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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Amends Disaster Declaration for Arkansas

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In response to an amended Presidential public assistance declaration, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to private nonprofit organizations (PNP) in Crittenden, Garland and Mississippi counties affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2‑22, 2025.

    These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in the counties of Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Fulton, Garland, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Lonoke, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Pike, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone and Woodruff in Arkansas.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster. 

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

    PNPs are also eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any physical property damage. 

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.62% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA will set loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Governor Phil Scott Signs Tax Relief Bill for Working Families, Seniors, and Military Retirees

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today held a ceremony to sign S.51, An act relating to Vermont income tax exclusions and tax credits into law. He was joined by members of the legislature, current and former members of the military, and other supporters of the bill. In addition to exempting military retirement income up to $125,000 from state taxes, the bill also expands the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and exempts an additional $5,000 of Social Security income for seniors.

    Governor Scott: Good afternoon, thanks for being here.

    Over the last few years Vermonters have felt the impacts of inflation and higher costs in many areas, making it harder for those looking to retire and for families and workers to make ends meet, which includes paying their property taxes.

    So, at the start of the session, one of the areas I asked the legislature to focus on was affordability.

    I put forward some ideas to help ease the tax burden so Vermonters aren’t forced to make tough decisions about which bills they pay this month and which ones they don’t, their electric bill, their fuel bill, or their car payment, because they can’t do all three. Or worse yet, consider moving out of Vermont to a more affordable state.

    Because when I’m out talking to people, that’s what they’re concerned about: how expensive it is to live in Vermont.

    My affordability plan included tax breaks for workers, families, and seniors by expanding the eligibility for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit and increasing the social security income exemption by another $5,000.

    It also included fully exempting military retirement pay.

    And although we didn’t get as much as I would have liked, we did make significant gains.

    S.51 fully exempts income up to $125,000 and tapers off for those receiving more.

    The bill also includes a refundable tax credit for retirees earning up to $30,000.

    Since I was first elected Governor, I’ve asked the legislature to eliminate the income tax from military retirement because with an aging demographic and declining workforce, it’ll help attract more working aged people and families to Vermont.

    And it makes a lot of sense because it’s difficult to compete with other states who are much more generous with tax incentives.

    This exemption isn’t just about tax breaks, and as you can see by who’s here today, it’s not a partisan issue.

    It’s an important recruitment tool because many in the military retire at a relatively young age and have an entire civilian career ahead of them.

    They’re highly skilled from their military experience which we need to fill jobs here in the state.

    To all the members of our military, past and present, thank you for your service to our country.

    We live in freedom because of you and it’s important we remember the contributions you’ve made to protect that.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation – June 25, 2025

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.

    On June 25, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:

    • H.474, An act relating to miscellaneous changes to election law
    • S.51, An act relating to Vermont income tax exclusions and tax credits

    To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, click here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Clairvest Reports Fiscal 2025 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clairvest Group Inc. (TSX: CVG) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2025 and events which occurred subsequent to year end. (All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated)

    Highlights

    • March 31, 2025 book value was $1,251.6 million or $88.30 per share compared with $1,234.3 million or $86.78 per share as at December 31, 2024 and $1,176.3 million or $80.16 per share as at March 31, 2024
    • Net income for the fourth quarter was $20.7 million or $1.46 per share as the fair value of certain investments increased
    • Net income for fiscal 2025 was $122.0 million or $8.47 per share. During fiscal 2025, Clairvest had $46.1 million of net realized gains from the realization of four investments and $44.8 million of net investment gains on its remaining private equity portfolio
    • Subsequent to year end, Clairvest and Clairvest Equity Partners VII (“CEP VII”) invested in NCS Engineers
    • Also subsequent to year end, Clairvest and CEP VII invested in Beneficial Reuse Management
    • Also subsequent to year end, Clairvest declared an annual dividend of $1.4 million, or $0.10 per share, and a special dividend of $11.1 million, or $0.7830 per share, both payable on July 25, 2025

    Clairvest’s book value was $1,251.6 million or $88.30 per share as at March 31, 2025, compared with $1,234.3 million or $86.78 per share as at December 31, 2024 and $1,176.3 million or $80.16 per share as at March 31 2024. For the year ended March 31, 2025, Clairvest had invested a total of $53 million in three new deals and follow-on investments and exited four investments for total proceeds of $141 million. As at March 31, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and temporary investments excluding marketable securities, as reported under IFRS, were $250 million. In addition, our acquisition entities held $139 million in cash, cash equivalents and temporary investments as at March 31, 2025 bringing total available cash to $389 million. In aggregate, this represented 31% of our book value as at March 31, 2025, or approximately $27 per share.

    Net income for the fourth quarter was $20.7 million, or $1.46 per share. The net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 reflects a net increase in the fair value of Clairvest’s investee companies and a corresponding increase in carried interest from the CEP Funds.

    Net income for the fiscal year was $122 million or $8.47 per share. During the fiscal year, Clairvest divested its investments in Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island, Chilean Gaming Holdings, FSB Technology and Durante Rentals for net realized gains of $46.1 million, while the rest of the portfolio experienced net investment gains of $44.8 million, inclusive of foreign exchange gains. Following the realization of Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island, Clairvest was awarded the 2025 CVCA Private Equity Global Dealmaker of the Year for the sale of this investment.

    During the fiscal year, 500,070 shares were purchased and cancelled for a total purchase price of $35 million, or at an average price of $70.01 per share. These purchases were accretive to the book value per share.

    In April 2025, and as previously announced, Clairvest together with CEP VII made a US$22.4 million (C$32.1 million) minority preferred equity investment in NCS Engineers, a provider of turn-key water and wastewater engineering solutions across the United States. Clairvest’s portion of the investment was US$5.6 million (C$8.0 million).

    In May 2025, and as previously announced, Clairvest together with CEP VII made a US$72.5 million (C$100.6 million) equity investment in Beneficial Reuse Management, a U.S.-based company which distributes products to the agriculture, landscape, wallboard, and construction end-markets by reusing or converting certain industrial waste streams into value-add products. Clairvest’s portion of the investment was US$18.1 million (C$25.1 million).

    “Fiscal 2025 was a productive year across Clairvest, marked by strong progress in our portfolio and continued investment momentum, despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop. Our portfolio companies, on the whole, are performing well, and we remain confident in our ability to build long-term value alongside our entrepreneur partners. With CEP VII now underway with its first three investments, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and remain focused on backing aligned entrepreneurs in our active domains,” said Ken Rotman, CEO of Clairvest. “We were also honoured to receive the 2025 CVCA Private Equity Global Dealmaker of the Year award for our investment in Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island – our ninth time being recognized by the CVCA. Clairvest and CEP V achieved a 7.5x MOIC and a 24% internal rate of return on this investment. Our partnership with the Winters family spans three separate investments over 18 years, and this transaction marks another excellent outcome driven by long-term alignment, patience, and mutual trust.”

    Also subsequent to year end, Clairvest declared an annual ordinary dividend of $0.10 per share and a special dividend of $0.7830 per share, such that in aggregate, the dividends represent 1% of the March 31, 2025 book value. Both dividends will be payable on July 25, 2025 to common shareholders of record as of July 4, 2025 and are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

    Summary of Financial Results – Unaudited
             
    Financial Results(1) Quarter ended Year ended
    March 31 March 31
    2025 2024 2025 2024
    ($000’s, except per share amounts) $ $ $ $
    Net investment gain (loss) 11,438 22,024 15,248 (19,385)
    Net carried interest from Clairvest Equity Partners III and IV (292) 1,005 4,169 3,700
    Distributions, interest income, dividends and fees 19,386 11,897 157,064 52,336
    Total expenses (recovery), excluding income taxes 9,746 1,592 37,940 39,824
    Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) 20,721 26,103 122,042 (3,353)
    Basic and fully diluted net income (loss) per share 1.46 1.78 8.47 (0.23)
    Financial Position March 31 March 31
    2025 2024
    ($000’s, except share information and per share amounts) $ $
    Total assets 1,429,435 1,342,139
    Total cash, cash equivalents and temporary investments 295,728 330,193
    Carried interest from Clairvest Equity Partners III and IV 48,517 52,188
    Corporate investments(1) 942,857 870,660
    Total liabilities 177,844 165,842
    Management participation from Clairvest Equity Partners III and IV 37,718 41,506
    Book value(2) 1,251,591 1,176,297
    Common shares outstanding 14,173,631 14,673,701
    Book value per share(2) 88.30 80.16
    (1) Includes carried interest of $141,897 (2024: $143,617) and management participation of $105,457 (2024: $103,740) from Clairvest Equity Partners V, VI and VII and $162,235 (2024: $90,973) in cash, cash equivalents and temporary investments held by Clairvest’s acquisition entities.
    (2) Book value is a non-IFRS measure calculated as the value of total assets less the value of total liabilities.
         

    Clairvest’s annual fiscal 2025 financial statements and MD&A are available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the Clairvest website at www.clairvest.com.

    About Clairvest

    Clairvest’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs to help them build strategically significant businesses. Founded in 1987 by a group of successful Canadian entrepreneurs, Clairvest is a top performing private equity management firm with over CAD $4.6 billion of capital under management. Clairvest invests its own capital and that of third parties through the Clairvest Equity Partners limited partnerships in owner-led businesses. Under the current management team, Clairvest has initiated investments in 69 different platform companies and generated top quartile performance over an extended period.

    Contact Information

    Stephanie Lo
    Director of Investor Relations and Marketing
    Clairvest Group Inc.
    Tel: (416) 925-9270
    Fax: (416) 925-5753
    stephaniel@clairvest.com

    Forward-looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Clairvest Group Inc., its subsidiaries, its CEP limited partnerships and their investments. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Clairvest, its subsidiaries, its CEP limited partnerships and their investments to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include general and economic business conditions and regulatory risks. Clairvest is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise.

    www.clairvest.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Rwanda: African Development Bank kickstarts pioneering cable car project in Kigali

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    The African Development Bank has approved a grant of $500,000 to undertake a feasibility study into the first phase of a cable car transport network in Kigali, that will be sub-Saharan Africa’s first aerial urban transit system.  The project is initiated by Ropeways Transit Rwanda Ltd (RTRL). 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University

    © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to humans.

    But it is the evil robot – the machine that malfunctions, rebels or was built to harm – that has most powerfully gripped the collective imagination of audiences.

    From the silent menace of Maschinenmensch in 1927’s Metropolis, to the relentless pursuit of the Terminator, to the campy violence of M3GAN, evil robots continue to resonate.

    These films not only thrill, scare and entertain audiences. They also reflect deep-seated cultural anxieties about the unpredictable consequences of the current and future human-robot relationship.

    The killer robot is far from a simple villain. It is a mirror held up to some of the most pressing cultural questions we have about human autonomy and responsibility in the digital age.

    The precarity of human control

    The enduring appeal of the evil robot narrative lies in the way horror often channels our deepest cultural anxieties about the speed of technological advancement and the precarity of human control in an increasingly digital (and robotic) world.

    In The Spark of Fear, scholar Brian Duchaney posits that improvements in technology necessitate new types of horror stories, and that horror as a genre acts out our distrust of the social advances that new technology brings.

    In the late 1960s, there was unease about the growing sophistication of computers and the impacts of the Space Race. HAL 9000 of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) represented this threat through a disembodied AI that icily turned against its human creators.

    The android Ash in Alien (1979) added another layer of menace, disguised as a human embedded in the spacecraft crew and programmed to prioritise corporate interests over human life. In this case, Ash became a proxy for concerns over corporate adoption of automation, and the increasing role of technology in military and industrial contexts.

    During the Cold War era, fears of nuclear annihilation and concerns over reaching a point where we could no longer switch off the machines led to the unforgettable T-800 and shape-shifting T-1000 in the first two Terminator films (1984 and 1991).

    In the 21st century, as artificial intelligence and robotics became more prevalent in everyday life, the cinematic robot has entered our homes, culminating in M3GAN’s companion-gone-rogue.

    In M3GAN (2022), Gemma (Allison Williams) is a robotics designer who creates an AI-powered companion doll to help her orphaned niece Cady (Violet McGraw) cope with her grief. But the doll becomes dangerously overprotective.

    In M3GAN 2.0 (2025), the consciousness of the titular robot appears to have survived the 2022 film and, in a move that borrows from The Terminator 2, M3GAN shifts from villain to protector.

    The new film explores the consequences of the underlying tech for M3GAN being stolen and misused by a powerful defence contractor to create a military-grade robot, known as Amelia. The only option to counteract Amelia is for Gemma to resurrect M3GAN – complete with upgrades to make her faster, stronger and more deadly.

    Our technological anxieties

    Why is M3GAN such an effective avatar for our contemporary anxieties?

    Horror theorist Noël Carroll argues that monsters are often frightening because they don’t fit neatly into normal categories. They may be “in-between” things (such as part human, part machine) or contradictory (for example a zombie: both alive and dead at the same time).

    M3GAN is a great example of both. She looks and acts like a young girl, with expressive facial features and a snarky sense of humour. But she’s really just artificial intelligence inside a robot body.

    She’s also contradictory: she is designed to care for and protect her owner, yet she does so in exceedingly violent and deadly ways. These paradoxes make her both frightening and fascinating for audiences.

    M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0 bring to the surface our technological anxieties, and defuse them through their camp qualities.

    One sequence in the earlier film sees M3GAN break into a fluid yet unsettling dance, mimicking the performance of many a TikTok teen, only for the dance to end abruptly when she snatches a paper cutter blade and returns to stalking her victim.

    This meme-ified moment – combined with some deadpan one-liners and often comically ironic facial expressions – have led to M3GAN becoming a gay icon in the wake of the original film.

    M3GAN’s campiness doesn’t completely neutralise the horror. It reformulates it, offering a cathartic release that makes the subject matter more digestible. While we feel fear, we do so without real-world consequences. The fear is disarmed through humour.

    This multifaceted horror experience more fully reflects the complexities of our evolving relationship with new technology. These relationships often move through a spectrum of concern, anxiety and fear before we find ways to manage and normalise those feelings.

    Humour and catharsis are two of these coping mechanisms. Movies provide us with a way of neatly and temporarily resolving what often remain unresolved questions.

    Films like M3GAN 2.0 illustrate how horror narratives can also transform alongside the technologies they critique, offering not only tension and jump scares, but also philosophical consideration, comedy and cathartic release.

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

    – ref. From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears – https://theconversation.com/from-hal-9000-to-m3gan-what-films-evil-robots-tell-us-about-contemporary-tech-fears-258397

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Education reforms agreed by Parliament

    Source: Scottish Government

    New qualifications body and independent inspectorate will be established.

    The creation of a new national qualifications body, along with an independent education inspectorate, has taken a major step forward after legislation to implement the changes was passed in the Scottish Parliament.

    The Education (Scotland) Bill was backed by 69 votes to 47 by MSPs tonight. This includes provisions to replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new organisation, Qualifications Scotland.

    The office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, with enhanced independence, will be created to undertake the education inspection functions that currently sit within Education Scotland.

    The final legislation, following Stage 2 and Stage 3 amendments to the Bill initially introduced in June last year, includes measures from all political parties represented on Holyrood’s Education, Children and Young People committee.  

    Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

    “The successful passage of this legislation shows this Government is serious about implementing the changes needed to drive improvement across Scotland’s education and skills system.

    “The creation of a new national qualifications body is about building the right conditions for reform to flourish; the new body will ensure that knowledge and experience of pupils and teachers are at the heart of our national qualifications offering. The new inspectorate body will also have greater independence and the power to set the frequency and focus of inspections, moving this function away from Ministers, to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector.  

    “Throughout this process, I have been determined to work with other parties on this vital legislation. I am also grateful to teaching unions and other organisations across civic Scotland who contributed to its development.

    “Taken together our major programme of education and skills reform will bring about the changes needed to meet the needs of future generations of young people.”

     Background

    Qualifications Scotland is expected to become operational in Autumn 2025.

    Once appointed, HM Chief Inspector will lead the new education inspectorate, which is expected to become operational in Autumn 2025. The new inspectorate will operate independently, while the Bill passed by Parliament will see Scottish Ministers retain oversight authority and they will be able to request that specific inspections be carried out by the Chief Inspector.

    Two elements of reform activity are not part of the Bill’s provisions. These are the revised remit of Education Scotland, which will see it continue as the national education agency but with a focus on the curriculum, and the establishment of a Centre for Teaching Excellence, which will be launched at the start of the new academic year and help support teachers’ professional development. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seeds of innovation: Investing in agri-research

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Wildfire Update – June 25

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 25, 2025

    As of 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, there are 19 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, two are categorized as contained, five are not contained, nine are ongoing assessment and three are listed as protecting values.

    This year, Saskatchewan has had 267 wildfires, which is well above the five-year average of 166 to date.

    Three communities remain under an evacuation order: East Trout Lake, as well as priority individuals from Creighton and Denare Beach. Priority individuals from Cumberland House have been repatriated.

    The SPSA’s Recovery Task Team continues to meet with community leaders to discuss recovery efforts.     

    Over $4 million has been transferred directly to residents as well as communities that are distributing the $500 Government of Saskatchewan Financial Assistance to their residents that have been impacted by the wildfires. The SPSA is continuing to coordinate with communities that have asked for its support in distributing this financial assistance.

    Evacuees who have not yet registered are encouraged to do so through the Sask Evac Web Application or by calling 1-855-559-5502 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

    Evacuees supported by the Canadian Red Cross can call 1-800-863-6582. 

    A full list of evacuated and repatriated communities can be found on the Information for Evacuees webpage.

    The latest information, an interactive fire ban map, frequently asked questions, fire risk maps and fire prevention tips can be found at saskpublicsafety.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas Business Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Texas woman was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for her participation in a scheme to file fraudulent applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

    According to court documents, between around May 2020, and March 2021, Shantelle Hawkins, 43, of DeSoto, conspired to submit 17 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies she or her relatives owned or controlled. The applications contained false statements about payroll and tax information, which the SBA used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. Hawkins used some of the money she obtained from the loans for personal expenses, including to pay off her 2015 Maserati Ghibli luxury car and to purchase property in the greater Dallas area.

    Hawkins pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  At sentencing, Hawkins was ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution and to forfeit the residence purchased with proceeds from the fraud.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson for the Northern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch and Kashan Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elyse Lyons for the Northern District of Texas is handling asset forfeiture.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas Business Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Texas woman was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for her participation in a scheme to file fraudulent applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

    According to court documents, between around May 2020, and March 2021, Shantelle Hawkins, 43, of DeSoto, conspired to submit 17 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies she or her relatives owned or controlled. The applications contained false statements about payroll and tax information, which the SBA used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. Hawkins used some of the money she obtained from the loans for personal expenses, including to pay off her 2015 Maserati Ghibli luxury car and to purchase property in the greater Dallas area.

    Hawkins pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  At sentencing, Hawkins was ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution and to forfeit the residence purchased with proceeds from the fraud.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson for the Northern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch and Kashan Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elyse Lyons for the Northern District of Texas is handling asset forfeiture.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, San Mateo District Attorney Wagstaffe Secure Settlement, Full Refunds for Hundreds of California Travelers

    Source: US State of California

    Travel agent failed to offer refunds for trips cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe today announced a settlement with Nawas International Travel Service (Nawas), a California travel agency focusing on religious travel, for failing to provide full refunds to consumers whose trips were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The settlement today, pending court approval, includes at least $567,138 in full restitution of cancellation fees to affected California travelers, $560,000 in civil penalties under the California’s Unfair Competition Law and Seller of Travel Act, and strong injunctive terms that prohibit Nawas from imposing cancellation fees that violate California law. 

    “We are proud to announce that today, in partnership with the San Mateo District Attorney, we’ve secured full refunds for hundreds of Californians who were harmed by the illegal practices of Nawas International Travel Service. Travel agents operating in California must comply with California’s strong consumer protection laws, which includes providing timely refunds for cancelled travel,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Today’s settlement provides important restitution for those harmed by Nawas’s attempt to disregard California law and a reminder to the travel industry that all California Sellers of Travel need to play by the rules.”  

    “California law provides protections for consumers when purchasing travel from Sellers of Travel. My office was pleased to work with the Attorney General’s Office in this case to ensure these laws were enforced,” said San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. 

    Nawas is a seller and provider of tours to religious sites around the world, including sites in the Middle East and Europe. Nawas markets its tours largely through clergy and many of Nawas’s travelers are senior citizens. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nawas cancelled hundreds of international tours. After the cancellation, rather than refunding the full amount of the travelers’ deposits and tour payments, Nawas unlawfully withheld “cancellation fees” of between $200 and $1,150 per traveler. In all, Nawas withheld approximately $560,000 in what they termed cancellation fees from approximately 600 California travelers. Nawas’s withholding of those funds violated the California Seller of Travel Act, which requires sellers of travel to provide full refunds for any travel that they are unable to provide, with certain limited exceptions that do not apply here. Although Nawas claimed to travelers that it was allowed to withhold cancellation fees under its own terms and conditions, the Seller of Travel Act expressly prohibits this where, as here, the seller of travel is unable or unwilling to provide the purchased travel. 

    The Attorney General’s Office operates the Seller of Travel Program, which registers travel agents and certain other travel businesses operating in California. The attorney general and district attorneys can bring enforcement actions against sellers of travel for violations of the law. We encourage any Californian who believes they have been wronged by a seller of travel to contact their local district attorney and file a complaint with our office at ‪www.oag.ca.gov/report.

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to investigating and remedying harm to consumers affected by unlawful and deceptive business practices, including in the travel industry: 

    Earlier this year, Attorney General Bonta announced securing a nine-year jail sentence against Iqbal Randhawa for defrauding more than a dozen members of the South Asian immigrant community in Northern California. Between 2017 and 2020, each victim hired Randhawa, a travel agent, to purchase airline tickets, paying him between $1,100 and $12,000. Instead of buying the tickets, Randhawa provided fraudulent itineraries and stole the funds. Also last year, Attorney General Bonta and San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan announced the sentencing of Marie Martin, a San Diego-based travel agent and registered seller of travel, who embezzled travel funds from more than 150 parents who paid for eighth-grade school trips to the East Coast. After the school trips were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin refused to provide refunds to the parents, instead spending funds on personal expenses. In 2021, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement  with Voyageurs International, resolving allegations that the Colorado-based travel agent offered only partial refunds for a cancelled European trip for California high school students and improperly pocketed their clients’ remaining fees. The settlement required Voyageurs to provide a full refund to its 130 California consumers, for a total of approximately $247,000 in restitution.  

    A copy of the complaint and proposed settlement can be found here and here. The settlement is pending court approval. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, San Mateo District Attorney Wagstaffe Secure Settlement, Full Refunds for Hundreds of California Travelers

    Source: US State of California

    Travel agent failed to offer refunds for trips cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe today announced a settlement with Nawas International Travel Service (Nawas), a California travel agency focusing on religious travel, for failing to provide full refunds to consumers whose trips were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The settlement today, pending court approval, includes at least $567,138 in full restitution of cancellation fees to affected California travelers, $560,000 in civil penalties under the California’s Unfair Competition Law and Seller of Travel Act, and strong injunctive terms that prohibit Nawas from imposing cancellation fees that violate California law. 

    “We are proud to announce that today, in partnership with the San Mateo District Attorney, we’ve secured full refunds for hundreds of Californians who were harmed by the illegal practices of Nawas International Travel Service. Travel agents operating in California must comply with California’s strong consumer protection laws, which includes providing timely refunds for cancelled travel,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Today’s settlement provides important restitution for those harmed by Nawas’s attempt to disregard California law and a reminder to the travel industry that all California Sellers of Travel need to play by the rules.”  

    “California law provides protections for consumers when purchasing travel from Sellers of Travel. My office was pleased to work with the Attorney General’s Office in this case to ensure these laws were enforced,” said San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. 

    Nawas is a seller and provider of tours to religious sites around the world, including sites in the Middle East and Europe. Nawas markets its tours largely through clergy and many of Nawas’s travelers are senior citizens. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nawas cancelled hundreds of international tours. After the cancellation, rather than refunding the full amount of the travelers’ deposits and tour payments, Nawas unlawfully withheld “cancellation fees” of between $200 and $1,150 per traveler. In all, Nawas withheld approximately $560,000 in what they termed cancellation fees from approximately 600 California travelers. Nawas’s withholding of those funds violated the California Seller of Travel Act, which requires sellers of travel to provide full refunds for any travel that they are unable to provide, with certain limited exceptions that do not apply here. Although Nawas claimed to travelers that it was allowed to withhold cancellation fees under its own terms and conditions, the Seller of Travel Act expressly prohibits this where, as here, the seller of travel is unable or unwilling to provide the purchased travel. 

    The Attorney General’s Office operates the Seller of Travel Program, which registers travel agents and certain other travel businesses operating in California. The attorney general and district attorneys can bring enforcement actions against sellers of travel for violations of the law. We encourage any Californian who believes they have been wronged by a seller of travel to contact their local district attorney and file a complaint with our office at ‪www.oag.ca.gov/report.

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to investigating and remedying harm to consumers affected by unlawful and deceptive business practices, including in the travel industry: 

    Earlier this year, Attorney General Bonta announced securing a nine-year jail sentence against Iqbal Randhawa for defrauding more than a dozen members of the South Asian immigrant community in Northern California. Between 2017 and 2020, each victim hired Randhawa, a travel agent, to purchase airline tickets, paying him between $1,100 and $12,000. Instead of buying the tickets, Randhawa provided fraudulent itineraries and stole the funds. Also last year, Attorney General Bonta and San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan announced the sentencing of Marie Martin, a San Diego-based travel agent and registered seller of travel, who embezzled travel funds from more than 150 parents who paid for eighth-grade school trips to the East Coast. After the school trips were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin refused to provide refunds to the parents, instead spending funds on personal expenses. In 2021, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement  with Voyageurs International, resolving allegations that the Colorado-based travel agent offered only partial refunds for a cancelled European trip for California high school students and improperly pocketed their clients’ remaining fees. The settlement required Voyageurs to provide a full refund to its 130 California consumers, for a total of approximately $247,000 in restitution.  

    A copy of the complaint and proposed settlement can be found here and here. The settlement is pending court approval. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Blue Ridge Departs Guam Following Port Visit

    Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1

    APRA HARBOR, Guam – The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff departed Guam following a scheduled port visit, June 14-17. This port visit marked the first time Blue Ridge has visited Guam since 2020.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: ABeam Consulting (USA) Ltd. and Millennium EBS Establish Strategic Collaborations to Expedite ISO 20022 Implementation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ABeam Consulting (USA) Ltd. (“ABeam US”) and Millennium EBS, a BlueOne Card Inc. subsidiary, have announced a strategic collaboration under a newly signed Master Services Agreement (MSA) to jointly promote the Millennium EBS Payment Hub: ISO 20022 Transformer. This collaboration brings together ABeam’s deep expertise in business and digital transformation and Millennium EBS’s advanced payment technology— offering banks and financial institutions a streamlined, future-ready solution for ISO 20022 compliance.

    A Unified Vision for Payment Modernization

    As global adoption of ISO 20022 accelerates, financial institutions are under increasing pressure to migrate to new messaging standards while maintaining operational continuity. The ISO 20022 Transformer offers a seamless path forward—enabling smooth integration with legacy systems, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and unlocking enhanced data quality and process efficiency.

    “Through this collaboration with Millennium EBS, we’re reinforcing our commitment to helping financial institutions navigate complex regulatory shifts with confidence,” said a spokesperson from ABeam US. “Together, we’re delivering not just compliance—but the strategic capabilities institutions need to stay competitive in a digital-first economy.”

    ABeam Consulting: A Trusted Transformation Partner

    ABeam Consulting serves clients across diverse industries, including financial services, automotive, manufacturing, and consumer goods. The firm has led successful transformation initiatives for leading organizations worldwide, with a focus on digitalization, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth.

    With its extensive experience in ISO 20022 compliance, digital modernization, and systems integration, ABeam Consulting offers end-to-end support for implementing the ISO 20022 Transformer, ensuring a seamless, scalable transition for financial institutions worldwide.

    Technology Meets Industry Expertise

    “This partnership with ABeam US is a major step forward in our mission to modernize payment systems globally,” said Shinto J Matthew, CEO of Millennium EBS. “By integrating our proven technology with ABeam US’s industry insight, we’re equipping banks with a powerful toolkit to manage ISO 20022 migration efficiently—and drive long-term operational gains.”

    With the ISO 20022 Transformer, financial institutions benefit from:

    • Seamless integration with existing payment infrastructure
    • Regulatory compliance with ISO 20022 standards and migration timelines
    • Improved transaction transparency and data quality

    Greater operational efficiency across domestic and cross-border payments

    To learn more about the ISO 20022 Transformer and how ABeam and Millennium EBS can support your payment modernization journey, visit [smatthew@millenniumebs.com] or contact [smatthew@millenniumebs.com].

    About ABeam

    ABeam Consulting provides innovative business solutions to help companies improve their operations and gain a competitive edge. With over 42 years of experience, ABeam has grown from a part of Deloitte and Touche to an independent consulting firm focused on client success.

    Today, ABeam operates in 36 countries, serving more than 750 clients across Asia, the Americas, and Europe. With over 8,300 professionals, ABeam reported $1 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024. ABeam combines industry expertise with technological innovation to help clients navigate the digital landscape.

    ABeam is committed to fostering change by integrating business strategy with technology. Our focus on connected and intelligent applications helps companies reimagine their business models and confidently plan for the future. Join the 750+ global organizations transforming their operations with ABeam Consulting. Explore our services and insights at www. abeam.com/am/en/.

    About Millennium EBS

    Millennium EBS, now a subsidiary of BlueOne Card Inc, brings over two decades of industry expertise in delivering high-quality, reliable payment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern financial institutions. Millennium EBS empowers small to medium-sized banks and financial institutions worldwide through seamless payment processing, regulatory-compliant ISO 20022 transformation, and personalized customer engagement tools. For more information, please visit www.millenniumebs.com/.

    Millenium EBS

    Shinto J Matthew – CEO

    Email: smatthew@millenniumebs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ABeam Consulting (USA) Ltd. and Millennium EBS Establish Strategic Collaborations to Expedite ISO 20022 Implementation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ABeam Consulting (USA) Ltd. (“ABeam US”) and Millennium EBS, a BlueOne Card Inc. subsidiary, have announced a strategic collaboration under a newly signed Master Services Agreement (MSA) to jointly promote the Millennium EBS Payment Hub: ISO 20022 Transformer. This collaboration brings together ABeam’s deep expertise in business and digital transformation and Millennium EBS’s advanced payment technology— offering banks and financial institutions a streamlined, future-ready solution for ISO 20022 compliance.

    A Unified Vision for Payment Modernization

    As global adoption of ISO 20022 accelerates, financial institutions are under increasing pressure to migrate to new messaging standards while maintaining operational continuity. The ISO 20022 Transformer offers a seamless path forward—enabling smooth integration with legacy systems, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and unlocking enhanced data quality and process efficiency.

    “Through this collaboration with Millennium EBS, we’re reinforcing our commitment to helping financial institutions navigate complex regulatory shifts with confidence,” said a spokesperson from ABeam US. “Together, we’re delivering not just compliance—but the strategic capabilities institutions need to stay competitive in a digital-first economy.”

    ABeam Consulting: A Trusted Transformation Partner

    ABeam Consulting serves clients across diverse industries, including financial services, automotive, manufacturing, and consumer goods. The firm has led successful transformation initiatives for leading organizations worldwide, with a focus on digitalization, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth.

    With its extensive experience in ISO 20022 compliance, digital modernization, and systems integration, ABeam Consulting offers end-to-end support for implementing the ISO 20022 Transformer, ensuring a seamless, scalable transition for financial institutions worldwide.

    Technology Meets Industry Expertise

    “This partnership with ABeam US is a major step forward in our mission to modernize payment systems globally,” said Shinto J Matthew, CEO of Millennium EBS. “By integrating our proven technology with ABeam US’s industry insight, we’re equipping banks with a powerful toolkit to manage ISO 20022 migration efficiently—and drive long-term operational gains.”

    With the ISO 20022 Transformer, financial institutions benefit from:

    • Seamless integration with existing payment infrastructure
    • Regulatory compliance with ISO 20022 standards and migration timelines
    • Improved transaction transparency and data quality

    Greater operational efficiency across domestic and cross-border payments

    To learn more about the ISO 20022 Transformer and how ABeam and Millennium EBS can support your payment modernization journey, visit [smatthew@millenniumebs.com] or contact [smatthew@millenniumebs.com].

    About ABeam

    ABeam Consulting provides innovative business solutions to help companies improve their operations and gain a competitive edge. With over 42 years of experience, ABeam has grown from a part of Deloitte and Touche to an independent consulting firm focused on client success.

    Today, ABeam operates in 36 countries, serving more than 750 clients across Asia, the Americas, and Europe. With over 8,300 professionals, ABeam reported $1 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024. ABeam combines industry expertise with technological innovation to help clients navigate the digital landscape.

    ABeam is committed to fostering change by integrating business strategy with technology. Our focus on connected and intelligent applications helps companies reimagine their business models and confidently plan for the future. Join the 750+ global organizations transforming their operations with ABeam Consulting. Explore our services and insights at www. abeam.com/am/en/.

    About Millennium EBS

    Millennium EBS, now a subsidiary of BlueOne Card Inc, brings over two decades of industry expertise in delivering high-quality, reliable payment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern financial institutions. Millennium EBS empowers small to medium-sized banks and financial institutions worldwide through seamless payment processing, regulatory-compliant ISO 20022 transformation, and personalized customer engagement tools. For more information, please visit www.millenniumebs.com/.

    Millenium EBS

    Shinto J Matthew – CEO

    Email: smatthew@millenniumebs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and TitletownTech officially open AI Co-Innovation Lab to accelerate manufacturing innovation

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and TitletownTech officially open AI Co-Innovation Lab to accelerate manufacturing innovation

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and TitletownTech officially open AI Co-Innovation Lab to accelerate manufacturing innovation

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and TitletownTech officially open AI Co-Innovation Lab to accelerate manufacturing innovation

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Ministers visit flood affected areas in the Eastern Cape

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy Minister Nonceba Mhlauli leads a team of Deputy Ministers on a visit to the flood affected areas in the Eastern Cape , to assess recovery progress

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6721d7C5x3E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: G20 Development Working Group meeting closing

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    G20 Development Working Group meeting closing

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIkbjxy_r1s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 25th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Urge Trump Administration to Reverse Course & Fully Implement Broadband

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Representative Terese Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) joined over 40 of their colleagues to send a letter calling on U.S.  Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to fully implement the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program as Congress intended to connect all Americans to high-quality, affordable internet. 

    The lawmakers’ letter to Secretary Lutnick comes as the Department of Commerce announced substantial changes to the implementation of the BEAD program. 

    “We write to express our opposition to the Department of Commerce’s recently announced BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was established by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide high-quality, affordable, and sustainable broadband to connect the nearly 25 million Americans that continue to wait for high-speed internet access. We urge you to ensure that states receive the full funding and flexibility they retained prior to the issuance of the restructuring notice to fully meet these statutory objectives.” 

    “The broadband division of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law begins with this congressional finding: ‘Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern life in the United States,’” the lawmakers continued. “This fundamental reality is why the BEAD program was established to fulfill the subsequent finding that ‘the benefits of broadband should be broadly enjoyed by all.’”

    The letter is led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). Alongside Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and U.S. Representatives Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Bishop (D-Ga.), Bynum (D-Ore.), Carson (D-Ind.), Carter (D-La.), Cleaver (D-Mo.),  Davis (D-Ill.), DelBene (D-Wash.), Evans (D-Pa.),  Fields (D-La.), Figures (D-Ala.), Garcia (D-Texas), Goodlander (D-N.H.), Hoyle (D-Ore.), Huffman (D-Calif), Lofgren (D-Calif.), McGovern (D-Mass.), Menendez (D-N.J.), Mrvan (D-Ind.), Neguse (D-Colo.), Pappas (D-N.H.), Scholten (D-Mich), Sewell (D-Ala.), Soto (D-Fla.), Thompson (D-Miss.), Titus (D-Nev.), Tlaib (D-Mich.), Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Williams (D-Ga.), and Wilson (D-Fla.).  

    The full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Lutnick: 

    We write to express our opposition to the Department of Commerce’s recently announced BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was established by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide high-quality, affordable, and sustainable broadband to connect the nearly 25 million Americans that continue to wait for high-speed internet access. We urge you to ensure that states receive the full funding and flexibility they retained prior to the issuance of the restructuring notice to fully meet these statutory objectives. 

    The broadband division of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law begins with this congressional finding: “Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern life in the United States.” This fundamental reality is why the BEAD program was established to fulfill the subsequent finding that “the benefits of broadband should be broadly enjoyed by all.” To achieve this goal, the statute states that funding recipients must “ensure coverage of broadband service to all unserved locations” before using any funds for other purposes. The restructuring notice appears to violate this requirement by allowing applicants to exclude certain unserved locations. Such an allowance would defy bipartisan congressional intent, which was predicated on the understanding that public investment was needed to achieve universal service precisely because building the infrastructure to cover many rural areas was too costly to be profitable. 

    In addition to excluding unserved, predominantly rural locations, the restructuring notice would likely result in others receiving worse service. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires that “priority broadband projects” funded by the program be “designed to provide broadband service that meets speed, latency, reliability, consistency in quality of service, and related criteria as the Assistant Secretary shall determine; and [to] ensure that the network[s] built by the project[s] can easily scale speeds over time to meet the evolving connectivity needs of households and businesses, and support the deployment of 5G, successor wireless technologies, and other advanced services.” Of currently available technologies, fiber-optic networks are faster and more reliable and can scale speeds much more easily. We made the decision to invest larger sums now in broadband infrastructure that would be resilient and capable of meeting Americans’ growing digital demands for decades. 

    The restructuring notice also undermines the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s provisions designed to ensure that broadband service is affordable and put to good use. The new rules remove specific requirements that ensured that participating providers would provide a low-cost internet option for low-income customers as required by the statute. Additionally, while the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically allows funds to be spent on “broadband adoption, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices,” the notice rescinds approval of previously approved “non-deployment activities” and puts all funding for these activities on hold. For example, this provision of the notice puts on hold a South Carolina plan to use BEAD program funds for virtual primary health—equipping low-income households in rural health deserts with access to the full suite of virtual health services at no cost to the patients. If the broadband infrastructure being built by BEAD program funds isn’t put to good use, much of the investment will have been wasted. 

    As reflected in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s congressional findings, high-quality internet access is a requirement to fully participate in the world, and the BEAD program is our once-in-a century opportunity to finish closing the digital divide. We fear this opportunity would be squandered by the restructuring notice and its changes to coverage, quality, and affordability. We therefore urge you to implement the BEAD program in accordance with the best reading of the statute so we can make high-quality internet accessible and affordable for all Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Business Owner Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Texas woman was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for her participation in a scheme to file fraudulent applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

    According to court documents, between around May 2020, and March 2021, Shantelle Hawkins, 43, of DeSoto, conspired to submit 17 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies she or her relatives owned or controlled. The applications contained false statements about payroll and tax information, which the SBA used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. Hawkins used some of the money she obtained from the loans for personal expenses, including to pay off her 2015 Maserati Ghibli luxury car and to purchase property in the greater Dallas area.

    Hawkins pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  At sentencing, Hawkins was ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution and to forfeit the residence purchased with proceeds from the fraud.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson for the Northern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch and Kashan Pathan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elyse Lyons for the Northern District of Texas is handling asset forfeiture.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey and Cassidy Celebrate Committee Passage of Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (June 25, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today celebrated the unanimous passage of their Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) through the Commerce Committee. The legislation would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online.
    “We are proud of the momentum and broad support that our commonsense Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act is gaining from industry, advocates, and our own Senate colleagues,” said Senators Markey and Cassidy. “Today’s unanimous vote is further evidence of the broad, bipartisan commitment to protecting children and teens online. As our young people continue to face a devastating youth mental health crisis, Congress must pass COPPA 2.0 and implement these overdue safeguards for children and teens.”
    Specifically, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act would:
    Ban targeted advertising to children and teens;
    Create an “Eraser Button” by requiring companies to permit users to delete personal information collected from a child or teen;
    Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data;
    Revise COPPA’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their site; and
    Build on COPPA by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NPR and PBS Are More Than Just “Tiny Desk” and “Daniel Tiger” — They Are Critical to Public Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    06.25.25
    NPR and PBS Are More Than Just “Tiny Desk” and “Daniel Tiger” — They Are Critical to Public Safety
    14 stations in WA at risk of losing funding if Senate passes administration’s rescissions package
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released a Snapshot Report that highlights data on public broadcasters across the United States and broadcasters’ role in responding to emergencies and public safety events. In rural areas, public broadcasters may be the sole source of information during emergencies, leaving them disproportionately impacted by federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
    “Public television and radio aren’t just for quality children’s television and unique radio content,” said Sen. Cantwell. “For millions of Americans, these stations are often their only source of emergency information during weather disasters. Earlier this month, House Republicans approved President Trump’s rescission request clawing back $1.1 billion in Congressionally-approved funding for public broadcasting. This report shows that if Senate Republicans allow this devastating cut to pass the Senate, nearly 13 million Americans could be left without access to their public media stations and the life-saving emergency alerts or information they need. As people prepare for potential hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events, we should not be gutting our support for public media.”
    The report included several key findings:
    The operations of 79 public radio and 33 TV stations across 34 states and territories are considered vulnerable to federal funding cuts.
    Nearly 13 million Americans live in communities under threat of losing their local public broadcast stations. What’s worse, these stations serve large swaths of the Western, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States at risk of wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other public safety emergencies. This double threat casts uncertainty on the ability of these stations to disseminate emergency alerts and information to residents when they need it most.
    More than 70 percent of federal funding goes directly to local public broadcasters for content, interconnection, and support services. It would cost local public broadcasters more than double the CPB’s current contribution to replace these critical services through alternative public or private means.
    Support through the CPB is critical for many local stations, with the most vulnerable in rural and remote communities. Public radio and television stations serve as the primary—often sole—source of local news, educational content, and emergency alerts. These stations rely heavily on federal funding, with some depending on it for over 70 percent of their budgets. Some rural areas depend on their local public media station as their only source of information in emergencies. 
    KDNA-AM, which has a studio in Granger, WA, and serves the surrounding area, is reliant on federal CPB grants for a significant portion of its operating budget. KDNA serves an area that is at a high risk of wildfires, including the city of Yakima, with a population of over 90,000. KDNA plays a critical role in responding to emergencies by providing local news and information. Without continued federal funding, KDNA and other public broadcasters will have to find alternative funding sources or risk being unable to provide their essential public safety services.
    In severe storm and wildfire situations that knock out a community’s power supply, TVs broadcasting news on the path of an incoming tornado may go dark due to power outages, and cell phones may lose service, leaving families with only local public radio broadcasts delivered to battery-powered, hand-crank, or car radios. Without local broadcasting, families in rural areas may not receive critical alerts in time to get to safety.
    On June 3, President Trump submitted a rescission request to Congress for the CPB’s FY 2026 and 2027 funding, seeking to claw back nearly $1.1 billion in Congressionally-approved funding. On June 12, the House approved the President’s rescission request, and it is now before the Senate. If passed by the Senate, these cuts may leave millions of Americans without access to lifesaving alerts and emergency information.
    In Washington state, funding for 14 public broadcasting stations is at risk under the House-passed rescissions package now being considered by the Senate. 
    In May, Sen. Cantwell joined Rick Steves to blast the Trump Administration for its assault on the CPB. 
    See the impacted areas below and to access the full report, please click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider Turner, Wright Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the nominations of Usha-Maria Turner to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs and David A. Wright to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.
    “Today we will receive testimony from David Wright, who is nominated to serve another five-year term as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Usha-Maria Turner, the nominee to serve as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs.
    “Our consideration of Chairman Wright’s renomination comes at a crucial time. China is executing a rapid buildout of its nuclear industry and is projected to overtake the United States as the global leader of nuclear electricity generation.
    “The demand for clean, baseload power is skyrocketing as we position America to win the AI race, and global events continue to highlight the grave importance of energy security.
    “The importance of those policy concerns has led to the broad bipartisan agreement that we need more nuclear, and that we need to accomplish that goal safely and quickly. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is integral to achieving that goal.
    “A half century ago, Congress separated the dual and conflicting responsibilities to both promote and regulate the use of nuclear energy from the Atomic Energy Commission. In doing so, Congress established the Department of Energy’s predecessor agency and created the NRC to regulate the civilian use of nuclear technology.
    “The principle of separate organizations that promote and regulate nuclear power is as important today as it was fifty years ago, and Congress has continued to reinforce the value of an efficient and competent nuclear regulator. That’s why, last Congress I, alongside Senator Whitehouse and a strong bipartisan coalition, led the effort to get the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy, or better known as the ADVANCE Act, signed into law.
    “As the designated head of the NRC, the Chairman is instrumental in leading the agency’s ambitious implementation of the law. The Chairman is responsible for selecting key senior agency leadership with the approval of the Commission.
    “Through the Executive Director of Operations, the Chairman oversees the NRC’s day to day operations and can direct its staff to undertake important initiatives. The Chairman also participates in international forums, to represent the NRC’s premier role as the global leader in nuclear energy regulation. Now, the NRC has been thrust further into the center of the national energy conversation.
    “Recently, President Trump signed a series of Executive Orders intended to expedite the rapid deployment of more nuclear power. Those Executive Orders are aligned with the ADVANCE Act, but must be carefully implemented to create durable, predictable policies for nuclear licensing. A rapid and disruptive change to the nuclear regulatory framework would be counterproductive and potentially impact financial investment.
    “The Chairman and the Commission must prioritize NRC’s actions, being mindful of the need for regulatory stability, as expeditiously and efficiently as possible while keeping nuclear safety central to the agency’s mission.
    “That’s why experienced leadership at the Commission is crucial to achieve these objectives. Chairman Wright has served as a member of the Commission since 2018, and President Trump designated him Chairman in January.
    “His experiences provide the necessary background and understanding to navigate the extremely important and challenging task of simultaneously implementing the ADVANCE Act, and the Executive Orders, while ensuring fundamental licensing activities are not overlooked. I look forward to understanding how Chairman Wright will navigate these important priorities.
    “Today, we will also hear from Usha-Maria Turner, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs. If confirmed, Mrs. Turner will lead EPA’s efforts to maintain our international environmental agreements and partnerships in coordination with the Department of State.
    “Mrs. Turner will also oversee EPA’s engagements with Tribal governments in implementing our nation’s environmental laws and helping our Tribal governments administer their own environmental programs. Effectively supporting the President’s foreign policy efforts and coordinating with Tribal governments are vital issues that will help the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.
    “I look forward to discussing the various aspects of this role with Mrs. Turner.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Questions Attorney General Bondi at DOJ Budget Request Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions. 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi at a hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Justice. 
    HIGHLIGHTS:
    ON THE ATF’S NATIONAL TRACING CENTER IN MARTINSBURG:
    SENATOR CAPITO: “I wanted to point out the ATF’s National Tracing Center, which is in West Virginia, is the only one of its kind to trace U.S. and foreign manufactured firearms. The facility provides critical information that helps solve crimes, detect trafficking, and track the movement of crime-related firearms. In 2024, that National Tracing Center processed more than 600,000 requests. I just want to make certain that in the budget there is enough…to meet the demands, and that these critical services can be sustained with the budget request you’ve made.” 
    ATTORNEY GENERAL BONDI: “Senator, our budget continues to fully fund the National Tracing Center. I will personally make sure that that is funded. It will continue to be operated by ATF, as well, and it does such important work… They do amazing work. I’ve seen the work they do firsthand. And I would also—in all my spare time—I would also love to visit that center. I really want to visit that center and see what we can do also to enhance it and work with you on that. It’s so important. You know, these are issues that cross party lines. This is what every American in our country we should be working together on… You have been a true advocate for it for your state.” 
    ON THE HAZELTON PRISON: 
    SENATOR CAPITO: “Hazelton…is a very large prison with over 3,000 inmates. They’ve had some issues out there, big issues out there. Allegations, with staff shortages, gross mismanagement, abuse, coverups, falsifying documents. I’m sure you’re tracking these issues. I do want to compliment the president on his appointment of William Marshall, a West Virginian, former state trooper…he’s going to do a fantastic job. So, thank you for bringing in such a strong advocate, he’s already been very responsive to us on Hazelton, which has had chronic issues throughout the last several years, regardless of what administration it’s been. I wanted to put that on your radar.” 
    ON THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT: 
    SENATOR CAPTIO: “I will say, I’ve been a big supporter of the Violence Against Women Act. I am proud of the work that we’ve championed here on the Appropriations Committee for this. It’s really sad when you think of what happens in families sometimes and the proliferation of violence is extremely concerning to me. I’ve worked in this area for a long time, so I just wanted to let you know my passion in this area.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Hassan, Kelly Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Rural Hospital Cybersecurity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, June 25, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) reintroduced the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, which directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals. The strategy aims to improve cybersecurity preparedness and create a robust workforce to protect vulnerable critical infrastructure—rural hospitals—from cyber threats. This legislation unanimously passed out of a Senate committee last Congress.
    “Nearly half of the hospitals in my state are rural. I grew up in a town of 4,000 people—I have lived this firsthand,” said Senator Hawley. “Congress must take action to shore up the ability of small-town hospitals to protect working Americans’ health records from debilitating cyberattacks.”
    “Cyberattacks on hospitals can put at risk people’s medical information, and also sometimes shut the hospital down as it recovers, putting lifesaving care at risk,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward ensuring that rural hospitals have the resources, tools, and training that they need to keep patients safe and protect hospitals from attacks from cybercriminals.”
    “Rural hospitals are on the frontlines of care for so many Arizonans, but too often they’re underfunded and overexposed to cyber threats that can jeopardize patient safety. We saw this firsthand in Yuma, where a ransomware attack disrupted operations and put hundreds of thousands of patients at risk,” said Senator Kelly. “We are giving rural hospitals the tools and workforce they need to strengthen their security and keep delivering care, especially as they navigate new digital reporting requirements.”
    Unlike larger urban hospitals, rural hospitals often have little to no full-time cybersecurity personnel and are particularly exposed to cyberattacks. Vulnerabilities in rural hospitals’ cybersecurity defenses can also be used as entry points to disrupt larger healthcare systems, potentially compromising the sensitive medical and personal data of hundreds of thousands of American patients at once. The Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act would require HHS to:
    Develop a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy that, at a minimum, considers public-private partnerships, development of curricula and training resources, and policy recommendations.
    Make available instructional materials for rural hospitals to train staff on fundamental cybersecurity measures.
    Report annually to congressional committees with updates regarding the strategy and any programs that have been implemented pursuant to the strategy.
    Read the bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs the media on the recent Cabinet Meeting

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs the media on the recent Cabinet Meeting

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoY2-EUign0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs the media on the recent Cabinet Meeting

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs the media on the recent Cabinet Meeting

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoY2-EUign0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Demands Energy Department Terminate Government Funding Grain Belt Express

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a follow-up letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright demanding he terminate the more than $4 billion in federal funding for the Grain Belt Express, an elitist land grab harming Missouri farmers and ranchers. 
    In the letter, Senator Hawley wrote, “I write to you once again to urge the termination of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) $4.9 billion conditional loan to the green-energy Grain Belt Express (GBE) transmission line. Your department recently terminated 24 awards issued by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), citing ‘that these projects failed to advance the energy needs of the American people, were not economically viable and would not generate a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.’ Yet the GBE conditional loan has not been cancelled.”
    He continued, “I have repeatedly raised concerns to DOE about the viability of this transmission line. Most recently, on March 25, 2025, I wrote to you after officials from the Department of Energy confirmed that your department is moving forward with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, a key step in approving the loan. I have yet to receive a substantive response to that letter.”
    Senator Hawley concluded, “During a recent House hearing, you stated, ‘It is deeply concerning how billions of dollars were rushed out the door without proper due diligence in the final days of the Biden administration.’ I completely agree. The Biden administration’s Department of Energy approved the loan to the Grain Belt Express at the eleventh hour… Your department should be taking every possible action to stop this loan – not only to save taxpayer’s money, but also to save generational land from being ripped away from families and hard-working farmers and ranchers in Missouri. Now is the time to act. I urge you to immediately terminate all agency actions related to the Department of Energy’s $4.9 billion loan to the Grain Belt Express.” 
    Read the full letter here or below. 
    June 25, 2025
    The Honorable Chris WrightSecretary of EnergyU.S. Department of Energy1000 Independence Ave SEWashington, DC 20560
    Dear Secretary Wright,
    I write to you once again to urge the termination of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) $4.9 billion conditional loan to the green-energy Grain Belt Express (GBE) transmission line. Your department recently terminated 24 awards issued by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), citing “that these projects failed to advance the energy needs of the American people, were not economically viable and would not generate a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.” Yet the GBE conditional loan has not been cancelled.
    I have repeatedly raised concerns to DOE about the viability of this transmission line. Most recently, on March 25, 2025, I wrote to you after officials from the Department of Energy confirmed that your department is moving forward with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, a key step in approving the loan. I have yet to receive a substantive response to that letter.
    During a recent House hearing, you stated, “It is deeply concerning how billions of dollars were rushed out the door without proper due diligence in the final days of the Biden administration.” I completely agree. The Biden administration’s Department of Energy approved the loan to the Grain Belt Express at the eleventh hour.
    While I applaud DOE’s current efforts to roll back last-minute Biden era green energy projects that were not vetted nor were reliable energy projects, I’ve become increasingly concerned that DOE apparently has not taken action to halt all federal funding to the Grain Belt Express. Your department should be taking every possible action to stop this loan – not only to save taxpayer’s money, but also to save generational land from being ripped away from families and hard-working farmers and ranchers in Missouri.
    Now is the time to act. I urge you to immediately terminate all agency actions related to the Department of Energy’s $4.9 billion loan to the Grain Belt Express. Additionally, please answer the following questions by no later than June 30, 2025:
    1. Why has your department not yet cancelled the Grain Belt Express $4.9 billion conditional loan?
    2. Does your department plan to terminate all agency actions related to advancing the loan to the Grain Belt Express?
    3. If not, can you provide clear and concise reasons as to why you and your department continue to advance this project over the objections of Missouri farmers and ranchers?
    Sincerely,
    Josh HawleyUnited States Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –