salvador.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROWashington.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Politico Massachusetts Playbook: The cost of Social Security cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 03, 2025
    SOCIAL INSECURITY — After launching a Social Security “war room” earlier this week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running the numbers on how cuts to the financial assistance program for seniors could impact the Bay State.
    According to data compiled by Warren’s office and shared with Playbook, nearly 1.5 million Massachusetts residents rely on Social Security. The numbers, broken down by county, show that Massachusetts takes in more than $2.5 billion in monthly benefits from the program.
    The largest number of recipients are in Middlesex County, which includes some of Boston’s suburbs, municipalities along New Hampshire’s border and “gateway cities” like Lowell, Malden and Methuen. More than 258,000 Middlesex residents receive $538,105,000 in monthly Social Security payments, according to the data shared by Warren’s office.
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Kelly GarritySource: Politico Massachusetts Playbook
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