NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Trump Admin Reinstate All Fired Workers at NOAA, NWS Prior to Peak Hurricane, Wildfire Season

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Staff reductions at both agencies pose a threat to public safety, wildfire preparedness
    WASHINGTON – As the nation enters peak hurricane and wildfire season, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper reiterated his call on the Trump administration to fully reinstate all fired federal employees at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect Americans from natural disasters.
    “NWS employees and the programs they support are essential to the safety of the millions of Americans impacted by storms and disasters each year,” wrote the senators. “NWS would be unable to provide accurate and timely forecasts without sufficient staffing levels at weather forecast offices nationwide.”
    NWS maintains 122 weather forecast offices across the United States which are responsible for providing 24/7 weather monitoring and forecasts. The Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to eliminate an additional 1,000 staff from NOAA, including at NWS, in the coming weeks. These cuts, combined with current staffing constraints, could reduce the NWS workforce by 15% just months into 2025.
    The Trump administration’s decision this week to partially reinstate about 126 personnel to ‘stabilize operations’ at NWS field offices is progress – but falls short of what’s needed to keep Colorado safe.  
    Hickenlooper previously raised alarm about the Trump admin’s plans to cut funding for NOAA and Colorado-based research centers. He also called for an investigation into the mass layoffs at NOAA and its impacts on crucial services, including relaying emergency alerts in wildfires and supporting farmers’ drought mitigation efforts.
    In their letter, the senators requested answers to the following questions:
    How many of the NWS regional weather forecast offices were impacted by terminations or deferred resignations since January 20, 2025? Please provide a list of affected offices, including how many staff departed and how many remain. 
    With reports of at least one weather forecast office in Goodland, Kansas stopping 24/7 operations due to staffing shortages, how do the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to maintain continued 24/7 operation of forecasting offices without requiring excessive overtime hours from staff? 
    With a requested budget cut of $1.311 billion for NOAA’s overall budget, and a $209 million cut for NWS procurement of weather satellites and infrastructure, how does the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to ensure adequate staffing and preparedness in the midst of worsening storm seasons, increasing heat waves, and changing weather patterns?
    As NWS employees are critical to public safety, especially heading into hurricane season, will the Department of Commerce grant an exemption to the hiring freeze to fill these crucial positions?
    Full text of the letter available HERE and below.
    Dear Secretary Lutnick, and Acting Administrator Grimm,
    We write to express our concern with recent layoffs at the National Weather Service (NWS). Reports indicate that over 550 employees have been terminated or accepted deferred resignation offers. We believe that these staff reductions pose a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness by undercutting essential forecasting and weather monitoring systems. We urge you to reinstate terminated NWS employees and request additional information on how the administration plans to address staffing at NWS.
    NWS maintains 122 weather forecast offices across the United States which are responsible for providing 24/7 weather monitoring and forecasts. NWS would be unable to provide accurate and timely forecasts without sufficient staffing levels at weather forecast offices nationwide. In addition to daily forecasting operations, weather forecast offices are responsible for issuing emergency weather warnings ahead of events such as major floods, wildfire hazards, hurricanes, and blizzard conditions. As the frequency and severity of such disasters increase, maintaining
    NWS’s real-time forecasting operations is essential to saving lives and reducing the cost of recovery for disaster-affected communities.
    NWS employees and the programs they support are essential to the safety of the millions of Americans impacted by storms and disasters each year. On February 27, 2025, 108 probationary NWS employees were terminated, adding to the 170 staff who accepted the Administration’s “deferred resignation” plan earlier that month. These staffing cuts are already impacting NWS services, forcing NWS to halt weather balloon launches in New York, Maine, and Alaska that provide daily weather data to meteorologists at weather forecast offices across the country. As we head into hurricane season, 30 weather forecast offices are without a meteorologist-in-charge, one is completely without any managers at all, and nearly a dozen are preparing to shut down 24/7 services without immediate action to address shortages.
    The Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to eliminate an additional 1,000 staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including at NWS, in the coming weeks. All told, NWS offices, already suffering from staffing constraints, could see a 15% reduction in force just months into 2025.
    We request a response to the following questions by June 10, 2025:
    How many of the NWS regional weather forecast offices were impacted by terminations or deferred resignations since January 20, 2025? Please provide a list of affected offices, including how many staff departed and how many remain. 
    With reports of at least one weather forecast office in Goodland, Kansas stopping 24/7 operations due to staffing shortages, how do the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to maintain continued 24/7 operation of forecasting offices without requiring excessive overtime hours from staff? 
    With a requested budget cut of $1.311 billion for NOAA’s overall budget, and a $209 million cut for NWS procurement of weather satellites and infrastructure, how does the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to ensure adequate staffing and preparedness in the midst of worsening storm seasons, increasing heat waves, and changing weather patterns?
    As NWS employees are critical to public safety, especially heading into hurricane season, will the Department of Commerce grant an exemption to the hiring freeze to fill these crucial positions?
    We urge you to reassess the staffing needs at NOAA and NWS and reinstate terminated probationary employees swiftly. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese authorities have allocated 580 million yuan to strengthen flood prevention measures.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese authorities have allocated 580 million yuan (about 80.73 million U.S. dollars) to provincial-level regions to strengthen local flood control efforts, the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

    The funds, provided jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water Resources, were sent to 29 provincial-level regions as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

    Local authorities have been ordered to carry out in-depth inspections for hidden hazards at hydraulic structures that are critical to flood control, such as river and lake dams, reservoirs and key seawalls.

    They were also ordered to make every effort to work on flood prevention and preparation during China’s main flood season. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ukraine Attacks Two Russian Military Airfields

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Kyiv, June 6 /Xinhua/ – Ukraine attacked two airfields and other important military facilities in Russia on Friday night, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) reported on Telegram.

    The Engels airfield in the Saratov region in the southwest of the Russian Federation, which is a concentration site for Russian combat aircraft following an operation carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on June 1, came under attack.

    At least three fuel and lubricant tanks caught fire at the airfield and dozens of explosions were heard.

    The Dyagilevo airfield in the Ryazan region in western Russia, where air tankers and escort fighters are based, was also attacked. They are used to support missile strikes on Ukrainian territory. In addition, Russian strategic bombers fly out of Dyagilevo.

    According to preliminary data, a fire broke out in the target area; the information is being verified.

    In addition, a number of other Russian military facilities came under fire. In particular, a logistics point in the Kursk region of Russia was hit. The results of the attack are being clarified.

    All strikes were carried out by units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces.

    On June 1, the SBU carried out a special operation called “Web”, during which it attacked airfields in several regions of the Russian Federation. According to the service’s estimates, 34 percent of Russian strategic aviation aircraft were damaged as a result of the strikes. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Rips Trump’s Plan to Let Palantir Build Dossiers on American Citizens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) railed against the Trump administration’s plan to turn over Americans’ most personal information that was harvested by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers to Palantir so the company can build dossiers on every American.
    “Under the Trump Administration, DOGE aggressively collected sensitive data across agencies, breaking down firewalls that are supposed to protect us. Then came the Executive Order directing agencies to ‘eliminate information silos’ – basically, to share and pool that data,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “And just last week, we learned that Palantir, a Silicon Valley company known for building surveillance tools, is being hired to build AI-powered profiles on every American using the data DOGE collected. It’s hard to overstate how dangerous this is.”
    CLICK HERE or the image below to watch Trahan’s remarks. A transcript is embedded below.

    Last week, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration has drastically increased federal contracting with Palantir, a Silicon Valley tech firm started by Peter Thiel who has donated heavily to Republican campaigns. Palantir has historically worked closely with the Pentagon and the intelligence community to provide big data analytics and AI products, and in recent years has expanded its customer base to include private companies, civilian agencies, and state and local governments. According to the Times report, the company is now being directed to use its AI systems to merge the personal data of Americans collected by different federal agencies into one database, essentially creating a profile on every person in the country.
    During the hearing today, Trahan pointed out how this type of system could be weaponized by the government against Americans.
    “Let me just give you an example – a hypothetical, of course, but not a far-fetched one. Sarah is a regular American. She pays her taxes, owns a gun legally, and is raising her daughter Emma on her own. She and Emma rely on Medicaid to get the care they need,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “One day, Sarah shares a post on Facebook. She’s concerned about something the President said about firearms, and she posts so. But in Washington, an AI-powered monitoring system flags her post. A political appointee digs into her personal data and sends emails to agency heads urging them to take action against her.”
    “Within days, Sarah’s life falls apart,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “The IRS audits her and claims she owes thousands. Emma’s doctor says her Medicaid isn’t active anymore, and now Sarah has to pay out of pocket. Now, to be clear, this story is made up. But it’s not science fiction. It’s an alarm. It’s a warning.”
    In March, Trahan announced an effort to rewrite the Privacy Act of 1974, a 50-year-old law designed to protect Americans’ privacy that has not been meaningfully updated since its passage in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Dozens of organizations and individuals have responded to Trahan’s request for information about how to strengthen privacy protections while preserving the ability to modernize and improve the efficiency of government services.
    “I’ve spent the past three months talking with civil liberties groups, privacy experts, and people across the country – and the one thing is clear: We need stronger privacy laws,” Congresswoman Trahan concluded. “I believe we can protect people’s data and modernize government to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. These goals are not at odds – they’re linked.”
    —————————————–
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks As Delivered
    House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing: The Federal Government in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
    June 5, 2025

    Trahan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of this important conversation.
    Over on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is where I usually serve, we have a lot of conversations about technology, and one thing is always clear: data is at the heart of AI. That’s why I believe that any serious discussion about AI has to start with a conversation about privacy. And that’s what I’m here to do today – to sound the alarm about a deeply troubling trend: our own government’s growing appetite for Americans’ personal data.
    Let me just give you an example – a hypothetical, of course, but not a far-fetched one.
    Sarah is a regular American. She pays her taxes, owns a gun legally, and is raising her daughter Emma on her own. She and Emma rely on Medicaid to get the care they need.
    One day, Sarah shares a post on Facebook. She’s concerned about something the President said about firearms, and she posts so. But in Washington, an AI-powered monitoring system flags her post. A political appointee digs into her personal data and sends emails to agency heads urging them to take action against her.
    Within days, Sarah’s life falls apart. The IRS audits her and claims she owes thousands. Emma’s doctor says her Medicaid isn’t active anymore, and now Sarah has to pay out of pocket.
    Now, to be clear, this story is made up. But it’s not science fiction. It’s an alarm. It’s a warning.
    Mr. Schneier, you talked in your testimony about coercion as an “adversarial use” of data. What kinds of coercion could bad actors inside the government use if they had detailed profiles on every American?

    Mr. Schneier: I would think of it as selective investigation. The government has enormous powers to investigate people, and the question is who they choose to investigate. There’s a famous book from many years ago called “Three Felonies a Day” – that we in our normal lives commit three felonies a day because there are just so many rules and we don’t know them.
    So given things like that, who you choose to enforce the law on matters. So this data can be used to select people whom to investigate, people whom to charge. And this could be used selectively by any regime – even not the U.S. – any country that wants to do this.
    Trahan: Unfortunately, this isn’t a hypothetical trend – it’s already happening.
    Under the Trump Administration, DOGE aggressively collected sensitive data across agencies, breaking down firewalls that are supposed to protect us. Then came the Executive Order  directing agencies to “eliminate information silos” – basically, to share and pool that data. And just last week, we learned that Palantir, a Silicon Valley company known for building surveillance tools, is being hired to build AI-powered profiles on every American using the data DOGE collected.
    It’s hard to overstate how dangerous this is.
    Mr. Schneier, are you worried that once this data is centralized, future administrations – no matter their party – could weaponize it? I mean, are we on the verge of opening Pandora’s box?
    Mr. Schneier: I don’t know if Pandora’s Box has been open years ago, but certainly giving this power to a government is something that feels very un-American. There are reasons why this data was siloed. There are reasons why we didn’t have these powers.
    I mean you can imagine humans doing this well before AI, but we chose not to. So AI can certainly make this more efficient, but yes this is power in the hands of a human who wants to wield it for ill can do that very efficiently.
    Trahan: We need a national reckoning on privacy. That means strong oversight of this Administration and its tech partners, and real legislation to protect Americans’ rights.
    You know, I’ve spent the past three months talking with civil liberties groups, privacy experts, and people across the country – and the one thing is clear: We need stronger privacy laws.
    I believe we can protect people’s data and modernize government to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. These goals are not at odds – they’re linked.
    So if you’re listening and you’re concerned about what’s happening – about Big Tech, about government overreach, about your family’s privacy – call my office. Let’s have a national conversation. Let’s protect the freedom our founders fought for and the privacy we all deserve.
    And one last thing I just wanted to mention because over the course of this hearing, the Chair has suggested that no one on the other side of the aisle called attention to the harms of the Republicans’ ten-year ban on state AI regulations. That’s patently false.
    We had robust debate on the Energy and Commerce Committee with several Democratic members, myself included, calling attention to this provision during and after our 26-hour markup. In fact, Democrats offered an amendment to strike the language entirely. So Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record the results of the recorded vote.
    Chairman: Without objection.
    Trahan: Thank you. I yield back.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maine Department of Environmental Protection Issues Air Quality Alert for June 6

    Source: US State of Maine

    June 6, 2025

    CONTACT:

    Ground-level particle pollution concentrations are expected to reach the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ (USG) level according to air quality meteorologists at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

    Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to move into the Northern Maine region with hourly monitored values of particle pollution in the USG range on Friday morning. With light winds forecasted, these higher values are expected to linger throughout the day. The remainder of Maine is projected to remain in the Moderate range. Meanwhile, ozone is expected to reach the Moderate range for the Southwest and Mid-Coastal regions and Good for the remainder of the state.

    On Saturday, weather conditions are expected to remain consistent, and currently, air quality forecasters are not expecting wildfire smoke to move out of the Maine area. The entire state of Maine is expected to remain in the Moderate range for particle pollution since smoke can be slow to clean out. Ozone is expected to be in the Good range statewide. However, please check the website Saturday morning for the finalized forecast.

    At elevated levels of particle pollution, children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory or heart diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, or COPD can experience reduced lung function and irritation. In addition, healthy adults who exert themselves outdoors may also notice these health effects. Affected individuals may notice symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation, and/or experience mild chest pain.

    Some actions you can take to protect your health during periods of elevated particle pollution levels include:

    • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity
    • Close windows and circulate indoor air with a fan or air conditioner
    • If you have asthma, keep your quick-relief medications and action plan handy

    Additional health information may be found on the following websites:

    In addition to those in a sensitive group, others who are responsible for the welfare of people impacted by poor air quality are urged to use one of the listed tools to follow the Air Quality Forecast:

    For more information go to Maine DEPs air quality web site.

    For additional information, contact: David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner david.madore@maine.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 6, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 061214

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0714 AM CDT Fri Jun 06 2025

    Valid 061300Z – 071200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
    AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS…

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF
    THE MID MS AND TN VALLEYS…AND OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND….

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected across portions of the
    central and southern High Plains. Very large hail, damaging winds,
    and a tornado threat is anticipated. Isolated severe thunderstorms
    are also possible extending into the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys, and
    over parts of southern New England. Damaging winds are the primary
    concern in these areas.

    …Mid MS and TN Valleys…
    Morning radar loop shows a mature quasi-linear MCS over eastern OK
    tracking into western AR. This system has produced sporadic severe
    wind reports overnight, and may continue to pose that risk for a few
    more hours. Some weakening is expected through late morning, with
    eventual rejuvenation of storms as they spread across parts of KY/TN
    and vicinity. Model guidance varies on extent of severe storm
    coverage. However, favorable westerly flow aloft, dewpoints in the
    70s, and pockets of strong daytime heating will encourage intense
    thunderstorm re-development.

    …High Plains…
    The forecast scenario for today is similar to yesterday, with two
    areas of focus for severe thunderstorm activity. One is along the
    CO foothills, where moist/southeasterly low-level winds and
    moderately steep mid-level lapse rates will yield afternoon MLCAPE
    of 1000-2000 J/kg. Storms are expected to intensify by mid-late
    afternoon along the foothills and spread southeastward into the
    adjacent plains. Forecast soundings show generally straight-line
    hodographs, which will promote splitting supercells capable of very
    large hail and a few tornadoes. Activity may organize upscale
    during the evening over southwest KS and spread across OK overnight.

    Farther south, yesterday’s and last night’s convection has
    reinforced a surface outflow boundary which will extend across west
    TX. Similar to yesterday, intense supercells are expected to form
    in vicinity of this boundary during the late afternoon, posing
    another risk of very large hail and a few tornadoes.

    ..Southern New England…
    A plume of seasonally high PW values extends across the OH Valley
    into southern New England. Modest air mass destabilization is
    expected by mid day with an axis of 1000-2000 J/kg SBCAPE expected
    to extend across southern New England by 18z. While deep layer shear
    is not forecast to be that strong, adequate flow should exist for at
    least some organization. Locally damaging winds are the primary
    concern with storms that form along this instability axis.

    ..Hart/Bentley.. 06/06/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1630Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
    jejohnson6

    Schools built in the early 20th century to provide education in rural areas of the state soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The marker commemorating Craven County Farm Life School, the first farm life school, will be dedicated at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 17 and Farm Life Avenue in Vanceboro, N.C. on Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m.

    Authorized in 1911 by a General Assembly appropriation, farm life schools were promoted by state superintendent J.Y. Joyner and various farm groups. These schools were required to offer a standard high school education in addition to classes and practical experience in vocational agriculture and home economics.

    If a local governmental unit provided facilities (including dormitories for boys and girls) for $25,000 and then pledged $2,500 for operating expenses each year, the state would match the latter amount. Almost immediately, five counties took advantage of the offer, and by 1916, 21 farm-life schools were in operation.  

    Craven County Farm Life School opened on Nov. 4, 1913, with an on-site celebration and 30 enrolled students.  

    A second school — Rowan Farm-Life School in China Grove — opened in 1914 and was such a success that in 1921 the regular China Grove High School merged with it and shared the farm campus.  

    In Nash County, local farmer Tom Jones donated 25 acres of land, and the community voted for an additional $10,000 in bonds for buildings for the Red Oak Farm-Life High School.  

    Students within walking or horse-riding distances paid no tuition, but boarding students paid $12.50 per month. The boys cut wood for fires, and the girls cooked and waited on tables. Crop rotation, contour plowing, selection of nutritious foods, and improved homemaking practices were emphasized along with the academic curriculum.  

    For more information about the historical marker, please visit  https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/08/09/farm-life-schools-c-89, or call (919) 814-6625   

    The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.

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

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Setting Fires Around the Exterior of a Church and Assaulting Federal Officers

    Source: US State of California

    Kevin Colantonio, 36, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to malicious damage by means of fire, obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs, and two counts of assault on a federal officer. He was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr., to more than six years in federal prison. He intentionally set multiple fires around the exterior of a predominantly black church in North Providence, RI, in February 2024, and assaulted two federal correctional officers while detained at a federal detention center following his arrest.

    “This defendant acted with disdain against people of faith and complete disregard for law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute anti-Christian bias in the United States and ensure Americans are free to worship without fear.”

    Colantonio previously admitted to a federal judge that on Feb. 11, 2024, he used gasoline and a lighter he purchased minutes earlier at a gas station within walking distance of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries, to ignite five fires around the exterior of the church. The fires were quickly extinguished by North Providence officers, but not before the church sustained some damage.

    During a Feb. 15, 2024, court-authorized search of Colantonio’s residence, an accelerant detection canine indicated a positive reaction on several items of seized clothing. These items matched the clothing Colantonio was wearing on the night of the arson, based upon surveillance footage. Colantonio admitted to setting the fires and assaulting the corrections officers.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom for the District of Rhode Island and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan for the District of Rhode Island and Taylor Payne of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

    The fires set at the Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with members of the North Providence, RI, Police Department and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office. The assault of the federal officers was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Aliens Face Federal Charges in Cobb County Methamphetamine Lab Bust

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Juan Perez-Maldonado and Francisco Garcia Gomez, both illegal aliens from Mexico, appeared in federal court on June 4, 2025, following their arrests on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Garcia Gomez and a third illegal alien from Mexico, Filemon Hernandez-Jijon, were also charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. 

    “Our law enforcement partners worked swiftly to disrupt a suburban drug lab, seize numerous firearms, and arrest two illegal aliens allegedly responsible for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminals who traffic illegal drugs in our communities will be identified, found, and prosecuted with deliberate speed.”

    “DEA remains focused on keeping America safe and protecting the homeland from by removing dangerous drugs from our communities and bringing criminals to justice,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”

    According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 3, 2025, DEA agents saw Filemon Hernandez-Jijon allegedly supply two kilograms of methamphetamine to a drug customer in the Smyrna, Georgia area. Law enforcement later observed Hernandez-Jijon traveling to and from a mobile home located in Marietta, Georgia.

