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Category: Intelligence Agencies

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Trump’s incompetence is jeopardizing our national security, crashing the economy and dismantling Social Security

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – April 01, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar was joined by House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan for a press conference on the Trump Administration national security team sharing classified information in a group chat, and how that same incompetence is leading America towards a recession.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. It has become increasingly clear that the Trump Administration’s incompetence is jeopardizing our national security, crashing the American economy and dismantling Social Security.

    Secretary of Defense Hegseth must resign for his role in sharing classified war plans. This is a scandal that feels a little more like The Onion than the Atlantic, but he should be fired. But the White House’s carelessness is not isolated to our national security—it’s also having a negative impact on our economy. This carelessness and recklessness of Donald Trump is moving next to imposing tariffs, which have been suggested now that there are 40% chance that the economy crashes into a recession next year, according to Moody’s. They have not taken a single step toward bringing down the high cost of living. In fact, the President of the United States said he couldn’t care less if prices go up. Now, the stock market is crashing and inflation is rising. Hard-working Americans just want a little breathing room and some stability in their busy lives, but what they’ve received from Donald Trump is chaos, confusion and corruption. 

    Later today, House Democrats will hold a hearing on how Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling Social Security. Services are being cut and for the first time in our nation’s history, there is a very real concern that Americans won’t receive the benefits on time that they have paid into. And despite what the Commerce Secretary says, seniors aren’t fraudsters if they get mad—they’ve earned those benefits. 

    They’re doing all of this to help pay for tax giveaways for billionaires and Elon Musk,
    This isn’t about rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. This is about upending the status quo—these are unserious people looking out for themselves, their allies and their political
    donors. If the President doesn’t fix this incompetence, the consequences for our national
    security, our economic security, will be devastating. 

    Now, I’ll yield to the Ranking Member on Intelligence, Jim Himes.

    RANKING MEMBER HIMES: Thanks, Pete, and good morning. The White House Press Secretary’s efforts notwithstanding to sweep this scandal under the carpet, there is a lot of work yet to be done. 

    Since we learned about the disclosures from Jeffrey Goldberg in the Atlantic, the story has, of course, gotten larger. We hear press reports that an allied country provided targeting information and that they were pretty upset about the disclosure of that information. That is something that we need to follow up on, and we still, at this point, as the entity charged with oversight of these things, have no accounting of the breach other than what we’ve gotten from Jeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic. Now, I know that Mr. Goldberg was being very, very careful in what information he put out there. So, at this moment, we don’t even know what information was in the Signal chat. So again, the White House Press Secretary’s efforts notwithstanding. The law requires the Director of National Intelligence to undertake an investigation and to report that investigation, the results of that investigation to the Senate and the House Intelligence Committee. Needless to say, we have seen nothing. 

    We the Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee issued a letter yesterday asking those questions and asking for an investigation, a real investigation—not something that the White House Press Secretary cooks up out of thin air—with those results reported to the Intelligence Committees, as the law would dictate. And I’ll just point out before handing this over to the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, it’s not just the law. It’s what anyone else associated with the Department of Defense or with the intelligence community would see done if they, in fact, were putting extremely sensitive information that should have been classified if it was not on an unclassified Signal chat here. There would have been a stand down. There would have been a full investigation. The results and the damage of that, of that act would have been reported, and there would have been accountability. This Administration has dodged every single one of those steps, starting with an attack on Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, who didn’t even ask to be put on the Signal chat. So, the message being sent by this, both inside the Pentagon, from four star officers down to privates, or inside the intelligence community, from the senior intelligence service right on down to the recruit, is that you have to play by one set of rules, but our senior most people play by an entirely different set of rules, and that is not something that we can tolerate in either the DOD or the intelligence community. 

    So, we will be following up here to make sure that this story is reported to the Congress, that the full damage or potential damage associated with this Signal chat is out there and that accountability is ultimately visited. With that, let me hand over to Ranking Member Smith at the House Armed Services Committee.

    RANKING MEMBER SMITH: Thank you very much. I completely agree with everything Jim just said. I’ll just add three quick points. 

    One big concern we have on the Armed Services Committee, what is the policy going forward? Because obviously the action on the Signal chat is bad in a thousand different ways that Jim outlined fairly well. But worse is the fact that the Secretary of Defense and everybody else associated is saying, “There’s nothing to see here, there’s nothing wrong,” which clearly implies that they’re just going to keep doing it this way. So, what we really want to know is, what happened? How did you screw up? And how are you going to fix it? Because make no mistake about it, this is a very, very dangerous thing to do, to be giving out attack plans, the time, the weapons you’re going to use and the targets you’re going to hit in advance of that attack. I don’t know why we’re having a conversation about why that is bad. What are they going to do to fix it? Right now, the answer is nothing. So, I still think that the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee should have a hearing. Ideally, Secretary Hegseth should come over and talk to us. But somebody from DOD should come over and explain what they’re going to do to make sure that OPSEC actually is something that they care about, that they’re going to fix going forward. 

    Second, this speaks to a larger problem of the overall competence and experience of the national security team. Just about anyone who’s ever been involved in an operation like this would have said, “Why are we having this conversation on a Signal chat?” But the people on that Signal chat, none of them have really had that experience, with the possible exception of Mike Waltz. Also worth noting, no senior uniform was on that call. That’s what happens when you fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and you don’t have one. So, we’re really concerned about the overall competence of the national security team. 

    The third point that has been lost in all of this, one of the justifications offered by Secretary Hegseth and by Mr. Waltz, was, “Hey, but the mission was a spectacular success. So, what are we looking at?” Was the mission a spectacular success? We don’t even really know at this point. And this is an ongoing campaign. We are now 17,18 days into the bombing campaign. And please understand, the mission wasn’t to blow some things up and kill a bunch of Houthis. The mission is to reopen the Red Sea to shipping, and the Red Sea is no more open today than it was 18 days ago when this campaign started. So again, getting to the competence of the national security team. If they think the mission has been accomplished, it appears they don’t even know what the mission is. 

    So, we should start asking some questions about what they’re trying to accomplish in Yemen going forward. With that, I’m pleased to yield to a Member of the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee, Ms. Houlahan. 

    REP. HOULAHAN: Thank you, Chairman. Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk to you about this very important issue.

    I want to pause for a moment and imagine a world where the Director of the FBI yells at a Member of Congress that his organization is the one that calls balls and strikes, defying Congress’s constitutional obligation for oversight, and in the process, also refusing to investigate. Imagine a world where the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency berates Members of Congress, specifically Democrats, that they don’t care about national security because they dared to ask him questions about a significant leak of information, a significant breach of classified data. Imagine a world where the Secretary of Defense shares information on an unclassified channel, that was arguably top-secret information and had to do as the Chairman said with targeting information, with timing and with weaponry. This is a channel that his own agency said should not be used because it was compromised or possibly compromised. 

    So, the problem is with this, we don’t have to imagine because this is reality. This is an unimaginable world that we are in, but it is the reality that we have found ourselves in today. And the only hope that I have, which I echo the Chairmen who have spoken before me, is that in this world, that the Director of National Intelligence has committed to following the law, which would allow opening an investigation into this, so that we can imagine a world where people are contrite, where people are non-partisan, where people work for the people, where people are true leaders and have the same rules that the people that they lead have, and where they hold themselves accountable. So, this is the world that I hope that we can live in. And this is the world that we demand because it’s the only world in which we will be safe.

    So, today, as many of my colleagues have already done, I call once again on the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to fulfill that commitment that she made to me last Wednesday, a commitment to follow the law and to conduct an independent investigation into what is a significant unauthorized disclosure of compromised information. I want them to stop gaslighting us and the American public. I want them to stop distracting us and the American public, and to stop playing us for fools and hoping that Americans don’t catch on. 

    Follow the law. Do your job. Uphold the oath that we uphold, as well, that we took to this nation. The world and we are watching. And I thank the opportunity to speak, and I turn back over to the Chairman for any questions that you might have. 

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 4 Chinese nationals sentenced for roles in complex fraud scheme, following multiagency investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES — Four Chinese nationals were sentenced to federal prison March 17 for participating in a complex identity theft scheme that sought to defraud multiple domestic retailers out of at least $1.2 million.

    As part of the scheme, the defendants stole the personally identifiable information of hundreds of victims — including Social Security numbers, dates of birth and home addresses — and used that information to make fake driver’s licenses to access credit in the victims’ names at large national retailers, including Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Williams-Sonoma, Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

    The defendants, all Chinese nationals, entered the United States under false pretenses.

    • Kar Kee “Steven” Cheung, 36, of Chino Hills, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of visa fraud, one count of possession of equipment used to manufacture false identification documents, and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
    • Qian Guo, 37, of Chino Hills, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for one count of possession of equipment used to manufacture false identification documents and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
    • Chongming “Ming” Wang, 28, of Temple City, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of aiding and abetting access device fraud in excess of $1,000.
    • Jiaozhu “Yanny” Yan, 30, of Alhambra, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for one count of visa fraud.

    All four pleaded guilty on Jan. 6.

    The fifth defendant in this case, Sizhen “Rachel” Liu, 35, also of Chino Hills, was previously sentenced Jan. 6 to 50 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud in excess of $1,000.

    The sixth and final defendant, Hyun Woo “Scott” Jung, 30, of Ontario, pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of possession with intent to use unlawfully five or more false identification documents. Jung is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5.

    The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service is conducting the ongoing investigation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI provided substantial assistance, in addition to support from the Alhambra Police Department, the Arcadia Police Department and the Bel Air, Maryland Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kim Meyer of the Violent and Organized Crime Section handled the prosecution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Placer County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offenses

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Randy Anger, 57, of Carnelian Bay, was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $10,200 in special assessments for distribution and receipt of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in May 2021, Anger distributed and received child sexual abuse material on the Kik Messenger app while communicating with Brent Hooton. Hooton was separately charged and convicted in the Eastern District of California with production and distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 27 years in prison. In November 2021, Anger also received several images of child sexual abuse material on the Wickr app.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance by Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four South Carolina Defendants Sentenced for Civil Rights Crimes Targeting Hispanics

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON — Three South Carolina men and one woman have been sentenced for violent crimes targeting Hispanics in Columbia, South Carolina. Charles Antonio Clippard, 27, was sentenced to 420 months in prison; Michael Joseph Knox, 29, was sentenced to 303 months in prison; Gabriel Brunson, 21, was sentenced to 100 months in prison; and Sierra Fletcher, 34, was sentenced to 200 months in prison.

    All four defendants previously pleaded guilty to carjacking, conspiracy, firearms, and criminal civil rights charges in connection with the string of armed robberies. According to court documents, beginning in January 2021 and continuing through February 2021, the four defendants conspired to target Hispanic victims for armed robberies. The group would wait for their victims at gas stations and grocery stores and then follow them to their homes or other locations to rob their victims at gunpoint. All four defendants admitted their involvement in a Jan. 30, 2021, armed robbery and carjacking targeting a Hispanic victim after following him from a gas station to his home. In another series of robberies on Jan. 30, 2021, three members of the group carjacked one victim, and invaded the home of another group of victims. The group stole cash, cellphones, driver’s licenses, and credit cards from multiple victims.

    “The defendants hunted victims based on their ethnicity and terrorized an entire community. Their acts of bias-motivated violence have no place in South Carolina,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “These four defendants will spend a total of 85 years in federal prison as a result of law enforcement coordination at the federal, state, and local level. We are all committed to making sure the Palmetto State remains a safe place for everyone.”

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews and Acting Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Town of Lexington Police Department and Columbia Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Garner for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Katherine McCallister and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Four South Carolina Defendants Sentenced for Armed Robberies, Carjacking, and Civil Rights Crimes Targeting Hispanics

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Three South Carolina men and one woman were sentenced on Feb. 3, March 13, and April 1, for violent crimes targeting Hispanics in Columbia, South Carolina. Charles Antonio Clippard, 27, was sentenced to 420 months in prison; Michael Joseph Knox, 29, was sentenced to 303 months in prison; Gabriel Brunson, 21, was sentenced to 100 months in prison; and Sierra Fletcher, 34, was sentenced to 200 months in prison.

    All four defendants previously pleaded guilty to carjacking, conspiracy, firearms, and criminal civil rights charges in connection with the string of armed robberies. According to court documents, beginning in January 2021 and continuing through February 2021, the four defendants conspired to target Hispanic victims for armed robberies. The group would wait for their victims at gas stations and grocery stores and then follow them to their homes or other locations to rob their victims at gunpoint. All four defendants admitted their involvement in a Jan. 30, 2021, armed robbery and carjacking targeting a Hispanic victim after following him from a gas station to his home. In another series of robberies on Jan. 30, 2021, three members of the group carjacked one victim, and invaded the home of another group of victims. The group stole cash, cellphones, driver’s licenses, and credit cards from multiple victims.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Garner for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Katherine McCallister and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four South Carolina Defendants Sentenced for Armed Robberies, Carjacking, and Civil Rights Crimes Targeting Hispanics

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Three South Carolina men and one woman were sentenced on Feb. 3, March 13, and April 1, for violent crimes targeting Hispanics in Columbia, South Carolina. Charles Antonio Clippard, 27, was sentenced to 420 months in prison; Michael Joseph Knox, 29, was sentenced to 303 months in prison; Gabriel Brunson, 21, was sentenced to 100 months in prison; and Sierra Fletcher, 34, was sentenced to 200 months in prison.

    All four defendants previously pleaded guilty to carjacking, conspiracy, firearms, and criminal civil rights charges in connection with the string of armed robberies. According to court documents, beginning in January 2021 and continuing through February 2021, the four defendants conspired to target Hispanic victims for armed robberies. The group would wait for their victims at gas stations and grocery stores and then follow them to their homes or other locations to rob their victims at gunpoint. All four defendants admitted their involvement in a Jan. 30, 2021, armed robbery and carjacking targeting a Hispanic victim after following him from a gas station to his home. In another series of robberies on Jan. 30, 2021, three members of the group carjacked one victim, and invaded the home of another group of victims. The group stole cash, cellphones, driver’s licenses, and credit cards from multiple victims.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Garner for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Katherine McCallister and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: H&R Block Contest Encourages Millions of Gig Workers to “Make It Legit”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From bagpiping in a pickle suit to reviving lost recipes, gig workers like Pickle Pete and Dead Gregs are among the millions of taxpayers with revenue-generating side hustles who are fueling the rapidly growing gig economy and redefining what it means to be a small business owner. To showcase the talent and creativity of these gig workers—and motivate them to take their gig to the next level, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), a leading provider of global tax preparation, financial products and small business solutions, today announced the “Make It Legit” contest.

    Entries will be accepted until May 4 for the nationwide contest that is not just a competition, but a platform that will help three lucky gig workers “Make it Legit” by providing key professional business services and marketing support.

    “Gig workers often do not see themselves as legitimate business owners, even though they are taxed as such. We believe that if you’re getting taxed like a legit business, you should look like one, too,” said Wendy Fitch, Vice President of Brand, Content, and Insights at H&R Block. “H&R Block has provided help and inspired confidence in its clients and communities for seven decades. This unique contest aims to inspire the more than 70 million individuals1 who classify themselves as gig workers to make it legit, so you can keep every dollar of your hard-earned income.”

    With the recent change in the 1099-K reporting threshold, independent workers using third-party payment apps or online marketplaces must now report earnings of $5,000 or more—down from the previous threshold of $20,000. The significant change to the threshold amount means casual sellers, side hustlers and gig workers are now considered small businesses.

    A January 2025 H&R Block study conducted by Morning Consult found that nearly half of gig workers, side hustlers and online sellers were unaware of the 1099-K change. Even after learning about it, 50% still said they were not clear on the details as of the start of tax season.2 While their creativity knows no bounds, many gig workers may be limiting their possibilities and their income because they are not receiving credits and deductions small businesses can claim, and are leaving money behind.

    The three Make It Legit winners will receive free business formation service and access to one of H&R Block’s tax professionals for year-round tax expertise and to file next year’s taxes. Winners will also receive custom marketing materials—such as a new logo, brand colors, custom font and to top it off, their very own commercial shot by a live film crew. Eligible gig workers are encouraged to enter for a chance to win a Make It Legit kit by visiting MakeItLegitContest.com and can find full rules and regulations here.

    “With 70 years of tax expertise under our belt, we’ve helped countless individuals transition to small business owners and navigate and capitalize on the unique tax codes related to their expertise,” said Fitch. “As the pioneer of the tax prep category, we’re helping other pioneers benefit from their passions and operate with confidence.”

    Make It Legit Contest

    To bring this initiative to life, H&R Block teamed up with the following three wildly creative content creators who have turned their unique passions into a legitimate business, by giving them the small business treatment complete with free business formation and tax prep services, in addition to a logo, tagline, and typeface:

    While bagpiping in a pickle suit might not seem like a small business, creators like Pickle Pete get taxed as one. H&R Block treated Pickle Pete to a full brand upgrade as well as his own small business commercial. The one-minute piece shines a spotlight on Pickle Pete’s passion, creativity, and his unique hustle—playing on all the tropes of the small business commercials we know and love. Pickle Pete’s film is live now on H&R Block’s social channels including Instagram and TikTok.

    All eligible gig workers looking for the same small business treatment enjoyed by Pickle Pete, Dead Gregs and Inspire by Tyler, including their very own commercial, enter the Make It Legit contest today.

    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.

    1Statista: Number of freelancers in the United States from 2017 to 2028
    2H&R Block 1099-K Study: Morning Consult Omnibus Results + OnePulse Results

    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: LPL Financial Welcomes Horizon Capital Advisors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC announced today that eight financial advisors with Horizon Capital Advisors have joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and custodial platforms. They reported serving approximately $450 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets* and join LPL from Osaic.

    Led by Partners Brett Deuth, CRPC®, J. Brock McClain, CFP®, and Brian Watts, CFP®, Horizon Capital’s roots date back more than 50 years. The ensemble practice is headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., with additional offices in Clinton and Van Buren, Mo., and Baxter Springs, Kan., and includes fellow financial advisors Brian Perley, CFP®, Bennett Long, CIMA®, AIF®, CRPS®, Cindy Gettel, Melissa Proffitt and Michael Sisson.

    “Our team is unified by a shared vision and synergy,” Deuth said. “We take a holistic approach to providing goals-based proactive wealth management with clear direction. We work with families, business owners and executives to create personalized financial plans and disciplined investment strategies to help clients work toward their financial goals.”

    The move to LPL was driven by the Horizon team’s desire for enhanced service experiences, office efficiencies and a more robust technology platform.

    “LPL has the right tools to add new services and create more value with our clients, as well as the stability we were looking for from a Fortune 500 company,” Watts said. “LPL invests heavily in industry-leading capabilities and strategic business resources that will create streamlined experiences for both our team and our clients.”

    McClain added, “We also appreciate LPL’s client-centric mission and forward thinking. LPL is driven by advisor feedback, making the business much more intuitive. We are excited about the future as we grow our team and evolve the practice.”

    Scott Posner, LPL Executive Vice President, Business Development, said, “We welcome the entire team at Horizon Capital Advisors. As a leading wealth management firm, LPL is committed to delivering innovative technology and comprehensive business solutions to help advisors differentiate their practices and increase value for their clients. We look forward to supporting Horizon for years to come.”

    Related

    Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports nearly 29,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,200 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $1.7 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 6 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

    Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial. Horizon Capital Advisors and LPL Financial are separate entities.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    *Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2024.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com

    Tracking #710795

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: John Snow Labs Releases Generative AI Lab 7.0 to Help Domain Experts Evaluate and Improve LLM Applications and Conduct HCC Coding Reviews

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWES, Del., April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, today announced the release of Generative AI Lab 7.0. The update enables domain experts, such as doctors or lawyers, to evaluate and improve custom-built large language models (LLMs) with precision and transparency. New capabilities include no-code features to streamline the process of auditing and tuning AI models.

    While the Generative AI Lab already exists as a tool for testing, tuning, and deploying state-of-the-art (SOTA) language models, this upgrade enhances the quality of evaluation workflows. With the ability to compare LLM outputs side-by-side, annotate specific text spans, apply structured scoring, and export results, domain experts can quickly and easily train or fine-tune LLMs downstream.

    Key features of the release include:

    • Customizable project templates for LLM output evaluation with support for HTML content, including hyperlinks to references. Two modes are supported: individual and side-by-side response evaluation. Inter-Annotator Agreement (IAA) charts are also available for those projects.
    • Support for Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding enables users to streamline clinical risk adjustment workflows by automatically linking International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to HCC categories, prioritizing high-value tasks, and validating codes more efficiently.
    • Comprehensive and configurable framework for evaluating AI models across dimensions like accuracy, bias, robustness, fairness, and performance—enabling users to identify model weaknesses, improve reliability, and streamline iterative model enhancement through automated test management, visual insights, and data augmentation capabilities.

    Domain experts are often best positioned to develop AI-driven solutions tailored to their specific business needs. However, limited technical skills and resources can pose significant barriers to the adoption of AI solutions. The Generative AI Lab addresses this challenge by providing a user-friendly, no-code platform that empowers teams to build reliable models, identify potential failures, evaluate output quality, and responsibly integrate AI into essential workflows.

    “Evaluating custom-built AI models and LLMs for specific use cases is complex and goes beyond relying solely on public benchmarks. Determining their efficacy, safety, and value requires targeted, context-aware testing to ensure models perform reliably in real-world applications,” said David Talby, CEO, John Snow Labs. “With the new structured evaluations and detailed feedback included in the Generative AI Lab, domain experts can improve model quality, reduce errors, and accelerate safe, scalable AI deployments without the support of a data scientist.”

    Click here to learn more about Generative AI Lab 7.0 or register for our upcoming training session to see the new side-by-side response evaluation feature in action.

    About John Snow Labs
    John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, provides state-of-the-art software, models, and data to help healthcare and life science organizations put AI to good use. Developer of Medical LLMS, Healthcare NLP, Spark NLP, Spark NLP, the Generative AI Lab No-Code Platform, and the Medical Chatbot, John Snow Labs’ award-winning medical AI software powers the world’s leading pharmaceuticals, academic medical centers, and health technology companies. Creator and host of The NLP Summit, the company is committed to further educating and advancing the global AI community.

    Contact
    Gina Devine
    Head of Communications
    John Snow Labs
    gina@johnsnowlabs.com

    An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fed0ab53-c5fd-41e0-8078-8bca92ad7e59

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Traliant Expands Workplace Harassment Prevention Training with Industry-Specific and Global Offerings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Traliant, a leader in online compliance training, has introduced industry-specific and global versions of its Preventing Workplace Harassment: 2025 Edition training. Designed to create safer work environments, this expansion reinforces Traliant’s commitment to providing customizable, interactive training that meets the unique needs of today’s high-growth industries.

    Workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, affects every sector, but each industry’s unique environment can shape how employees experience and respond to misconduct. A recent Traliant survey of workplace employees found that 48% of respondents had witnessed harassing behavior in the past five years.

    To address these unique challenges, Traliant’s Preventing Workplace Harassment: 2025 Edition training now includes industry-specific training for seven key sectors: construction, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, office, restaurant and retail. These enhancements provide relatable, real-world scenarios tailored to employees’ daily work environments, deepening engagement and knowledge retention.

    The course meets training requirements in all 50 states and aligns with the January 20 and 21, 2025 executive orders relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and the Administration’s policy on sex and gender.

    Additionally, new country-specific versions align with regional laws and regulations in Australia, Canada, India and the UK, alongside a global version covering relevant laws across 40 countries. These international courses feature localized actors and scenarios, creating a more immersive and relatable learning experience tailored to diverse workplace environments.

    “Across industries and geographies, every employee plays a vital role in creating a workplace free from harassment,” said Mike Dahir, CEO of Traliant. “Workplace training that is tailored to the unique scenarios they see daily equips employees with the knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively intervene and support those in need, fostering a safer environment for both them and their colleagues.”

    As part of its commitment to workplace safety, Traliant also introduced an updated Bystander Intervention course designed to help build a speak-up culture and equip employees with practical intervention skills. Featuring real-world, unscripted interviews, the course ensures learning is relatable, engaging and impactful.

    With these enhancements, organizations worldwide can provide legally compliant, relevant training that fosters workplaces where employees feel safe, respected and empowered to take action.

    To learn more about Traliant, visit: https://www.traliant.com/.

    About Traliant
    Traliant, a leader in compliance training, is on a mission to help make workplaces better, for everyone. Committed to a customer promise of “compliance you can trust, training you will love,” Traliant delivers continuously compliant online courses, backed by an unparalleled in-house legal team, with engaging, story-based training designed to create truly enjoyable learning experiences.

    Traliant supports over 14,000 organizations worldwide with a library of curated essential courses to broaden employee perspectives, achieve compliance and elevate workplace culture, including sexual harassment training, inclusion training, code of conduct training, and many more.

    Backed by PSG, a leading growth equity firm, Traliant holds a coveted position on Inc.’s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America for four consecutive years, along with numerous awards for its products and workplace culture. For more information, visit http://www.traliant.com and follow us on LinkedIn. 

    Contact
    Reagan Bennet
    traliant@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Delinea Partners with Microsoft to Ensure Seamless Transition and Continued Security as Microsoft Entra Permissions Management Retires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Delinea, a pioneering provider of solutions for securing human and machine identities through centralized authorization, has partnered with Microsoft to assist Microsoft Entra Permissions Management customers in ensuring they have continued access to advanced Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) capabilities. With Microsoft Entra Permissions Management scheduled for retirement on October 1, 2025, Delinea’s Privilege Control for Cloud Entitlements (PCCE) solution provides a strong alternative that enables enterprises to continuously discover and secure all human and machine identities across Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GCP environments.

    Delinea and Microsoft share a long-standing relationship built on a mutual commitment to delivering robust security solutions that empower enterprises to manage identities – and their access – seamlessly across multi-cloud environments. As part of this collaboration, Delinea and Microsoft are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition for existing customers of Microsoft Entra Permissions Management. With dedicated teams in place, both companies will guide businesses through the process, helping them maximize the full capabilities of PCCE.

    “The introduction of AI has led to an explosion of human and machine identities at a time when public cloud environments are growing increasingly complex,” said Art Gilliland, CEO at Delinea. “Microsoft and Delinea share a deep, trusted relationship focused on protecting customers and securing their identities. As Microsoft’s partner for cloud entitlement security, together we are ensuring a seamless transition and continued access to cutting-edge identity security, reinforcing the trust Microsoft has placed in Delinea to support its customers.”

    Delinea’s PCCE solution enables enterprises to proactively gain control of multi-cloud environments, making it easy to identify anomalous behavior and refactor privileges. It reduces the risk of overprivileged and misconfigured identities through continuous discovery, AI-enabled analytics, and enforcing least privilege. This provides IT administrators greater visibility and deep context into cloud and identity usage to discover excess privilege and limit authorization.

    “As we are planning for the retirement of Microsoft Entra Permissions Management, Microsoft is committed to supporting every customer with a seamless transition that minimizes disruption,” said Joseph Dadzie, VP Product Management at Microsoft. “Delinea’s PCCE solution offers a scalable, innovative approach to identity security for public, multi-cloud environments, and represents an effective successor for customers of Microsoft Entra Permissions Management.”

    To learn more about Delinea’s PCCE solution, visit: https://delinea.com/microsoft-ciem

    About Delinea

    Delinea is a pioneer in securing human and machine identities through intelligent, centralized authorization, empowering organizations to seamlessly govern their interactions across the modern enterprise. Leveraging AI-powered intelligence, Delinea’s leading cloud-native Identity Security Platform applies context throughout the entire identity lifecycle – across cloud and traditional infrastructure, data, SaaS applications, and AI. It is the only platform that enables you to discover all identities – including workforce, IT administrator, developers, and machines – assign appropriate access levels, detect irregularities, and respond to threats in real-time. With deployment in weeks, not months, 90% fewer resources to manage than the nearest competitor, and a guaranteed 99.99% uptime, Delinea delivers robust security and operational efficiency without compromise. Learn more about Delinea on delinea.com, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPECIAL CAMPAIGN FOR DE-ADDICTION IN THE COUNTRY

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

     Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was launched on 15th August 2020 by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 identified most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country. NMBA has reached out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with focus on higher educational Institutions, university campuses and schools by reaching out and identifying dependent population and providing counselling and treatment facilities in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

    Year-wise details of total amount spent on NMBA, which was launched in the year 2020-21 is as below:

    S.No.

    Financial Year

    Fund released under NMBA

    (Rs. in crore)

    1

    2020-21

    13.38

    2

    2021-22

    3.14

    3

    2022-23

    1.50

    4

    2023-24

    6.19

    5

    2024-25

    27.25

    Total

    51.46

     

    The achievements of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan are as follows:

    1. Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 15.44+ crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 5.17+ crore Youth and 3.27+ crore Women.
    2. Participation of 4.18+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the country.
    3. A strong force of 10,000+ Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained.
    4. Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
    5. NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level.
    6. NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, an online discussion forum, NMBA dashboard, e-pledge.
    7. MoUs have been signed with six Spiritual/Social Service organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, All World Gayatri Parivar, ISKCON and Shri Ram Chandra Mission to support NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.
    8. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446, is set up to provide primary counselling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline.
    9. Commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2024, wherein all the States/Districts conducted several activities reaching out to 7.5+ lakh people.
    10. Sportspersons like Olympic Medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Suresh Raina, Ajinkhya Rahane, Sandeep Singh, Savita Poonia has shared messages in support of NMBA to promote Sports as life-skills to ensure a healthy and drug-free lifestyle among youth.
    11. NMBA has entered into 5th year since its launch on 2020. In recognition of this milestone, Department organized a mass pledge/oath taking ceremony across the country. More than 3 crore people from more than 2 lakh educational institutions from across the country took oath and participated in various programmes conducted to celebrate this occasion.

    This information was provided by MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L.VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    VM

    (Rajya Sabha US Q3652)

    (Release ID: 2117694) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ13: Development of Hong Kong athletes in Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
     
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that Hong Kong athletes have all along been unable to be certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes because of their status as Hong Kong citizens, even though they won championships in sports competitions held in the Mainland. In view of this, the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes (the Administrative Measures) was promulgated by our country in March last year to point out clearly that athletes from Hong Kong, the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and Taiwan may be awarded technical grade titles when they participate in national competitions and provincial competitions. The Administrative Measures have been implemented since January 1 this year to ensure that Hong Kong athletes and Mainland athletes are entitled to the same treatment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland, with a tabulated breakdown by province;
     
    (2) whether it knows the specific process through which Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland are certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; whether the process is handled by the General Administration of Sport of China in a centralised manner, or there is a designated organisation in Hong Kong which is responsible for handling the relevant certification for them; if there is such a designated organisation, of the organisation;
     
    (3) as the Administrative Measures point out that prior consent should be obtained from the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) in Hong Kong and Macao SAR for awarding technical grade titles to their registered athletes, whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of athletes registered with NSAs in Hong Kong who are awarded the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles upon obtaining consents from their relevant NSAs; whether there are cases in which NSAs did not give consents for their athletes to acquire the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles; if so, of the details;
     
    (4) whether it knows the mechanism for Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland without registration with the relevant NSAs in Hong Kong who are eligible to be certified under the standards for technical grades of athletes to obtain certification for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; and
     
    (5) to facilitate the professional development of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, whether the Government will set a timetable for regular review of the existing process through which Hong Kong athletes are certified for acquiring the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles, and streamline the relevant procedures in a timely manner?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    My consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:
     
    The General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) promulgated the “the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes” (the Administrative Measures) in 2014 to award athletes with different technical grade titles after attaining specific results in competitions. In order of priority, the technical grade titles are namely International Elite Athlete, Elite Athlete, Grade One Athlete, Grade Two Athlete and Grade Three Athlete.
     
    To promote the integration of Hong Kong into national development, the GASC promulgated the “Notice by the General Office of GASC on the Work of Awarding the Technical Grade Titles to Athletes from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and Taiwan” in 2021, which explicitly indicated that it accepts Hong Kong athletes’ applications for award of the technical grade titles. For Hong Kong athletes who wish to be awarded the technical grade titles, they are required to submit written applications. In addition to submitting proof of results, the applications should be endorsed by the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) to which they belong.  
     
    Subsequently, having communicated with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the sports sector to understand the situation, the GASC has revised the the Administrative Measures to simplify the application procedures. The GASC promulgated the amended Administrative Measures on March 14, 2024.
     
    Article 15 of the amended Administrative Measures specifies that Hong Kong athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles directly according to their results in national and provincial competitions, without having to submit written applications. The awarding body (e.g. the relevant sports centres or associations) may publicise the proposed technical grade titles directly based on the competition results for a period of five working days. The athletes will be awarded the respective technical grade titles if there is no objection within the period.
     
    The amended Administrative Measures also indicate that for Hong Kong athletes who are registered with specific NSAs, they should obtain endorsement from the relevant NSAs before participating in competitions (i.e. providing a letter of consent from the relevant NSAs when participating in the competitions). In that way, the athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles based on their competition results after the public announcement period. Hong Kong athletes who are not registered with specific NSAs are not required to seek endorsement from relevant NSAs before they are awarded the technical grade titles. The amended Administrative Measures have come into effect from January 1, 2025.
     
    The CSTB does not have the relevant information about the number of Hong Kong athletes currently developing in the Mainland, the number of NSA-registered Hong Kong athletes who have been awarded the technical grade titles with endorsement of the relevant NSAs, and the cases not being endorsed by the relevant NSAs.
     
    The Hong Kong SAR Government encourages and supports Hong Kong athletes and NSAs to enhance exchange and co-operation with athletes and associations of various sports from different provinces and cities in the Mainland. The amended Administrative Measures, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, facilitate the award of the technical grade titles to Hong Kong athletes. The amended Administrative Measures also promote development opportunities of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, and enhance the integrated development of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The CSTB will continue to maintain communication with the GASC on the relevant arrangements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Internet connectivity can aid SA’s development 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Internet connectivity has the potential to boost employment while also broadening access to education, healthcare and the speeding up of service delivery, says Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina.

    Internet connectivity also has the potential to broaden modern agricultural practices, mobility, and banking services.

    “Internet connectivity’s potential to boost productivity and employment is well documented,” the Deputy Minister said during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.

    Gina cited a study encompassing 14 countries that found a 10 percentage-point increase in 3G coverage raised the employment rate by 2.1 percentage points, as faster internet connections create better job opportunities.

    The Deputy Minister was addressing a joint session of Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Communications and Digital Technologies and Science, Technology and Innovation with the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele. 

    The Departments of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) are collaborating in the development of a satellite communication strategy for South Africa.

    The strategy is aimed at the establishment of a domestically owned satellite system that provides affordable, reliable, and secure communication infrastructure.

    Over the past three years, the departments and their entities, Sentech and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), have worked to develop the strategy, which is expected to significantly enhance digital inclusion, support economic growth, and bolster essential services such as e-government, telemedicine, and rural telephony.

    “Following extensive consultations and feasibility studies, the strategy has received sign-off from the Presidency on the Social Economic Impact Assessment System process. The next phase involves further government cluster consultations and public engagement before final Cabinet approval.” 

    While commending the progress, committee members stressed the urgency of implementation, the need for gender representativity, and the establishment of required capabilities to complete the project.

    The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Tsakani Shiviti, said that both committees were hopeful that quarterly reports on the strategy would encourage the two departments to expedite the process for final Cabinet approval.

    Acting Deputy Director-General at the DCDT, Dr Tinyiko Ngobeni, said the strategy would be submitted to Cabinet to obtain approval to publish it for comment from the public. Additionally, a national workshop will also be convened to explore substantive issues.

    According to the DSTI, South Africa currently spends approximately R100 billion a year on foreign communication service providers. 

    “In contrast, a locally owned satellite system with a lifespan of up to 20 years would require a one-time capital investment of approximately R6 billion. This comparison shows the immense cost-saving potential of a domestic satellite system.” 

    Meanwhile, the department believes that a domestic system would also strengthen South Africa’s sovereign capabilities, as required by the national defence and security clusters. 

    The acquisition and operation of the satellite will be managed by a national satellite organisation through a strategic partnership with an international satellite fleet operator, ensuring sovereignty over critical communication infrastructure.

    “The satellite industry presents vast opportunities for skills development, job creation, industrial growth, and self-reliance in national security matters. 

    “The satellite communication strategy initiative will foster new technical expertise throughout the satellite’s lifecycle – from design and construction to launch, operation, and maintenance – creating sustainable, high-skilled jobs and stimulating the local space industry,” said the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

    SANSA, with its extensive expertise in satellite operations, will play a key role in driving the initiative forward.

    The project underscores the government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive society, where all citizens have access to reliable and affordable communication services. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor — News Release — Governor Green Announces Judicial Appointments

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI 
    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 

    JOSH GREEN, M.D. 
    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA 

    GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN ANNOUNCES JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 1, 2025

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., today announced his selections to fill three judicial vacancies. He has appointed Taryn R. T. Gifford and Karin L. Holma to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit. Gifford will fill the vacancy left by Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park and Holma will fill the anticipated vacancy of Judge Dean E. Ochiai this summer, pending Senate confirmation. These appointments follow Governor Green’s recent selection of Kauanoe A. D. Jackson to the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi Island), marking a historic moment as all three of his latest judicial nominees are women. The nominees were selected from a list provided by the Judicial Selection Commission.

    Taryn R. T. Gifford currently serves as supervising attorney in the Office of the Public Defender. She is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and has dedicated her legal career to ensuring fair representation for all individuals in the justice system.

    District Judge Karin L. Holma serves in the District Court of the First Circuit and has been temporarily assigned as a Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit. She is a graduate of the Willamette University College of Law and brings extensive experience in both trial and appellate law.

    Recently, Governor Green also nominated Kauanoe A. D. Jackson to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit for a 10-year term. Jackson, currently the supervising deputy prosecuting attorney in the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney – West Hawaiʻi office, has served in progressively senior roles since joining the office in 2007.

    Governor Green expressed confidence in his selections:
    “Taryn Gifford and Karin Holma are highly accomplished legal professionals whose knowledge, experience, and dedication to justice will serve the people of Hawaiʻi well on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Alongside Kauanoe Jackson’s nomination to the Circuit Court, these appointments underscore my commitment to selecting strong, fair-minded, and highly qualified individuals to serve in our courts. I am proud to nominate these three exceptional women to the bench.”

    Taryn R. T. Gifford stated:
    “I am truly honored and grateful for this nomination. Throughout my career, I have worked to ensure access to justice for all individuals and I look forward to bringing that commitment to my service on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.”

    Karin L. Holma shared:
    “This is a privilege and I thank Governor Green for his trust in my ability to serve the people of Hawaiʻi. I am committed to upholding the rule of law with fairness and integrity.”

    Previously, Kauanoe A. D. Jackson stated:
    “I am deeply honored by Governor Green’s nomination and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our community in this new capacity. I look forward to upholding justice with fairness, integrity and a steadfast commitment to the people of Hawai‘i Island.”

    Governor Green’s judicial appointments now await Senate confirmation. If confirmed, the appointees will play a vital role in shaping Hawaiʻi’s judicial landscape for years to come.

    A photo of Judicial nominee Tomasa can be found here.
    A photo of Judicial nominee Holma can be found here.
    A photo of Judicial nominee Jackson can be found here.

    # # #

    Media Contacts:   
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Office: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected] 

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minutes – Tuesday, 1 April 2025 – Strasbourg – Final edition

    Source: European Parliament

    PV-10-2025-04-01

    EN

    EN

    iPlPv_Sit

    Minutes
    Tuesday, 1 April 2025 – Strasbourg

     Abbreviations and symbols

    + adopted
    – rejected
    ↓ lapsed
    W withdrawn
    RCV roll-call votes
    EV electronic vote
    SEC secret ballot
    split split vote
    sep separate vote
    am amendment
    CA compromise amendment
    CP corresponding part
    D deleting amendment
    = identical amendments
    § paragraph

    IN THE CHAIR: Roberta METSOLA
    President

    1. Opening of the sitting

    The sitting opened at 09:01.


    2. Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025 (debate)

    European Council and Commission statements: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025 (2024/2980(RSP))

    António Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the Commission) made the statements.

    The following spoke: Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Iratxe García Pérez, on behalf of the S&D Group, Kinga Gál, on behalf of the PfE Group, Nicola Procaccini, on behalf of the ECR Group, Valérie Hayer, on behalf of the Renew Group, Terry Reintke, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Manon Aubry, on behalf of The Left Group, Alexander Sell, on behalf of the ESN Group, Dolors Montserrat, Raphaël Glucksmann, Jean-Paul Garraud, Patryk Jaki, Billy Kelleher, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Pasquale Tridico, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Ruth Firmenich, Siegfried Mureşan, Paolo Borchia, Nicolas Bay, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Hannah Neumann, Li Andersson, Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Željana Zovko, Alex Agius Saliba, Anna Bryłka, Charlie Weimers, Hilde Vautmans, Reinier Van Lanschot, Paulo Cunha, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Christel Schaldemose, Gilles Pennelle, Carlo Fidanza, Svenja Hahn, Tom Berendsen (the President spoke about Siegbert Frank Droese’s behaviour following Hannah Neumann’s speech), Javier Moreno Sánchez, Harald Vilimsky, Johan Van Overtveldt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Reinhold Lopatka, Dan Nica, Emmanouil Fragkos, Ľubica Karvašová, Danuše Nerudová, Marta Temido, Anna Zalewska, Karlo Ressler, Elio Di Rupo, François-Xavier Bellamy, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Brando Benifei.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Dariusz Joński, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Anna Maria Cisint, Sebastian Tynkkynen, João Oliveira, Siegbert Frank Droese, Lukas Sieper, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Bruno Gonçalves and Seán Kelly.

    The following spoke: Maroš Šefčovič (Member of the Commission) and António Costa.

    The debate closed.


    3. Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: standing with Ukraine and upholding justice (debate)

    Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine: standing with Ukraine and upholding justice (2025/2635(RSP))

    The President said that there would be only one round of political group speakers and no catch-the-eye procedure or blue-card questions.

    Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Sandra Kalniete, on behalf of the PPE Group, Thijs Reuten, on behalf of the S&D Group, Anders Vistisen, on behalf of the PfE Group, Michał Dworczyk, on behalf of the ECR Group, Petras Auštrevičius, on behalf of the Renew Group, Villy Søvndal, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Martin Schirdewan, on behalf of The Left Group, and René Aust, on behalf of the ESN Group.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

    The debate closed.


    4. Amendment of the agenda

    In accordance with Rule 164(2), the President proposed the following amendment of the agenda, with the agreement of the political groups:

    Wednesday/Thursday

    The vote on ‘Energy-intensive industries’ (item 24 on the agenda) would be held over until voting time on Thursday.

    Parliament agreed to the proposal.

    The agenda was amended accordingly.

    (The sitting was suspended at 11:54.)


    IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
    Vice-President

    5. Resumption of the sitting

    The sitting resumed at 12:01.


    6. Voting time

    For detailed results of the votes, see also ‘Results of votes’ and ‘Results of roll-call votes’.


    6.1. Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements ***I (vote)

    Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements (COM(2025)0080 – C10-0038/2025 – 2025/0044(COD)) – JURI Committee

    REQUEST FOR AN URGENT DECISION by the PPE Group (Rule 170(6))

    Approved

    The following tabling deadlines had been set:

    – amendments: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 13:00
    – requests for separate votes and split votes: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 19:00.

    Vote: 3 April 2025.

    The following had spoken:

    Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the PPE Group (the author of the request), and Manon Aubry against.

    Detailed voting results


    6.2. Request for waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová (vote)

    Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová [2024/2035(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Krzysztof Śmiszek (A10-0029/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0040)

    Detailed voting results


    6.3. Request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron (vote)

    Report on the request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron [2024/2048(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Dominik Tarczyński (A10-0030/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0041)

    Detailed voting results


    6.4. Request for waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wąsik (vote)

    Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wąsik [2024/2043(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mario Furore (A10-0031/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0042)

    Detailed voting results


    6.5. Request for waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kamiński (vote)

    Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kamiński [2024/2046(IMM)] – Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mario Furore (A10-0032/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0043)

    Detailed voting results


    6.6. Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors – Lucian Romașcanu (vote)

    Report on the nomination of Lucian Romașcanu as a Member of the Court of Auditors [05958/2025 – C10-0010/2025 – 2025/0801(NLE)] – Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Tomáš Zdechovský (A10-0039/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)
    (Secret ballot (Rule 133(3)))

    APPOINTMENT OF LUCIAN ROMAȘCANU

    Approved (P10_TA(2025)0044)

    The list of Members voting is annexed to these minutes (minutes of 1.4.2025 Annex 1)

    Detailed voting results


    6.7. Common data platform on chemicals, establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common data platform on chemicals, laying down rules to ensure that the data contained in it are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable and establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals [COM(2023)0779 – C9-0449/2023 – 2023/0453(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0018/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

    Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0045)

    REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

    Approved

    The following had spoken:

    Dimitris Tsiodras (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).

    Detailed voting results


    6.8. Re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency [COM(2023)0781 – C9-0448/2023 – 2023/0454(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0019/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

    Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0046)

    REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

    Approved

    The following had spoken:

    Dimitris Tsiodras (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).

    Detailed voting results


    6.9. Re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 401/2009, (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals [COM(2023)0783 – C9-0447/2023 – 2023/0455(COD)] – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras (A10-0020/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

    Approved by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0047)

    REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

    Approved

    The following had spoken:

    Dimitris Tsiodras (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).

    Detailed voting results


    6.10. Macro-financial assistance to Jordan ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on providing macro-financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan [COM(2024)0159 – C9-0146/2024 – 2024/0086(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Céline Imart (A10-0038/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    COMMISSION PROPOSAL

    Approved (P10_TA(2025)0048)

    Parliament’s first reading thus closed.

    Detailed voting results

    10

    The following had spoken:

    Michael McGrath (Member of the Commission), before the vote, to make a statement.


    6.11. Macro-financial assistance to Egypt ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on providing macro-financial assistance to the Arab Republic of Egypt [COM(2024)0461 – C10-0009/2024 – 2024/0071(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Céline Imart (A10-0037/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS

    Approved (P10_TA(2025)0049)

    REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE

    Approved

    Detailed voting results

    11

    Procedural motions:

    – Michael McGrath (Member of the Commission), before the vote, to make a statement.

    – Céline Imart (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission’s proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations, in accordance with Rule 60(4).


    6.12. Customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the USA ***I (vote)

    Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/196 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2018 on additional customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the United States of America [COM(2025)0027 – C10-0007/2025 – 2025/0012(COD)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Bernd Lange (A10-0034/2025)

    (Majority of the votes cast)

    PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT

    Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0050)

    Parliament’s first reading thus closed.

    Detailed voting results

    12

    (The sitting was suspended at 12:27.)


    IN THE CHAIR: Sabine VERHEYEN
    Vice-President

    7. Resumption of the sitting

    The sitting resumed at 12:31.


    8. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

    The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.


    9. CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

    Report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – 2024 annual report [2024/2080(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: David McAllister (A10-0010/2025)
    Report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024 [2024/2082(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (A10-0011/2025)

    David McAllister and Nicolás Pascual de la Parte introduced the reports.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy).

    The following spoke: Michael Gahler, on behalf of the PPE Group, Sven Mikser, on behalf of the S&D Group, Kinga Gál, on behalf of the PfE Group, Adam Bielan, on behalf of the ECR Group, Urmas Paet, on behalf of the Renew Group, Marc Botenga, on behalf of The Left Group, Stanislav Stoyanov, on behalf of the ESN Group, Rasa Juknevičienė, Tobias Cremer, António Tânger Corrêa, Alberico Gambino, Bart Groothuis, Hannah Neumann, Özlem Demirel, Marcin Sypniewski, Monika Beňová, Łukasz Kohut, Yannis Maniatis, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Rihards Kols, Hilde Vautmans, Jaume Asens Llodrà, Lynn Boylan, Hans Neuhoff, Francisco José Millán Mon, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Nathalie Loiseau, Hanna Gedin, Salvatore De Meo, Hana Jalloul Muro, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Petras Auštrevičius, Davor Ivo Stier, who also answered a blue-card question from Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Tonino Picula, Lucia Yar, Vangelis Meimarakis, who also answered a blue-card question from Petras Gražulis, Thijs Reuten, Marta Wcisło, Riho Terras, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Mārtiņš Staķis, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and Sebastian Tynkkynen.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Tomislav Sokol, João Oliveira, Željana Zovko, Lukas Sieper and Michał Szczerba.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas, David McAllister and Nicolás Pascual de la Parte.

    The debate closed.

    Vote: 2 April 2025.


    10. Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 (debate)

    Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 [2024/2081(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Isabel Wiseler-Lima (A10-0012/2025)

    Isabel Wiseler-Lima introduced the report.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy).

    The following spoke: Abir Al-Sahlani (rapporteur for the opinion of the FEMM Committee), Antonio López-Istúriz White, on behalf of the PPE Group, Francisco Assis, on behalf of the S&D Group, Christophe Bay, on behalf of the PfE Group, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, on behalf of the ECR Group, Barry Andrews, on behalf of the Renew Group, Catarina Vieira, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kathleen Funchion, on behalf of The Left Group, Petr Bystron, on behalf of the ESN Group, Reinhold Lopatka, Elisabeth Grossmann, Silvia Sardone, Sophie Wilmès, Mounir Satouri, Alvise Pérez, Liudas Mažylis, Marco Tarquinio, András László, who also answered a blue-card question from Catarina Vieira, Loucas Fourlas, Chloé Ridel, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Hermann Tertsch, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Evin Incir and Alice Teodorescu Måwe.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sunčana Glavak, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Lukas Sieper and Michał Wawrykiewicz.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

    IN THE CHAIR: Roberts ZĪLE
    Vice-President

    The following spoke: Isabel Wiseler-Lima.

    The debate closed.

    Vote: 2 April 2025.


    11. Presentation of the new European Internal Security Strategy(debate)

    Commission statement: Presentation of the new European Internal Security Strategy (2025/2608(RSP))

    Magnus Brunner (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the PPE Group, Birgit Sippel, on behalf of the S&D Group, Fabrice Leggeri, on behalf of the PfE Group, Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group, Malik Azmani, on behalf of the Renew Group, Saskia Bricmont, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giuseppe Antoci, on behalf of The Left Group, Mary Khan, on behalf of the ESN Group, Jeroen Lenaers, Thijs Reuten, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Alessandro Ciriani, Moritz Körner, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper, Lena Düpont, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Petra Steger, Mariusz Kamiński, François-Xavier Bellamy, Marieke Ehlers, Charlie Weimers, Javier Zarzalejos, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Dariusz Joński, Paulo Cunha, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Elena Donazzan, Maciej Wąsik and Gheorghe Piperea.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Dariusz Joński, José Cepeda, João Oliveira, Sunčana Glavak, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Ana Miguel Pedro and Lukas Sieper.

    The following spoke: Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President of the Commission).

    The debate closed.


    12. EU Preparedness Union Strategy (debate)

    Commission statement: EU Preparedness Union Strategy (2025/2641(RSP))

    Hadja Lahbib (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Lena Düpont, on behalf of the PPE Group.

    IN THE CHAIR: Pina PICIERNO
    Vice-President

    The following spoke: Yannis Maniatis, on behalf of the S&D Group, Roberto Vannacci, on behalf of the PfE Group, Beata Szydło, on behalf of the ECR Group, Grégory Allione, on behalf of the Renew Group, Diana Riba i Giner, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Ana Miranda Paz, on the language used by a Member during this debate (the President agreed), Merja Kyllönen, on behalf of The Left Group, Christine Anderson, on behalf of the ESN Group (the President reminded the House of the rules on conduct), Lukas Mandl, Christophe Clergeau, Christophe Bay, Elena Donazzan, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Ville Niinistö, Catarina Martins, Cecilia Strada, who referred to the speech of Roberto Vannacci (the President reiterated the need to respect the rules on conduct), Kostas Papadakis, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Tomislav Sokol, Heléne Fritzon, Barbara Bonte, Adrian-George Axinia, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Alvise Pérez, Nathalie Loiseau, Lena Schilling, Luke Ming Flanagan, Massimiliano Salini, Annalisa Corrado, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Grégory Allione, Michał Dworczyk, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Leire Pajín, Matej Tonin, Tobias Cremer, Victor Negrescu and Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Hélder Sousa Silva, Laura Ballarín Cereza, Ana Miranda Paz, Cecilia Strada, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, João Oliveira and Maria Zacharia.

    The following spoke: Hadja Lahbib.

    The debate closed.


    13. Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (debate)

    Council and Commission statements: Improving the implementation of cohesion policy through the mid-term review to achieve a robust cohesion policy post 2027 (2025/2648(RSP))

    Adam Szłapka (President-in-Office of the Council) and Raffaele Fitto (Executive Vice-President of the Commission) made the statements.

    The following spoke: Andrey Novakov, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mohammed Chahim, on behalf of the S&D Group, Rody Tolassy, on behalf of the PfE Group, Denis Nesci, on behalf of the ECR Group, Ľubica Karvašová, on behalf of the Renew Group, Cristina Guarda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Elena Kountoura, on behalf of the The Left Group, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Marcos Ros Sempere, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Ciaran Mullooly, Gordan Bosanac, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper.

    IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS
    Vice-President

    The following spoke: Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Victor Negrescu, Antonella Sberna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Christian Doleschal, Carla Tavares, who also answered a blue-card question from Ana Miranda Paz, Elsi Katainen, Elena Nevado del Campo, who also answered a blue-card question from Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Estelle Ceulemans, Joachim Streit, Jacek Protas and Hannes Heide.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Nikolina Brnjac, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Ana Miranda Paz, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Francisco José Millán Mon, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral and Maria Grapini.

    The following spoke: Raffaele Fitto and Adam Szłapka.

    The debate closed.


    14. Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

    Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (2025/2630(RSP))

    Marta Kos (Member of the Commission) made the statement on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

    The following spoke: Sebastião Bugalho, on behalf of the PPE Group, Nils Ušakovs, on behalf of the S&D Group, António Tânger Corrêa, on behalf of the PfE Group, Małgorzata Gosiewska, on behalf of the ECR Group, Irena Joveva, on behalf of the Renew Group, Virginijus Sinkevičius, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Milan Uhrík, on behalf of the ESN Group, Andrey Kovatchev, Francisco Assis, Hermann Tertsch, Alexandr Vondra, Dan Barna, Mary Khan, who also answered a blue-card question from Tomáš Zdechovský, Erik Kaliňák, who also answered a blue-card question from Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Ondřej Kolář, Robert Biedroń, Virginie Joron, Rihards Kols, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Petar Volgin, Fidias Panayiotou, Rasa Juknevičienė, Hannes Heide, Csaba Dömötör, who also answered a blue-card question from Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Laurence Farreng, Elena Yoncheva, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Evin Incir, who also answered a blue-card question from Fidias Panayiotou, and Julien Sanchez.

    IN THE CHAIR: Antonella SBERNA
    Vice-President

    The following spoke: Helmut Brandstätter, Mika Aaltola, Michał Kobosko, Alice Teodorescu Måwe and Tomáš Zdechovský.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Radan Kanev, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă and Gabriella Gerzsenyi.

    The following spoke: Marta Kos.

    The debate closed.


    15. Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (debate)

    Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (2025/2642(RSP))

    Marta Kos (Member of the Commission) made the statement on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

    The following spoke: Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, on behalf of the PPE Group, Nacho Sánchez Amor, on behalf of the S&D Group, Susanna Ceccardi, on behalf of the PfE Group, Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group, Malik Azmani, on behalf of the Renew Group, Vladimir Prebilič, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giorgos Georgiou, on behalf of The Left Group, Michalis Hadjipantela, Kathleen Van Brempt, Mathilde Androuët, Bernard Guetta, Mélissa Camara, Özlem Demirel, Reinhold Lopatka, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Željana Zovko, Nikos Papandreou, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi and Dario Nardella.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ana Miranda Paz, Hanna Gedin, Maria Zacharia, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Lukas Sieper and Fidias Panayiotou.

    The following spoke: Marta Kos.

    The debate closed.


    16. Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (debate)

    Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (2025/2644(RSP))

    Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Hildegard Bentele, on behalf of the PPE Group, Evin Incir, on behalf of the S&D Group, Fabrice Leggeri, on behalf of the PfE Group, Bert-Jan Ruissen, on behalf of the ECR Group, Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group, Villy Søvndal, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Irene Montero, on behalf of The Left Group, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Hana Jalloul Muro, Barry Andrews, Ana Miranda Paz, Giorgos Georgiou, Ondřej Kolář, who also answered a blue-card question from Rima Hassan, and Matjaž Nemec.

    IN THE CHAIR: Ewa KOPACZ
    Vice-President

    The following spoke: Tomáš Kubín, Leoluca Orlando, Danilo Della Valle, Céline Imart, who also answered a blue-card question from Benedetta Scuderi, Marta Temido, Saskia Bricmont, Estrella Galán, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Mimmo Lucano, and Marit Maij and Benedetta Scuderi, on the language sometimes used during this debate (the President took note).

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Davor Ivo Stier, Daniel Attard, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Vladimir Prebilič and Marc Botenga.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

    The debate closed.


    17. Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security (debate)

    Council and Commission statements: Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security (2025/2612(RSP))

    Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.

    The following spoke: Lukas Mandl, on behalf of the PPE Group, Marit Maij, on behalf of the S&D Group, Thierry Mariani, on behalf of the PfE Group, Patryk Jaki, on behalf of the ECR Group, Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group, Mounir Satouri, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Marc Botenga, on behalf of The Left Group, Tomasz Froelich, on behalf of the ESN Group, Wouter Beke, Francisco Assis, György Hölvényi, Alexander Sell, Nikolaos Anadiotis, Reinhold Lopatka, Anja Arndt, Ingeborg Ter Laak and Davor Ivo Stier.

    The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Saskia Bricmont, Bert-Jan Ruissen and Sebastian Tynkkynen.

    The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.

    Motions for resolutions tabled under Rule 136(2) to wind up the debate: minutes of 3.4.2025, item I.

    The debate closed.

    Vote: 3 April 2025.


    18. Explanations of vote


    18.1. Written explanations of vote

    Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 201 appear on the Members’ pages on Parliament’s website.


    19. Agenda of the next sitting

    The next sitting would be held the following day, 2 April 2025, starting at 09:00. The agenda was available on Parliament’s website.


    20. Approval of the minutes of the sitting

    In accordance with Rule 208(3), the minutes of the sitting would be put to the House for approval at the beginning of the afternoon of the next sitting.


    21. Closure of the sitting

    The sitting closed at 22:07.


    LIST OF DOCUMENTS SERVING AS A BASIS FOR THE DEBATES AND DECISIONS OF PARLIAMENT


    I. Documents received

    The following documents had been received from committees:

    – Report on Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026 (2024/2111(BUI)) – BUDG Committee – Rapporteur: Matjaž Nemec (A10-0048/2025)


    ATTENDANCE REGISTER

    Present:

    Aaltola Mika, Abadía Jover Maravillas, Adamowicz Magdalena, Aftias Georgios, Agirregoitia Martínez Oihane, Agius Peter, Agius Saliba Alex, Alexandraki Galato, Allione Grégory, Al-Sahlani Abir, Anadiotis Nikolaos, Anderson Christine, Andersson Li, Andresen Rasmus, Andrews Barry, Andriukaitis Vytenis Povilas, Androuët Mathilde, Angel Marc, Annemans Gerolf, Annunziata Lucia, Antoci Giuseppe, Arias Echeverría Pablo, Arimont Pascal, Arłukowicz Bartosz, Arnaoutoglou Sakis, Arndt Anja, Arvanitis Konstantinos, Asens Llodrà Jaume, Assis Francisco, Attard Daniel, Aubry Manon, Auštrevičius Petras, Axinia Adrian-George, Azmani Malik, Bajada Thomas, Baljeu Jeannette, Ballarín Cereza Laura, Barley Katarina, Barna Dan, Barrena Arza Pernando, Bartulica Stephen Nikola, Bartůšek Nikola, Bausemer Arno, Bay Nicolas, Bay Christophe, Beke Wouter, Beleris Fredis, Bellamy François-Xavier, Benifei Brando, Benjumea Benjumea Isabel, Beňová Monika, Bentele Hildegard, Berendsen Tom, Berger Stefan, Berlato Sergio, Bernhuber Alexander, Biedroń Robert, Bielan Adam, Bischoff Gabriele, Blaha Ľuboš, Blinkevičiūtė Vilija, Blom Rachel, Bloss Michael, Bocheński Tobiasz, Boeselager Damian, Bogdan Ioan-Rareş, Bonaccini Stefano, Bonte Barbara, Borchia Paolo, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Borvendég Zsuzsanna, Borzan Biljana, Bosanac Gordan, Boßdorf Irmhild, Bosse Stine, Botenga Marc, Boyer Gilles, Boylan Lynn, Brandstätter Helmut, Brasier-Clain Marie-Luce, Braun Grzegorz, Brejza Krzysztof, Bricmont Saskia, Brnjac Nikolina, Brudziński Joachim Stanisław, Bryłka Anna, Buchheit Markus, Buczek Tomasz, Buda Daniel, Buda Waldemar, Budka Borys, Bugalho Sebastião, Buła Andrzej, Bullmann Udo, Burkhardt Delara, Buxadé Villalba Jorge, Bystron Petr, Bžoch Jaroslav, Camara Mélissa, Canfin Pascal, Carberry Nina, Cârciu Gheorghe, Carême Damien, Casa David, Caspary Daniel, Castillo Laurent, del Castillo Vera Pilar, Cavazzini Anna, Cavedagna Stefano, Ceccardi Susanna, Cepeda José, Ceulemans Estelle, Chahim Mohammed, Chaibi Leila, Chastel Olivier, Chinnici Caterina, Christensen Asger, Ciccioli Carlo, Cifrová Ostrihoňová Veronika, Ciriani Alessandro, Cisint Anna Maria, Clausen Per, Clergeau Christophe, Cormand David, Corrado Annalisa, Costanzo Vivien, Cotrim De Figueiredo João, Cowen Barry, Cremer Tobias, Crespo Díaz Carmen, Cristea Andi, Crosetto Giovanni, Cunha Paulo, Dahl Henrik, Danielsson Johan, Dauchy Marie, Dávid Dóra, David Ivan, Decaro Antonio, de la Hoz Quintano Raúl, Della Valle Danilo, Deloge Valérie, De Masi Fabio, De Meo Salvatore, Demirel Özlem, Deutsch Tamás, Devaux Valérie, Dibrani Adnan, Diepeveen Ton, Dieringer Elisabeth, Dîncu Vasile, Di Rupo Elio, Disdier Mélanie, Dobrev Klára, Doherty Regina, Doleschal Christian, Dömötör Csaba, Do Nascimento Cabral Paulo, Dorfmann Herbert, Dostalova Klara, Dostál Ondřej, Droese Siegbert Frank, Düpont Lena, Dworczyk Michał, Ecke Matthias, Ehler Christian, Ehlers Marieke, Eriksson Sofie, Erixon Dick, Eroglu Engin, Estaràs Ferragut Rosa, Everding Sebastian, Ezcurra Almansa Alma, Falcă Gheorghe, Falcone Marco, Farantouris Nikolas, Farreng Laurence, Farský Jan, Ferber Markus, Ferenc Viktória, Fernández Jonás, Fidanza Carlo, Fiocchi Pietro, Firea Gabriela, Firmenich Ruth, Fita Claire, Flanagan Luke Ming, Fourlas Loucas, Fourreau Emma, Fragkos Emmanouil, Freund Daniel, Frigout Anne-Sophie, Friis Sigrid, Fritzon Heléne, Froelich Tomasz, Fuglsang Niels, Funchion Kathleen, Furet Angéline, Furore Mario, Gahler Michael, Gál Kinga, Galán Estrella, Gálvez Lina, Gambino Alberico, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Garraud Jean-Paul, Gasiuk-Pihowicz Kamila, Geadi Geadis, Gedin Hanna, Geese Alexandra, Geier Jens, Geisel Thomas, Gemma Chiara, Georgiou Giorgos, Gerbrandy Gerben-Jan, Germain Jean-Marc, Gerzsenyi Gabriella, Geuking Niels, Gieseke Jens, Giménez Larraz Borja, Girauta Vidal Juan Carlos, Glavak Sunčana, Glück Andreas, Glucksmann Raphaël, Goerens Charles, Gomes Isilda, Gómez López Sandra, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, González Casares Nicolás, González Pons Esteban, Gori Giorgio, Gosiewska Małgorzata, Gotink Dirk, Gozi Sandro, Grapini Maria, Gražulis Petras, Gregorová Markéta, Griset Catherine, Gronkiewicz-Waltz Hanna, Groothuis Bart, Grossmann Elisabeth, Grudler Christophe, Gualmini Elisabetta, Guarda Cristina, Guetta Bernard, Guzenina Maria, Győri Enikő, Gyürk András, Hadjipantela Michalis, Hahn Svenja, Haider Roman, Halicki Andrzej, Hansen Niels Flemming, Hassan Rima, Hauser Gerald, Häusling Martin, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Heide Hannes, Heinäluoma Eero, Henriksson Anna-Maja, Herbst Niclas, Herranz García Esther, Hetman Krzysztof, Hohlmeier Monika, Hojsík Martin, Holmgren Pär, Hölvényi György, Homs Ginel Alicia, Humberto Sérgio, Ijabs Ivars, Imart Céline, Incir Evin, Inselvini Paolo, Iovanovici Şoşoacă Diana, Jalloul Muro Hana, Jamet France, Jarubas Adam, Jerković Romana, Jongen Marc, Joński Dariusz, Joron Virginie, Jouvet Pierre, Joveva Irena, Juknevičienė Rasa, Junco García Nora, Jungbluth Alexander, Kalfon François, Kaliňák Erik, Kaljurand Marina, Kalniete Sandra, Kamiński Mariusz, Kanev Radan, Kanko Assita, Karlsbro Karin, Kartheiser Fernand, Karvašová Ľubica, Katainen Elsi, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Kelleher Billy, Keller Fabienne, Kelly Seán, Kemp Martine, Kennes Rudi, Khan Mary, Kircher Sophia, Knafo Sarah, Knotek Ondřej, Kobosko Michał, Kohut Łukasz, Kolář Ondřej, Kollár Kinga, Kols Rihards, Konečná Kateřina, Kopacz Ewa, Körner Moritz, Kountoura Elena, Kovařík Ondřej, Kovatchev Andrey, Krištopans Vilis, Kruis Sebastian, Krutílek Ondřej, Kubín Tomáš, Kuhnke Alice, Kulja András Tivadar, Kulmuni Katri, Kyllönen Merja, Kyuchyuk Ilhan, Lakos Eszter, Lalucq Aurore, Lange Bernd, Langensiepen Katrin, Laššáková Judita, László András, Latinopoulou Afroditi, Laurent Murielle, Laureti Camilla, Laykova Rada, Lazarov Ilia, Lazarus Luis-Vicențiu, Leggeri Fabrice, Lenaers Jeroen, Leonardelli Julien, Lewandowski Janusz, Lexmann Miriam, Liese Peter, Lins Norbert, Loiseau Nathalie, Løkkegaard Morten, Lopatka Reinhold, López Javi, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Lövin Isabella, Lucano Mimmo, Luena César, Łukacijewska Elżbieta Katarzyna, Lupo Giuseppe, McAllister David, Madison Jaak, Maestre Cristina, Magoni Lara, Maij Marit, Maląg Marlena, Manda Claudiu, Mandl Lukas, Maniatis Yannis, Mantovani Mario, Maran Pierfrancesco, Marczułajtis-Walczak Jagna, Maréchal Marion, Mariani Thierry, Marino Ignazio Roberto, Martins Catarina, Marzà Ibáñez Vicent, Mato Gabriel, Matthieu Sara, Mavrides Costas, Maydell Eva, Mayer Georg, Mazurek Milan, Mažylis Liudas, McNamara Michael, Mebarek Nora, Mehnert Alexandra, Meimarakis Vangelis, Mendes Ana Catarina, Mendia Idoia, Mertens Verena, Mesure Marina, Metsola Roberta, Metz Tilly, Mikser Sven, Milazzo Giuseppe, Minchev Nikola, Miranda Paz Ana, Molnár Csaba, Montero Irene, Montserrat Dolors, Morace Carolina, Morano Nadine, Moreira de Sá Tiago, Moreno Sánchez Javier, Moretti Alessandra, Motreanu Dan-Ştefan, Mularczyk Arkadiusz, Müller Piotr, Mullooly Ciaran, Mureşan Siegfried, Muşoiu Ştefan, Nagyová Jana, Nardella Dario, Navarrete Rojas Fernando, Negrescu Victor, Nemec Matjaž, Nerudová Danuše, Nesci Denis, Neuhoff Hans, Neumann Hannah, Nevado del Campo Elena, Nica Dan, Niebler Angelika, Niedermayer Luděk, Niinistö Ville, Nikolaou-Alavanos Lefteris, Ní Mhurchú Cynthia, Noichl Maria, Nordqvist Rasmus, Novakov Andrey, Nykiel Mirosława, Obajtek Daniel, Ódor Ľudovít, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Ohisalo Maria, Oliveira João, Omarjee Younous, Ó Ríordáin Aodhán, Orlando Leoluca, Ozdoba Jacek, Paet Urmas, Pajín Leire, Palmisano Valentina, Panayiotou Fidias, Papadakis Kostas, Papandreou Nikos, Pappas Nikos, Pascual de la Parte Nicolás, Paulus Jutta, Pedro Ana Miguel, Pedulla’ Gaetano, Pellerin-Carlin Thomas, Peltier Guillaume, Penkova Tsvetelina, Pennelle Gilles, Pérez Alvise, Peter-Hansen Kira Marie, Petrov Hristo, Picaro Michele, Picierno Pina, Picula Tonino, Piera Pascale, Pietikäinen Sirpa, Pimpie Pierre, Piperea Gheorghe, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita, Pokorná Jermanová Jaroslava, Polato Daniele, Polfjärd Jessica, Popescu Virgil-Daniel, Pozņaks Reinis, Prebilič Vladimir, Princi Giusi, Protas Jacek, Pürner Friedrich, Rackete Carola, Radev Emil, Radtke Dennis, Rafowicz Emma, Ratas Jüri, Razza Ruggero, Rechagneux Julie, Regner Evelyn, Repasi René, Repp Sabrina, Ressler Karlo, Reuten Thijs, Riba i Giner Diana, Ricci Matteo, Ridel Chloé, Riehl Nela, Ripa Manuela, Rodrigues André, Ros Sempere Marcos, Roth Neveďalová Katarína, Rougé André, Ruissen Bert-Jan, Ruotolo Sandro, Rzońca Bogdan, Saeidi Arash, Salini Massimiliano, Salis Ilaria, Salla Aura, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Sanchez Julien, Sancho Murillo Elena, Saramo Jussi, Sardone Silvia, Šarec Marjan, Sargiacomo Eric, Satouri Mounir, Saudargas Paulius, Sbai Majdouline, Sberna Antonella, Schaldemose Christel, Schaller-Baross Ernő, Schenk Oliver, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Schieder Andreas, Schilling Lena, Schneider Christine, Schwab Andreas, Scuderi Benedetta, Seekatz Ralf, Sell Alexander, Serrano Sierra Rosa, Serra Sánchez Isabel, Sidl Günther, Sienkiewicz Bartłomiej, Sieper Lukas, Simon Sven, Singer Christine, Sinkevičius Virginijus, Sippel Birgit, Sjöstedt Jonas, Śmiszek Krzysztof, Smith Anthony, Smit Sander, Sokol Tomislav, Solier Diego, Solís Pérez Susana, Sommen Liesbet, Sonneborn Martin, Sorel Malika, Sousa Silva Hélder, Søvndal Villy, Squarta Marco, Staķis Mārtiņš, Stancanelli Raffaele, Ştefănuță Nicolae, Steger Petra, Stier Davor Ivo, Storm Kristoffer, Stöteler Sebastiaan, Stoyanov Stanislav, Strack-Zimmermann Marie-Agnes, Strada Cecilia, Streit Joachim, Strik Tineke, Strolenberg Anna, Sturdza Şerban Dimitrie, Stürgkh Anna, Sypniewski Marcin, Szczerba Michał, Szekeres Pál, Szydło Beata, Tamburrano Dario, Tânger Corrêa António, Tarczyński Dominik, Tarquinio Marco, Tarr Zoltán, Târziu Claudiu-Richard, Tavares Carla, Tegethoff Kai, Temido Marta, Teodorescu Georgiana, Teodorescu Måwe Alice, Terheş Cristian, Ter Laak Ingeborg, Terras Riho, Tertsch Hermann, Thionnet Pierre-Romain, Timgren Beatrice, Tinagli Irene, Tobback Bruno, Tobé Tomas, Tolassy Rody, Tomac Eugen, Tomašič Zala, Tomaszewski Waldemar, Tomc Romana, Tonin Matej, Toom Jana, Topo Raffaele, Torselli Francesco, Tosi Flavio, Toussaint Marie, Tovaglieri Isabella, Toveri Pekka, Tridico Pasquale, Trochu Laurence, Tsiodras Dimitris, Turek Filip, Tynkkynen Sebastian, Uhrík Milan, Ušakovs Nils, Vaidere Inese, Valchev Ivaylo, Vălean Adina, Valet Matthieu, Van Brempt Kathleen, Van Brug Anouk, van den Berg Brigitte, Vandendriessche Tom, Van Dijck Kris, Van Lanschot Reinier, Van Leeuwen Jessika, Vannacci Roberto, Van Overtveldt Johan, Van Sparrentak Kim, Varaut Alexandre, Vasconcelos Ana, Vasile-Voiculescu Vlad, Vautmans Hilde, Vedrenne Marie-Pierre, Verheyen Sabine, Verougstraete Yvan, Veryga Aurelijus, Vešligaj Marko, Vicsek Annamária, Vieira Catarina, Vigenin Kristian, Vilimsky Harald, Vincze Loránt, Vind Marianne, Vistisen Anders, Vivaldini Mariateresa, Volgin Petar, von der Schulenburg Michael, Vondra Alexandr, Voss Axel, Vozemberg-Vrionidi Elissavet, Vrecionová Veronika, Vázquez Lázara Adrián, Waitz Thomas, Walsh Maria, Walsmann Marion, Warborn Jörgen, Warnke Jan-Peter, Wąsik Maciej, Wawrykiewicz Michał, Wcisło Marta, Wechsler Andrea, Weimers Charlie, Werbrouck Séverine, Wiesner Emma, Wiezik Michal, Wilmès Sophie, Winkler Iuliu, Winzig Angelika, Wiseler-Lima Isabel, Wiśniewska Jadwiga, Wölken Tiemo, Wolters Lara, Yar Lucia, Yon-Courtin Stéphanie, Yoncheva Elena, Zacharia Maria, Zalewska Anna, Žalimas Dainius, Zarzalejos Javier, Zdechovský Tomáš, Zdrojewski Bogdan Andrzej, Zijlstra Auke, Zīle Roberts, Zingaretti Nicola, Złotowski Kosma, Zoido Álvarez Juan Ignacio, Zovko Željana, Zver Milan


    ANNEX 1 – Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors – Lucian Romașcanu

    MEMBERS VOTING IN THE SECRET BALLOT

    ECR:
    Alexandraki, Axinia, Bartulica, Bay Nicolas, Berlato, Bielan, Bocheński, Brudziński, Buda Waldemar, Cavedagna, Ciccioli, Ciriani, Crosetto, Donazzan, Dworczyk, Erixon, Fidanza, Fiocchi, Fragkos, Gambino, Geadi, Gemma, Gosiewska, Inselvini, Jaki, Junco García, Kamiński, Kartheiser, Kols, Krutílek, Madison, Magoni, Maląg, Mantovani, Maréchal, Milazzo, Mularczyk, Müller, Nesci, Ozdoba, Peltier, Picaro, Piperea, Polato, Pozņaks, Procaccini, Razza, Ruissen, Rzońca, Sberna, Solier, Squarta, Storm, Sturdza, Szydło, Tarczyński, Târziu, Teodorescu, Terheş, Timgren, Tomaszewski, Torselli, Trochu, Tynkkynen, Valchev, Van Dijck, Van Overtveldt, Veryga, Vivaldini, Vondra, Vrecionová, Wąsik, Weimers, Wiśniewska, Zalewska, Zīle, Złotowski

    ESN:
    Anderson, Arndt, Aust, Bausemer, Borvendég, Boßdorf, Buchheit, David, Droese, Froelich, Gražulis, Jongen, Jungbluth, Khan, Knafo, Laykova, Mazurek, Neuhoff, Sell, Stoyanov, Sypniewski, Tyszka, Uhrík, Volgin

    NI:
    Anadiotis, Beňová, Blaha, Braun, De Masi, Dostál, Firmenich, Geisel, Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Kaliňák, Konečná, Laššáková, Lazarus, Nikolaou-Alavanos, Panayiotou, Papadakis, Pérez, Pürner, Roth Neveďalová, Sonneborn, von der Schulenburg, Warnke, Yoncheva, Zacharia

    PPE:
    Aaltola, Abadía Jover, Adamowicz, Aftias, Agius, Arias Echeverría, Arimont, Arłukowicz, Beke, Beleris, Bellamy, Benjumea Benjumea, Bentele, Berendsen, Berger, Bernhuber, Bogdan, Brejza, Brnjac, Buda Daniel, Budka, Bugalho, Buła, Carberry, Casa, Caspary, Castillo, Chinnici, Crespo Díaz, Cunha, Dahl, Dávid, de la Hoz Quintano, De Meo, Doherty, Doleschal, Do Nascimento Cabral, Düpont, Ehler, Estaràs Ferragut, Ezcurra Almansa, Falcă, Falcone, Farský, Ferber, Fourlas, Gahler, Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Gerzsenyi, Geuking, Gieseke, Giménez Larraz, Glavak, González Pons, Gotink, Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Hadjipantela, Halicki, Hansen, Hava, Herbst, Herranz García, Hetman, Hohlmeier, Humberto, Imart, Jarubas, Joński, Juknevičienė, Kanev, Kemp, Kircher, Kohut, Kolář, Kollár, Kopacz, Kovatchev, Kulja, Lakos, Lazarov, Lenaers, Lexmann, Liese, Lins, Lopatka, López-Istúriz White, Łukacijewska, McAllister, Mandl, Marczułajtis-Walczak, Mato, Maydell, Mažylis, Mehnert, Meimarakis, Mertens, Millán Mon, Montserrat, Morano, Motreanu, Mureşan, Navarrete Rojas, Nerudová, Nevado del Campo, Niedermayer, Novakov, Nykiel, Pascual de la Parte, Pedro, Pereira, Pietikäinen, Polfjärd, Popescu, Princi, Protas, Radev, Radtke, Ratas, Ressler, Ripa, Salini, Salla, Saudargas, Schenk, Schwab, Seekatz, Sienkiewicz, Simon, Smit, Solís Pérez, Sommen, Sousa Silva, Stier, Szczerba, Tarr, Teodorescu Måwe, Ter Laak, Terras, Tobé, Tomašič, Tomc, Tonin, Tosi, Tsiodras, Vaidere, Van Leeuwen, Verheyen, Voss, Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Vázquez Lázara, Walsh, Walsmann, Warborn, Wawrykiewicz, Wcisło, Weber, Wechsler, Winkler, Winzig, Wiseler-Lima, Zarzalejos, Zdechovský, Zdrojewski, Zoido Álvarez, Zovko, Zver

    PfE:
    Androuët, Annemans, Bartůšek, Bay Christophe, Blom, Bonte, Borchia, Borrás Pabón, Brasier-Clain, Bryłka, Buczek, Buxadé Villalba, Bžoch, Ceccardi, Cisint, Dauchy, Deloge, Deutsch, Diepeveen, Dieringer, Disdier, Dömötör, Dostalova, Ehlers, Ferenc, Frigout, Furet, Gál, Garraud, Girauta Vidal, Griset, Győri, Gyürk, Haider, Hauser, Hölvényi, Jamet, Joron, Knotek, Kovařík, Krištopans, Kruis, Kubín, László, Latinopoulou, Leggeri, Leonardelli, Mariani, Mayer, Moreira de Sá, Nagyová, Pennelle, Piera, Pimpie, de la Pisa Carrión, Pokorná Jermanová, Rougé, Sanchez, Sardone, Schaller-Baross, Sorel, Stancanelli, Steger, Stöteler, Szekeres, Tânger Corrêa, Tertsch, Thionnet, Tolassy, Tovaglieri, Turek, Vandendriessche, Vannacci, Varaut, Vicsek, Vilimsky, Vistisen, Werbrouck, Zijlstra

    Renew:
    Agirregoitia Martínez, Allione, Al-Sahlani, Auštrevičius, Azmani, Baljeu, Barna, Bosse, Boyer, Brandstätter, Canfin, Chastel, Christensen, Cotrim De Figueiredo, Cowen, Devaux, Eroglu, Farreng, Friis, García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Gerbrandy, Glück, Goerens, Gozi, Groothuis, Grudler, Guetta, Hahn, Henriksson, Ijabs, Joveva, Karlsbro, Karvašová, Katainen, Kelleher, Keller, Kobosko, Körner, Kulmuni, Kyuchyuk, Loiseau, McNamara, Minchev, Mullooly, Ní Mhurchú, Ódor, Oetjen, Paet, Petrov, Šarec, Singer, Strack-Zimmermann, Streit, Stürgkh, Tomac, Toom, Van Brug, van den Berg, Vasconcelos, Vasile-Voiculescu, Vautmans, Vedrenne, Verougstraete, Wiesner, Wiezik, Wilmès, Yar, Žalimas

    S&D:
    Agius Saliba, Andriukaitis, Angel, Annunziata, Arnaoutoglou, Assis, Attard, Bajada, Ballarín Cereza, Barley, Benifei, Biedroń, Bischoff, Blinkevičiūtė, Bonaccini, Borzan, Bullmann, Burkhardt, Cârciu, Cepeda, Ceulemans, Chahim, Clergeau, Corrado, Costanzo, Cremer, Cristea, Danielsson, Decaro, Dibrani, Dîncu, Di Rupo, Dobrev, Ecke, Eriksson, Fernández, Firea, Fita, Fuglsang, Gálvez, García Pérez, Geier, Germain, Glucksmann, Gomes, Gómez López, Gonçalves Bruno, Gonçalves Sérgio, Gori, Grapini, Grossmann, Gualmini, Guzenina, Heide, Heinäluoma, Homs Ginel, Incir, Jalloul Muro, Jerković, Jouvet, Kalfon, Kaljurand, Lalucq, Lange, Laurent, Laureti, López, López Aguilar, Luena, Lupo, Maestre, Maij, Maniatis, Maran, Mebarek, Mendes, Mikser, Molnár, Moreno Sánchez, Moretti, Muşoiu, Nardella, Negrescu, Nemec, Nica, Noichl, Ó Ríordáin, Pajín, Papandreou, Pellerin-Carlin, Penkova, Picula, Rafowicz, Regner, Repasi, Repp, Reuten, Ricci, Ridel, Rodrigues, Ros Sempere, Sánchez Amor, Sancho Murillo, Sargiacomo, Schaldemose, Scheuring-Wielgus, Schieder, Serrano Sierra, Sidl, Sippel, Śmiszek, Strada, Tarquinio, Temido, Tinagli, Tobback, Topo, Ušakovs, Van Brempt, Vešligaj, Vigenin, Vind, Wölken, Wolters, Zingaretti

    The Left:
    Andersson, Antoci, Arvanitis, Aubry, Barrena Arza, Botenga, Boylan, Carême, Chaibi, Clausen, Della Valle, Demirel, Everding, Farantouris, Flanagan, Fourreau, Funchion, Furore, Galán, Georgiou, Hassan, Kennes, Kountoura, Kyllönen, Lucano, Martins, Mesure, Montero, Morace, Oliveira, Omarjee, Palmisano, Pappas, Pedulla’, Rackete, Salis, Saramo, Schirdewan, Sjöstedt, Smith, Tamburrano, Tridico

    Verts/ALE:
    Andresen, Asens Llodrà, Bloss, Boeselager, Bosanac, Bricmont, Camara, Cavazzini, Cormand, Eickhout, Freund, Geese, Gregorová, Guarda, Häusling, Holmgren, Kuhnke, Langensiepen, Lövin, Marino, Marquardt, Marzà Ibáñez, Matthieu, Metz, Miranda Paz, Neumann, Niinistö, Nordqvist, Ohisalo, Orlando, Paulus, Peter-Hansen, Prebilič, Reintke, Riba i Giner, Riehl, Satouri, Sbai, Schilling, Scuderi, Sinkevičius, Søvndal, Staķis, Ştefănuță, Strik, Strolenberg, Tegethoff, Toussaint, Van Lanschot, Van Sparrentak, Vieira, Waitz

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to reaffirmation of importance of cross-strait peace at meeting of US, Japan defense ministers

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to reaffirmation of importance of cross-strait peace at meeting of US, Japan defense ministers

    • Date：2025-03-31
    • Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

    March 31, 2025 

    Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 30 in Tokyo. During the meeting, they expressed concern over China’s military activities around Taiwan and reiterated opposition to China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas. Underscoring the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, the two sides stressed that they would bolster cooperation with regional partners Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

     

    This was the first meeting of the defense chiefs of the United States and Japan since Secretary Hegseth took office. Coming on the heels of the February Japan-US summit, the meeting saw the two countries reiterate the importance they attached to cross-strait issues, highlighting the high degree of consensus in the global democratic camp for cross-strait peace. It was also further evidence that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

     

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the continued expression of staunch support for cross-strait peace and stability by Japan and the United States at important international venues, as well as the two sides’ concern for China’s challenge to the global order. Minister Lin also stresses that Taiwan will abide by the spirit of integrated diplomacy and continue to cooperate closely with like-minded countries to uphold democracy and universal values, develop democratic non-red supply chains, and promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to reaffirmation of importance of cross-strait peace at meeting of US, Japan defense ministers

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to reaffirmation of importance of cross-strait peace at meeting of US, Japan defense ministers

    Date：2025-03-31
    Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

    March 31, 2025 

    Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 30 in Tokyo. During the meeting, they expressed concern over China’s military activities around Taiwan and reiterated opposition to China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas. Underscoring the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, the two sides stressed that they would bolster cooperation with regional partners Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. 
     
    This was the first meeting of the defense chiefs of the United States and Japan since Secretary Hegseth took office. Coming on the heels of the February Japan-US summit, the meeting saw the two countries reiterate the importance they attached to cross-strait issues, highlighting the high degree of consensus in the global democratic camp for cross-strait peace. It was also further evidence that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
     
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the continued expression of staunch support for cross-strait peace and stability by Japan and the United States at important international venues, as well as the two sides’ concern for China’s challenge to the global order. Minister Lin also stresses that Taiwan will abide by the spirit of integrated diplomacy and continue to cooperate closely with like-minded countries to uphold democracy and universal values, develop democratic non-red supply chains, and promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Akasha Launches Revolutionary Crypto Conversion Platform, Enabling Seamless Cross-Chain Transactions with Just Two Clicks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE, Luxembourg, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Akasha now provides seamless cross-chain trasactions with just 2 clicks.

    Why So Exciting, and What Does It Really Mean?

    – Simple to use (opens the door to ordinary non-tech folks)

    – No more headaches – stop getting blocked or confused with different crypto changing processes which don’t work together.. choose a smooth and interconnected experience. The Akasha experience.

    Fast, Affordable and Easy to use.

    — Akasha, a pioneering Layer Zero blockchain, has unveiled a groundbreaking platform designed to redefine the way we interact with blockchain ecosystems. Positioned as the fundamental crypto exchange platform for the decentralized future, Akasha allows applications to seamlessly transfer between different blockchain networks—enabling a truly interconnected experience with smooth transitions between various cryptos and blockchain ecosystems interoperability without the need for intermediaries. Change any crypto with one to two clicks.

    In a digital landscape increasingly fragmented by isolated blockchain ecosystems, Akasha serves as the connecting point that unites them, eliminating friction and limitations. By establishing a universal protocol for secure and verifiable cross-chain interactions, Akasha opens the door to a unified, scalable, and decentralized digital future.

    A Technological Revolution with Deep Philosophical Roots

    Akasha’s technological innovations go beyond mere blockchain integration. Inspired by ancient spiritual traditions, the platform takes its name from the concept of “Akasha”—the primordial ether that connects all of existence in the universe. In modern physics, this resonates with the idea of dark matter, the invisible yet vital force that binds galaxies together and shapes the structure of the cosmos.

    Much like dark matter’s unseen influence, Akasha’s blockchain infrastructure operates as an essential, invisible connective tissue, ensuring continuity, communication, and interaction across diverse, otherwise siloed networks. Just as dark matter permeates space and exerts influence on visible matter, Akasha provides the foundational layer for blockchain ecosystems to thrive.

    The Metaphysical Connection to a Decentralized Future

    Akasha represents more than just a technical solution—it embodies the principle of oneness in the digital age. Mirroring the cosmos itself, Akasha serves as the starting point where all things are unified, before branching into diverse expressions. This metaphysical quality positions Akasha as a point of connection that brings together not just technical ecosystems, but the very fabric of interconnected existence.

    This visionary blockchain platform is designed to bring about a new evolution in how decentralized applications, assets, and data interact. Rather than viewing blockchains as isolated entities, Akasha demonstrates that, like the universe, all blockchains are interconnected and ultimately one.

    A Unified, Scalable, and Decentralized Digital Landscape

    Akasha offers the solution to the limitations of existing blockchain networks. With its Layer Zero protocol, developers, businesses, and users alike can now unlock the true potential of interoperability. By enabling secure, direct interactions between blockchains, Akasha removes bottlenecks, reduces transaction costs, and facilitates unprecedented cross-chain applications.

    About Akasha

    Akasha is a revolutionary Layer Zero blockchain designed to be the connective tissue for decentralized ecosystems. It allows for seamless cross-chain communication and data transfer, ensuring secure and verifiable interactions across disparate blockchain networks.

    With its foundation in both cutting-edge technology and ancient philosophical principles, Akasha seeks to reshape the future of blockchain by embracing a vision of interconnected existence.

    Media Contact:
    Contact Person Name: Elena Sage
    Company Name: Akasha
    Email Address: info@Akasha.info
    Address: Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
    Website: https://akasha.info/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3494fb4-1906-4ad6-8df0-b92b50270e3a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Fiji Nationals Sentenced to Prison for Carrying Out Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Short Sale Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — Jyoteshna Karan, 52, and Praveen Singh, 45, both of Modesto, were sentenced for leading a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme, Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today.  Karan received three years and four months in prison, and Singh received two years.

    According to court records, from 2006 through 2015, Karan and Singh conspired to make straw purchases and short sales of approximately 15 homes from Modesto to Sacramento.  A straw purchase is where one person buys a home on behalf of another person to get around certain restrictions.  Straw purchases are generally illegal in the real estate industry because they compromise lenders’ risk management practices.  A short sale is where a homeowner sells their home for less than the amount they owe on their mortgage, with lender approval, to avoid foreclosure.  Short sales must generally be arm’s length transactions in the real estate industry because that helps protect buyers and sellers from undervaluation, overpayment, and bias.

    After Karan and Singh acquired the homes, they allowed them to go into foreclosure and arranged for short sales with the lenders.  They then quickly resold, or flipped, the homes to other people at market rates and therefore reaped significant profits.  In doing so, they caused the lenders to suffer over $3,000,000 in losses.

    Karan and Singh were experienced real estate professionals who used unwitting participants, fabricated documents, and shell companies to carry out their fraud.  For example, they used Singh’s mother as one of the straw purchasers, fabricated documents to make it appear as though the straw purchasers worked for their shell companies making six figure salaries, and fabricated documents to make it appear as though the transactions were arm’s length.  This was all done to convince the lenders to go through with the deals.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI, FDIC OIG, and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Southwest Missouri

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

    Springfield, Mo. – A Phoenix, Ariz. man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.

    Joseph A. Gilbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 240 months in federal prison without parole. The Court also ordered Gilbert to forfeit to the government $616,756 which represents the proceeds of Gilbert’s drug trafficking.

    On Nov. 19, 2024, Gilbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    Gilbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry, Stone, Polk, Lawrence, Green, Jasper, and Newton Counties from Nov. 1, 2020, to April 28, 2022. According to court documents, Gilbert served as a source of methamphetamine supply for the drug trafficking organization. During the conspiracy Gilbert distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine from Arizona into southwest Missouri.

    On April 23, 2022, MSHP attempted a traffic stop of a red Chevrolet Captiva Gilbert was driving on eastbound Interstate 44. Gilbert fled from the scene and led law enforcement on high-speed pursuit on the interstate to southbound Missouri Hwy 43 near Seneca, Mo. During the pursuit, Gilbert failed to stop at red lights, overtook traffic at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, and swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a tire deflation device. Later that day, Gilbert was located in Ottawa County, Okla. in possession of methamphetamine and approximately 100 M-30 pills (containing fentanyl).

    Gilbert is among 18 defendants in this case who have pleaded guilty. Gilbert is the seventh defendant to be sentenced.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, COMET (the Combined Ozark Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team), the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa County, Ok., Sheriff’s Department, the Bolivar, Mo., Police Department, the Cassville, Mo., Police Department, the Kimberling City, Mo., Police Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee Testifies Before Senate Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
    Lt. Gen. Caine has played a key role in overseeing classified military programs. He served as Director of Special Programs in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Special Access Program Central Office, where he advised the Secretary of Defense on highly sensitive projects. Lt. Gen. Caine also served as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency, acting as the principal military advisor to the agency.
    If confirmed, Lt. Gen. Caine would serve as the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces.  
    “Thank you, Lieutenant General, for your service and your willingness to step back into the gap,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “While I agree the dismissal of your predecessor was unfortunate, it’s behind us, and I cannot think of a better person to replace General Brown than you. […] I look forward to supporting you strongly.”
    [embedded content]
    Cramer said Lt. Gen. Caine’s opening statement mentioned many things members of SASC commonly hear from witnesses, particularly his remarks in support of SASC Chairman Roger Wicker’s (R-MS) defense acquisition reform legislation. However, Cramer explained, people’s opinions often change once the status quo is disrupted by the very thing they claim to support. Cramer acknowledged Lt. Gen. Caine’s unconventional background creates an opportunity for him to be a disruptor.
    “We’re dealing with the situation right now with perhaps the most disruptive innovator becoming the first director of the most disruptive innovative agency, the Space Development Agency,” said Cramer. “He has been on leave for three months during a witch hunt. This began on the last day of the last administration. All the while, satellites don’t go up. All the while, China goes at the speed of China.” 
    Cramer said he believes there is a cultural challenge in the Pentagon, and there’s work to be done by Congress and the administration. He asked Lt. Gen. Caine to elaborate on how he can truly make a difference to protect the innovators and disruptors in the defense ecosystem.
    “You’re hitting on an area that is a point of passion for me,” responded Lt. Gen. Caine. “We have to stop admiring the problem, and we have to start executing. I do think your point about culture is where it all starts. I think we have to take an ownership and an entrepreneurial mindset to all of these reforms that are in front of us, and we can’t do this alone. We have to do it with you here in the Congress in order to actually make these changes.”
    “I’m encouraged by the leaders who are coming into the department, who have deep, substantive business background that are not known as people who admire problems,” continued Lt. Gen. Caine. “And so, if confirmed, I look forward to working with the various leaders in order to actually move the ball, and of course, working with the Congress to execute these things without continuing to admire these challenges in front of us.”
    Cramer said almost every Combatant Commander he speaks with tells him they do not have access to enough intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and the “Air Force specifically has been on a mission to eliminate ISR as one of its key missions.” Cramer asked Lt. Gen. Caine to expound on ISR and where he sees it advancing.
    “ISR and the ability to have indications and warnings to make decisions for commanders who hold risk is a key and essential part of our overall ability to execute the missions that we must do,” said Lt. Gen. Caine.
    “And I think the Air Force should keep it as a mission,” concluded Cramer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today chaired a hearing examining the nomination of Lieutenant General (ret.) John D. Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    In his opening statement, Chairman Wicker underscored the tremendous responsibility that Lt. Gen. Caine would have if confirmed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. As the Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup and the other three members of the Axis of Aggressors – Russia, Iran, and North Korea – continue to band together in opposition to the United States, Chairman Wicker noted that Lt. Gen. Caine will work to give strong and decisive military advice to President Trump.

    Chairman Wicker also praised Caine’s diverse background as a former intelligence community liaison, defense technology innovator, as well as his experience both in the active-duty and national guard components of the Air Force. This track record would serve him exceptionally well as the President’s principal military advisor in a complex threat environment, Chairman Wicker argued.

    As for the proper role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs within the national defense decision-making complex ecosystem, Chairman Wicker noted that he had utmost confidence in Caine’s ability to remain nonpartisan and retain the trust of President Trump.

    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered below.

    This morning, the committee meets to consider the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

     

    General Caine has a tremendous responsibility before him. I believe President Trump has made an excellent choice in selecting him to meet the challenges, so I thank General Caine for his willingness to serve our country, especially in this hour of need.

     

    We live in the most dangerous national security moment since World War II. An Axis of Aggressors, led by the Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putin’s Russia, means us harm. This axis does not want this century to be an American-led century or a freedom-led century. Our adversaries have started two wars against Ukraine and Israel. They threaten to open a third front against Taiwan.

     

    We must restore peace, and we can do that only through strength. Since his nomination was announced, some people have written that General Caine is unqualified. They point out that he has not served as a combatant commander, as a service chief, or as a vice chairman – roles which are contemplated in 10 USC 152.

     

    I would suggest these same people read or reread the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. Those who read that law and then read General Caine’s resume will see that the architects of that legislation would conclude that their reforms were successful.

     

    The driving force behind Goldwater-Nichols was to inspire and, in some cases, require jointness. So, let’s talk about jointness with regard to Lieutenant General Caine. They believe that when our military services work together, those services are greater than the sum of their parts. General Caine agrees, and his record reflects that.

     

    He began his career as an Air Force fighter pilot in 1992. By the time he was done, General Caine had operated in every domain, and he had developed relationships with every service. That would not have been true 40 years ago. General Caine flew and commanded aircraft, but he’s also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, having helped in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the midst of a bird flu outbreak. At the White House, General Caine wrote early homeland security strategies. He deployed and commanded repeatedly to Iraq and Syria, serving within various special operations forces units. He ran our most secretive programs for all military services. General Caine worked extensively as the CIA’s senior military officer, again collaborating with every military service and combatant command.

     

    It’s difficult to imagine a better joint and interagency background for a nominee of this position. Our threat environment is complex, and General Caine understands how the services can work together to meet today’s dangers. We have much work to do, as this committee knows. We need to grow our defense budget. We need to reform the Pentagon’s processes drastically.

     

    If confirmed, General Kaine would play a significant role in providing military advice to the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States on both of those topics. In particular, the Chairman plays a significant role in the requirements process. I hope he will make a priority to modernize this critical aspect.

     

    The statutory role of the chairman may be limited, but the position is explicitly the voice of the combatant commanders. That voice matters because the commanders are largely absent from our requirements and budgeting processes.

     

    The Chairman can and should also be an advocate for a more agile planning process – one that considers the problems. And I’m going to use two big words here: the problems of simultaneity and protracted warfare – I guess that’s three big words and two big terms. These are technical terms for fairly straightforward facts. First, that our adversaries are likely to act against us in a coordinated fashion – simultaneity.  And secondly, that once that war breaks out it tends to take on a life of its own – protracted warfare.

     

    Lastly, a Chairman is responsible to deliver a serious, honest Chairman’s risk assessment to this committee as soon as possible. I look forward to General Caine’s thoughts on each of these points.

     

    Based on my conversations with the nominee, and based on his actions in uniform, I’m confident that General Caine will give President Trump his best military advice. He will do so without bias, as he’s required to do. He would not consider whether the president may like or dislike that advice that’s exactly what a United States president deserves.

     

    I’m convinced that General Caine sees this role as absolutely nonpartisan. We can argue politics up here on this dais, but I expect General Caine to stay out of it, no matter the subject.

     

    I thank the nominee for his service and for appearing today, and I turn now to my friend and colleague Ranking Member Reed for his opening remarks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

    Senators to Attorney General: “These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined 30 Senate Democrats in urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate whether government officials violated federal criminal laws in connection with a reported security breach involving the commercial messaging app Signal. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had inadvertently included him in a group Signal chat with several high-ranking national security officials. The group reportedly shared and discussed highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information via the unsecure Signal group chat.

    “In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” wrote the Senators. “Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”

    The Signal group chat, started by Mr. Waltz, included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and at least 18 other government officials. The group reportedly discussed not only the foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but also real-time operational details, including the timing of planned attacks, types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and strike outcomes. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude, involving some of the highest-ranking officials in the federal government, constitutes the type of extraordinary circumstance the Special Counsel regulations were designed to address.

    “These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” continued the Senators.

    The Senators warned that the use of Signal for such communications may violate federal law. For example, grossly negligent handling national of national defense information can violate the Espionage Act. Additionally, the Federal Records Act requires preservation of certain government communications, and the destruction of such records may constitute a separate criminal offense. Statements made by the officials involved — in testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees — raise further concerns about possible violations of laws prohibiting false statements, perjury, inducement to perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.

    “During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” concluded the Senators.

    The letter was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In addition to Senator Padilla, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

    Senator Padilla has been outspoken about the Trump Administration’s dangerous mishandling of sensitive and classified information. Last week, he called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign, citing his staggering incompetence and lack of judgment, carelessly exposing troops to greater danger.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Attorney General Bondi:

    On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.

    Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.

    The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.

    These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.

    These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.

    Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.

    During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US files civil forfeiture complaint for $47 million in proceeds from Iranian oil sale following ICE investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its Qods Force, designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

    The forfeiture was announced by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., for the District of Columbia; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office.

    “Through the work of HSI’s Counterproliferation Investigations group, alongside the FBI, the U.S. government has seized $47 million worth of funds allegedly meant for terrorist groups intent on causing catastrophic harm,” said ICE HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The expertise of HSI personnel, coupled with federal law enforcement’s whole-of-government approach, ensures the wellbeing of the United States and our innocent foreign counterparts, alike. We are relentlessly utilizing every tool at our disposal in pursuit of any and all security threats.”

    The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage facility and port authority, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage at the Croatian facility in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

    The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company, which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

    “We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran, in furtherance of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “With the continued seizures of Iranian oil and U.S. dollar profits, we are sending a clear message to Iran that bypassing the sanctions put in place by the U.S. Government is not as easy as playing a shell game with tankers filled with oil. We remain committed to thwarting Iran’s devious attempts, and to deprive its terrorists of the funding they desire.”

    “The FBI will not allow hostile regimes to evade U.S. sanctions or exploit our financial systems to fund designated terrorist organizations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Winston. “The FBI, alongside our partners, will relentlessly enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and safeguard U.S. national security by disrupting illicit networks that seek to profit from sanctioned oil sales.”

    Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

    ICE HSI New York and FBI Minneapolis Field Office are investigating the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Members of Hampton Roads drug trafficking organization sentenced to prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NORFOLK, Va. – The final member of a Hampton Roads drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced today to 35 years in prison.

    According to court documents, Donte Demille Hampton, aka Messiah, 38, of Suffolk, is a member of the violent Gangster Disciples gang and was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for selling large-scale amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in the Hampton Roads area. Hampton, Mandi Marie Green, 42, of Norfolk, and Antonio Romya Beale, 49, of Norfolk, received, stored, packaged, and distributed meth and marijuana as well as firearms at a residence in Norfolk. On June 10, 2021, investigators searched the residence and recovered 514 grams of meth, 16.7 pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, four firearms, $5,553 in drug trafficking proceeds, a digital scale, and packaging materials to prepare the drugs for distribution.

    Other members of the DTO include Joseph Grullon, 34, of Norfolk; Benjamin Adam Hogan, 42, of Norfolk; Kenneth Eric Mack, 47, of Chesapeake; William Blake Stennett, 38, of Virginia Beach; Robert Donald Tippit II, 29, of Chesapeake; and Dashawn Fonail Walker, 34, of Norfolk.

    Hampton enforced his territory by ordering organization members to ruthlessly assault his enemies as well as his own employees who stole narcotics from him. Hampton’s employees video recorded themselves violently pistol whipping and beating an employee because he failed to pay for two ounces of meth.

    On Oct. 27, 2021, Beale pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to 30 years in prison.

    On Nov. 16, 2021, Green pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced on May 26, 2022, to 25 years in prison.

    On April 22, 2022, Walker pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced on Sept. 1, 2022, to 24 years and seven months in prison.

    On June 28, 2022, Mack pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Oct. 27, 2022, to eight years and five months in prison.

    On Aug. 17, 2022, Stennett pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Dec. 13, 2022, to nine years and seven months in prison.

    On Aug. 12, 2022, Tippit pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Dec. 6, 2022, to eight years and 10 months in prison.

    On Nov. 9, 2022, Grullon pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 11 years and nine months in prison.

    On June 15, 2022, Hogan pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on July 20, 2023, to 12 years and six months in prison.

    On Oct. 17, 2024, Hampton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced today to 35 years in prison.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Luke Bresnahan, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson prosecuted the case.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-115.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Continues to Champion Cryptocurrency, Calls President Trump the “Crypto President”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reintroduced two pieces of legislation related to protecting American cryptocurrency.
    Senator Tuberville’s first bill, the Financial Freedom Act, would reverse a Biden-era memo from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that limits options for where Americans can invest their retirement earnings. The Financial Freedom Act would allow Americans to choose how they want to invest their money, including in crypto.
    “The Biden administration was hellbent on controlling every aspect of Americans’ lives,” said Senator Tuberville. “Meddling in 401(k) investments through overregulation restrains financial growth and restricts personal liberty. The federal government, which is $36 trillion debt, shouldn’t be telling anyone how to invest their money. My bill ensures that hardworking Americans have the financial freedom to make decisions about how to invest their retirement savings.”
    Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is a cosponsor of this legislation.
    Senator Tuberville’s second bill, the Prohibiting Foreign Adversary Interference in Cryptocurrency Markets Act, would prohibit the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from registering a digital commodity platform that is owned in whole or in part by an entity organized or established in China. It also requires the CFTC to revoke the registration of any digital commodity platform in the event an entity with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) acquires all or any part of the ownership of the entity.
    Digital commodity platforms collect and store personally identifiable information — including Social Security numbers, mailing addresses, and sensitive financial account data — of their users. Allowing entities based in the PRC to access this information raises serious concerns related to investor protection, data privacy, national security, sanctions compliance, and anti-money laundering efforts. Companies based in the PRC all ultimately answer to the CCP.
    “For four years, the Biden administration put America last – bowing to China at every turn and allowing our adversaries to get ahead,” said Senator Tuberville. “Thanks to President Trump, those days are over. Crypto is the future and we have to make sure our markets are protected from bad actors like China who want to destroy us. This critical bill will protect our markets and make Americans safer.”
    Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) is a cosponsor of this legislation.
    Senator Tuberville discussed his legislation on Fox Business with Larry Kudlow.
    BACKGROUND:
    FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACT
    The Financial Freedom Act would reverse regulatory guidance released by the Employee Benefits Security Administration, an agency inside of U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The guidance attempts to bar 401(k) investors from investing in cryptocurrency and undermines the ability of 401(k) plans to offer brokerage windows, which give retirement plan participants the ability to personally control how their assets are invested.
    The DOL guidance threatens that employers and investment firms could be subject to investigation and enforcement actions should they allow individuals using brokerage windows to invest in cryptocurrency. Senator Tuberville’s bill would bar such investigations and enforcement actions, opening the door for Americans to invest their savings in investments of their choice. 
    Senator Tuberville has consistently been an outspoken advocate in Congress for personal financial freedom. 
    Senator Tuberville previously introduced the Financial Freedom Act in the 117th Congress and penned an op-ed warning against government infringement on personal investment decisions.
    Senator Tuberville spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Financial Freedom Act.
    Senator Tuberville joined 36 of his U.S. Senate colleagues in introducing the Fair Access to Banking Act, a bill to protect fair access to financial services by preventing banks and financial institutions from discriminating against law-abiding businesses.
    Senator Tuberville added his support to a resolution that would challenge the Biden administration’s rule to allow retirement fund managers to consider and prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors while making retirement investment decisions.
    Senator Tuberville introduced legislation to protect Americans’ financial privacy against government surveillance.
    Prohibiting Foreign Adversary Interference in Cryptocurrency Markets Act
    The CCP’s efforts to mine data and surveil the public are well known, and decisive action is needed to safeguard the American people. Under current law, U.S. regulators have limited tools to block the purchase of a U.S. digital commodity platform by a CCP-tied entity. The Prohibiting Foreign Adversary Interference in Cryptocurrency Markets Act will help to wall off the burgeoning U.S. digital asset industry from Chinese interference and help to ensure continued American leadership in financial innovation. 
    Senator Tuberville believes the CCP seeks to overtake the United States as the top global superpower and that America must face China’s growing military and non-military threats with clear-eyed resolve.
    Since assuming office in the U.S. Senate in 2021, Senator Tuberville has led and supported numerous efforts to protect American investments, intellectual property, and national security from China.
    Senator Tuberville led the call for an investigation into Webull Financial, LLC and Moomoo, Inc. – two Chinese-owned stock trading apps operating in the United States that are registered with the SEC and FINRA.
    Both apps are widely used by American investors and freely collect and store sensitive information about users, including Social Security numbers, mailing addresses, and financial account data.
    In May 2023, Senator Tuberville sent a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler and FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook calling for oversight of the trading platforms due to the potential CCP access of American user data. In the letter, Senator Tuberville asked for answers to critical questions about the ability of the SEC and FINRA to examine the Chinese companies’ compliance with U.S. law.
    In March 2023, Senator Tuberville led a congressional delegation to Panama to discuss countering China’s growing influence in the region.
    On the trip, Senator Tuberville met with American and Panamanian officials to strategize ways to combat Chinese attempts to control the Panama Canal, which would give China enormous influence over global supply chains.
    To curb Chinese influence in the economy, Senator Tuberville introduced legislation to ban members of the CCP from receiving B-1 and B-2 visas to the United States for vacation and non-official government business.
    The CCP is responsible for trillions of dollars of intellectual property theft each year. To curb growing foreign influence and crime and discourage other Chinese nationals from joining the CCP, the bill cosponsored by Senator Tuberville would bar all 93 million CCP members from entering the United States using nonimmigrant B-1 and B-2 visas.
    Senator Tuberville believes the retirement savings of our military and federal government employees, known as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), should not be invested in the economies of our adversaries, such as China.
    Senator Tuberville wrote about this issue in the Wall Street Journal in a column entitled, “I’ll Keep Veterans’ Pensions Safe From Communism” and discussed the issue on Fox Business.
    Senator Tuberville continued the push for accountability from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) surrounding the board’s policy on foreign investments. 
    Senator Tuberville placed a hold on nominees to the FRTIB until the nominees provided clarification regarding foreign investment policies, which forced the nominees to commit to opposing TSP investment in China.
    MORE:
    Tuberville Questions CFTC Chairman on Taxation of Cryptocurrency and the Need for a Regulatory Framework for Cryptocurrency
    Tuberville Leads Letter Calling for DOJ, SEC Investigation into China-Tied Crypto Firm Prometheum, Inc.
    Tuberville Leads Bipartisan Bill to Block CCP Ownership of American Crypto Companies
    Tuberville, Lummis Work to Establish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
    Tuberville Takes Action to Protect Conservatives, Taxpayers from Political Discrimination by Banks
    ICYMI: Tuberville in Daily Caller: A Fed-Controlled Digital Dollar Could Mean The End Of Freedom In America
    Tuberville Reintroduces Bill to Keep the Government Out of Americans’ Investment Decisions 
    WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Support Grows for Tuberville’s Legislation to Protect 401(k) Investment Freedom
    Tuberville Continues Push to Protect Retirement Savers’ Financial Freedom
    New Tuberville Legislation Promotes Financial Freedom for 401(k) Investors
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Military Contractor Pleads Guilty for Deleting Text Messages in Antitrust Division Investigation

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Today, a Federal Judge accepted a guilty plea to destruction of records in a federal investigation from a former employee of a contractor that provided operation and maintenance services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for U.S. military installations in South Korea.

    According to the information filed in the Western District of Texas, in or about July 2021, David Cruz, 37, deleted text messages with Hyuk Jin Kwon and Hyun Ki Shin. Kwon and Shin were separately charged ‌for fraud and conspiring to rig bids and fix prices on millions of dollars in maintenance and repair subcontracting work provided to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in South Korea and remain fugitives. At Kwon’s suggestion, Cruz deleted text messages after receiving a litigation hold notice from his employer requiring him not to destroy or delete communications. Cruz then covered up the deletion of those text messages after being specifically advised by his employer that there was an ongoing federal investigation.

    In the deleted text messages, Cruz discussed with Kwon and Shin the need to get additional bids from their competitor to satisfy the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s competitive bidding requirements for subcontract work. Kwon had previously told Cruz that Cruz should contact him instead of requesting bids directly from Kwon’s competitors.

    “The Procurement Collusion Strike Force’s commitment to safeguard taxpayer dollars from collusion and fraud is unwavering,” said Director Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). “The Antitrust Division will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who unlawfully impede our investigations by destroying or covering up evidence.”

    “Bid rigging and other acts of fraud against the U.S. Army not only undermine the integrity of critical procurement efforts but also put our Soldiers at risk by providing them capabilities and services which do not meet the high standards necessary to maintain peak lethality,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID), Far East Field Office. “Army CID is grateful for the collaborative efforts of our federal partners at the FBI and the Department of Justice, and we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who attempts to defraud the U.S. Government, regardless of where they are in the world.”

    “The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is steadfast in its mission to protect taxpayer funds from fraud and collusion,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley Newell of DCIS’ Transnational Field Office. “We are equally committed to relentlessly pursuing those who attempt to obstruct our investigations through the destruction or concealment of evidence.”

    “Mr. Cruz knowingly destroyed records that were part of an ongoing criminal investigation and has now acknowledged his crime” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable military contractors who flout the bidding process and intentionally destroy evidence of their guilt.”

    Destruction of records in a federal investigation carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.

    The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, Army CID, DCIS, and the FBI investigated the case.

    Assistant Chief Daniel E. Lipton and Trial Attorney Daniel P. Chung of the Antitrust Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Devlin for the Western District of Texas.

    In November 2019, the Justice Department created the PCSF, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Orange, Texas man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for fatal fentanyl overdose

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BEAUMONT, Texas – An Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a fatal fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Lawrence Duguett Hardin, Jr., 39, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on April 1, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, on August 17, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to an overdose death in Humble, Texas.  Autopsy results determined the victim died due to the toxic effects of fentanyl.  An investigation determined Hardin to be responsible for supplying the fentanyl that led to the individual’s death.  A search warrant was executed at Hardin’s residence in Orange and a substance containing fentanyl and weighing 365.2 grams was discovered.

    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.  The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; Orange Police Department; Houston Police Department; West Orange Police Department; Bridge City Police Department; Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4; Jefferson County Crime Laboratory; and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and Rachel Grove.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bemidji Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Advertising, Distributing Images of Child Sexual Abuse Over the Dark Web

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – Craig James Myran, a Bemidji man, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for his involvement with a site on the dark web dedicated to the advertisement and distribution of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and his possession of similar material in his apartment.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Craig James Myran, 47, of Bemidji, Minnesota, was an active participant on a site on the dark web that was dedicated to discussing and trafficking in child sexual abuse material.  For years, he used an account with a unique username to make over a thousand posts in which he shared images of child sexual abuse on the site. In at least one post, Myran requested specific files of known child sexual abuse material from other users. And in another post, he advertised over 100 images depicting the sadomasochistic sexual abuse of two prepubescent minors.  FBI special agents executed a search warrant on Myran’s apartment in Bemidji on Dec. 8, 2022, where they found numerous hard drives and a cell phone. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered evidence establishing that Myran was the user of this unique account on the dark web site — including files of the child sexual abuse material that he shared and requested on the website, as well as a message directed to his unique alias — and thousands of other images of child sexual abuse material.

    According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Myran’s sexual exploitation of minors was not limited to his activity on this particular dark-web site. He was simultaneously an active participant on multiple other dark-web sites dedicated to trafficking in child sexual abuse material and reported that he previously produced his own child sexual abuse material by screen-recording minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct during online webcam interactions.  
    On Nov. 20, 2024, a federal jury convicted Myran for advertising, distributing, and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud.  In handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud remarked, “The defendant’s crimes reflected disregard for the victims’ humanity.  He treated society’s most vulnerable victims, young children, as sex objects and nothing more.”  Judge Tostrud added that Myran’s “crimes were far from impulsive.  He did not stumble onto the dark web by accident. He used it in an effort to conceal his activities, because he knew what he was doing was very wrong.” Judge Tostrud concluded that Myran’s “depraved mind” and his “refusal to accept any responsibility” for his crimes created a “serious need to protect the public.”

    “Crimes involving the sexual abuse of children are incalculably serious,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “For decades, believing he was protected by the dark web’s cloak of anonymity, Myran proudly trafficked in child sexual abuse material. He was deeply enmeshed in dark-web communities —sprawling criminal enterprises and flourishing online communities where offenders from around the world gather to normalize and encourage their sexual interest in children. This depraved behavior is sick, it is wrong, and it is not acceptable in Minnesota.”

    The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney David Green for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –