NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi: 28 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi: 28 February 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister offered reflections on his visit to the US, where he held positive and productive talks with President Trump.

    On the situation in Gaza, the leaders agreed on their hopes for the ceasefire to become a lasting peace and for Gaza to be rebuilt. The Prime Minister reiterated his view that Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes in Gaza, and that a two-state solution was the only way to deliver a secure and stable future for the region.

    Turning to wider issues, the Prime Minister and the President discussed the importance of their countries’ strategic relationship, including on trade and investment. They looked forward to building on this relationship further to deliver significant benefits for both the UK and Egypt.

    The Prime Minister discussed the case of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah with President Sisi. He pressed for Alaa’s release, having met his mother Laila Soueif in recent weeks.

    The leaders agreed to speak again soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea in 2022 Murder Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Navajo man pleaded guilty in federal court to second degree murder and firearms charges stemming from a fatal shooting in 2022.

    According to court documents, on July 26, 2022, officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to reports of a shooting near Ojo Encino. Upon arrival, officers discovered John Doe deceased at the scene with a gunshot wound to his chest and right arm. Witnesses identified Jason Lee Martinez, 51, a member of the Navajo Nation, as the shooter, who fled immediately after the incident.

    Investigators recovered seven .40 caliber bullet casings from the scene, and the autopsy confirmed fatal gunshot wounds consistent with a single bullet that traveled through John Doe’s chest, heart, lung, and liver.

    On August 26, 2022, FBI agents interviewed Martinez, who admitted to shooting John Doe.

    According to the plea agreement, Martinez faces between 17 and 28 years in prison at sentencing followed by three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Convenience Stores At Gunpoint

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Kevoun Najae Watts (22, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Watts faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery offense and a minimum of 7 years, up to life, consecutive to the robbery count for the firearm offense. He has also agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he used to commit the offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, Watts admitted to robbing both two convenience stores at gunpoint in Fort Myers on July 31, 2024. 

    This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

    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 Economics: 6 ways to inspire future leaders during Women’s History Month

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: 6 ways to inspire future leaders during Women’s History Month

    Celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 with engaging experiences from Minecraft Education, Learning Accelerators, and more.

    Each year on March 8, communities around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the remarkable contributions of women who have shaped history and championed equality. In the US, this celebration coincides with Women’s History Month, an opportunity to learn about the lives of leaders like Ellen Ochoa and Malala Yousafzai, whose relatable stories inspire students to create positive changes in their own lives and beyond.

    To help you bring these stories to life in your classroom to celebrate Women’s History Month 2025, check out our list of tools and resources that will help make learning more meaningful and engaging. Students can explore the triumphs of strong, female leaders in Minecraft Education, learn valuable information literacy and presentation skills with Learning Accelerators, and discover contributions of local women through lessons you create with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. These tools help inspire curiosity, support critical thinking, and connect students to the powerful stories of women who have shaped our world.

    1. Experience the courage of Hispanic women in LatinExplorers 2

    Introduce your students to a remarkable group of Hispanic women who have shaped their communities and the world. With Minecraft Education’s LatinExplorers 2, created in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, students will discover how Gloria Estefan, Ellen Ochoa, and Monica Ramirez made an impact through music, science, and advocacy. Along the way, they’ll develop leadership skills, build empathy, and learn how to tackle challenges—just like these fearless women.

    Discover LatinExplorers 2

    Classroom connection: Before getting started, explore supporting files on the LatinExplorers 2 webpage. You’ll find an educator guide to help facilitate the experience in your classroom, along with a toolkit for using LatinExplorers 2 at a family event.

    2. Walk in the shoes of Noble laureates

    Conflict resolution is a critical leadership skill, and Minecraft Education’s Peace Builders lesson helps students develop their capacity to deal with problems through real-world examples. In this immersive experience, created in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center, students meet four Nobel Peace Prize laureates who addressed global conflicts in unique ways—including Jody Williams who worked tirelessly to ban landmines in post-war Cambodia. Through Williams’ story and other peace builders, students will explore strategies to prevent and resolve conflict, strengthening their ability to lead with empathy and action.

    Explore Peace Builders

    Classroom connection: Check out the supporting files and use the Jody Williams Class PowerPoint to introduce important concepts and guide your students in creating their own campaign to address issues that matter to them.

    3. Introduce strong female role models with Lessons in Good Trouble

    Inspire your students to become catalysts for positive change in their community by learning from civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, and Emmeline Pankhurst in Minecraft Education’s Lessons in Good Trouble. In this experience, your students will work alongside outspoken activists to understand historic periods when women were denied educational opportunities and voting rights. The courageous women in Lessons in Good Trouble demonstrate how peaceful activism can challenge injustices and create a more equitable society for everyone.

    Discover Lessons in Good Trouble

    Classroom connection: Enhance your students’ learning by making Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, or Emmeline Pankhurst the focus of a research project. Use a Learning Accelerator such as Search Progress or Search Coach to help take their learning to the next level.

    4. Research influential women with Search Progress and Search Coach

    Extend learning beyond Women’s History Month while helping your students build essential digital literacy skills with Search Progress and Search Coach, two Learning Accelerators. An assignment in Search Progress empowers students to find, evaluate, and use credible online sources to develop critical information literacy skills along the way. And, both tools make it easy to track student learning in real-time.

    Explore Learning Accelerators

    For example, you might create a Search Progress assignment that asks students to research Emmeline Pankhurst’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement. Using Search Coach, your students receive real-time feedback on their queries, helping them to refine their research strategies while building background knowledge on this influential leader.

    To get started with Search Progress and Search Coach, explore these resources:

    5. Practice presenting with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach

    Click to enlarge

    Help students share their Women’s History Month learning by creating a PowerPoint and practicing their presentation skills with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach, two Learning Accelerators. Use Speaker Progress to create presentation assignments and track your students’ growth at the individual, class, grade, and school levels. Then have your students use Speaker Coach to complete the assignment, while receiving real-time, AI-powered feedback on pacing, pitch, clarity and more.

    To integrate Minecraft Education learning with presentation assignments, have students create a PowerPoint on ways to increase diversity just as Ellen Ochoa modeled in LatinExplorers 2. They can practice their delivery in a private space with Speaker Coach, helping to boost their confidence as they strengthen their communication skills.

    Get the most out of Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach with these resources:

    6. Expand on Women’s History Month with Copilot Chat

    Copilot Chat can help you create classroom materials, activities, and lessons tailored to Women’s History Month topics or even more of your students’ interests. Use generative AI to streamline lesson planning by copying and pasting one of these ready-to-use prompts into Copilot Chat:

    • Generate a list of five women from [geographic area or country] who have made significant contributions in the past [two decades]. Include a paragraph on their achievements, challenges, and leadership. Include an engaging activity for students in [grade level] that requires them to explore information in an interactive way.
    • Write an oral reading passage about Jody Williams, detailing her Nobel-prize winning accomplishments. The passage should be at a [700L] Lexile level and under [number] words. Provide three comprehension questions for a [grade level] student.
    Try Copilot Chat

    Make sure to check out “Meet your AI assistant for education” to discover more ways Copilot Chat can help you personalize learning, support brainstorming, provide feedback, and more.

    From Minecraft Education experiences with women leaders to Learning Accelerators that help students practice their skills, find an activity that will make Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 memorable and inspiring for your students. Start inspiring the next generation of leaders in your classroom today!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “I really worry about what will happen to people’s mental health in Gaza. The ceasefire needs to hold.”

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Katrin Glatz Brubakk, a child psychotherapist and mental health activity manager for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), recently returned from her second mission in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. She answers three questions about the state of people’s mental health in Gaza and why it is crucial for the ceasefire to hold. 

    1. You’ve been to Gaza twice, once from August to September 2024 and then from January to February 2025, what can you tell us about the state of people’s mental health when the ceasefire was announced? 

    When the ceasefire started, people could finally breathe a bit easier. They had been in survival mode for more than 15 months and finally didn’t have to worry that bombs would drop on their tents during the night or that their children might get killed while they went out to fetch bread or water. They started to gain a bit of hope that life might go back to some form of normal.

    But then they started to worry about the future. How long would the ceasefire last? Could they move back to their old homes? How long would it take before their children could get back to school, and would there even be any kind of normal life again in Gaza with all the destruction?

    What I saw was the ‘grief of peace’ emerging. During the war, survival was the only focus, but with the ceasefire, people began to grieve everything they’d lost: their houses, their normal life, family members—some still under the rubble—their children’s education, their sense of security, prosperity, and hope for the future. Even though the bombs weren’t falling anymore, there was still a lot of worry.

    Katrin Glatz Brubakk, a child psychotherapist and mental health activity manager What I saw was the ‘grief of peace’ emerging. During the war, survival was the only focus, but with the ceasefire, people began to grieve everything they’d lost…

    Katrin Glatz Brubakk, mental health activity manager, Palestine, Gaza, February 2025.
    © MSF

    They’ve been clinging to the hope of getting back to their lives for as long as the ceasefire lasts. One of my colleagues said, “It doesn’t matter how much has been destroyed, it doesn’t matter that we’ve lost everything as long as they’re not killing us.” I really worry about what will happen to people’s mental health in Gaza. The ceasefire needs to hold. Children have been looking forward to going back to their rooms, seeing their friends, and going to school again. If the ceasefire doesn’t continue, that hope will be gone, and it will be devastating for the people of Gaza.

    2. You worked at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis and at the modular field hospital in Deir-al-Balah, what can you tell us about the patients you treated there?

    The mental health of both children and adults in Gaza has been severely affected. They have gone through immense trauma, worrying about their lives for more than a year. We see depressive symptoms in adults and children—some pulling out their hair, biting themselves, being restless all the time, or becoming totally withdrawn from the world because they can’t take it anymore.

    One of the children I met in Gaza is ’the koala bear.’ It’s her mother who calls her that because she clings to her all the time. She’s a beautiful little girl, three years old, with curly hair and curious eyes, but as soon as you get close, she moves back, fearful, and clings even tighter to her mother. She lived in northern Gaza with her family. First, they were bombed, and she was injured. Then they didn’t have enough food, and her little sister, just one year and two months old, starved to death. After that, this little girl started to cling to her mother constantly.

    She doesn’t leave her side, when she’s sleeping, when she’s awake—even when she gets curious about something—she always makes sure to stay very close. These are the effects of war on children. They spend their entire time being scared, living this life is full of uncertainty and they wonder if the worst will happen to them. They don’t spend time being children as they should—playing, learning, exploring, making friends.

    All the things that are the basis of healthy human development are being taken away from them. This war will live in these children for years to come.

    3. Why is it important that the ceasefire lasts?

    The ceasefire needs to hold because without it, these children will once again be trapped in extreme survival mode, where every moment is about staying alive. It needs to hold because their future is being stripped away from them. The ceasefire needs to hold because the toll of this war on the people in Gaza has been immense, both physically and psychologically. They can’t take it anymore. They can’t take the fear of getting killed every day or of keeping their children alive. The ceasefire in Gaza needs to hold because the uncertainty, fear and trauma have lasted too long for anyone to bear. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clewiston Man Pleads Guilty To Drug And Firearm Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Antowan Jabaar Cain (45, Clewiston) has pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Cain faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. For the firearm offense, Cain faces a minimum of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, consecutive to the sentence imposed for the distribution offense. He has also agreed to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.

    According to the plea agreement, on December 12, 2024, Cain sold a firearm and methamphetamine in Hendry County.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

    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: Two Men Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Ship Firearms From Orlando To Puerto Rico

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

    Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Joseph Alfredo Bonano Aviles (25, San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Jose Javier Corchado Montanez (34, Kissimmee) have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transfer firearms out of state. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreements, between at least September and continuing through at least November 2021, Montanez, while located in the Middle District of Florida, conspired and shipped multiple firearms to Aviles in Puerto Rico. Neither Montanez nor Aviles was a licensed importer, manufacturer, collector, or dealer of firearms.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.

    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: Armed Career Criminal Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Loaded Firearm As A Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Mickey Colangelo, Jr. (45, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Colangelo faces a minimum of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. Colangelo has also agreed to forfeit the firearm used in the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, on October 30, 2024, Colangelo was stopped by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a wanted suspect for a felony offense. Deputies recovered a loaded pistol from his backpack. At the time, Colangelo had multiple prior felony convictions which prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Colangelo has at least three prior felony convictions that qualify under federal law as “violent felonies” subjecting him to enhanced punishment as an Armed Career Criminal.

    This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

    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 United Kingdom: COP16 concludes in Rome with a landmark agreement to mobilise resources for people and nature

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    News story

    COP16 concludes in Rome with a landmark agreement to mobilise resources for people and nature

    • The UK welcomes the positive conclusion to negotiations at the resumed meeting of CBD COP16, which saw the international community make progress towards halting and reversing nature loss by 2030

    A growing seedling

    • The agreement sets out a strategy for global collaboration on raising finance from all sources
    • A finalised Monitoring Framework will allow the international community to increase transparency on the global effort to address the nature crisis

    The extended session of COP16 in Rome ended today (Friday 28 February), after participants landed on a significant new agreement to address the global nature crisis.

    The deal will see global collaboration on raising finance for biodiversity, and details of the monitoring framework of the Global Biodiversity Framework targets finalised to accelerate nature recovery.

    An agreement on resource mobilisation creates a clear strategy for global collaboration on raising finance from all sources to fund the work necessary to achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.  

    The finalisation of a Monitoring Framework and the global approach to reviewing progress in delivering the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, will ensure shared approach to tracking progress with transparency and accountability. 

    Ruth Davis, UK Special Representative for Nature, who was present at the negotiations in Rome said:  

    “This agreement is a significant step forward in the effort to tackle the nature crisis. 

    “As the need for action becomes ever more urgent, a moment of genuine progress like this is heartening to see. Now, we must build on the spirit of co-operation shown in Rome to mobilise the resources needed to restore nature.

    “This is essential to help maintain food security, store carbon and tackle the impacts of floods and droughts.”

    The UK played a key role in working with the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to finalise complex discussions on nature finance, and to agree a monitoring framework which will enable all Parties to measure and report in a consistent manner the delivery of their national actions. This will significantly enhance the ability of the international community to monitor the global state of nature, as well as understanding how best to focus future interventions. 

    Negotiations in Rome saw the launch of the Cali Fund for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. This is an important step to allow companies who utilise genetic databases derived from nature, such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and biotech sectors, to direct funds on a voluntary basis towards the Indigenous Peoples and local communities who safeguard biodiversity. 

    The Government also published the UK National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) during the resumed COP16, which commits to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework at home. It highlights the UK’s international leadership to halt and reverse nature loss as work continues to halt the decline of species by 2030. 

    This extended session follows the original meeting of COP16 in Cali, Colombia in November 2024. The UK will seek to build on the success of COP16 at the UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil later this year and CBD COP17 in Armenia in 2026

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Start of 2025 wildfire season: Minister Todd Loewen

    “With wildfire season officially beginning on March 1, I want to talk to all Albertans about the importance of being prepared and proactive. Alberta has faced unprecedented wildfire challenges, and our government is committed to a three-pronged approach to wildfire preparations: prevention, mitigation and readiness to respond.

    “The key to prevention efforts is stopping wildfires before they start. It is essential that every Albertan understands their role in preventing wildfires, which is why we are increasing public awareness campaigns and promoting safe practices for outdoor activities, while also enforcing fire bans as necessary. Every small effort counts in preventing wildfires and protecting our communities and natural resources.

    “For situations where prevention is not enough, we have strengthened our wildfire mitigation efforts. This includes controlled burns, creating firebreaks and managing forest vegetation to minimize fuel for fires. Fireguard projects are currently underway in the Bow Valley near Canmore, as well as Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Hinton, Whitecourt and Slave Lake. In 2024, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) funded 38 FireSmart projects across the province worth more than $3.4 million. These measures focus on wildfire prevention and mitigation, educating communities on fire safety and supporting local emergency response plans.

    “Alberta is home to some of the best firefighting personnel in the world, and our teams are well trained, well equipped and ready to respond to any wildfire incidents. We continue investing in the technology and resources needed to support firefighting efforts through Budget 2025, which provides $160 million in base funding for wildfire personnel, equipment, training and contracts for aircraft, dozers and night vision-equipped helicopters. This ensures we can mobilize significant resources quickly and effectively when needed. I have every confidence in our wildfire teams and their ability to meet the challenges ahead.

    “This year, we are entering the wildfire season with 10 active fires, a significant change from the almost 60 wildfires we saw this time last year. This is in large part thanks to the incredible work of Alberta’s wildland firefighters and support teams, the resilience of Alberta’s communities, and to the province’s historic investments, preparations and quick response to last year’s wildfires.

    “As Albertans take the time to enjoy our incredible outdoor opportunities this year, it is important to remember we all have a shared responsibility in preventing wildfires. I encourage everyone to follow fire bans and restrictions, remember you must have a permit for any burning in the Forest Protection Area, and follow the soak it, stir it and soak it again method to ensure your campfires are extinguished completely. By working together, we will be ready to face whatever the 2025 wildfire season brings.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on Ramadan

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Ramadan:

    “Tonight, at sundown, Muslim communities in Canada and across the world will mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

    “Over the coming weeks, family and friends will gather in homes and mosques to pray. After fasting from dawn till sunset, they will share a traditional evening meal called iftar. For those practising, this is a sacred time to reflect and celebrate.

    “The sacred month comes at a particularly challenging time, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold. Canada reaffirms our support for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all remaining hostages, and the safe, unimpeded access to humanitarian relief for civilians.

    “During Ramadan, let us also take the time to recognize the invaluable contributions that the nearly 1.8 million Muslims who call Canada home make each day to our country. From coast to coast to coast, they enrich our communities and help make Canada more prosperous, diverse, and inclusive.

    “On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my wishes for a blessed and peaceful Ramadan to all those practising.

    “رمضان مبارك

    “Ramadan Mubarak.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Alaska Private Nonprofits Affected by October Storm and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Alaska of the March 31, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the Oct. 20-23, 2024 severe storm and flooding.

    The disaster declaration covers the Bering Strait Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) and Northwest Arctic Borough.

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans. Eligible PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

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

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

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

    Interest rates can be as low 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

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

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 31. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 31.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans to protect Edinburgh from climate effects

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Detailed plans have been produced outlining 66 steps the council and partners must take to get ‘climate ready’.

    Our Climate Ready Edinburgh Implementation Plan, published today (Friday 28 February), will be considered by members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee next month (Tuesday 11 March).

    Over the next two years, it is proposed that all actions in the plan are implemented to help Edinburgh adapt to the impacts of climate change.

    This could include working with partners to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion and protecting the World Heritage Site, to planting trees and exploring transport systems to make the city resilient against weather extremes.

    It is hoped this work will help to protect homes from flooding and overheating, safeguard our buildings and support new climate skills and jobs, while increasing the resilience of our ancient city against the future risks of climate change.

    Some of the proposed steps to implement our Climate Ready Edinburgh Plan 2024-2030 include:

    • Identifying trigger points and action needed to prepare for weather extremes 
    • Making Edinburgh a Million Tree City by planting 25,000 new trees a year 
    • Prioritising street tree planting in areas prone to flooding and overheating
    • Increasing the tree canopy from 17% to 20% of the whole city by 2045
    • Establishing a Wilding Wee Spaces Schools programme
    • Undertaking a flood study to determine the long-term management of existing defences along the coast
    • Completing a surface water flood management project with Scottish Water in Craigleith by 2026
    • Delivery of new small-scale adaptation and energy retrofit pilot projects in the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site by 2026
    • Monitoring issues of damp in Council housing, addressing most at risk properties
    • Working with providers to increase the resilience of Edinburgh’s transport systems.

    Council Leader, Jane Meagher, said:

    With architecture spanning 1,000 years and two World Heritage Sites, more trees than any other Capital city and a vast coastline, there is no question that Edinburgh’s natural and built environment is unique. Our Climate Ready plan has been designed to protect and enhance the place we are lucky enough to call home.

    Recent events have been a stark reminder of how disruptive weather can be to our city and to property. As such, we need to focus our efforts on adapting and preparing for such risks. 

    Where we face issues of flooding and dampness, it disproportionately affects disadvantaged households. Where buildings suffer from poor energy efficiency, this brings up the cost of bills. It is to this end that climate change goes hand in hand with poverty as the biggest challenge we face, and we cannot tackle one without the other. 

    With our businesses at risk as much as our homes, there is also a clear economic case for getting our capital ‘climate ready’. This report makes it clear that this work will require significant investment, but the costs of failing to prepare are higher. That is what has driven us to pledge an additional £2.9m to address our climate and nature emergencies in the budget we set last week. It is also why we have invested £500,000 into protecting our coastline with the successful introduction of new groynes at Portobello Beach.

    If approved next month by Committee, this detailed 66-step plan will further guide us and partners to become a ‘climate ready’ capital. Climate change is a major threat to our health and that of our ancient, coastal city and it is crucial that we work with partners to protect it.

    Gordon Reid, Scottish Water and chair of the Edinburgh Adapts Partnership that developed the plan, said:

    We are already seeing the impacts of a changing climate in Edinburgh, with more frequent severe storms causing flooding, damage to buildings and disruption to travel.

    If we don’t take action then we will see greater impacts to the people, buildings, economy and the services we all rely on in the city. Many of these impacts disproportionately effect disadvantaged households and we need to ensure that we act to deliver adaptation for everyone in society as part of the just transition to a climate changed future.

    In addition, we need to act to address the nature emergency and many of the actions in the plan will address adaption and nature, delivering multiple benefits for the city.

    Yann Grandgirard, Head of Climate Change at Edinburgh World Heritage and member of the Edinburgh Adaptation and Nature Partnership, said:

    Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site, affecting its integrity, and undermining our efforts to preserve it and share its cultural values with current and future generations.

    Climate change impacts are diverse and not limited to physical damages to our historic buildings, streets and green spaces. They also affect our experience of this special part of the city – a vibrant place where people live, work, study and visit.

    The finalisation of the Edinburgh Climate Ready implementation plan is an important step in providing the necessary framework to protect and enhance both the World Heritage Site and the city through sensitive adaptation actions. It will act as a critical tool to prioritise climate actions, attract much needed funding and support partnerships across the city.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Blasts Trump Admin for Lawlessly Cancelling Lifesaving USAID, State Programs Important to America’s National Interests

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray: “The Trump administration has chosen to spit in the face of the law and Congress—expressing total disdain for a court order mandating that they release the foreign aid funding they had illegally withheld.”
    Murray: “If Ebola, Marburg, or any other infectious disease makes it to our shores, it will be thanks to Elon and Trump—two billionaires without a clue who are positively smug about their own ignorance.”
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to speak out about the Trump administration’s decision on Wednesday to illegally terminate 90% of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and 60% of State Department programs.
    Senator Murray has been sounding the alarms about the Trump administration flagrantly violating the law to block enacted funding across government, dismantle long-established agencies like USAID, and recklessly fire federal workers en masse. Earlier this week, she blasted the Trump for permanently eliminating 1,600 USAID employees positions in violation of the law.
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “M. President, I come to the floor today to make a simple point: the law cannot be in the eye of the beholder.
    “The law is the law—but yet again, we are seeing the Trump administration break the law. 
    “Many of us have been closely following the Trump administration’s illegal freeze of congressionally appropriated funding, including of foreign aid—not just from the State Department, but also from USAID, the African Development Foundation, Inter-American Foundation, and other independent agencies.
    “Each of these agencies’ existence as an independent entity has long been enshrined in statute, and reaffirmed by bipartisan majorities in both chambers year-after-year in annual appropriations.
    “Our appropriations law also explicitly requires the administration to notify and consult with Congress before undertaking any efforts to reorganize, realign, or downsize foreign affairs agencies—as the sweeping reductions in force issued last week and many other brazen actions we’ve seen clearly seek to do.
    “The Administration’s actions—including firing the USAID Inspector General and the State IG—will make waste and fraud more likely and will prevent even foreign assistance programs allegedly supported by the administration from being effectively implemented and will also effectively block hundreds of millions of dollars for other programs enacted into law by bipartisan majorities.
    “Needless to say, the Trump administration has not consulted or notified Congress about these changes—that is in violation of the law.
    “But this week they took a further step. The Trump administration has chosen to spit in the face of the law and Congress—expressing total disdain for a court order mandating that they release the foreign aid funding they had illegally withheld.
    “When finally told they must comply, Secretary Rubio personally approved the termination of 90% of USAID programs, and 60% of State Department programs—virtually overnight.
    “They terminated more than $58 billion in multi-year programs, and have told us they have no intention of utilizing those funds.
    “The termination of those awards is absolutely not what Congress intended. Congress appropriated the funding, on a bipartisan basis, with the express intent to see those dollars spent.
    “This is not trivial stuff. We are talking about resources that often mean the difference between life and death. Resources that are imperative, not just because they are lifesaving but because they are an investment in our own national security—and U.S. businesses.
    “Let’s take Ebola for example: USAID helps other countries around the world respond to and contain Ebola outbreaks. That’s pretty darn important because there is no known cure for Ebola.
    “Thanks to the good work of USAID—along with our international partners, often supported by USAID awards—we have never had an Ebola outbreak here at home.
    “Yesterday, at President Trump’s cabinet meeting, Elon Musk even admitted that, ‘yes we want to fight Ebola’—of course, then he said, they accidentally cut USAID’s Ebola prevention efforts, but that it had been ‘restored’ with no ‘interruption.’
    “Yet we know for a fact that is a lie. U.S.-based companies implementing these programs received termination notices yesterday.
    “Any basic accounting of USAID’s capacity to stop outbreaks abroad shows quite plainly that any disease prevention efforts supported by the U.S. at this point are merely symbolic.
    “You cannot break the foundation of public health systems overseas and expect that it won’t have a damaging impact here at home. This makes America less safe.
    “If Ebola, Marburg, or any other infectious disease makes it to our shores, it will be thanks to Elon and Trump—two billionaires without a clue who are positively smug about their own ignorance. 
    “But it’s not just our infectious disease response that has now been gutted. Everything from resources to help prevent kids from getting malaria to aid for refugees in war torn places like Syria where it is directly in our national security interest to foster stability.
    “And it’s not just resources for far-away places—this will hit home in blue and red states. U.S. universities in my home state, in Indiana, in Florida, in Texas, and other states have had their partnerships terminated.
    “American students from across our country that are now participating in exchange programs overseas are impacted by this.
    “To put it into perspective for my colleagues: 5,800 of 6,300 USAID grants and contracts are being terminated—that’s nine out of ten—and that’s not to mention 4,100 of 6,800 State Department grants and contracts.
    “And the only detail we have is from NGOs, faith-based organizations, and U.S. contractors sending these termination notices to our committee.
    “We do not have one shred of detail from the State Department. Not one shred. The scale is staggering—and it shows you that this administration’s scheme is to bulldoze right through restraining orders and court orders so that by the time the law catches up to them, the damage will have been done.
    “Compliance is easy at that point. What’s left to fix once you’ve burned everything to the ground?
    “This administration knows full well they are breaking the law. They are showing us all in plain view that their goal is to do irreparable damage—as much as possible, as fast as possible.
    “Well, I am sounding the alarm because this illegal power grab is in direct violation of congressional intent and appropriations law.
    “The Supreme Court should act with haste to bring this administration to account and ensure that money Congress appropriated gets to where it was intended.
    “Whether it’s President Trump, or Elon Musk, or the Secretary of State calling the shots, Congress has no visibility into DOGE’s actions, frustrating our ability to write funding bills when government funding runs out in weeks. 
    “By ignoring the law and congressional intent, the administration has created chaos, they have eroded trust in the United States, and made way for Russia and China to take advantage of this leadership vacuum.
    “No one should fall for this thin veneer about ‘efficiency’ while the Administration racks up legal fees, overdue payments to contractors, pays people not to work, and forces a global recall of staff.
    “We have a process to avoid this kind of chaos. The President submits his or her budget request to Congress. Congress holds hearings publicly, and writes and passes bills that become law. 
    “We have explicit notification and consultation requirements for foreign assistance funding for a reason.
    “M. President—do I need to march down to the National Archives? Do I need to make sure we still have a Constitution?
    “Do I need to check whether the laws we passed are still there? Or did they start running them through a shredder? Because as blatant and persistent as it has been, no one—no one—should expect this kind of lawlessness to fade away.
    “I cast my votes and speak on this floor as a voice for the people of the state I represent, Washington state. I was not elected to let the President or some unaccountable billionaire decide how their tax dollars get spent.
    “Every Senator here should speak loudly with one unified voice: Congress holds the power of the purse, and no President can unilaterally abolish an entire agency or ignore our appropriations laws.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Phoenix, law enforcement partners arrest illegal Guatemalan gang member convicted of racketeering, and possession of an unregistered firearm in Arizona

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHOENIX, Arizona — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Phoenix, and law enforcement partners from the Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested Hugo Leonel Soto-Moran, 38, in Apache Junction Feb. 24. Soto-Moran is an illegally present Guatemalan alien and validated Latin King gang member with federal convictions for possession of firearm, and racketeering.

    “As a documented member of a violent street gang and an alien convicted of serious crimes, Soto-Moran demonstrated a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws and presented a significant danger to the residents of Arizona,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu. “ICE Phoenix will continue to prioritize the identification, targeting, and arrest of individuals that pose the greatest threat to public safety.”

    Soto unlawfully entered the United States at an unspecified date and location. In February 2009, Soto-Moran was convicted for possession of an unregistered firearm, and in August 2011, he was convicted for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Both convictions stemmed from criminal cases before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

    Soto will be held in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Announces Departure of Fire Marshal Cordes

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Announces Departure of Fire Marshal Cordes

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the resignation of State Fire Marshal Scott Cordes. Cordes, who was appointed by the Governor in January 2023, has accepted the role of city administrator in Norfolk. His last day with the state will be March 7.

    Gov. Pillen said he appreciated Cordes’ leadership of the Fire Marshal’s office over the past two years.

    “Scott has dedicated his career to the fire service in multiple communities and through multiple positions at the state level, including as fire marshal. Scott also has a proven record in city administration, and I know he is looking forward to returning to Norfolk in that capacity,” said Gov. Pillen.

    “Serving as Nebraska’s state fire marshal fulfilled a lifetime career dream of mine,” said Cordes.  “Governor Pillen gave me that opportunity, and I will be forever grateful for that.  I will cherish the relationships and experiences I encountered over the course of nearly 43 years of my life devoted to the Nebraska fire service and public safety.”

    Assistant State Fire Marshal Doug Hohbein will serve in the interim role until a permanent fire marshal is announced.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guilty Verdict in Athens-Clarke Armed Fentanyl Trafficking Trial

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia man with a lengthy criminal history in the Athens-Clarke County community was found guilty this week at trial of armed fentanyl trafficking.

    Dwan Maurice Hewlett, aka “LA,” 41, of Hull, Georgia, was found guilty of all six counts charged in the indictment: one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hewlett is a federal career offender and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.

    The trial began on Feb. 24 and concluded on the evening of Feb. 26. U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III presided over the trial. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

    “Career offenders arming themselves and pushing fentanyl into our communities will find their criminal cases in federal court,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “I applaud local and federal law enforcement for their tireless efforts to track down repeat criminals and bring them to justice.”

    “Cases like these exemplify the value of partnerships between local, state and federal agencies. This armed career criminal will no longer be selling the dangerous drug fentanyl in our community,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “I am incredibly proud of the ACCPD Officers and Detectives who worked with partnering agencies on this case. We will continue to prioritize keeping violent criminals out of our community. I would like to thank our partners for their continuous efforts in keeping our community safe.”

    “The FBI works tirelessly to get dangerous criminals like Dwan Hewlett and the drugs he sold off the streets of Georgia,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “Hewlett will now have decades in prison to consider his past actions.”

    “Drug traffickers exploit vulnerable members of our community to generate profits,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with drugs and violence will be held accountable.”

    According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) detectives had a confidential informant place a phone call to Hewlett to purchase fentanyl. Hewlett agreed to meet the informant at an Athens gas station on Danielsville Road. When Hewlett arrived at the gas station, ACCPD officers boxed his vehicle in and exited their undercover vehicles wearing “POLICE” marked body armor. Officers gave loud commands for Hewlett to get out of his car. Hewlett looked up, saw the police and immediately began making furtive movements reaching under the seat. He then exited his vehicle, ignored the verbal commands and started running toward Danielsville Road at the intersection of Freeman Drive. Hewlett was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.

    Officers searched his vehicle and found a .380 pistol under the driver’s seat where Hewlett was seen reaching and numerous tied corner baggies containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine for distribution. In all, officers found 133.51 grams of fentanyl, 58.31 grams of methamphetamine, 9.783 grams of cocaine and 16 grams of cocaine base. A search of Hewlett’s cell phones located in the car contained many drug-related messages and photos. Hewlett has a lengthy prior criminal history, which includes three prior convictions in the Clarke County Superior Court for serious drug offenses and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    This case was investigated by the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, with assistance from the FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, DEA and ATF.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ten-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Federal Prison For Possessing A Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Loranzia Outin, III (48, Jacksonville) to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Outin entered a guilty plea on December 12, 2024. 

    According to court records, in February and March 2024, confidential informants made two purchases of controlled substances from Outin. On March 22, 2024, in connection with the drug investigation, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and their SWAT team executed a search warrant at Outin’s residence. During a search of Outin’s room, law enforcement officers located a 9mm pistol, a .22 caliber revolver, and two bags of methamphetamine. At the time, Outin had 10 prior felony convictions, including selling methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Outin is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

    This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.

    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 United Nations: Gaza: Unified Arab position will ‘help guide the way forward’

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday stressed that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza must hold, urging all parties to honour their commitments and prevent a breakdown of the agreement.

    Addressing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, he announced that he will be travelling to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, next week, for the Extraordinary Summit of the League of Arab States.

    The emergency Summit is set to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza, which had been at the centre of an intense Israeli military operation following the brutal 7 October terror attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups against communities in southern Israel.

    More than 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

    Peace and stability

    The UN chief said that Tuesday’s Summit provides an opportunity for leaders from across the Arab world “to come together and discuss the elements required to deliver peace and stability” in the enclave.

    “Their unified position will help guide the way forward,” he stressed.

    Until the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, more than 47,000 Palestinians were killed in the fighting and tens of thousands more injured tens of thousands, according to Gazan health authorities. Over 90 per cent of the enclave’s housing units have been damaged or destroyed.

    Ceasefire must be extended

    “The ceasefire and hostage release deal must hold. The coming days are critical. The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal,” Mr. Guterres told reporters.

    “I urge them to uphold their commitments and implement all of it in full.”

    He reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, with humane treatment guaranteed for those in captivity, while also underscoring the need to maintain humanitarian aid to the enclave.

    “Each moment the ceasefire holds means more people reached and more lives saved,” the UN chief added.

    Political framework for Gaza’s future

    While ending the immediate crisis is essential, Mr. Guterres also underscored that a long-term political framework was needed for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability.

    “This framework must be based on clear principles. This means staying true to the bedrock of international law,” he said.

    He insisted the need to prevent any form of ethnic cleansing, ensuring no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza, addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns, and accountability for violations of international law.

    “And it means Gaza remaining an integral part of an independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian State, with no reductions in its territory or forced transfer of its population,” he added.

    Any transitional arrangements, he stated, should have a clear and limited timeframe leading to a unified Palestinian administration.

    Escalation in West Bank must end

    Mr. Guterres also voiced concern over rising violence in the West Bank, where Israeli military operations and settler attacks have led to deaths, displacement, and destruction.

    “Unilateral actions, including settlement expansion and threats of annexation, must stop,” he said, calling for an end to attacks on civilians and their property.

    Two-State solution the only path

    The only path to lasting peace is a two-State solution, said Mr. Guterres, where Israel and Palestine live side by side, in peace and security and in line with international law and UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

    “The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, to chart their own future, and to live on their land in freedom and security,” he said.

    At next week’s Summit in Cairo, Mr. Guterres said he would call for sustainable reconstruction and a “unified, clear and principled” political solution.

    “Palestinians deserve lasting stability and a just and principled peace. And the people of Israel deserve to live in peace and security,” he said.

    “At this fragile moment, we must avoid a resumption of hostilities that would deepen the suffering and further destabilize a region that is already perched on a knife’s edge.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the press [please scroll down for Arabic]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Ladies and gentlemen of the media,  

    I want to start by expressing my deep concern about information received in the last 48 hours by UN agencies — as well as many humanitarian and development NGOs — regarding severe cuts in funding by the United States. 

    These cuts impact a wide range of critical programmes.

    From lifesaving humanitarian aid, to support for vulnerable communities recovering from war or natural disaster.

    From development, to the fight against terrorism and illicit drug trafficking.  

    The consequences will be especially devastating for vulnerable people around the world. 

    In Afghanistan, more than 9 million people will miss out on health and protection services, with hundreds of mobile health teams and other services suspended. 

    In north-east Syria, where 2.5 million people need assistance, the absence of US funding means programmes are leaving large populations even more vulnerable.

    In Ukraine, cash-based programming — a key feature of the humanitarian response, reaching 1 million people in 2024 — has been suspended in key regions.

    In South Sudan, funding has run out for programmes to support people who have fled the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, leaving border areas dangerously overcrowded.

    Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will be forced to stop many of its counter-narcotics programmes, including the one fighting the fentanyl crisis, and dramatically reduce activities against human trafficking. 

    And funding for many programmes combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cholera have stopped. 

    We have been extremely grateful for the leading role the United States has provided over the decades. 

    For example, thanks to the generosity of donors — led by the United States — the UN assists and protects more than 100 million people every year through our humanitarian programming.

    From Gaza to Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and beyond. 

    American funding directly supports people living through wars, famines and disasters, providing essential health care, shelter, water, food and education — the list goes on. 

    The message is clear. 

    The generosity and compassion of the American people have not only saved lives, built peace and improved the state of the world. 

    They have contributed to the stability and prosperity that Americans depend on.  

    United Nations staff members around the world are deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together — as partners. 

    Now going through with these cuts will make the world less healthy, less safe and less prosperous. 

    The reduction of America’s humanitarian role and influence will run counter to American interests globally. 

    I can only hope that these decisions can be reversed based on more careful reviews, and the same applies to other countries that have recently announced reductions in humanitarian and development aid. 

    In the meantime, every United Nations agency stands ready to provide the necessary information and justification for its projects.

    And we look forward to working with the United States in this regard.  

    All humanitarian coordinators in the field are urgently updating strategies on how to protect as much lifesaving work as possible. 

    The Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which brings together UN humanitarian agencies and our partners, has agreed on an ambitious plan for efficiency and prioritization.

    Our absolute priority remains clear. 

    We will do everything we can to provide life-saving aid to those in urgent need.

    And we will continue our efforts to diversify the pool of generous donors who support our work.  

    We remain committed to making the global humanitarian effort as efficient, accountable and innovative as possible while continuing to save lives. 

    Dear ladies and gentlemen of the media, 

    Next Tuesday, I will be in Cairo to join the Extraordinary Summit of the League of Arab States to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza. 

    Since the horrific attacks of terror by Hamas in Israel on October 7, the ensuing hostilities have unleashed an unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza. 

    Gaza has become a nexus of death, displacement, hunger and disease. 

    Hospitals, schools and water facilities have been destroyed and reduced to rubble.  

    And the risk of further destruction looms over the population. 

    Tuesday’s Summit is an opportunity for leaders across the Arab world to come together and discuss the elements required to deliver peace and stability in Gaza. 

    Their unified position will help guide the way forward. 

    I will outline key priorities. 
     
    First — the ceasefire and hostage release deal must hold. 

    The coming days are critical. 

    The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal. 

    I urge them to uphold their commitments and implement all of them in full. 

    All hostages must be released immediately, unconditionally and in a dignified manner.

    The parties must ensure humane treatment for all those held under their power. 

    All transfers must be carried out in a dignified way and as per the terms of the deal. 

    Humanitarian aid must be maintained, protected and funded, flowing without impediment to reach people in desperate need. 

    Each moment the ceasefire holds means more people reached and more lives saved.  

    Time and again, we’ve shown what we can deliver. 

    Since the ceasefire, humanitarians have been able to scale-up and expand operations in Gaza, including to areas that were unreachable during the fighting. 

    Together with our partners, we’ve reached hundreds of thousands of people…

    Providing food to nearly everyone in Gaza.

    Delivering shelter kits, clothing and other essential items to tens of thousands of displaced people.

    And doubling the amount of clean water available to people in Gaza.  

    Meanwhile, our partners have distributed medical supplies reaching some 1.8 million people, helping health facilities continue their lifesaving work. 

    The message is clear. 

    With the right conditions and access, we can do far more.  

    The ceasefire must hold. We must keep the humanitarian lifeline open. 

    As part of this, I will once again appeal for the urgent and full support of UNRWA’s work.

    UNRWA’s unique role must be maintained. 

    Second — ending the immediate crisis is only a first step.  

    There must be a clear political framework that lays the groundwork for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability. 

    This framework must be based on clear principles. 

    This means staying true to the bedrock of international law. 

    It means preventing any form of ethnic cleansing. 

    It means there should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza. 

    It means addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns. 

    It means accountability for violations of international law. 

    And it means Gaza remains an integral part of an independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state, with no reductions in its territory or forced transfer of its population. 

    Both Gaza and the occupied West Bank — including East Jerusalem — must be treated as one — politically, economically and administratively.

    And governed by a Palestinian government that is accepted and supported by the Palestinian people.  

    And any transitional arrangements must be designed to achieve a unified Palestinian government within a precise and limited timeframe.

    I will also call for an urgent de-escalation of the alarming situation in the West Bank.   

    Unilateral actions, including settlement expansion and threats of annexation, must stop.

    I call for an end to attacks on civilians and their property. 

    Finally, we must take tangible steps — now — towards the realization of a two-State solution.

    The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, to chart their own future, and to live on their land in freedom and security. 

    The only path to lasting peace is one where two states — Israel and Palestine — live side by side in peace and security, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

    Palestinians deserve lasting stability and a just and principled peace. 

    And the people of Israel deserve to live in peace and security. 

    At this fragile moment, we must avoid a resumption of hostilities that would deepen the suffering and further destabilize a region that is already perched on a knife’s edge. 

    We need sustainable reconstruction and a unified, clear and principled political solution. 

    That’s what I will call for in Cairo next week. 

    Thank you.
    ******************

    حضرات السيدات والسادة الإعلاميين،

    أود أن أبدأ بالإعراب عن قلقي العميق إزاء المعلومات التي وردت في الساعات الـ 48 الماضية من قبل وكالات الأمم المتحدة – وكذلك العديد من المنظمات غير الحكومية الإنسانية والمعنية بالتنمية – بشأن التخفيضات الحادة في التمويل من قبل الولايات المتحدة.

    وتؤثر هذه التخفيضات على مجموعة واسعة من البرامج الحاسمة…

    من المساعدات الإنسانية المنقذة للحياة، إلى دعم المجتمعات الهشة التي تتعافى من الحروب أو الكوارث الطبيعية…

    ومن التنمية إلى مكافحة الإرهاب والاتجار غير المشروع بالمخدرات.

    ستكون العواقب مدمرة بشكل خاص على الفئات الضعيفة في جميع أنحاء العالم.

    ففي أفغانستان، سيُحرم أكثر من تسعة ملايين شخص من الخدمات الصحية وخدمات الحماية، مع تعليق الخدمات التي تقدمها مئات الفرق الصحية المتنقلة.

    أما في شمال شرق سوريا، حيث يحتاج 2.5 مليون شخص إلى المساعدة، فإن غياب التمويل الأمريكي يعني أن البرامج ستترك أعدادا كبيرة من السكان أكثر عرضة للخطر.

    في أوكرانيا، تم تعليق البرامج القائمة على النقد في مناطق رئيسية – وهذه البرامج تُعدّ سمة رئيسية للاستجابة الإنسانية وقد وصلت إلى مليون شخص في عام 2024.

    أما في جنوب السودان، فقد نفد التمويل المخصص لبرامج دعم الأشخاص الذين فروا بسبب النزاع في السودان المجاور، مما ترك المناطق الحدودية مكتظة بشكل خطير.

    وفي الوقت نفسه، سوف يضطر مكتب الأمم المتحدة المعني بالمخدرات والجريمة إلى وقف العديد من برامجه لمكافحة المخدرات، بما في ذلك برنامج مكافحة أزمة الفنتانيل، وتقليص أنشطة مكافحة الاتجار بالبشر بشكل كبير.

    وتوقف تمويل العديد من برامج مكافحة فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية/الإيدز والسل والملاريا والكوليرا.

    وأعربنا عن امتناننا للغاية للدور الرائد الذي قدمته الولايات المتحدة على مدى عقود.

    فعلى سبيل المثال، وبفضل سخاء المانحين – وعلى رأسهم الولايات المتحدة – تساعد الأمم المتحدة وتحمي أكثر من 100 مليون شخص كل عام من خلال برامجنا الإنسانية…

    من غزة إلى السودان وأفغانستان وسوريا وأوكرانيا وغيرها.

    يدعم التمويل الأمريكي بشكل مباشر الناس الذين يعيشون في الحروب والمجاعات والكوارث، ويوفر لهم الرعاية الصحية الأساسية والمأوى والمياه والغذاء والتعليم – والقائمة تطول.

    الرسالة واضحة.

    إن سخاء الشعب الأمريكي وتعاطفه لم ينقذ الأرواح ويبني السلام ويحسّن حالة العالم فحسب.

    لقد ساهم في تحقيق الاستقرار والازدهار الذي يعتمد عليه الأمريكيون.

    إن موظفي الأمم المتحدة حول العالم فخورون للغاية بما أنجزناه معا – كشركاء.

    إن المضي قدماً في هذه الاقتطاعات سيجعل العالم أقل صحة وأقل أمناً وأقل ازدهاراً.

    وسيتعارض تقليص دور أمريكا الإنساني ونفوذها مع المصالح الأمريكية على الصعيد العالمي.

    لا يسعني إلا أن آمل في أن يتم التراجع عن هذه القرارات بناء على مراجعات أكثر دقة، وينطبق الأمر نفسه على الدول الأخرى التي أعلنت مؤخرا عن تخفيضات في المساعدات الإنسانية والإنمائية.

    وفي غضون ذلك، تقف كل وكالة من وكالات الأمم المتحدة على أهبة الاستعداد لتقديم المعلومات والمبررات اللازمة لمشاريعها.

    ونحن نتطلع إلى العمل مع الولايات المتحدة في هذا الصدد.

    يقوم جميع منسقي الشؤون الإنسانية في الميدان بتحديث الاستراتيجيات على وجه السرعة حول كيفية توفير حماية بأكبر قدر ممكن من العمل المنقذ للحياة.

    وقد اتفقت اللجنة الدائمة المشتركة بين الوكالات، التي تجمع بين وكالات الأمم المتحدة الإنسانية وشركائنا، على خطة طموحة لتحقيق الكفاءة وتحديد الأولويات.

    وتبقى أولويتنا المطلقة واضحة.

    سنبذل كل ما في وسعنا لتقديم المساعدات المنقذة للحياة لمن هم في حاجة ماسة إليها.

    وسنواصل جهودنا لتنويع مجموعة المانحين الأسخياء الذين يدعمون عملنا.

    وسنظل ملتزمين بجعل الجهود الإنسانية العالمية فعالة وخاضعة للمساءلة ومبتكرة قدر الإمكان مع الاستمرار في إنقاذ الأرواح.

    حضرات السيدات والسادة الإعلاميين،

    سأكون يوم الثلاثاء المقبل في القاهرة للمشاركة في مؤتمر القمة الاستثنائي لجامعة الدول العربية لمناقشة إعادة إعمار غزة.

    ومنذ الهجمات الإرهابية المروعة التي شنتها حماس في إسرائيل في 7 تشرين الأول/أكتوبر، جرّت الأعمال العدائية التي أعقبت ذلك مستويات غير مسبوقة من الموت والدمار في غزة.

    فأصبحت غزة بؤرة للموت والنزوح والجوع والمرض.

    ودُمّرت المستشفيات والمدارس ومرافق المياه وتحولت إلى أنقاض.

    ويحدق بالسكان خطر التعرض للمزيد من الدمار.

    ويمثل مؤتمر القمة الذي سيُعقد الثلاثاء فرصة ليجتمع قادة العالم العربي ويناقشوا العناصر المطلوبة لتحقيق السلام والاستقرار في غزة.

    وسيساعد موقفهم الموحد في توجيه سُبل المضي قدما.

    وسأحدد فيما يلي الأولويات الرئيسية.

    أولا – يجب أن يصمد اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار وإطلاق سراح الرهائن.

    الأيام القادمة حاسمة.

    ولا يجب على الطرفين ادّخار أي جهد لتجنب انهيار هذا الاتفاق.

    وأحثهما على الوفاء بالتزاماتهما وتنفيذها بالكامل.

    ويجب إطلاق سراح جميع الرهائن فورا ودون شروط وبطريقة تصون كرامتهم.

    ويجب على الطرفين ضمان المعاملة الإنسانية لجميع المحتجزين تحت سلطتهم.

    ويجب الاستمرار في تقديم المساعدات الإنسانية وحمايتها وتمويلها والسماح بإيصالها دون عوائق إلى الأشخاص الذين هم في أمس الحاجة إليها.

    وكل لحظة يصمد فيها وقف إطلاق النار تعني الوصول إلى عدد أكبر من الأشخاص وإنقاذ المزيد من الأرواح.

    لقد بيّنا مرارا وتكرارا ما يمكننا تقديمه.

    ومنذ وقف إطلاق النار، تمكّن العاملون في المجال الإنساني من تكثيف عملياتهم في غزة وتوسيع نطاقها، بما في ذلك إلى المناطق التي تعذّر الوصول إليها أثناء القتال.

    وبالتعاون مع شركائنا، وصلنا إلى مئات الآلاف من الأشخاص…

    ووفّرنا الغذاء لجميع السكان في غزة تقريبا…

    وأوصلنا مستلزمات الإيواء والملابس وغيرها من المواد الأساسية لعشرات الآلاف من النازحين…

    وضاعفنا كمية المياه النظيفة المتاحة للناس في غزة.

    وفي الوقت نفسه، قام شركاؤنا بتوزيع الإمدادات الطبية لتصل إلى حوالي 1,8 مليون شخص، مما ساعد المرافق الصحية على مواصلة عملها المنقذ للحياة.

    رسالتنا واضحة.

    إذا ما توفرت لنا الظروف المناسبة وأُتيح لنا الوصول، يمكننا القيام بأكثر من ذلك بكثير.

    ويجب أن يصمد وقف إطلاق النار. ويجب أن نُبقي شريان الحياة الإنساني مفتوحا.

    وفي هذا الإطار، إنني أناشد مرة أخرى من أجل تقديم الدعم العاجل والكامل لعمل الأونروا.

    ويجب الحفاظ على دور الأونروا الفريد من نوعه.

    ثانيا – إنهاء الأزمة الآنية ليس سوى الخطوة الأولى.

    يجب أن يكون هناك إطار سياسي واضح يُرسي الأسس اللازمة للتعافي وإعادة الإعمار وتحقيق الاستقرار الدائم في غزة.

    ويجب أن يستند هذا الإطار إلى مبادئ واضحة.

    وهذا يعني الالتزام بأسس القانون الدولي.

    وهذا يعني منع أي شكل من أشكال التطهير العرقي.

    وهذا يعني أنه ينبغي ألا يكون هناك وجود عسكري إسرائيلي طويل الأمد في غزة.

    وهذا يعني معالجة الشواغل الأمنية المشروعة لإسرائيل.

    وهذا يعني المساءلة عن انتهاكات القانون الدولي.

    وهذا يعني بقاء غزة جزءا لا يتجزأ من دولة فلسطينية مستقلة وديمقراطية وذات سيادة، دون أي انتقاص من أراضيها أو نقل قسري لسكانها.

    ويجب التعامل مع قطاع غزة والضفة الغربية المحتلة – بما في ذلك القدس الشرقية – ككيان واحد – سياسيا واقتصاديا وإداريا…

    تحكمهما حكومة فلسطينية يقبلها الشعب الفلسطيني ويدعمها.

    ويجب أن تصمم أي ترتيبات انتقالية بهدف التوصّل إلى حكومة فلسطينية موحدة في إطار زمني دقيق ومحدود.

    وسأدعو كذلك إلى تهدئة عاجلة للوضع المثير للجزع في الضفة الغربية.

    فالمنازل والبنية التحتية المدنية تُدمّر.

    والمدنيون يُقتلون.

    والمجتمعات المحلية تُهجّر وتُمنع من العودة.

    ويُمنع الوصول إلى الرعاية الصحية.

    ويجب أن تتوقف الأعمال أحادية الجانب، بما في ذلك التوسع الاستيطاني والتهديدات بالضم.

    وأدعو إلى وضع حد للهجمات على المدنيين وممتلكاتهم.

    وأخيرا، يجب أن نتخذ خطوات ملموسة – الآن – نحو تحقيق حل الدولتين.

    يجب أن يتمتع الشعب الفلسطيني بالحق في أن يحكم نفسه بنفسه، وأن يرسم مستقبله بنفسه، وأن يعيش على أرضه في حرية وأمان.

    والطريق الوحيد لتحقيق السلام الدائم هو الطريق الذي تعيش فيه دولتان – إسرائيل وفلسطين – جنبا إلى جنب في سلام وأمن، بما يتماشى مع القانون الدولي وقرارات الأمم المتحدة ذات الصلة، وتكون القدس عاصمة للدولتين.

    يستحق الفلسطينيون الاستقرار الدائم والسلام العادل والقائم على المبادئ.

    ويستحق شعب إسرائيل أن يعيش في سلام وأمن.

    وفي هذه اللحظة الهشة، يجب أن نتجنب استئناف الأعمال العدائية التي من شأنها أن تعمّق المعاناة وتزيد من زعزعة الاستقرار في منطقة هي أصلا على شفا هاوية.

    نحن بحاجة إلى إعادة إعمار مستدامة وحل سياسي موحد وواضح وقائم على المبادئ.

    هذا ما سأدعو إليه في القاهرة الأسبوع المقبل.

    شكرا لكم.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thirteen Members of Houston Robbery Crew Charged in Robbery and Drug Conspiracy

    Source: US State of California

    Three Crew Members Charged With Murder

    A grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging 13 Texas men for their roles in a robbery crew that engaged in robbery, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and murder, including the killing of two individuals in July 2023.

    The following 13 defendants, all of Houston, have been charged in the superseding indictment with one count of robbery conspiracy and one count of drug distribution conspiracy:

    • Derrick Dewayne Butler, also known as Kutt and Kutt Throat, 28;
    • Travon Maxwell, also known as Goonie, 29;
    • Emmanuel Winnfield, also known as Pimp, 36;
    • Herman Mitchell, also known as Boobie, 37;
    • Tyrone Raymond Bolton, also known as Honeybee, 32;
    • Joe Devon Champion, also known as Champ, 35;
    • Jonta Allen Glover, 32;
    • Dewayne Donnell Champion, also known as Wayne, 37;
    • Cedric Lynn Andrews, also known as Ced, 50;
    • Jermar Ballard Jones, also known as Mar, 37;
    • Christian Xavier Rucker, also known as Gucci, 30;
    • Samuel Lamonte Draper, 25; and
    • Jeremy James Jenkins, 21.

    If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the robbery conspiracy count and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy count. In addition, the defendants are each charged with one or more counts of attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and Jones is charged with obstruction.

    Three of the defendants, Butler, Rucker, and Jones, were also charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of causing death through the use of a firearm relating to the killing of two men on July 19, 2023. If convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, Butler, Rucker, and Jones each face a mandatory minimum of life in prison or a maximum of the death penalty.

    Twelve of the defendants, Bolton, J. Champion, Glover, Winnfield, D. Champion, Mitchell, Andrews, Jones, Butler, Maxwell, Draper, and Jenkins, each face, if convicted, an additional mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI Houston Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Houston Field Office and Houston Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is part of both the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Houston and an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.

    Trial Attorneys Justin G. Bish, Ralph Paradiso, Ben Tonkin, and Jodi Anton of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Kelly Zenón-Matos for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    The Houston VCI is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Justice Department’s OCDETF webpage.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Slave Lake — Slave Lake RCMP arrest individual for weapon offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 6, 2025, Slave Lake RCMP were made aware of a video that was being circulated in the community, which depicted an individual holding a firearm up to another person.

    Following a thorough investigation, Slave Lake RCMP were able to identify the individuals in the video and on Jan. 30, 2025, an arrest was made.

    A 56-year-old individual, a resident of Camrose, Alta., has been charged with the following offences:

    • Assault with a weapon
    • Pointing a firearm
    • Uttering threats
    • Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
    • Unauthorized possession of firearm
    • Possession of firearm in motor vehicle

    The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on a release order with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 26, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Slave Lake.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thirteen Members of Houston Robbery Crew Charged in Robbery and Drug Conspiracy

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Three Crew Members Charged With Murder

    A grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging 13 Texas men for their roles in a robbery crew that engaged in robbery, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and murder, including the killing of two individuals in July 2023.

    The following 13 defendants, all of Houston, have been charged in the superseding indictment with one count of robbery conspiracy and one count of drug distribution conspiracy:

    • Derrick Dewayne Butler, also known as Kutt and Kutt Throat, 28;
    • Travon Maxwell, also known as Goonie, 29;
    • Emmanuel Winnfield, also known as Pimp, 36;
    • Herman Mitchell, also known as Boobie, 37;
    • Tyrone Raymond Bolton, also known as Honeybee, 32;
    • Joe Devon Champion, also known as Champ, 35;
    • Jonta Allen Glover, 32;
    • Dewayne Donnell Champion, also known as Wayne, 37;
    • Cedric Lynn Andrews, also known as Ced, 50;
    • Jermar Ballard Jones, also known as Mar, 37;
    • Christian Xavier Rucker, also known as Gucci, 30;
    • Samuel Lamonte Draper, 25; and
    • Jeremy James Jenkins, 21.

    If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the robbery conspiracy count and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy count. In addition, the defendants are each charged with one or more counts of attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and Jones is charged with obstruction.

    Three of the defendants, Butler, Rucker, and Jones, were also charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of causing death through the use of a firearm relating to the killing of two men on July 19, 2023. If convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, Butler, Rucker, and Jones each face a mandatory minimum of life in prison or a maximum of the death penalty.

    Twelve of the defendants, Bolton, J. Champion, Glover, Winnfield, D. Champion, Mitchell, Andrews, Jones, Butler, Maxwell, Draper, and Jenkins, each face, if convicted, an additional mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI Houston Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Houston Field Office and Houston Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is part of both the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Houston and an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.

    Trial Attorneys Justin G. Bish, Ralph Paradiso, Ben Tonkin, and Jodi Anton of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Kelly Zenón-Matos for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    The Houston VCI is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Justice Department’s OCDETF webpage.

    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 Video: Impression Session: Firearms and Toolmarks

    Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

    This training was presented as a part of the National Center on Forensics Conference at George Mason University on August 10th, 2023. In this session, NIST Senior Forensic Science Research Manager Rob Thompson and FBI Supervisory Physical Scientist/Forensic Examiner Michelle Machalka introduce the concepts of firearm and fingerprint impressions. This session is useful for understanding what impressions are, how they transfer, how they are collected, how they are analyzed, and what challenges analysts encounter.

    (Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More than 70 projects will strengthen wildfire prevention, support forestry

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    VICTORIA – Workers and communities throughout B.C. are benefiting from Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) supported projects that reduce wildfire risk and increase fibre supply, keeping local mills and energy plants running in the face of U.S. tariff threats and unjustified softwood lumber duties.

    With $28 million from the Province, FESBC is supporting 43 new and expanded fibre-recovery projects and 31 new and expanded wildfire-mitigation projects.

    “In tough times, I want workers in our forest sector to know I’ve got their back,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Whether it’s better utilizing existing sources of fibre or helping protect communities from wildfire, the projects are supporting workers and companies as they develop new and innovative forest practices.”

    Projects are taking place in all eight of the Province’s natural resource regions, helping create jobs, reducing wildfire risk and supporting B.C.’s pulp and biomass sector. They will be complete by the end of March 2025, in advance of wildfire season.

    Fibre-recovery projects take wood fibre that would otherwise be burned or abandoned and put it in the hands of mills and forestry companies that can use it, helping keep forestry workers on the job. Through the Province’s continued investment in FESBC, the projects they support have delivered 44,000 logging truckloads worth of fibre out of the bush since April 2024. That fibre would once have been burned in slash piles and is instead creating jobs and revenue for local businesses.

    “These projects are putting local businesses and people to work reducing wildfire risk and recovering fibre for local pulp mills, and pellet and energy plants,” said Jason Fisher, executive director, FESBC. “FESBC received strong proposals from across the province and we are pleased to support this strong group of proponents in their forest-management activities.” 

    Government continues to take action to support the forest sector in the face of U.S. softwood lumber duties and tariff threats, including through the recently formed Softwood Lumber Advisory Council, streamlining the permitting process and continuing to advocate to the federal government.

    Quick Facts:

    • Founded in 2016, FESBC is fully funded by the Province to support forestry projects at the community level.
    • As part of Budget 2024, B.C. announced FESBC would get an additional $60 million over three years to continue community-focused wildfire risk-reduction and fuel-management projects, as well as improving utilization of biomass from harvested timber.
    • Since 2016, $79.6 million has been invested in 201 community wildfire risk-reduction projects through FESBC.

    Learn More:

    For information about fibre-supply and wildfire-mitigation projects, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/FESBCNewExpandedFunding.pdf

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Felon Guilty of Fentanyl and Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found a Minneapolis man guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
    According to evidence presented at trial, on February 24, 2023, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants on Kevin Deandre Bennett, 46. Law enforcement officers recovered more than 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, over $10,000 in cash, and a Glock model 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine from Bennet’s apartment, storage lockers, and on his person. Law enforcement also recovered drug related paraphernalia including a narcotics press, scale, and individual baggies containing smaller, distributable quantities of fentanyl.

    Following a three-day trial before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court, a jury found Bennett guilty on two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew C. Murphy and Andrew Dunne tried the case.
     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Announces LA Fire Captain, Union Leader Frank Líma as Guest for 2025 Presidential Address

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Announces LA Fire Captain, Union Leader Frank Líma as Guest for 2025 Presidential Address

    Padilla and Líma survey the devastation of the Los Angeles fires [January 8, 2025] Additional photos of Senator Padilla and Captain Líma are available here.WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, announced that Frank Líma, a longtime Los Angeles City fire captain and firefighter union leader, will be his guest at President Trump’s 2025 Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Líma serves as the 12th General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and is a past president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112. Captain Líma was recently on the frontlines in the fight against the devastating Los Angeles fires in January.
    “Captain Frank Líma has dedicated his life to protecting Los Angeles residents as a firefighter and labor leader. As Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, he fights tirelessly for the fair treatment and pay of the brave firefighters who risk their lives to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Padilla. “We recently witnessed Captain Líma’s leadership and dedication, as he heroically sprang into action during last month’s fires in Los Angeles, putting his life on the line to save lives, homes, and businesses. As President Trump outlines his priorities for our country, we want to make clear that Los Angeles County cannot be forgotten. The community faces a long road to recovery and we need a fully staffed and supported firefighting workforce and federal support without conditions. But thanks to heroes like Captain Líma and so many other firefighters and first responders, our communities will get through this, together.”
    “As we work to rebuild communities across Los Angeles, I am honored to join Senator Padilla as his guest to continue to put the spotlight on supporting our firefighters and our community,” said Captain Frank V. Líma. “Growing up in Los Angeles, I have lived out my lifelong dream of working as a union firefighter for our city. I have been proud to stand up for the rights of my sisters and brothers as an active Los Angeles City fire captain, current IAFF General Secretary Treasurer, and past President of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. Firefighters were in a fight for their lives last month against the once-in-a-generation fire that tore through our city — and we need all the federal support possible to help us recover. Los Angeles firefighters and Senator Padilla have always had the backs of our communities, and we need our country to do the same.”
    Growing up in Los Angeles, California, Líma has dedicated his life to family, firefighting, and organized labor. He worked three jobs in his life — all union jobs — as a truck driver, a building trades carpenter apprentice, and a firefighter for the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD), which he joined in 1992.
    Líma began his career as a proud Los Angeles City Local 112 union fire fighter at the age of 19, working at one of the busiest stations in the nation. He rose through the ranks of the LAFD as a firefighter, apparatus operator, engine captain, and for the past 20 plus years, a truck company captain. He worked in specialized companies, including hazardous materials and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). He was deployed to New York City on September 11 to work as a rescue worker at ground zero after the terrorist attacks, along with another deployment to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Now, in his third decade of service, Líma continues to be active in the field, picking up shifts at fire stations throughout Los Angeles. Líma’s work on the frontlines during floods and wildland disasters has provided much-needed disaster relief assistance to IAFF families.
    Líma was elected to the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Local 112 Executive Board as a director, vice president, lead negotiator, and eventually president in 2012. He also served as a vice president for the California Professional Firefighters (CPF). He has served for over 12 years as an elected Executive Board vice president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, and continues to be active on the California State Board of Fire Services, a Board that he was appointed to by both Governor Brown and Governor Newsom. He still serves as a principal member of the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee for career fire fighters. He was also elected to serve as the secretary of the California Electoral College by his peers.
    As Californians and Angelenos begin their recovery and rebuilding from the devastating fires, Líma will continue advocating for the communities he fought to protect and the firefighters who put everything on the line to save businesses, homes, and lives. As the past Union President for United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, he continues working for safer working conditions and better benefits for firefighters.
    Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect Southern Californians’ access to desperately needed disaster relief aid. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Padilla also delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation.
    Earlier this month, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. Last month, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect firefighter pay.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP and the Malagasy Red Cross join forces to strengthen rapid cyclone response capacities in Madagascar

    Source: World Food Programme

    ANTANANARIVO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Malagasy Red Cross have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their capacity to plan for, prepare and respond to cyclones and floods in Madagascar.

    Madagascar’s geographical location in the southwest Indian Ocean makes it one of the countries in the world, most vulnerable to extreme weather events. To address these challenges, it is crucial to put in place anticipatory measures and rapid response strategies to mitigate the impact of tropical storms and cyclones. 

    WFP’s partnership with the Madagascar Red Cross ensures an integrated package of activities to anticipate, prepare for and respond to violent and destructive storms: 

    • Anticipatory actions: distribution of food before the cyclone makes landfall
    • Pre-positioning of food stocks in cyclone/flood-prone areas for rapid response
    • Emergency response within 72 hours of a cyclone: distribution of hot meals or high-energy biscuits
    • Three-month post-cyclone assistance to address immediate and critical needs  

    “The choice of the Malagasy Red Cross as a strategic partner is justified by its network of volunteers working close to the communities in regions prone to natural hazards, enabling the organisation to play a key role in the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations,” said WFP Representative and acting Country Director in Madagascar Mamadou Mbaye. “The partnership complements WFP’s technical and operational expertise in food security, logistics and humanitarian assistance.”

    This integrated approach to emergency anticipation, preparedness and response covers six cyclone and flood prone regions of Madagascar: Sava, Diana, Sofia, Ambatosoa, Analanjirofo and Atsinanana.

    #                #                #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on:

    Twitter @wfp_media; @PAM_Madagascar 

    Facebook: Programme Alimentaire Mondial Madagascar 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jewelry Store Robber Sentenced to 19 Years for East Coast Robbery Conspiracy

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

    Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Avery Fuller (30, Washington D.C.) to 19 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies in New Jersey and Florida and brandishing a firearm during the robberies. Fuller pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024.

    According to court documents, Fuller and his co-conspirators planned and executed a series of jewelry store robberies in New Jersey, Florida, and the District of Columbia. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, the group targeted predominantly South Asian jewelry stores along the east coast. Wearing disguises and armed with firearms, they used hammers to smash jewelry display cases and steal valuable items. These stores were specifically chosen because they sold high-purity gold, which yielded higher proceeds when sold for cash.

    On June 10, 2022, Fuller, along with Trevor Wright, William Hunter, Franklin Hunter, Davon Johnson, and at least four other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of Virani Jewelers, located at 1394 Oaktree Road in Iselin, New Jersey. The group left Washington, D.C., at approximately 12:09 p.m., and traveled together in three separate vehicles. At approximately 7:45 p.m., Fuller and his co-conspirators arrived at Virani, exited their vehicles, and ran into the store wearing masks.

    Once inside the store, Fuller and his co-conspirators pointed firearms at store employees. Two of the co-conspirators immediately forced at least two employees to the ground at gunpoint. Hunter and another co-conspirator used hammers to smash the display cases throughout the store and one of the store’s cameras. One co-conspirator pointed his firearm at the back of an employee’s head, pushed her to the back of the store, and commanded her to open the vault. Other co-conspirators shoveled gold jewelry into bags before exiting the store and entering the vehicles; all three vehicles fled from the scene together. After the robbery, Fuller and his-conspirators immediately traveled back to Washington, D.C. with approximately $1.2 million in gold jewelry, which they ultimately melted down into bars of gold and split among the group by grams of gold.

    Approximately six months later, in early December 2022, Fuller and his co-conspirators—Trevor Wright, Jameise Christian, Antonio Tate, Delontae Martin, and Jaylaun Brown—planned another robbery, this time at a jewelry store in Jacksonville. To prepare, Fuller and Wright coordinated everyone’s travel from Washington, D.C., to Miami, where they rented a black vehicle and a white vehicle. On December 6, 2022, the group drove these vehicles to Jacksonville. Upon arrival at the jewelry store, four co-conspirators exited the black vehicle, entered the store wearing disguises, and brandished firearms. One co-conspirator ordered store employees to kneel behind the counter with their heads down while the group used a hammer to smash glass display cases. Meanwhile, Wright and Fuller remained in the white vehicle to monitor the store’s entrance.

    After approximately three minutes, one of the conspirators exited the store and drove the black vehicle directly in front of the store, honking the horn to signal the others to exit. Before leaving, one co-conspirator approached the store employees kneeling in the corner, pointed his firearm, and stole the store owner’s wallet. The group then loaded the stolen jewelry into the trunk of the black vehicle and fled the scene, with the white vehicle traveling in the same direction. The group stole approximately $880,000 in jewelry from the jewelry store.

    Through the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia, this complex investigation resulted in the identification of six individuals, who were eventually traced back to Miami. The suspects were observed at a Miami condominium, where they were seen exiting their vehicles unmasked and carrying the stolen jewelry.

    To date, all individuals involved in the Jacksonville and New Jersey robberies have been arrested with pending federal cases in Jacksonville and Washington, D.C. In Jacksonville, Delontae Martin, Antonio Tate, and Jameise Christian pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the Jacksonville robbery. Martin was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment, Tate was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, and Christian was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months in federal prison. Trevor Wright and Jaylaun Brown are in custody and awaiting trial in Washington, D.C. for robbery and firearm offenses.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Miami Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.

    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: Defense News: NSW Conducts Training with Lithuanian and German special operations forces

    Source: United States Navy

    Strengthening NATO alliances, U.S. East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) and U.S. Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC) recently conducted a two-week training exercise with Lithuanian and German Special Operations Forces.

    The exercise, which took place in the Baltic region, aimed to increase warfighting readiness and allied lethality through a series of challenging maritime operations, small boat tactics, and low-light weapons live-fire drills. The training event was designed to foster greater cooperation and interoperability between the participating nations, maintaining a strategic advantage in the region.

    “Exercises like this are crucial to ensuring we can operate seamlessly together to fight and win wars,” said CAPT V. Scott King, Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group TWO. “By training alongside our Lithuanian and German counterparts, we’re not only enhancing our own warfighting readiness but also strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation that underpin our alliance.”

    Allied training exercises like this are vital to bolstering the collective defense capabilities of NATO nations and builds a stronger, more lethal alliance to address threats in the area.

    Throughout the exercise, the units focused on developing and enhancing their skills in maritime special operations, as well as advanced marksmanship and close quarters combat techniques. The special operations forces refined their ability to launch, operate and recover small raiding crafts from the well decks of the Combatant Craft Medium, one of Naval Special Warfare’s most versatile boats. The event culminated with a full-mission profile, bringing together all aspects of the training into a real-world scenario that showcased the special operations forces’ readiness in the maritime domain.

    “The training we conducted was both realistic and challenging,” said the senior Naval Special Warfare Operator on site. “We were able to learn from each other and share best practices. This type of cooperation is essential to achieving shared goals and maintaining elite levels of lethality.”

    Naval Special Warfare Group TWO produces, supports, and deploys the world’s premier maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations and integrated deterrence in support of U.S. national objectives. For more information, visit https://www.nsw.navy.mil/

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