    Hours later, DEA agents executed a federal search warrant at the mobile home and encountered Juan Perez-Maldonado and Francisco Garcia Gomez there. A third person fled the scene. Inside the mobile home, agents discovered an active laboratory used to convert liquid methamphetamine into a crystal-like form, as well as at least 13 kilograms of what appeared to be the finished drug product. In addition, agents located two handguns, including one hidden in the tank of a toilet, and money remitter receipts bearing Garcia Gomez’s and Hernandez-Jijon’s names. Outside the home, agents recovered acetone, several empty coolers, and other materials commonly used to produce crystalized methamphetamine.

    In connection with this investigation, agents executed another federal search warrant at an apartment in Smyrna. In a baby’s crib, agents located a bag containing a loaded Glock pistol, two additional loaded firearm magazines, and identification for Perez-Maldonado. Elsewhere in the apartment, agents found a Springfield XD firearm and a mechanical press used to press powder into kilogram bricks.

    The investigation further revealed that Perez-Maldonado and Hernandez-Jijon had been previously deported and removed from the United States.

    Hernandez-Jijon is currently a fugitive. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Hernandez-Jijon, please contact your local law enforcement agency.

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

    This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided from the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Narcotics Unit and the DeKalb County Police Department – HIDTA Task Force.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schwarzl and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda are prosecuting the case.

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

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6000. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shiprock Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was charged by indictment with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, in the morning hours of May 15, 2025, Jay Ray Kelly, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was seen walking in Shiprock, firing a handgun into the air. Concerned citizens called police. Later that morning, police arrested Kelly with a handgun and 155 rounds of ammunition in a backpack.

    Kelly is charged federally with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. In 2006, Kelly was convicted in the District of New Mexico for possessing a firearm in a school zone. Because of this 2006 federal felony conviction, Kelly was prohibited from possessing all firearms and ammunition.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 151 months in prison for firearms trafficking.

    According to court documents, Joel Alejandro Martinez aka Bo Jackson, 26, was identified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as being a frequent seller of stolen firearms in online chat groups. On Jan. 10, 2024, Martinez posted two pistols for sale and agreed to sell them at a location in San Antonio. He stated that he did not have a car but his mother, codefendant Margarita Hernandez Martinez, would drive him. On Feb. 28, 2024, at the agreed upon time, Martinez arrived at the location, driven by his mother, and unloaded a black rifle case from the truck, placed it in the backseat of the purchaser’s vehicle, and got in the front seat of the purchaser’s car. The purchaser gave Martinez $1,100 in cash for the .308 caliber rifle.

    Later that day, Martinez contacted the purchaser to ask what else they might be interested in purchasing. The purchaser, an undercover ATF agent, indicated that they purchase all sorts of firearms but also deal in “cheap throwaways stolen.” Martinez responded to the undercover agent, “I got you,” and indicated that he could supply AR-style rifles and pistols. He later told the undercover that he purchased stolen or crime-involved guns in large batches and agreed to sell four pistols to the undercover for $1,600. In another conversation, the agent told Martinez that he, “buys them for cheap and will move them to Mexico.”

    The undercover agent met with Martinez—driven by his mother—three more times between March 5, 2024 and April 11, 2024, to conduct sales of firearms, at least one of which Martinez knew and had reasonable cause to believe was stolen.

    Martinez’s mother, Hernandez Martinez, was sentenced on April 25 to 40 months in prison for aiding and abetting.

    Federal District Court Judge Jason K. Pulliam sentenced both defendants.

    U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The ATF investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zack Parsons prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Guilbeault on Eid al-Adha

    Source: Government of Canada News

    OTTAWA, June 6, 2025

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, issued the following statement:

    Today, Muslim communities in Canada and around the world are marking Eid al-Adha.

    This sacred day in the Islamic calendar celebrates the conclusion of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj. It is observed with morning prayers, social and family gatherings, festive meals and charitable donations to the most vulnerable people in our society.

    The spirit of Eid al-Adha—meaning the Feast of Sacrifice or Greater Eid—is one of happiness and gratitude. Yet it comes at a time of ongoing war and conflict, bringing fear and anxiety to Canadians with loved ones in Gaza, the West Bank, Sudan and many other regions. Canada remains committed to supporting ceasefire efforts in Gaza, as well as the urgent safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for civilians.

    This year, the holiday also coincides with the fourth anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack on a Canadian Muslim family killed in London, Ontario on June 6, 2021. Fondly remembered as “Our London Family,” their lives were taken simply because they were Muslim, in a horrifying act of Islamophobia.

    Our government stands with the community in London, with all those affected by this tragedy, and with all victims of Islamophobia and every form of hatred. We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians feel safe and protected in their communities. This includes providing at-risk communities with access to financial support to protect their gathering spaces and to launch local initiatives that bring Canadians together and combat racism. We also continue to work with Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, to fight Islamophobia, including with The Canadian Guide on Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada.

    The Canadian identity is rooted in our diversity. Canada is stronger because of its people, their different backgrounds, and the stories that make our mosaic one of the most vibrant and unique in the world.

    On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish all Muslims in Canada a happy Eid al-Adha, celebrated in unity, solidarity and peace.

    Eid Mubarak!

    “!عيد مبارك

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bango 2024 Full Year Results and Outlook

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bango (AIM: BGO), today announces its full year results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2024 and provides an update on current trading and outlook for 2025.

    FY24 Financial Overview:

    Results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2024  FY24 FY23 YoY Change
           
    Transactional Revenue1 $36.2M $32.7M +11%
    DVM & One Off Revenue2 $17.2M $13.4M +28%
           
    Total Revenue $53.4M $46.1M +16%
           
    Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) 3 $14.0M $8.8M +59%
    Net Retention4 125% 137%  
           
    Adjusted EBITDA5 $15.3M $6.4M +139%
           
    Loss After Tax ($3.7M) ($8.8M) $5.1M
           
    Net (debt)/cash at 31 December6 ($1.8M) ($4.0M) $2.2M


    FY24 Operational highlights:

    • 9 new Digital Vending Machine® (DVMTM) license customers (total 27 at end of 2024)
    • 110 content providers connected to the DVM, up from 93 at the end of 2023
    • Launched Disney+ with Continente – Portugal’s largest high-street retailer, in only 12 weeks from first customer contact
    • First two DVM CX (user interface) customers signed, including Altice in the US
    • First Eastern European DVM customer signed

    Post period-end

    Digital Vending Machine®

    • 6 new DVM customers to date in 2025, including:
      • New US wins mean the Bango DVM now serves 6 out of the top 8 US communication providers (by subscriber count)
      • First DVM customer in South Korea – leading Telco selected Bango DVM for bundling
      • New DVM Telco customer in Benelux marks the first win from an improved Western Europe DVM pipeline
    • First customer launch of the Bango DVM CX (user interface) with Altice in the US. The DVM CX reduces the effort for resellers when launching bundled offers, allowing them to launch much faster. It is sold as an additional license fee.
    • DVM is on track to once again deliver double digit revenue growth in-line with consensus7.

    Transactional

    • 98% of traffic acquired with DOCOMO Digital has been migrated to the Bango platform
    • The high cost of sales routes acquired from DOCOMO Digital have experienced volatility and are below expectation however, given the margin profile of these routes, there is minimal impact to EBITDA. Work to optimize or restructure these routes is ongoing.
    • Bango has disconnected several small, unprofitable routes since the DOCOMO Digital acquisition and continues to launch selected new routes where there is significant growth potential.
    • Core Transactional revenue (excluding the high cost of sales routes) is in-line with expectations.

    Financing

    • Bango has secured financing which will be used to strengthen the balance sheet and provide further flexibility on the timing of cost reductions.
      • Bango has secured an enhanced loan facility from NHN. Under the agreement, the existing loan will increase by $2.85M and include a deferral of principal repayments for 18 months (further information can be found detailed in the RNS announcement published earlier today titled, ‘Loan Agreement and Related Party Transaction’).
      • In addition, Bango has secured a $15M Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) with NatWest. This provides a committed, long-term financing solution that will replace the existing £3M overdraft from Barclays.

    Efficiency Initiatives

    • Bango expects to report FY25 Adj. EBITDA in-line with consensus7
    • Further efficiencies are expected to result in a modest increase to Adj. EBITDA vs consensus7 in FY26 of $1M.
    • A reduction in R&D capital expenditure versus current consensus7, of $0.5M in FY25 and $1M in FY26 is planned.

    Board changes

    • As separately announced, (See ‘Directorate Change’ RNS published today), Anil Malhotra and Frank Bury will formally step down from the Board at the conclusion of the AGM on 30 June 2025.

    Investor Presentation:

    Bango is hosting a presentation, open to all existing and potential shareholders, at 10.30am BST today. Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and register to join the call here: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/bango-plc/register-investor

    Bango CEO, Paul Larbey, said:

    “2024 was a pivotal year for Bango, marked by strong revenue growth, a significant increase in profitability, and strategic progress across both our Digital Vending Machine® and Payments businesses. We delivered a 16% increase in total revenue and more than doubled Adjusted EBITDA to $15.3M, reflecting the operational leverage of our platform and disciplined cost management. The DVM continues to gain global traction, with 9 new customers added during the year and a strong pipeline rapidly converting in 2025 with 6 new wins including our first customer in South Korea.

    With tens of millions of subscriptions already managed, and the scalability to support hundreds of millions more, Bango is uniquely placed to benefit from the structural shift toward subscription-based services and indirect distribution models. Increasingly, the Bango DVM is becoming the standard platform for subscription bundling – not just in capability, also in reputation. It’s the solution recommended by some of the world’s largest content providers when their partners want to scale subscriptions and build customer engagement, and now serves 6 of the top 8 US communication service providers. This positions Bango at the very heart of the global subscription economy.

    In the Payments business, Bango continues to have a leading position in the market and remains the largest Direct Carrier Billing partner for the Google Play store, the only partner powering DCB for the Amazon store in Japan and the sole provider of online DCB services to NTT DOCOMO Japan – the largest operator, in the most valuable DCB market. With the migration of traffic from the DOCOMO Digital platform to the Bango platform we are optimizing our Payments business for cash and profitability by simplifying operations.

    The financing provided by NatWest and NHN demonstrate strong confidence in Bango’s business model & strategic plan and materially strengthens the balance sheet. The decision to make the strategic investment in DVM coupled with the market growth in “Super bundling” are driving a strong sales pipeline. This combined with disciplined cost management, a reduction in R&D capex and the inherent operational leverage of our platform will deliver a step-change in cash generation in FY26 and drive shareholder returns. We view the future opportunity with both confidence and excitement.”

    See the full RNS announcement: https://bangoinvestor.com/link/XyOG0y

    Notes:

    The Annual Report, including full accounts, is available at, https://bangoinvestor.com/results-reports, and will be sent to shareholders shortly.

    1 Transactional Revenue is revenue derived by charging a percentage of the retail price paid by the consumer and is made up of carrier billing, resale and e-Disti revenue share amounts.
    2 DVM & One Off Revenue includes all DVM license and support fees, revenue from Bango Audiences (discontinued in Q1 FY24) and one off fees including DVM set-up and change requests.
    3Annual Recurring Revenue is the expected annual revenues to be generated in the next 12 months
    based on contracted revenues recognized as at 31 December.
    4 Net Retention is a measure of the retention and expansion of revenue from existing customers over a specific period and is calculated by dividing the ARR from existing customers at the end of a period by the ARR generated from those same customers at the beginning of the period.
    5Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization, negative goodwill, exceptional items and share based payment charge.
    6Net debt is cash and cash equivalents plus short-term investments less loans and borrowings.
    7Current consensus market expectations prior to today’s announcement.

    The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of Bango is Paul Larbey, Chief Executive Officer.  

    For further information, please contact:


    About Bango

    Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscriptions economy, powering choice and control for subscribers.

    The world’s largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere.

    Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit www.bangoinvestor.com

    Subscribe to our news alert service: https://bangoinvestor.com/auth/signup

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Setting Fires Around the Exterior of a Church and Assaulting Federal Officers

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Kevin Colantonio, 36, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to malicious damage by means of fire, obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs, and two counts of assault on a federal officer. He was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr., to more than six years in federal prison. He intentionally set multiple fires around the exterior of a predominantly black church in North Providence, RI, in February 2024, and assaulted two federal correctional officers while detained at a federal detention center following his arrest.

    “This defendant acted with disdain against people of faith and complete disregard for law enforcement officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute anti-Christian bias in the United States and ensure Americans are free to worship without fear.”

    Colantonio previously admitted to a federal judge that on Feb. 11, 2024, he used gasoline and a lighter he purchased minutes earlier at a gas station within walking distance of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries, to ignite five fires around the exterior of the church. The fires were quickly extinguished by North Providence officers, but not before the church sustained some damage.

    During a Feb. 15, 2024, court-authorized search of Colantonio’s residence, an accelerant detection canine indicated a positive reaction on several items of seized clothing. These items matched the clothing Colantonio was wearing on the night of the arson, based upon surveillance footage. Colantonio admitted to setting the fires and assaulting the corrections officers.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom for the District of Rhode Island and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan for the District of Rhode Island and Taylor Payne of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

    The fires set at the Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with members of the North Providence, RI, Police Department and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office. The assault of the federal officers was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 4 creative ways to engage children in STEM over the summer: Tips to foster curiosity and problem-solving at home

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amber M. Simpson, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Binghamton University, State University of New York

    Families and caregivers can boost children’s confidence and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while school is out for summer. heshphoto/Getty Images

    The Trump administration is reshaping the pursuit of science through federal cuts to research grants and the Department of Education. This will have real consequences for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM learning.

    One of those consequences is the elimination of learning opportunities such as robotics camps and access to advanced math courses for K-12 students.

    As a result, families and caregivers are more essential than ever in supporting children’s learning.

    Based on my research, I offer four ways to support children’s summer learning in ways that feel playful and engaging but still foster their interest, confidence and skills in STEM.

    1. Find a problem

    To support STEM learning outside of school, encourage children to find and solve problems.
    kali9/Getty Images

    Look for “problems” in or around your home to engineer a solution for. Engineering a solution could include brainstorming ideas, drawing a sketch, creating a prototype or a first draft, testing and improving the prototype and communicating about the invention.

    For example, one family in our research created an upside-down soap dispenser for the following problem: “the way it’s designed” − specifically, the straw − “it doesn’t even reach the bottom of the container. So there’s a lot of soap sitting at the bottom.”

    To identify a problem and engage in the engineering design process, families are encouraged to use common materials. The materials may include cardboard boxes, cotton balls, construction paper, pine cones and rocks.

    Our research found that when children engage in engineering in the home environment with caregivers, parents and siblings, they communicate about and apply science and math concepts that are often “hidden” in their actions.

    For instance, when building a paper roller coaster for a marble, children think about how the height will affect the speed of the marble. In math, this relates to the relationship between two variables, or the idea that one thing, such as height, impacts another, the speed. In science, they are applying concepts of kinetic energy and potential energy. The higher the starting point, the more potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which makes the marble move faster.

    In addition, children are learning what it means to be an engineer through their actions and experience. Families and caregivers play a role in supporting their creative thinking and willingness to work through challenging problems.

    2. Spark curiosity

    Spontaneous learning moments can lead to deep engagement and learning of STEM concepts.
    cglade/Getty Images

    Open up a space for exploration around STEM concepts driven by their interests.

    Currently, my research with STEM professionals who were homeschooled talk about the power of learning sparked by curiosity.

    One participant stated, “At one time, I got really into ladybugs, well Asian Beatles I guess. It was when we had like hundreds in our house. I was like, what is happening? So, I wanted to figure out like why they were there, and then the difference between ladybugs and Asian beetles because people kept saying, these aren’t actually ladybugs.”

    Researchers label this serendipitous science engagement, or even spontaneous math moments. The moments lead to deep engagement and learning of STEM concepts. This may also be a chance to learn things with your child.

    3. Facilitate thinking

    In my research, being uncertain about STEM concepts may lead to children exploring and considering different ideas. One concept in particular − playful uncertainties − is when parents and caregivers know the answer to a child’s uncertainties but act as if they do not know.

    For example, suppose your child asks, “How can we measure the distance between St. Louis, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee, on this map?” You might respond, “I don’t know. What do you think?” This gives children the chance to share their ideas before a parent or caregiver guides them toward a response.

    4. Bring STEM to life

    Overhearing or participating in budget talks can help children develop math skills and financial literacy.
    SeizaVisuals/Getty Images

    Turn ordinary moments into curious conversations.

    “This recipe is for four people, but we have 11 people coming to dinner. What should we do?”

    In a recent interview, one participant described how much they learned from listening in on financial conversations, seeing how decisions got made about money, and watching how bills were handled. They were developing financial literacy and math skills.

    As they noted, “By the time I got to high school, I had a very good basis on what I’m doing and how to do it and function as a person in society.”

    Globally, individuals lack financial literacy, which can lead to negative outcomes in the future when it comes to topics such as retirement planning and debt.

    Why is this important?

    Research shows that talking with friends and family about STEM concepts supports how children see themselves as learners and their later success in STEM fields, even if they do not pursue a career in STEM.

    My research also shows how family STEM participation gives children opportunities to explore STEM ideas in ways that go beyond what they typically experience in school.

    In my view, these kinds of STEM experiences don’t compete with what children learn in school − they strengthen and support it.

    Amber M. Simpson receives funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

    – ref. 4 creative ways to engage children in STEM over the summer: Tips to foster curiosity and problem-solving at home – https://theconversation.com/4-creative-ways-to-engage-children-in-stem-over-the-summer-tips-to-foster-curiosity-and-problem-solving-at-home-257407

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Debates over presidential power to suspend habeas corpus resurface in Trump administration

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brooks D. Simpson, Foundation Professor of History, Arizona State University

    There’s a conflict brewing over the rights of the arrested and detained; it’s not a new conflict. busra İspir, iStock/Getty Images Plus

    The principle of habeas corpus, a legal phrase, is a simple one: Translated from the Latin as “produce the body,” it provides that a judge may compel prosecutors to supply evidence to determine whether someone has been legally detained or arrested.

    In the U.S., a detained or arrested individual, or their legal representative, may ask a judge to decide based on the evidence presented whether the detainee has been legally confined. That process is termed “seeking a writ.”

    Suspending the privilege of the writ, also known as “suspending the writ,” denies that individual or their representation from making that request or a judge from honoring it. The “privilege” in that phrase is a right of the accused.

    In the past few months, members of the Trump administration have raised the issue of the president’s power to suspend the privilege of habeas corpus.

    White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in May 2025 shared with the media the news that administration officials were exploring the possibility of suspending the privilege of the writ to help the administration deport immigrants quickly.

    Eleven days later, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declared at a congressional hearing that habeas corpus “is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country,” a misunderstanding of this foundational legal right immediately challenged by New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan.

    Article I of the U.S. Constitution declares that “the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” Suspension is thus a grave and serious matter.

    This is not the first time that Americans have debated which branch of government – the executive branch or Congress – has the power to suspend the privilege of the writ and under what circumstances it may do so.

    Sen. Maggie Hassan asks Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to define habeas corpus; Noem can’t.

    Lincoln and the Great Writ

    Habeas corpus became a major point of controversy during the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln suspended the privilege of the writ, first in parts of Maryland and later throughout the nation, without seeking prior congressional approval.

    While the Constitution provides for the suspension of the writ, the document is silent as to who has the power to exercise this authority. Although most of this section of the Constitution concerns the powers of Congress, it also addresses the power and authority of other branches in specific instances. And the use of the passive voice – “shall not be suspended” – in this section leaves the question of who can suspend the writ open to interpretation.

    The questions of who may suspend the privilege of the writ and under what circumstances emerged in the spring of 1861.

    On April 12, Confederate forces fired on U.S.-controlled Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, an act that is considered the formal start of the war. A week later, Marylanders supporting secession clashed with militia from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania who were making their way through Baltimore to defend Washington.

    Lincoln refused to honor requests from Maryland Governor Thomas Hicks and Baltimore Mayor George Brown to avoid transporting reinforcements through Baltimore. The president initially tried to skirt any conflict by routing the reinforcements through Annapolis.

    This proved a stopgap measure. On April 27, Lincoln authorized General Winfield Scott, commanding general of the U.S. Army, to suspend the privilege of the writ between Philadelphia and Washington, if necessary. This would permit arbitrary arrests and detaining of people determined to be acting in support of the insurrection.

    Taney challenges Lincoln

    To protect national security, U.S. military authorities arrested John Merryman on May 25, 1861. Merryman, who was from Baltimore, was suspected of involvement in destroying railroad bridges to obstruct Union troop movements.

    Chief Justice Roger B. Taney honored a request from Merryman’s lawyers to issue a writ of habeas corpus, only to have federal military authorities refuse to produce Merryman, who remained at his cell in Fort McHenry.

    Taney then ruled that neither Lincoln nor military personnel under his command could suspend the privilege of the writ when it came to civilians such as Merryman.

    “If at any time the public safety should require the suspension of the powers vested by this act in the courts of the United States, it is for the Legislature to say so,” wrote Taney, quoting an 1807 opinion by Chief Justice John Marshall.

    Days later, on June 1, Taney offered a more extended decision reflecting his reasoning that Congress, not the president, could suspend the privilege of the writ.

    Taney was challenging the president’s authority to act unilaterally.

    Lincoln ignored Taney’s ruling. He reasoned that in time of emergency, especially with Congress not in session, he – as president – was compelled to act in the interests of national security. He did so to protect the movement of troops through Maryland to defend the national capital.

    Not only did Lincoln’s order remain in place, but the president later expanded its geographic scope in several instances, most notably in September 1862. On the heels of issuing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln authorized the detention of individuals accused of obstructing efforts to raise troops or who sought to support the rebellion.

    Unwilling to concede that Lincoln’s actions need not seek congressional approval, Congress, first in 1861, then through the Habeas Corpus Act of 1863 offered retroactive sanction of the actions of the executive branch and, in 1863, empowered Lincoln to suspend the privilege of the writ in the future in the interests of national security for the duration of the rebellion.

    Democrats, however, criticized Lincoln’s actions as arbitrary, unconstitutional and smacking of tyranny.

    President Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 proclamation suspending the use of habeas corpus.
    Mississippi State University

    Executive overreach?

    Almost a decade later, in 1871, President Ulysses S. Grant declined to act on his own to suspend the privilege of the writ to prosecute white supremacist terrorists in the Reconstruction South, requiring that Congress first pass legislation authorizing him to do so.

    Since the Civil War, only once has a president unilaterally suspended the privilege of the writ without prior congressional authorization. That’s what President Franklin D. Roosevelt did in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, in order to combat any suspicious activity that might be construed as espionage.

    With Congress currently in session, lawmakers could authorize the president to suspend the privilege of the writ to set aside debates over executive overreach. Otherwise, presidents might define as emergencies situations that do not meet the extreme circumstances envisioned by the Constitution while sidestepping congressional approval.

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

    – ref. Debates over presidential power to suspend habeas corpus resurface in Trump administration – https://theconversation.com/debates-over-presidential-power-to-suspend-habeas-corpus-resurface-in-trump-administration-257195

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Was the Boulder attack terrorism or a hate crime? 2 experts unpack the complexities

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Frederic Lemieux, Professor of the Practice and Faculty Director of the Master’s in Applied Intelligence, Georgetown University

    A woman places flowers outside the Boulder, Colo., courthouse after an attack that injured 12 people. David Zalubowski/AP Photo

    Twelve people in Boulder, Colorado, were injured by a man wielding a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails on June 1, 2025. Those burned in the attack were taking part in a peaceful, silent walk on Pearl Street, a pedestrian mall, with the aim of raising awareness about Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

    The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, yelled, “Free Palestine,” according to local news reports. Soliman is an Egyptian immigrant who was living in the U.S. illegally after his tourist visa and work authorization both expired.

    On June 3, Soliman’s family, who lived with him in Colorado Springs, were detained by federal immigration authorities. Soliman’s wife and five children were placed in expedited removal proceedings.

    The FBI and local authorities initially said they were investigating a “targeted terror attack”. But Soliman was later charged with hate crimes in federal court. He also faces attempted murder and other charges in state court.

    We study terrorism and hate crimes.

    Whether an attack like the one in Boulder is considered an act of terrorism or a hate crime changes the way a suspect is charged and sentenced.

    Let’s look at how these two terms differ.

    What is a hate crime?

    Hate crimes are crimes motivated by bias on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. In some states, gender, age and gender identity are also included. Hate crime laws have been passed by 47 states and the federal government since the 1980s, when activists first began to press state legislatures to recognize the role of bias in violence against minority groups. Today, only Arkansas, South Carolina and Wyoming do not have hate crime laws.

    Colorado’s 2024 statute prohibits bias-motivated attacks based on a wide variety of categories, from ancestry to gender identity.

    In order to be charged as a hate crime, attacks – whether vandalism, assault or killings – must be directed at individuals because of the prohibited biases. Hate crimes, in other words, punish motive; the prosecutor must convince the judge or jury that the victim was targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation or other protected characteristic.

    If the defendant is found to have acted with bias motivation, hate crimes often add an additional penalty to the underlying charge. Charging people with a hate crime, then, presents additional layers of complexity to what may otherwise be a straightforward case for prosecutors. Bias motivation can be hard to prove, and prosecutors can be reluctant to take cases that they may not win in court.

    Dylann Roof, who killed nine worshipers at a Black church in South Carolina in 2015, was convicted of 33 charges, including hate crimes.
    Grace Beahm-Pool/Getty Images

    What is terrorism?

    Terrorism is a violent tactic – a strategy used to achieve a specific end.

    This strategy is often used in asymmetric power struggles when a weaker person, or group, is fighting against a powerful nation-state. The violence is aimed at creating fear in the targeted population.

    Terrorists often justify their bloody acts on the basis of perceived social, economic and political unfairness. Or they take inspiration from religious beliefs or spiritual principles.

    Many forms of terrorism were inspired by struggle between races, the rich and poor, or political outcasts and elites.

    How different terrorist groups act is informed by what they are trying to achieve. Some adopt a reactionary perspective aimed at stopping or resisting social, economic and political changes. Others adopt a revolutionary doctrine and want to provoke change.

    In the United States, terrorism attacks were in sharp decline from 1970 to 2011, decreasing from approximately 475 incidents a year to fewer than 20.

    The U.S. government began to take more note of domestic terrorism after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. And the number of domestic terrorism incidents began to rise after 2011, with notable increases in the mid-to-late 2010s and early 2020s.

    Data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows right-wing terrorist attacks and plots grew substantially during the past decade, with right-wing extremists being responsible for the majority of attacks and plots each year since 2011, except for 2013. There were 44 incidents in 2019 alone.

    The Department of Homeland Security’s 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment indicates that the terrorism threat environment in the United States remains high, driven largely by domestic violent extremists motivated by a mix of racial, religious and anti-government grievances.

    Terrorism is not a successful tactic. American University professor Audrey Cronin studied 457 terrorist groups worldwide going back to 1968. The groups lasted an average of eight years before they lost support or were dismantled. No terrorist organizations that she studied were able to conquer a state, and 94% were unable to achieve even one of their strategic goals.

    Portions of this article originally appeared in articles published on March 19, 2021, and May 23, 2017.

    Read more of our stories about Colorado.

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

    – ref. Was the Boulder attack terrorism or a hate crime? 2 experts unpack the complexities – https://theconversation.com/was-the-boulder-attack-terrorism-or-a-hate-crime-2-experts-unpack-the-complexities-258217

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next-Generation Lawmakers Unveil Legislative Agenda to End Corruption in Washington

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) joined a group of next-generation reformers in the House of Representatives to introduce the “End Corruption Now”legislative agenda. An effort to confront political corruption and clean up government that includes seven bills designed to put power back in the hands of the American people by preventing the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices.

    After watching President Trump’s administration engage in brazen corruption, the group of representatives including Reps. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) – felt compelled to act. 

    “At a time when public trust in our institutions is at a breaking point, the Integrity in Government Act is about restoring accountability at the highest levels of power,” saidRep. Scholten. “This bill protects the nonpartisan watchdogs who work on behalf of the American people and ensures that the White House–regardless of who is in office–is subject to real oversight to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure efficiency. Our democracy depends on transparency, and the American people deserve nothing less.” 

    “Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office were marked by chaos, corruption, and self-dealing. He spent the time stacking his administration with billionaire donors and promoting shameless cryptocurrency scams, all while his Republican supporters in Congress trade stocks to benefit their own portfolios. The time for this corruption to end is now. We must clean up government for future generations and ensure our government is serving the American people, not special interests,” saidRep. Neguse. 

    “Elected officials are elected to serve their constituents, not their own self-interests,” saidRep. Craig. “It’s past time we pass legislation to clean up Washington and ensure our tax dollars are being spent as they should – on improving the lives of everyday Americans. That’s why I’m proud to be partnering with my colleagues on this anti-corruption campaign to make common-sense reforms that will restore integrity, transparency and efficiency to our government.”  

    “Members of Congress are elected to serve the American people, not to enrich themselves,” saidRep. Magaziner. “We must ban Member of Congress from trading stocks, because there should be no opportunity for elected officials to profit off of their positions. I am proud to join Representative Neguse and other colleagues in our effort to bring real ethics reform to Washington.”

    “Corporate power has long rigged the system against the American people,” saidRep. Deluzio. “We must root out this corruption to restore the American Dream. Stopping corporate criminals from taking power from inside our government itself is a great place to start. I’m introducing the No Corporate Crooks Act as a part of the ‘End Corruption Now’ legislative agenda because someone convicted of crimes like bribery, embezzlement, fraud, insider trading, and more shouldn’t be let anywhere near the levers of power in the executive branch.” 

    “For too long, politicians in both parties have put their own gain ahead of what’s best for the American people. The brazen corruption of the last few months has only highlighted the need for urgent action. It is time for comprehensive reform to ensure politicians serve the people, not themselves,” saidRep. Ryan. “No more getting rich off trading stocks. An end to Members of Congress becoming lobbyists. Getting rid of kickbacks for billionaire friends. I’m proud to be working alongside a group of next-generation lawmakers who refuse to accept the status quo – we’re here to clean things up.”

    “When public officials use their power for personal gain and are shielded from accountability, we undermine democracy itself,” saidRep. Sykes. “This bill – and the broader End Corruption Now agenda – is about restoring public trust and ensuring that no one is above the law. The American people deserve a government that works for them, not for the biggest wallets or the best connections.” 

    The “End Corruption Now” legislative agenda targets conflicts of interest and would put a stop to the selling of access and influence, including banning Members of Congress from trading stocks or becoming lobbyists, and strengthening anti-corruption laws. It includes the following bills:  

    • The Integrity in Government (IG) Act, introduced by Rep. Hillary Scholten, strengthens checks and balances by installing new oversight measures for the White House and its top offices and protecting independent watchdogs from political retaliation. Read the bill text HERE.
    • The Close the Revolving Door Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse, places a lifetime ban on Members of Congress from serving as lobbyists. The bill is championed in the U.S. Senate by Senator Michael Bennet. Read the bill text HERE.
    • The Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution, introduced by Rep. Angie Craig, would prohibit Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards. Read the bill text HERE.
    • The Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, introduced by Rep. Seth Magaziner, effectively bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks by requiring them to either divest from individual stock holdings or move their investments into a qualified blind trust during their entire tenure in Congress. Read the bill text HERE.
    • The No Corporate Crooks Act, introduced by Rep. Chris DeLuzio, prohibits any chief executive officers, in either the public or private sector, convicted of covered financial crimes from serving in the executive branch. Read the bill text HERE. 
    • The Stop Millionaires Using Service for Kickbacks (MUSK) Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Ryan, requires government employees defined as Executive Schedule (I-IV) employees, Special Government Employees, and people in the Executive Office of the President to recuse themselves from any matters affecting the financial interests of their previous employers for the four-year period. Read the bill text HERE.
    • The Closing Bribery Loopholes Act, introduced by Rep. Emilia Sykes, closes loopholes in the federal bribery statute by clarifying the definition of an “official act” by a public official. The bill expands the definition to prohibit public officials from improperly using their position for private gain. Read the bill text HERE. 

    The “End Corruption Now”agenda is endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, and Project On Government Oversight (POGO). 

    “Americans should be able to trust that their elected officials and senior policymakers are serving the public’s interest, rather than private financial interests,” saidDebra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “CREW applauds Reps. Neguse, Magaziner, Deluzio, Scholten, Ryan, Sykes, and Craig for their initiative, leadership and collaboration to put together a multi-faceted anti-corruption package. For far too long, some have accepted the status quo, but in the face of recent and unprecedented examples of how the system can be manipulated for private gain, now is the time for Congress to take action and pass effective anti-corruption legislation.” 

    “Bribery, kickbacks, pay-to-play. These are the components of a criminal enterprise – not a functional federal government. The tsunami of corruption flowing from the White House has flooded all of Washington and left a revolting stench that’s impossible to ignore. This fire hose of anti-corruption measures will blast corruptionhead on by protecting independent government watchdogs from being weaponized, banning former members of Congress from being lobbyists, and stopping convicted corporate crooks and special government employees from personally profiting at the people’s expense. Now is not a time to worry – it’s time to clean house,” saidLisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen. 

    “At a time when the federal government does not have the trust and confidence of the American people, it is more important than ever for leaders to lead and respond accordingly,” saidDylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Acting Vice-President of Policy and Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). “Not since the post-Watergate era has there been such a need for a comprehensive anti-corruption, good governance reform agenda. This is why Rep. Neguse and his colleagues should be applauded for this bold reform initiative, aimed at cracking down on corruption and bringing about the government that the American people deserve. Whether it’s reining in the corruption of the revolving door or banning the unethical practice of congressional stock trading or strengthening oversight tools like inspectors general, these reforms are long overdue and now is the time to get them done.” 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the National Day Against Gun Violence

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    “Canada’s new government has a mandate to keep communities safe. On National Day Against Gun Violence, we affirm our commitment to deliver on that mandate with purpose and full force.

    “Earlier this week, we tabled the Strong Borders Act – giving law enforcement additional tools to secure the border, combat organized crime, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl, and crack down on money laundering.

    “We are also increasing our capacity to intercept illegal guns coming into our country with the deployment of scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel, and K-9 teams to the border. We will also be moving forward to revoke firearms licences for those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders.

    “Canadians voted for change, and we will be delivering that change with decisive action over the coming months. Working with law enforcement and partners at all orders of government, we will keep communities safe, get guns off our streets, and make bail harder to get for repeat offenders charged with car theft, home invasions, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Around the Air Force: US Air Force Academy Commencement, Modernizing Pilot Training, Hurricane Hunters

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: Around the Air Force: US Air Force Academy Commencement, Modernizing Pilot Training, Hurricane Hunters

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink delivers a commencement address to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s class of 2025, the T-7A Red Hawk is the future of pilot training, and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are ready for the Atlantic hurricane season.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Crown Point Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HAMMOND- Daeshawn Jones, 29 years old, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Jones was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, on October 8, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Merrillville, Indiana, in which Jones was a passenger.  During a search of the vehicle, a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number was discovered from the rear driver’s side seat. Jones attempted to flee but was apprehended.  His criminal history revealed that he had a prior 2022 Illinois felony conviction for attempted criminal sexual assault/force and a 2021 Indiana felony conviction for forgery, and as such, he is prohibited from possessing the firearm. 

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Merrillville Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.         

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southwest Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Meth Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Investigation Targeted Illegal Drug Suppliers; Defendant Admitted “Lifelong” Meth Dealer

    ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man with a criminal history who admitted to being a “lifelong” methamphetamine supplier and who said he distributed up to three kilograms of the illegal drug per week during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel was sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison this week.

    Justin Harris Vinson, 42, of Warwick, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on June 4. Vinson previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Sept. 17, 2024. Codefendant Shana Rae Black, 34, of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 168 months to be followed by five years of supervised release on Feb. 28, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Aug. 15, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.

    “Repeat convicted felons who weaponize themselves and distribute hazardous, illegal drugs in our communities will be brought to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, our office is working nonstop to identity those offenders causing the most harm in the communities we serve, stop their criminal activities and hold them accountable.”

    “Drug traffickers drive addiction and destroy communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated. “DEA will use any resource necessary to remove these career criminals from our streets.”

    “Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug with devastating consequences to users, their families and communities,” said to Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of FBI Atlanta. “This prosecution closes a pipeline for dangerous drugs flowing into the streets of Southwest Georgia.”  

    “We are committed to holding those who traffic methamphetamine accountable,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Collaborating closely with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, we will work to ensure justice and dismantle these dangerous networks.”

    “I am incredibly proud of our agency’s relentless efforts and the strong collaboration with our local and federal partners. Methamphetamine trafficking brings dangerous consequences to our community, often resulting in tragedy and loss of life. This case highlights our dedication to safeguarding the community and demonstrates the powerful results we achieve through collaboration,” stated Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock.

    “This case demonstrates the daily, unwavering efforts law enforcement agents make to ensure a good case to get criminal offenders off the streets and behind bars,” said Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals. “We are proud of the cooperation demonstrated by all to ensure these repeat offenders are held accountable at the federal level, where there is no parole.”

    According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a confidential informant (CI) working with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) contacted Black on Facebook to obtain methamphetamine on Oct. 27, 2022. Black sold the CI approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine at a Perry, Georgia, motel; the CI reported there was a pistol on a nightstand in the motel room next to a bulk quantity of methamphetamine. On Oct. 31, an undercover Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent contacted Black to purchase methamphetamine and met her at the Walmart in Cordele. Under audio and video surveillance, the GBI agent purchased methamphetamine from Black.

    On Nov. 2, FBI, DEA and GBI agents met with another CI to purchase methamphetamine from Vinson. Under surveillance, Vinson met the CI at his Warwick residence and traveled with Vinson to the Sunrise Inn in Cordele to meet with Black. During the transaction, Black provided 284.4 grams of methamphetamine and collected the majority of the cash payment for the drugs, with Vinson keeping $300 as a brokering fee. Vinson was seen with a firearm during the transaction.

    On Nov. 7, CCSO and GBI arrested Black in Crisp County as she traveled in a vehicle back from McDonough, Georgia.  A search of the vehicle revealed Black was in possession of 982.7 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine, 15.89 grams of 91% pure methamphetamine, a digital scale and several cell phones. GBI executed a search warrant on the Baymont Inn motel room in Cordele where Black was staying and found a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a small bag of suspected methamphetamine, four digital scales and bulk quantities of plastic baggies. Black’s cell phones showed extensive communications between her and known drug dealers.

    On Jan. 22, 2023, Vinson purchased 15 ounces of methamphetamine in Cordele and sold 277 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine to a CI utilized by GBI in Warwick. During the transaction, the CI observed Vinson place a firearm in the center console of his vehicle. A search warrant was executed at Vinson’s residence on Jan. 26, 2023. Law enforcement located a semiautomatic pistol in his bedroom, along with five other firearms, inside of an open safe. Vinson told officers he had been selling methamphetamine in the South Georgia and North Florida area his entire life and that during the peak of COVID in 2020, he would sell approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine per week for six months on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel.

    Vinson has multiple prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine. Black also has a previous felony conviction in Jones County, Georgia, Superior Court for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    This case was investigated by GBI, DEA and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Co-leader of large-scale narcotics & human trafficking rings sentenced to 30 years in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A leader in a case with 23 defendants involved in narcotics and human trafficking conspiracies was sentenced in federal court here today to 360 months in prison for drug, gun, human trafficking and money laundering crimes.

    From 2008 until June 2022, Cordell Washington, 38, of Pickerington, ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus with co-defendant Patrick Saultz. Their operations also included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, fraud and money laundering.

    A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school. In October 2022, the government added 12 defendants and 28 new charges. 

    Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.

    As part of this case, local, state and federal law enforcement officers have executed more than 20 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and seized more than $1.7 million in drug proceeds. For example, while executing a search warrant at a local storage unit, law enforcement officials discovered approximately one million dollars in bulk United States currency. Searches of additional residences yielded 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches and additional bulk amounts of cash.

    The drug trafficking organization sold drugs to customers out of more than 20 Columbus residences and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers who then trafficked those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and the Northern District of Ohio. Saultz began the drug trafficking organization by distributing heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine from his residences on Vida Place and South Hague Street in Columbus as early as 2008.

    Most of the drug dealing took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus at a residence on South Burgess. For example, one of Washington and Saultz’s numerous subordinates sold approximately $18,000 worth of narcotics per day from the location on South Burgess.

    The case also involves the overdose death of at least one individual and the violent death of a second victim.

    As part of his plea in April 2024, Washington admitted to labor trafficking male drug addicts. The defendant provided the men with their drug of choice after the men completed construction or cleaning projects at residences owned by the drug trafficking organization. The men were recruited by Washington and some completed the work for him under serious threat of harm.

    Washington would provide the addicts with advances on small amounts of drugs so that they were well enough to perform physical labor. If Washington was not pleased with their work product, he would not complete the final drug payment and would threaten violence against them.

    Washington used numerous methods to launder the group’s drug trafficking proceeds, including establishing front businesses that purported to be rental, repair and construction companies.

    As of today, 18 of the 23 defendants have been sentenced, including six defendants who were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Saultz was sentenced in March 2025 to 30 years in prison.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Jared Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Andrew Lawton, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.

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

    Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gulf of America oil and natural gas production expected to remain stable through 2026

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    June 6, 2025

    We forecast crude oil production in the Federal Offshore Gulf of America (GOA) will average 1.80 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025 and 1.81 million b/d in 2026, compared with 1.77 million b/d in 2024, in our most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). We expect GOA natural gas production to average 1.72 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025 and 1.64 Bcf/d in 2026, compared with 1.79 Bcf/d in 2024. At these volumes, the GOA is forecast to contribute about 13% of U.S. crude oil production and 1% of U.S. marketed natural gas production in 2025 and 2026.

    We expect operators to start crude oil and natural gas production at 13 fields in the GOA during 2025 and 2026, without which GOA production would decline. Eight fields will be developed using subsea tiebacks or underwater extensions to existing Floating Production Units (FPUs) at the surface. Five fields will produce from four new FPUs, with one of the new FPUs (Salamanca FPU) targeting production from two fields.

    We expect the additional crude oil production from all new fields will contribute 85,000 b/d in 2025 and 308,000 b/d in 2026. We expect associated natural gas production from the new fields will average 0.09 Bcf/d in 2025 and 0.27 Bcf/d in 2026.

    Three fields began producing earlier this year:

    • Whale
      Whale, one of the largest fields expected to come online in 2025 and 2026, started producing in January 2025 from a new FPU of the same name. The Whale FPU, located in more than 8,600 feet of water, is expected to produce around 85,000 b/d of crude oil at its peak.
    • Ballymore
      The Ballymore field started production in April 2025 as a subsea tieback to the existing Blind Faith facility, and it is expected to produce 75,000 b/d from the Ballymore wells in the emerging Upper Jurassic/Norphlet play.
    • Dover
      The Dover field also started production in April as a subsea tieback to the existing Appomattox facility with expected peak production of around 15,000 b/d.

    Production coming online in the second half of 2025:

    • Shenandoah
      The Shenandoah field, which will produce from an FPU of the same name, is scheduled to start production in June 2025 with an initial capacity of 120,000 b/d, which will be expanded to 140,000 b/d in early 2026. The Shenandoah Phase 1 development will use new technologies to produce from a deepwater high-pressure field.
    • Leon and Castile
      Another new FPU we expect to come online in the second half of 2025, Salamanca, will process oil and natural gas from the Leon and Castile discoveries. The Salamanca project involved refurbishing a previously decommissioned production facility and has a capacity of 60,000 b/d of oil and 40 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.
    • We expect other subsea tiebacks to existing facilities to enter production in late 2025: Katmai West, Sunspear, Argos Southwest Extension, and Zephyrus Phase 1.

    Production coming online in 2026:

    Three new subsea tiebacks are expected to begin production in 2026: Silvertip Phase 3, Longclaw, and Monument, a subsea tieback to the Shenandoah FPU.

    Hurricanes in the Gulf of America could disrupt the production and development timeline of these new fields. Colorado State University anticipates that the 2025 Atlantic Basin hurricane season will have above-normal activity with 17 named storms.

    Principal contributor: Eulalia Munoz-Cortijo

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Poplar woman sentenced to prison for making false statements

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

    GREAT FALLS – A Poplar woman who provided false statements to federal law enforcement was sentenced today to 9 months in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Annie Lee Kirn, 27, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of making a false statement.

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

    The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, Kirn returned with her elderly friend to his residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Shortly thereafter, two men broke into the home. Armed with an assault rifle, the men assaulted the homeowner and another man and demanded money and access to a wall safe.

    During an interview with federal law enforcement officers, Kirn said she saw the would-be robbers outside before the robbery and one of them kept trying to grab her, she then saw the gun and freaked out. She also told law enforcement the armed man told her to run, that she ran, and then he fired three or four times.

    Law enforcement recovered and reviewed surveillance video from the home that showed a car with five people following Kirn’s truck into the yard. Two men, one of whom was armed with a rifle, approached the house while Kirn was getting out of the truck. After the homeowner went into the house, Kirn returned to the yard and visited with the two men. During that time, they discussed her relationship with the homeowner, Kirn offered to share a joint with the man armed with the rifle, they whispered about cash, and talked about the location of a safe. At one point, Kirn asked about the rifle, the armed man handed it to her, and she held it at the ready position before handing it back to the man. While they were outside, the man fired seven rounds from the rifle, primarily into the air.

    In an interview in September 2024, law enforcement followed up with Kirn about the night of the robbery. When asked directly if she ever handled the firearm, Kirn said “hell no.” When asked if she had any conversations with the robbers, she said, “No…I didn’t talk with them at all.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice.

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

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: US Air Force Academy Commencement, Modernizing Pilot Training, Hurricane Hunters

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink delivers a commencement address to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s class of 2025, the T-7A Red Hawk is the future of pilot training, and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are ready for the Atlantic hurricane season.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Turtle Beach Corporation to Participate in Oppenheimer 25th Annual Consumer Growth and E-Commerce Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH), a leading gaming accessories brand, today announced that Cris Keirn, Chief Executive Officer, and Mark Weinswig, Chief Financial Officer, will virtually participate in the Oppenheimer 25th Annual Consumer Growth and E-Commerce Conference, on June 9-11.

    Chief Executive Officer Cris Keirn will host a fireside chat on Tuesday, June 10 at 11:15a.m. ET, and management will also be available for meetings during the conference.

    A live webcast of the event will be available through the “Events & Presentations” section of TBCH’s website at corp.turtlebeach.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the investor relations website for 90 days.

    About Turtle Beach Corporation
    Turtle Beach Corporation (the “Company”) (corp.turtlebeach.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming accessory providers. The Company’s namesake Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for designing best-selling gaming headsets, top-rated game controllers, award-winning PC gaming peripherals, and groundbreaking gaming simulation accessories. Innovation, first-to-market features, a broad range of products for all types of gamers, and top-rated customer support have made Turtle Beach a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for over a decade. Turtle Beach Corporation acquired Performance Designed Products LLC (www.pdp.com) in 2024. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: TBCH.

    Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions, or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “target”, “goal”, “project”, “intend” and similar expressions, or the negatives thereof, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any person, that the objectives of the Company will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

    While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs on imported goods and other trade restrictions, the release and availability of successful game titles, macroeconomic conditions affecting the demand for our products, logistic and supply chain challenges and costs, dependence on the success and availability of third-parties to manufacture and manage the logistics of transporting and distributing our products, the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the integration of any businesses we acquire and the integration of such businesses within our internal control over financial reporting and operations, our indebtedness, liquidity, and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    CONTACTS

    Investors:
    tbch@icrinc.com

    Public Relations & Media:
    MacLean Marshall
    Sr. Director, Global Communications
    Turtle Beach Corporation
    (858) 914-5093
    maclean.marshall@turtlebeach.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident – a public health historian explains how the system was shaped to serve profit and politicians

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Zachary W. Schulz, Senior Lecturer of History, Auburn University

    Concessions to the private sector are one reason why health care is so costly. FS Productions/Tetra images via Getty Images

    A few years ago, a student in my history of public health course asked why her mother couldn’t afford insulin without insurance, despite having a full-time job. I told her what I’ve come to believe: The U.S. health care system was deliberately built this way.

    People often hear that health care in America is dysfunctional – too expensive, too complex and too inequitable. But dysfunction implies failure. What if the real problem is that the system is functioning exactly as it was designed to? Understanding this legacy is key to explaining not only why reform has failed repeatedly, but why change remains so difficult.

    I am a historian of public health with experience researching oral health access and health care disparities in the Deep South. My work focuses on how historical policy choices continue to shape the systems we rely on today.

    By tracing the roots of today’s system and all its problems, it’s easier to understand why American health care looks the way it does and what it will take to reform it into a system that provides high-quality, affordable care for all. Only by confronting how profit, politics and prejudice have shaped the current system can Americans imagine and demand something different.

    Decades of compromise

    My research and that of many others show that today’s high costs, deep inequities and fragmented care are predictable features developed from decades of policy choices that prioritized profit over people, entrenched racial and regional hierarchies, and treated health care as a commodity rather than a public good.

    Over the past century, U.S. health care developed not from a shared vision of universal care, but from compromises that prioritized private markets, protected racial hierarchies and elevated individual responsibility over collective well-being.

    Employer-based insurance emerged in the 1940s, not from a commitment to worker health but from a tax policy workaround during wartime wage freezes. The federal government allowed employers to offer health benefits tax-free, incentivizing coverage while sidestepping nationalized care. This decision bound health access to employment status, a structure that is still dominant today. In contrast, many other countries with employer-provided insurance pair it with robust public options, ensuring that access is not tied solely to a job.

    In 1965, Medicare and Medicaid programs greatly expanded public health infrastructure. Unfortunately, they also reinforced and deepened existing inequalities. Medicare, a federally administered program for people over 64, primarily benefited wealthier Americans who had access to stable, formal employment and employer-based insurance during their working years. Medicaid, designed by Congress as a joint federal-state program, is aimed at the poor, including many people with disabilities. The combination of federal and state oversight resulted in 50 different programs with widely variable eligibility, coverage and quality.

    Southern lawmakers, in particular, fought for this decentralization. Fearing federal oversight of public health spending and civil rights enforcement, they sought to maintain control over who received benefits. Historians have shown that these efforts were primarily designed to restrict access to health care benefits along racial lines during the Jim Crow period of time.

    Bloated bureaucracies, ‘creeping socialism’

    Today, that legacy is painfully visible.

    States that chose not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are overwhelmingly located in the South and include several with large Black populations. Nearly 1 in 4 uninsured Black adults are uninsured because they fall into the coverage gap – unable to access affordable health insurance – they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to receive subsidies through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.

    The system’s architecture also discourages care aimed at prevention. Because Medicaid’s scope is limited and inconsistent, preventive care screenings, dental cleanings and chronic disease management often fall through the cracks. That leads to costlier, later-stage care that further burdens hospitals and patients alike.

    Meanwhile, cultural attitudes around concepts like “rugged individualism” and “freedom of choice” have long been deployed to resist public solutions. In the postwar decades, while European nations built national health care systems, the U.S. reinforced a market-driven approach.

    Publicly funded systems were increasingly portrayed by American politicians and industry leaders as threats to individual freedom – often dismissed as “socialized medicine” or signs of creeping socialism. In 1961, for example, Ronald Reagan recorded a 10-minute LP titled “Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine,” which was distributed by the American Medical Association as part of a national effort to block Medicare.

    The health care system’s administrative complexity ballooned beginning in the 1960s, driven by the rise of state-run Medicaid programs, private insurers and increasingly fragmented billing systems. Patients were expected to navigate opaque billing codes, networks and formularies, all while trying to treat, manage and prevent illness. In my view, and that of other scholars, this isn’t accidental but rather a form of profitable confusion built into the system to benefit insurers and intermediaries.

    President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts would reduce Medicaid spending by about US$700 billion.

    Coverage gaps, chronic disinvestment

    Even well-meaning reforms have been built atop this structure. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, expanded access to health insurance but preserved many of the system’s underlying inequities. And by subsidizing private insurers rather than creating a public option, the law reinforced the central role of private companies in the health care system.

    The public option – a government-run insurance plan intended to compete with private insurers and expand coverage – was ultimately stripped from the Affordable Care Act during negotiations due to political opposition from both Republicans and moderate Democrats.

    When the U.S. Supreme Court made it optional in 2012 for states to offer expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, it amplified the very inequalities that the ACA sought to reduce.

    These decisions have consequences. In states like Alabama, an estimated 220,000 adults remain uninsured due to the Medicaid coverage gap – the most recent year for which reliable data is available – highlighting the ongoing impact of the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid.

    In addition, rural hospitals have closed, patients forgo care, and entire counties lack practicing OB/GYNs or dentists. And when people do get care – especially in states where many remain uninsured – they can amass medical debt that can upend their lives.

    All of this is compounded by chronic disinvestment in public health. Federal funding for emergency preparedness has declined for years, and local health departments are underfunded and understaffed.

    The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how brittle the infrastructure is – especially in low-income and rural communities, where overwhelmed clinics, delayed testing, limited hospital capacity, and higher mortality rates exposed the deadly consequences of neglect.

    A system by design

    Change is hard not because reformers haven’t tried before, but because the system serves the very interests it was designed to serve. Insurers profit from obscurity – networks that shift, formularies that confuse, billing codes that few can decipher. Providers profit from a fee-for-service model that rewards quantity over quality, procedure over prevention. Politicians reap campaign contributions and avoid blame through delegation, diffusion and plausible deniability.

    This is not an accidental web of dysfunction. It is a system that transforms complexity into capital, bureaucracy into barriers.

    Patients – especially the uninsured and underinsured – are left to make impossible choices: delay treatment or take on debt, ration medication or skip checkups, trust the health care system or go without. Meanwhile, I believe the rhetoric of choice and freedom disguises how constrained most people’s options really are.

    Other countries show us that alternatives are possible. Systems in Germany, France and Canada vary widely in structure, but all prioritize universal access and transparency.

    Understanding what the U.S. health care system is designed to do – rather than assuming it is failing unintentionally – is a necessary first step toward considering meaningful change.

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

    – ref. US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident – a public health historian explains how the system was shaped to serve profit and politicians – https://theconversation.com/us-health-care-is-rife-with-high-costs-and-deep-inequities-and-thats-no-accident-a-public-health-historian-explains-how-the-system-was-shaped-to-serve-profit-and-politicians-256393

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Bunn, Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

    President Donald Trump has grandiose plans for Golden Dome. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    President Donald Trump’s idea of a “Golden Dome” missile defense system carries a range of potential strategic dangers for the United States.

    Golden Dome is meant to protect the U.S. from ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and missiles launched from space. Trump has called for the missile defense to be fully operational before the end of his term in three years.

    Trump’s goals for Golden Dome are likely beyond reach. A wide range of studies makes clear that even defenses far more limited than what Trump envisions would be far more expensive and less effective than Trump expects, especially against enemy missiles equipped with modern countermeasures. Countermeasures include multiple warheads per missile, decoy warheads and warheads that can maneuver or are difficult to track, among others.

    Regardless of Golden Dome’s feasibility, there is a long history of scholarship about strategic missile defenses, and the weight of evidence points to the defenses making their host country less safe from nuclear attack.

    I’m a national security and foreign policy professor at Harvard University, where I lead “Managing the Atom,” the university’s main research group on nuclear weapons and nuclear energy policies. For decades, I’ve been participating in dialogues with Russian and Chinese nuclear experts – and their fears about U.S. missile defenses have been a consistent theme throughout.

    Russian President Vladmir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have already warned that Golden Dome is destabilizing. Along with U.S. offensive capabilities, Golden Dome poses a threat of “directly undermining global strategic stability, spurring an arms race and increasing conflict potential both among nuclear-weapon states and in the international arena as a whole,” a joint statement from China and Russia said. While that is a propaganda statement, it reflects real concerns broadly held in both countries.

    Golden Dome explained.

    History lessons

    Experience going back half a century makes clear that if the administration pursues Golden Dome, it is likely to provoke even larger arms buildups, derail already-dim prospects for any negotiated nuclear arms restraint, and perhaps even increase the chances of nuclear war.

    My first book, 35 years ago, made the case that it would be in the U.S. national security interest to remain within the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which strictly limited U.S. and Soviet – and later Russian – missile defenses. The United States and the Soviet Union negotiated the ABM Treaty as part of SALT I, the first agreements limiting the nuclear arms race. It was approved in the Senate 98-2.

    The ABM Treaty experience is instructive for the implications of Golden Dome today.

    Why did the two countries agree to limit defenses? First and foremost, because they understood that unless each side’s defenses were limited, they would not be able to stop an offensive nuclear arms race. If each side wants to maintain the ability to retaliate if the other attacks – “don’t nuke me, or I’ll nuke you” – then an obvious answer to one side building up more defenses is for the other to build up more nuclear warheads.

    For example, in the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviets installed 100 interceptors to defend Moscow – so the United States targeted still more warheads on Moscow to overwhelm the defense. Had it ever come to a nuclear war, Moscow would have been even more thoroughly obliterated than if there had been no defense at all. Both sides came to realize that unlimited missile defenses would just mean more offense on both sides, leaving both less secure than before.

    In addition, nations viewed an adversary’s shield as going hand in hand with a nuclear sword. A nuclear first strike might destroy a major part of a country’s nuclear forces. Missile defenses would inevitably be more effective against the reduced, disorganized retaliation that they knew would be coming than they would be against a massive, well-planned surprise attack. That potential advantage to whoever struck first could make nuclear crises even more dangerous.

    Post-ABM Treaty world

    Unfortunately, President George W. Bush pulled the United States out of the ABM Treaty in 2002, seeking to free U.S. development of defenses against potential missile attacks from small states such as North Korea. But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).

    The U.S. pullout did not lead to an immediate arms buildup or the end of nuclear arms control. But Putin has complained bitterly about U.S. missile defenses and the U.S. refusal to accept any limitation at all on them. He views the U.S. stance as an effort to achieve military superiority by negating Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

    Russia is investing heavily in new types of strategic nuclear weapons intended to avoid U.S. missile defenses, from an intercontinental nuclear torpedo to a missile that can go around the world and attack from the south, while U.S. defenses are mainly pointed north toward Russia.

    Russia maintains a large force of nuclear weapons like this mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.
    Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via APPEAR

    Similarly, much of China’s nuclear buildup appears to be driven by wanting a reliable nuclear deterrent in the face of the United States’ capability to strike its nuclear forces and use missile defenses to mop up the remainder. Indeed, China was so angered by South Korea’s deployment of U.S.-provided regional defenses – which they saw as aiding the U.S. ability to intercept their missiles – that they imposed stiff sanctions on South Korea.

    Fuel to the fire

    Now, Trump wants to go much further, with a defense “forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland,” with a success rate “very close to 100%.” I believe that this effort is highly likely to lead to still larger nuclear buildups in Russia and China. The Putin-Xi joint statement pledges to “counter” defenses “aimed at achieving military superiority.”

    Given the ease of developing countermeasures that are extraordinarily difficult for defenses to overcome, odds are the resulting offense-defense competition will leave the United States worse off than before – and a good bit poorer.

    Putin and Xi made clear that they are particularly concerned about the thousands of space-based interceptors Trump envisions. These interceptors are designed to hit missiles while their rockets are still burning during launch.

    Most countries are likely to oppose the idea of deploying huge numbers of weapons in space – and these interceptors would be both expensive and vulnerable. China and Russia could focus on further developing anti-satellite weapons to blow a hole in the defense, increasing the risk of space war.

    Already, there is a real danger that the whole effort of negotiated limits to temper nuclear arms racing may be coming to an end. The last remaining treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, the New START Treaty, expires in February 2026. China’s rapid nuclear buildup is making many defense officials and experts in Washington call for a U.S. buildup in response.

    Intense hostility all around means that for now, neither Russia nor China is even willing to sit down to discuss nuclear restraints, in treaty form or otherwise.

    A way forward

    In my view, adding Golden Dome to this combustible mix would likely end any prospect of avoiding a future of unrestrained and unpredictable nuclear arms competition. But paths away from these dangers are available.

    It would be quite plausible to design defenses that would provide some protection against attacks from a handful of missiles from North Korea or others that would not seriously threaten Russian or Chinese deterrent forces – and design restraints that would allow all parties to plan their offensive forces knowing what missile defenses they would be facing in the years to come.

    I believe that Trump should temper his Golden Dome ambitions to achieve his other dream – of negotiating a deal to reduce nuclear dangers.

    Matthew Bunn is a member of the National Academies Committee on International Security and Arms Control and a board member of the Arms Control Association. He is a member of the Academic Alliance of the United States Strategic Command and a consultant to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

    – ref. Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe – https://theconversation.com/golden-dome-dangers-an-arms-control-expert-explains-how-trumps-missile-defense-threatens-to-make-the-us-less-safe-258048

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Rules for the preparation of standard design documentation have been established

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a resolution approving the rules for preparing project documentation for repeated use (standard project documentation), which establishes, among other things, the specifics of the composition of its sections and the requirements for its content, as well as the specifics of the examination of such documentation.

    “Standard design is an important tool for high-quality construction. The adoption of the relevant resolution will create an effective system for the development and use of standard design documentation. The use of standard designs allows us to reduce construction time by at least six months, since there is no need to develop design and working documentation from scratch. Thus, people receive the necessary schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other socially significant facilities faster. In addition, the use of proven solutions ensures cost savings, a high level of reliability of facilities, minimizes errors and simplifies the approval process. The development of a series of standard designs is planned to begin in 2026, and it will begin with schools. This will be the first step in a large-scale program for the typification of social infrastructure throughout the country,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that changes providing for the procedure for developing standard design documentation were introduced into the Urban Development Code in 2024.

    Series of standard projects will provide up-to-date technical solutions that comply with all established sanitary-epidemiological, fire and other mandatory safety requirements, as well as the most advantageous in terms of functional, technical and economic indicators.

    In addition, such series of standard projects of social facilities will be created for all climatic and seismic regions of the country.

    “The standard design documentation provides for the most relevant technical solutions that allow achieving the functional, technical and economic indicators of capital construction projects at the lowest cost. The Ministry of Construction of Russia pays special attention to the development of this area as part of the implementation of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, aimed at fulfilling the tasks of socio-economic development of Russia set by the President. The use of design solutions that have already passed the assessment of the state examination of design documentation helps to reduce the construction time of facilities, as well as reduce the financial costs of participants in the investment and construction process,” noted Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Fayzullin.

    In addition, the Government has defined federal executive bodies and their subordinate institutions authorized to develop standard design documentation. These are the Ministry of Construction of Russia (Federal Autonomous Institution “FCS”), the Ministry of Transport of Russia (Federal State Institution “Rostransmodernizatsiya”, Federal State Institution “Rosgranstroy”), the Ministry of Defense of Russia, and the Federal Protective Service of Russia.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –