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  • MIL-OSI USA: Law Enforcement Seize Record Amounts of Illegal Drugs, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking Proceeds in International Operation Against Darknet Trafficking of Fentanyl and Opioids; 270 Arrested Across Four Continents

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, and international law enforcement partners announced the results of Operation RapTor, including the arrests of 270 dark web vendors, buyers, and administrators in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Operation RapTor resulted in the highest number of seizures of any JCODE operation, including more than $200 million in currency and digital assets, over two metric tons of drugs, 144 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and over 180 firearms.

    Operation RapTor was a global, coordinated effort by law enforcement in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking, as well as the sales of other illicit goods and services, on the darknet, or dark web. Operation RapTor builds on the successes of prior years’ operations and takedowns of marketplaces, which resulted in the seizure of darknet infrastructure from Nemesis, Tor2Door, Bohemia, and Kingdom Markets, providing investigators across the world with investigative leads and evidence. JCODE and Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) continue to compile intelligence packages to identify entities of interest. These leads allow U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to identify darknet drug vendors and buyers, resulting in a series of coordinated, but separate, law enforcement investigations, reflected in the statistics announced today. In furtherance of Operation RapTor and in its first action as a JCODE member agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) additionally sanctioned Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad for his role as the founder and operator of Nemesis Market following seizure of the market. Parsarad was also indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges related to the illegal business he ran on the dark web.

    “This historic international seizure of firearms, deadly drugs, and illegal funds will save lives,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Criminals cannot hide behind computer screens or seek refuge on the dark web – this Justice Department will identify and eliminate threats to the American people regardless of where they originate.”

    “By cowardly hiding online, these traffickers have wreaked havoc across our country and directly fueled the fentanyl crisis and gun violence impacting our American communities and neighborhoods. But the ease and accessibility of their crimes ends today,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI could not do this work without our partners both at home and abroad, and the staggering success of this year’s record-breaking amount of fentanyl, guns, and drugs seized prove that our efforts are working. Anyone looking to anonymously harm our citizens through illicit darknet trafficking: your days of recklessness are numbered.”

    “These predators who peddled poison on the dark web might have thought they are untouchable — hiding behind screens, pushing fentanyl, fueling overdoses, and cashing in on misery. However, Operation RapTor just proved them wrong,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “DEA and our global partners reached across borders, across platforms, and across currencies to rip their networks apart. Let this stand as a warning: no mask, no marketplace, and no digital wallet can hide you from facing justice.”

    “Operation RapTor shows that the dark web is not beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris. “Through close cooperation and intelligence sharing, officers across three continents identified and arrested suspects, sending a clear message to those who think they can hide in the shadows. Europol will continue working with our partners to make the internet safer for everyone.”

    “This unprecedented operation is a testament to the power of global partnership and the unwavering dedication of our team,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Working through the JCODE initiative, IRS Criminal Investigation and our international partners led the largest and most impactful takedown to date—seizing over $200 million in assets, removing deadly drugs and weapons from circulation, and holding more than 270 individuals accountable. This critical strike against dark web networks fueling the fentanyl crisis marks a proud moment in our ongoing effort to protect communities worldwide.”

    “This record-breaking operation sends a clear message to every trafficker hiding behind a screen—your anonymity ends where our global reach begins,” said Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Thanks to the unwavering efforts by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Europol and our international partners, we’re cracking the code of the so-called ‘safe spaces’ for cybercriminals—they are in our sights and we’re not backing down.”

    “Operation RapTor shows what’s possible when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our partners around the world stand united,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “No matter where criminals hide, we will find them, dismantle their operations, and bring them to justice. This operation was about protecting innocent people from predatory criminals who profit from violence, addiction, and fear. Our commitment is unwavering.”

    “The FDA is committed to continuing its work to disrupt and dismantle the illegal sales of drugs on the dark web, where such sales far too often have tragic consequences,” said Deputy Director Chad Menster of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI). “We will continue to monitor, investigate and bring to justice those who misuse the internet in a quest for profits with reckless disregard for the risk to public health and safety.”  

    The impact of Operation RapTor can be attributed to the tireless work of U.S. and international law enforcement partners. For example:

    On Dec. 16, 2024, Rui-Siang Lin pleaded guilty to charges brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication for owning and operating Incognito Market, one of the largest narcotics marketplaces on the internet.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Incognito Market was an online narcotics bazaar that started on the dark web in October 2020. Until it shut down in March 2024, Incognito Market sold more than $100 million of narcotics—including hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine. Incognito Market was available globally to anyone with internet access using the Tor web browser on the “dark web” or “darknet.” Incognito Market was designed to facilitate seamless narcotics transactions, incorporating many features of legitimate e-commerce sites such as branding, advertising, and customer service. Upon visiting the site, users were met by a splash page and graphic interface, which is pictured below:

    Figure 1: Incognito Market homepage

    While concealing their identities with a unique username or “moniker,” users were able to search thousands of listings for narcotics of their choice. Incognito Market sold illegal narcotics including heroin, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, oxycodone, methamphetamine, ketamine, and alprazolam, as well as misbranded prescription medication. An example of listings on Incognito market is below:

    Figure 2: Listings for various drugs on the Incognito Market.

    Listings included offerings of prescription medication that was falsely advertised as being authentic. For example, in November 2023, while operating in an undercover capacity on Incognito Market, a law enforcement agent purchased and received several tablets purported to be oxycodone. Testing revealed that these tablets were not oxycodone and were, in fact, fentanyl pills.

    The FBI, HSI, DEA, FDA OCI, and the New York Police Department investigated the case.

    In a second example, in January 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California secured a 17-year sentence for Adan Ruiz, of Orange County, and a 15-year sentence for Omar Navia, of Los Angeles, for supplying fentanyl-laced pills to a drug trafficking ring that sold these drugs to more than 1,000 customers nationwide via the darknet. In imposing the sentences, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter called this case “the most sophisticated fentanyl distribution ring that this court has seen.”

    Navia and Ruiz admitted in their plea agreements that, from at least August 2021 to December 2022, they supplied fentanyl-laced pills to Michael Ta, 26, of Westminster, and Rajiv Srinivasan, 38, of Houston, who used the darknet and encrypted messaging applications to sell more than 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and other drugs directly to more than 1,000 customers in all 50 states, causing several fatal overdoses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Srinivasan and Ta used the “redlightlabs” darknet account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Srinivasan also used the encrypted messaging application Wickr to communicate with and sell drugs to customers. Srinivasan received virtual currency as payment for the drugs and then routed that virtual currency through cryptocurrency exchanges.

    The court record also shows that Ta communicated with Srinivasan about drug orders, obtained fentanyl-laced pills and methamphetamine from sources of supply, stored those drugs in his residence, and mailed out packages with drugs to customers who had ordered them from Srinivasan on the “redlightlabs” account.

    Ta and Srinivasan admitted in their plea agreements to causing the fentanyl overdose deaths of three victims. Both defendants further admitted to distributing fentanyl-laced pills to two additional victims, both of whom suffered fatal drug overdoses shortly after they received the pills from Ta and Srinivasan. Prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, “The five victims of defendants’ crimes ranged in age from 19 to 51. They lived across the country, from California to Florida, Colorado to Arkansas. Each of the five victims leaves behind a family that has been forever and fundamentally changed by defendants’ actions. [Ta and Srinivasan] also victimized countless others as part of an epidemic of addiction and despair plaguing our district and our country.”

    The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the DEA’s Fayetteville Resident Office, and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force.

    In a third example, in February 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia charged Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Rafael Roman by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Roman conspired to sell counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine on darknet markets such as Bohemia and Tor2Door. The defendants allegedly sold drugs on darknet marketplaces in exchange for cryptocurrency under the monikers “NuveoDelux,” “Mrjohnson,” and “AllStateRx.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, these three prolific darknet vendors were collectively responsible for fulfilling over 13,000 drug orders shipped throughout the United States, ranging in size from user quantities, e.g., 5 pills, to “reseller” quantities, e.g., 10,000 pills. Joshua and Joseph Vasquez collectively ran the NuveoDeluxe and AllStateRx accounts. A fourth co-conspirator, Gregory Castillo-Rosario, who was arrested in October 2024, ran the Mrjohnson account. Roman assisted his co-conspirators by pressing counterfeit Adderall pills, packaging them, and distributing drug orders into the mail using the U.S. Postal Service. The conspiracy also laundered funds associated with darknet drug proceeds.

    While executing search warrants in New Jersey and New York, federal law enforcement officers seized more than $330,000, close to 80,000 counterfeit Adderall pills, one firearm, and two industrial pill press machines. Additionally, two vehicles and several pieces of property were seized during the search warrants. An additional 30 kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills were seized on May 2, 2024, in New York. Photographs of some of the seized items are below: 

    Figure 3: Counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine stored in 5-gallon buckets

    Figure 4: Bags ready to be shipped to customers nationwide.

    Figure 5: Illegal pill press machines used by drug traffickers to make counterfeit pharmaceutical pills.

    Figure 6: Trash bags full of counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine.

    Joshua Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024, and was sentenced on July 25, 2024, to 12 years in prison. Joseph Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, and was sentenced on Aug. 8, 2024, to 10 years in prison. Roman pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, and was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2024, to 10 years in prison. They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create a counterfeit substance and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

    The FBI, FDA, and USPIS investigated this matter with significant contributions from DEA, HSI, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Howell Township Police Department, the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Arlington County Police Department, and the New York Police Department.

    In a fourth example, a San Fernando Valley man, Brian McDonald, 23, was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison in the Central District of California for using darknet marketplaces to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine to buyers nationwide. He admitted in court documents to causing one fatal fentanyl overdose.

    From at least April 2021 until May 2023, McDonald and others conspired to sell fentanyl and cocaine via multiple darknet marketplaces. McDonald operated under the monikers “Malachai Johnson,” “SouthSideOxy,” and “JefeDeMichoacan.” McDonald created, monitored, and maintained the darknet vendor profiles, including by updating drug listings and shipment options, tracking drug orders, and offloading Monero cryptocurrency received as drug deal payments into cryptocurrency wallets that McDonald controlled.

    McDonald recruited and hired accomplices to help package and ship the narcotics they sold on the darknet. McDonald directed and helped these accomplices package and ship the narcotics. McDonald purchased bulk quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and then directed others to complete hundreds of drug sales involving large quantities of both fentanyl and cocaine.

    The FBI and DEA investigated this matter.

    Operation RapTor involves law enforcement actions taken by JCODE member agencies, including the DEA, FBI, FDA OCI, HSI, IRS-CI, and USPIS. Credible reporting from the referenced agencies, in addition to contributions from ATF, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Customs and Border Protection, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and OFAC, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, enabled domestic law enforcement actions in support of Operation RapTor. State, local, and other federal agencies also contributed to Operation RapTor investigations through task force participation and regional partnerships, as well as the multi-agency Special Operations Division.

    The investigations leading to Operation RapTor were significantly aided by support and coordination from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, with valuable assistance from the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Fraud Section, and Office of International Affairs.

    Key international partners include Europol; Eurojust; Austria’s Criminal Intelligence Service with various Provincial Criminal Police Departments (Bundeskriminalamt und Landeskriminalämter); Brazil’s Civil Police of the State of Pará (Polícia Civil do Estado do Pará) and Civil Police of the State of São Paulo (Polícia Civil do Estado do São Paulo); France’s French Customs (Douane), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale); Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne – Central Cybercrime Contact Point (Staatsanwaltschaft Köln, Zentral- und Ansprechstelle Cybercrime), Central Criminal Investigation in Oldenburg (Zentrale Kriminalinspektion Oldenburg) various police departments (Dienststellen der Länderpolizeien), and German Customs Investigation (Zollfahndungsämter); the Netherlands’ Team High Tech Crime (National Investigations and Special Operations (NIS) and Post Interventie Team (PIT), National Intelligence, Expertise and Operational Support (NIEO);  Spain’s National Police (Policía Nacional); South Korea’s Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office – Darknet Investigations Unit; Switzerland’s Zurich Cantonal Police (Kantonspolizei Zürich) and Public Prosecutor’s Office II of the Canton of Zurich (Staatsanwaltschaft II); and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

    Federal investigations spanned the United States, and 26 United States Attorneys’ Offices are prosecuting cases, including the Central District of California, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Connecticut, the District of Columbia, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Georgia, the District of Hawaii, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, the District of North Dakota, the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Western District of Washington.

    The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.

    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: Law Enforcement Seize Record Amounts of Illegal Drugs, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking Proceeds in International Operation Against Darknet Trafficking of Fentanyl and Opioids; 270 Arrested Across Four Continents

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, and international law enforcement partners announced the results of Operation RapTor, including the arrests of 270 dark web vendors, buyers, and administrators in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Operation RapTor resulted in the highest number of seizures of any JCODE operation, including more than $200 million in currency and digital assets, over two metric tons of drugs, 144 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and over 180 firearms.

    Operation RapTor was a global, coordinated effort by law enforcement in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking, as well as the sales of other illicit goods and services, on the darknet, or dark web. Operation RapTor builds on the successes of prior years’ operations and takedowns of marketplaces, which resulted in the seizure of darknet infrastructure from Nemesis, Tor2Door, Bohemia, and Kingdom Markets, providing investigators across the world with investigative leads and evidence. JCODE and Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) continue to compile intelligence packages to identify entities of interest. These leads allow U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to identify darknet drug vendors and buyers, resulting in a series of coordinated, but separate, law enforcement investigations, reflected in the statistics announced today. In furtherance of Operation RapTor and in its first action as a JCODE member agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) additionally sanctioned Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad for his role as the founder and operator of Nemesis Market following seizure of the market. Parsarad was also indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges related to the illegal business he ran on the dark web.

    “This historic international seizure of firearms, deadly drugs, and illegal funds will save lives,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Criminals cannot hide behind computer screens or seek refuge on the dark web – this Justice Department will identify and eliminate threats to the American people regardless of where they originate.”

    “By cowardly hiding online, these traffickers have wreaked havoc across our country and directly fueled the fentanyl crisis and gun violence impacting our American communities and neighborhoods. But the ease and accessibility of their crimes ends today,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI could not do this work without our partners both at home and abroad, and the staggering success of this year’s record-breaking amount of fentanyl, guns, and drugs seized prove that our efforts are working. Anyone looking to anonymously harm our citizens through illicit darknet trafficking: your days of recklessness are numbered.”

    “These predators who peddled poison on the dark web might have thought they are untouchable — hiding behind screens, pushing fentanyl, fueling overdoses, and cashing in on misery. However, Operation RapTor just proved them wrong,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “DEA and our global partners reached across borders, across platforms, and across currencies to rip their networks apart. Let this stand as a warning: no mask, no marketplace, and no digital wallet can hide you from facing justice.”

    “Operation RapTor shows that the dark web is not beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris. “Through close cooperation and intelligence sharing, officers across three continents identified and arrested suspects, sending a clear message to those who think they can hide in the shadows. Europol will continue working with our partners to make the internet safer for everyone.”

    “This unprecedented operation is a testament to the power of global partnership and the unwavering dedication of our team,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Working through the JCODE initiative, IRS Criminal Investigation and our international partners led the largest and most impactful takedown to date—seizing over $200 million in assets, removing deadly drugs and weapons from circulation, and holding more than 270 individuals accountable. This critical strike against dark web networks fueling the fentanyl crisis marks a proud moment in our ongoing effort to protect communities worldwide.”

    “This record-breaking operation sends a clear message to every trafficker hiding behind a screen—your anonymity ends where our global reach begins,” said Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Thanks to the unwavering efforts by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Europol and our international partners, we’re cracking the code of the so-called ‘safe spaces’ for cybercriminals—they are in our sights and we’re not backing down.”

    “Operation RapTor shows what’s possible when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our partners around the world stand united,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “No matter where criminals hide, we will find them, dismantle their operations, and bring them to justice. This operation was about protecting innocent people from predatory criminals who profit from violence, addiction, and fear. Our commitment is unwavering.”

    “The FDA is committed to continuing its work to disrupt and dismantle the illegal sales of drugs on the dark web, where such sales far too often have tragic consequences,” said Deputy Director Chad Menster of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI). “We will continue to monitor, investigate and bring to justice those who misuse the internet in a quest for profits with reckless disregard for the risk to public health and safety.”  

    The impact of Operation RapTor can be attributed to the tireless work of U.S. and international law enforcement partners. For example:

    On Dec. 16, 2024, Rui-Siang Lin pleaded guilty to charges brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication for owning and operating Incognito Market, one of the largest narcotics marketplaces on the internet.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Incognito Market was an online narcotics bazaar that started on the dark web in October 2020. Until it shut down in March 2024, Incognito Market sold more than $100 million of narcotics—including hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine. Incognito Market was available globally to anyone with internet access using the Tor web browser on the “dark web” or “darknet.” Incognito Market was designed to facilitate seamless narcotics transactions, incorporating many features of legitimate e-commerce sites such as branding, advertising, and customer service. Upon visiting the site, users were met by a splash page and graphic interface, which is pictured below:

    Figure 1: Incognito Market homepage

    While concealing their identities with a unique username or “moniker,” users were able to search thousands of listings for narcotics of their choice. Incognito Market sold illegal narcotics including heroin, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, oxycodone, methamphetamine, ketamine, and alprazolam, as well as misbranded prescription medication. An example of listings on Incognito market is below:

    Figure 2: Listings for various drugs on the Incognito Market.

    Listings included offerings of prescription medication that was falsely advertised as being authentic. For example, in November 2023, while operating in an undercover capacity on Incognito Market, a law enforcement agent purchased and received several tablets purported to be oxycodone. Testing revealed that these tablets were not oxycodone and were, in fact, fentanyl pills.

    The FBI, HSI, DEA, FDA OCI, and the New York Police Department investigated the case.

    In a second example, in January 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California secured a 17-year sentence for Adan Ruiz, of Orange County, and a 15-year sentence for Omar Navia, of Los Angeles, for supplying fentanyl-laced pills to a drug trafficking ring that sold these drugs to more than 1,000 customers nationwide via the darknet. In imposing the sentences, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter called this case “the most sophisticated fentanyl distribution ring that this court has seen.”

    Navia and Ruiz admitted in their plea agreements that, from at least August 2021 to December 2022, they supplied fentanyl-laced pills to Michael Ta, 26, of Westminster, and Rajiv Srinivasan, 38, of Houston, who used the darknet and encrypted messaging applications to sell more than 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and other drugs directly to more than 1,000 customers in all 50 states, causing several fatal overdoses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Srinivasan and Ta used the “redlightlabs” darknet account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Srinivasan also used the encrypted messaging application Wickr to communicate with and sell drugs to customers. Srinivasan received virtual currency as payment for the drugs and then routed that virtual currency through cryptocurrency exchanges.

    The court record also shows that Ta communicated with Srinivasan about drug orders, obtained fentanyl-laced pills and methamphetamine from sources of supply, stored those drugs in his residence, and mailed out packages with drugs to customers who had ordered them from Srinivasan on the “redlightlabs” account.

    Ta and Srinivasan admitted in their plea agreements to causing the fentanyl overdose deaths of three victims. Both defendants further admitted to distributing fentanyl-laced pills to two additional victims, both of whom suffered fatal drug overdoses shortly after they received the pills from Ta and Srinivasan. Prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, “The five victims of defendants’ crimes ranged in age from 19 to 51. They lived across the country, from California to Florida, Colorado to Arkansas. Each of the five victims leaves behind a family that has been forever and fundamentally changed by defendants’ actions. [Ta and Srinivasan] also victimized countless others as part of an epidemic of addiction and despair plaguing our district and our country.”

    The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the DEA’s Fayetteville Resident Office, and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force.

    In a third example, in February 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia charged Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Rafael Roman by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Roman conspired to sell counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine on darknet markets such as Bohemia and Tor2Door. The defendants allegedly sold drugs on darknet marketplaces in exchange for cryptocurrency under the monikers “NuveoDelux,” “Mrjohnson,” and “AllStateRx.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, these three prolific darknet vendors were collectively responsible for fulfilling over 13,000 drug orders shipped throughout the United States, ranging in size from user quantities, e.g., 5 pills, to “reseller” quantities, e.g., 10,000 pills. Joshua and Joseph Vasquez collectively ran the NuveoDeluxe and AllStateRx accounts. A fourth co-conspirator, Gregory Castillo-Rosario, who was arrested in October 2024, ran the Mrjohnson account. Roman assisted his co-conspirators by pressing counterfeit Adderall pills, packaging them, and distributing drug orders into the mail using the U.S. Postal Service. The conspiracy also laundered funds associated with darknet drug proceeds.

    While executing search warrants in New Jersey and New York, federal law enforcement officers seized more than $330,000, close to 80,000 counterfeit Adderall pills, one firearm, and two industrial pill press machines. Additionally, two vehicles and several pieces of property were seized during the search warrants. An additional 30 kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills were seized on May 2, 2024, in New York. Photographs of some of the seized items are below: 

    Figure 3: Counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine stored in 5-gallon buckets

    Figure 4: Bags ready to be shipped to customers nationwide.

    Figure 5: Illegal pill press machines used by drug traffickers to make counterfeit pharmaceutical pills.

    Figure 6: Trash bags full of counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine.

    Joshua Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024, and was sentenced on July 25, 2024, to 12 years in prison. Joseph Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, and was sentenced on Aug. 8, 2024, to 10 years in prison. Roman pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, and was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2024, to 10 years in prison. They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create a counterfeit substance and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

    The FBI, FDA, and USPIS investigated this matter with significant contributions from DEA, HSI, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Howell Township Police Department, the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Arlington County Police Department, and the New York Police Department.

    In a fourth example, a San Fernando Valley man, Brian McDonald, 23, was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison in the Central District of California for using darknet marketplaces to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine to buyers nationwide. He admitted in court documents to causing one fatal fentanyl overdose.

    From at least April 2021 until May 2023, McDonald and others conspired to sell fentanyl and cocaine via multiple darknet marketplaces. McDonald operated under the monikers “Malachai Johnson,” “SouthSideOxy,” and “JefeDeMichoacan.” McDonald created, monitored, and maintained the darknet vendor profiles, including by updating drug listings and shipment options, tracking drug orders, and offloading Monero cryptocurrency received as drug deal payments into cryptocurrency wallets that McDonald controlled.

    McDonald recruited and hired accomplices to help package and ship the narcotics they sold on the darknet. McDonald directed and helped these accomplices package and ship the narcotics. McDonald purchased bulk quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and then directed others to complete hundreds of drug sales involving large quantities of both fentanyl and cocaine.

    The FBI and DEA investigated this matter.

    Operation RapTor involves law enforcement actions taken by JCODE member agencies, including the DEA, FBI, FDA OCI, HSI, IRS-CI, and USPIS. Credible reporting from the referenced agencies, in addition to contributions from ATF, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Customs and Border Protection, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and OFAC, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, enabled domestic law enforcement actions in support of Operation RapTor. State, local, and other federal agencies also contributed to Operation RapTor investigations through task force participation and regional partnerships, as well as the multi-agency Special Operations Division.

    The investigations leading to Operation RapTor were significantly aided by support and coordination from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, with valuable assistance from the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Fraud Section, and Office of International Affairs.

    Key international partners include Europol; Eurojust; Austria’s Criminal Intelligence Service with various Provincial Criminal Police Departments (Bundeskriminalamt und Landeskriminalämter); Brazil’s Civil Police of the State of Pará (Polícia Civil do Estado do Pará) and Civil Police of the State of São Paulo (Polícia Civil do Estado do São Paulo); France’s French Customs (Douane), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale); Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne – Central Cybercrime Contact Point (Staatsanwaltschaft Köln, Zentral- und Ansprechstelle Cybercrime), Central Criminal Investigation in Oldenburg (Zentrale Kriminalinspektion Oldenburg) various police departments (Dienststellen der Länderpolizeien), and German Customs Investigation (Zollfahndungsämter); the Netherlands’ Team High Tech Crime (National Investigations and Special Operations (NIS) and Post Interventie Team (PIT), National Intelligence, Expertise and Operational Support (NIEO);  Spain’s National Police (Policía Nacional); South Korea’s Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office – Darknet Investigations Unit; Switzerland’s Zurich Cantonal Police (Kantonspolizei Zürich) and Public Prosecutor’s Office II of the Canton of Zurich (Staatsanwaltschaft II); and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

    Federal investigations spanned the United States, and 26 United States Attorneys’ Offices are prosecuting cases, including the Central District of California, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Connecticut, the District of Columbia, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Georgia, the District of Hawaii, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, the District of North Dakota, the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Western District of Washington.

    The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.

    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 USA: Durbin Questions Executive Branch Nominees During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 22, 2025
    Durbin pushed all nominees to answer if they believe a litigant—including the Executive Branch—can lawfully deny a court order
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Joseph Edlow, nominated to be the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, nominated to be the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and Stanley Woodward, nominated to be the Associate Attorney General, during a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing.
    Durbin began by asking all nominees if they believe a litigant—including officials in the Executive Branch—can lawfully defy a court order.
    Mr. Woodward first responded that he “take[s] issue with the premise of the question insofar as district court judges are not holding that President Trump’s orders are illegal or unconstitutional.”
    Durbin pushed back by saying, “If you would stick to my hypothetical—an approach that is very clear… Do you believe that officials in the Executive Branch can lawfully defy a court order, yes or no?”
    Mr. Woodward responded that he believes President Trump will follow “any” order of the Supreme Court.
    Mr. Squires also said that they believe the Supreme Court orders will be followed by the Executive Branch. However, neither answered as to whether a government official can lawfully defy a lower court order.
    “Do you believe any executive official can lawfully defy a court order?” Durbin asked.
    Mr. Gaiser responded “no.” Mr. Edlow responded to the question by saying, “I am not here [as an] attorney, but I am here as a [nominee].”
    Durbin responded, “I don’t believe you need a law degree to answer this question. Can an executive official lawfully defy a court order?”
    Mr. Edlow responded, “given the speculative nature [to] the question—my answer is the same.”
    “No response. This is what troubles me greatly. If we cannot agree on this as the basic premise of our rule of law, where in the world are we headed as a nation?” Durbin asked.
    Durbin then asked Mr. Squires about President Trump’s executive order against Perkins Coie—a law firm where he was a partner.
    “Mr. Squires, have you ever engaged in dishonest and dangerous activity at a law firm?” Durbin asked to Mr. Squires, and Mr. Squires responded that he has not.
    In March, President Trump issued an executive order targeting Perkins Coie by, among other actions, suspending the firm’s lawyers’ security clearances and terminating its federal contracts.
    “Did you read the position on your former law firm? The executive order claimed that the firm’s ‘dishonest and dangerous activity […] has affected this country for decades.’ The order further alleged that the firm is ‘undermining democratic elections, the integrity of our courts, and honest law enforcement.’ Did you see any evidence of that activity when you were a member of that firm?” Durbin asked.
    After first deflecting the question, Mr. Squires responded, “in my areas of responsibility, I saw no evidence of wrongdoing.”
    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Frank Elderson: Nature’s bell tolls for thee, economy!

    Source: European Central Bank

    Keynote speech by Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Leiden, 22 May 2025

    Thank you for inviting me to speak at this annual biodiversity dinner. The wide range of speakers here this evening – on international biodiversity day – is testament to the relevance of biodiversity across disciplines.

    Nature isn’t just the roots and shoots of biologists, macroecologists and natural scientists. Beyond its intrinsic value, nature provides vital services that are relevant for all of us – for entrepreneurs, workers, policymakers and bankers, but also for central bankers and financial supervisors.

    A thriving natural environment provides vital benefits that sustain our well-being and serve as a crucial driving force for the global economy. Think of fertile soils, pollination, timber, fishing stocks, clean water and clean air.

    But we are well aware of the daunting facts that confirm the dire state of ecosystem services. Intensive land use, the climate crisis, pollution, overexploitation and other human pressures are rapidly and severely damaging our natural resources.

    75% of land surface ecosystems and 66% of ocean ecosystems have been damaged, degraded or modified.

    We are using natural resources 1.7 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate them. Consequently, the contribution that nature can make to our economies – and our way of life – is steadily diminishing every day.

    These fateful facts and figures confront us as vividly as Edvard Munch’s iconic scream. Yet, accounting for nature and the services it provides is challenging. What nature provides to the economy is typically not measured directly in statistics like GDP.

    We price portfolios instead of pollinators, we monitor markets instead of mangroves and we watch wages instead of water supplies. However, the reality is that while our economies are heavily reliant on ecosystem services, the economic value of those pollinators, mangroves and water supplies is not sufficiently taken into account.

    Nature is too often still wrongly seen as a free good, readily available and abundant in supply, without opportunity costs. For such a good, there is no market – and therefore no price.

    So, why can’t governments intervene by pricing and creating a market for nature as has been done for emissions?

    Unlike for the climate crisis – which can be quantified through carbon emissions and their direct links to rising temperatures – there is no single metric that can be used to quantify the wide range of ecosystem services.

    What is the common denominator of clean air, fertile soils and coasts protected by mangrove forests? Nature is beautifully complex, but this complexity makes it harder to establish a market for nature than a market for climate, such as the carbon markets created through emissions trading systems.

    For central banks to effectively fulfil their mandates, we need to enhance our capacity to measure the vital services that nature provides to our economy and identify the financial risks caused by the degradation of these services. And while this is admittedly not an easy task, it is encouraging that multiple stakeholders are making progress, including academia, firms and also the ECB. We are enhancing our tools, methodologies and data to assess the economic implications of ecosystems and their degradation. And I am pleased to be able to share some of our latest insights this evening.

    I will argue that while nature services may appear to be freely available, they are in fact not abundant at all and there are substantial costs to using and losing them. Costs that we currently overlook when headlines report on GDP growth.

    Accounting for nature in monetary policy and banking supervision

    Nature being of vital importance for the economy and the financial system is hardly a novel insight. Besides scientists, a number of central banks and prudential supervisors have also been highlighting their interlinkages for several years now.[1] And while the climate crisis has received most of the attention, it is encouraging that work on nature-related risks has also significantly evolved.

    Moreover, the ECB has taken significant steps to account for nature-related risks in the pursuit of its mandate. For instance, we take into account the effects nature degradation can have on banks’ balance sheets. The degradation of nature could damage companies’ production processes and consequently weaken their creditworthiness, which might in turn impair loans granted by banks. In our role as the supervisor of Europe’s largest banks, we therefore aim to ensure that the banks we supervise adequately manage both climate-related and nature-related risks.[2] Encouragingly, we are seeing a growing set of good practices among the banks we supervise in terms of identifying, quantifying and managing nature-related risks.

    But are we fully aware of – and sufficiently alert to – how nature degradation could eventually hit balance sheets?

    Advancing our understanding does not mean that economists and supervisors should start studying ants in Aragon, ladybirds in Lombardy or honeybees in Holland (although it is very important that entomologists do!).

    Instead, central banks and supervisors need to gain a better understanding of just how vulnerable the economy and the financial system are to nature degradation.[3]

    Capturing the risks related to ecosystem degradation

    An ECB study in 2023 found that nearly 75% of banks’ corporate lending goes to firms that are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service.[4] This finding underscores just how interconnected nature, the economy and the financial system really are.[5] But that study does not tell us exactly how much of our economic activity is at risk, or which economic sectors and regions will be most affected.

    To better understand this impact, the ECB has teamed up with the Resilient Planet Finance Lab at the University of Oxford.

    The interdisciplinary team has developed systemic risk indicators that move beyond dependency analysis to a comprehensive assessment of nature-related financial risks. In essence, this indicator assesses the economic implications of the deteriorating state of ecosystems. It shows how much of the economic value added by a particular industry– what economists call “gross value added” – is at risk when ecosystem services degrade. Tomorrow we will publish a blog post showing some of the preliminary results of our work, but I can already share some findings with you this evening.

    Water – the natural currency underwriting purchases, investments and trades

    Our preliminary findings indicate two things. First, water – too little, too much or too dirty water that is –has been identified as posing the most significant risk to the euro area economy. Losses related to water scarcity, poor water quality and flood protection emerge as the most critical from a value added perspective. Concretely, surface water scarcity alone puts almost 15% of the euro area’s economic output at risk. This is not surprising because water is not just any resource – it is one of the most essential natural resources we possess. Second, agriculture is the most exposed sector, as it would suffer the largest proportional output losses due to a decline in surface water. But other sectors are also likely to be significantly affected.

    Chart 1

    Proportion of national gross value added (GVA) at risk due to surface water scarcity in Europe and globally (supply chain risks)

    Water is, for instance, an indispensable resource in industry. In the Netherlands, industry alone uses over 2.6 trillion litres of fresh water a year.[6] This water usage is more than three times the total annual water consumption of all households in the Netherlands. Water is also essential for energy production, not only in hydropower plants but also in thermal power plants – including nuclear – where it is used for cooling and steam generation. It is consumed in vast quantities for mining and mineral processing, which are crucial for the energy transition, as well as in the construction sector for producing concrete, to name just a few examples.

    The risk posed by water scarcity is not hypothetical, we are already experiencing the impact today. I am sure that many of you remember when the summers of 2018, 2019 and 2020 brought severe droughts and heatwaves even to the Netherlands. In 2018 alone, economic losses in the Netherlands were up to €1.9 billion for agriculture and €155 million for shipping, with widespread but hard-to-quantify damage to ecosystems. This year’s drought is especially alarming: spring 2025 is on track to become the driest ever recorded in the Netherlands, likely surpassing the previous record set nearly 50 years ago. And droughts are only projected to increase further as the climate crisis continues to develop. Worryingly, in the driest scenario an average summer in the 2040s will be about as dry as an extremely dry summer now.

    Effective water management will thus be crucial for sustaining production. However, the risk persists that during periods of drought, production might need to be scaled down. Some industrial processes may become economically unviable and might need to relocate.

    For example, some have even gone as far as to point at a risk that more frequent droughts could render traditional tulip-growing regions such as the Bollenstreek unsuitable for bulb cultivation.[7] This may compel growers to explore better-positioned locations where water is more reliably available to safeguard the iconic Dutch tulip industry.

    Hence, as a consequence of water scarcity, our economies could produce less, and production costs are likely to rise during any inevitable transition phase.

    Let me also point out that biodiversity is a critical – and often underestimated – factor in ensuring the availability and quality of fresh water. Ecosystems such as forests and wetlands regulate the quantity, timing and purity of water flows by stabilising soils and filtering pollutants. Maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystems will be crucial for resilient water provisioning as climate change intensifies, particularly in regions facing growing water stress.

    Beyond these macroeconomic impacts, ecosystem degradation can significantly affect financial stability, for example through the loans that banks grant to households and firms. In essence, the greater the impact on firms, the higher the risk of defaults and the higher the risk on banks’ balance sheets.

    For example, in our research with the University of Oxford we found that more than 34% of banks’ total outstanding nominal amount – over €1.3 trillion – is currently extended to sectors exposed to high water scarcity risk.

    As the next step in our research, we will examine changes in the probability of default in the sectors most affected by dwindling ecosystems. Think about it as stress-testing the resilience of banks’ credit portfolios to nature degradation. We plan to publish these results later this year, complete with a more in-depth analysis on the topic, so stay tuned.

    Multiple stakeholders are taking action

    Encouragingly, our work with the University of Oxford is not an isolated case. We are in fact seeing a wide range of stakeholders taking action to better account for ecosystem services.

    For instance, I hear that our host this evening – the Naturalis Biodiversity Center – has teamed up with banks to combine insights from science and finance to further develop indicators quantifying ecosystem services.

    We are also seeing a growing set of good practices among the banks we supervise in terms of identifying, quantifying and managing nature-related risks. Banks typically conduct materiality assessments to understand where they are most affected. And banks also grapple with the challenge that nature-related risks are difficult to express in a single metric. Once they know where they are exposed, they then typically conduct deep dives on specific topics.

    One bank, for example, has conducted a quantitative scenario analysis to understand how the profitability of its customers could be affected if a water pollution tax were to be implemented.

    Other banks design customer scorecards and engage with the most vulnerable counterparties, sometimes offering small discounts or other incentives when customers meet key performance indicators that increase their resilience.

    It is also encouraging that progress is being made at the international level. The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) – a network of 145 central banks and supervisors from around the world – has developed a conceptual framework offering central banks and supervisors a common understanding of nature-related financial risks and a principle-based risk assessment approach.[8][9] And the Financial Stability Board recently took stock of supervisory and regulatory initiatives among its members, finding that a growing number of financial authorities are considering the potential implications of nature-related risks for the financial sector.[10]

    So scientists, banks, policymakers and supervisors are in fact taking action. That’s good news. Given the high level of uncertainty regarding impacts, non-linearities, tipping points and irreversibility, continuous scientific input and engagement are essential to determine the transmission channels from nature to our economies.

    Reliable and comparable data are key to managing risks and identifying opportunities

    Before I conclude, let me stress a vital enabler to better measure ecosystem services: data. Closer cooperation with natural scientists can help us better understand the data they have available on the status of nature and the ecosystem services it provides. The National Hub for Biodiversity Information provided by our host tonight is an excellent example.[11]

    Moreover, continuous engagement with the scientific community can also help improve our understanding of non-linearities, tipping points and the irreversibility of the biodiversity crisis.

    Similarly, the availability of reliable and comparable data from companies is essential for us to know where the risks are hiding and where opportunities can be found. Such data can, for example, provide insights into companies’ reliance on fresh water for their production processes. In this context, the reporting requirements in the EU’s sustainable finance framework are not merely a “nice to have”, they are providing indispensable information about financial risks and are a solution to the patchwork of different reporting criteria.

    Does that mean that there is no room for simplification? Does it mean that there is no room to ease the reporting burden on smaller firms?

    Of course not.

    As the ECB noted in its recent opinion[12] on the Commission’s omnibus package, striking the right balance is crucial – the balance between how much data firms report and how many firms are required to do so. Excluding too many firms from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive may reduce the availability of vital data needed to assess climate-and nature related financial risks.

    So when carefully calibrating a balanced degree of simplification, one should look at what data points we need most and make sure that sufficient companies report on precisely those data. Not only because reliable and comparable data are important for identifying economic impacts and managing financial risks, but also because such data helps identify investment opportunities to unlock a clean, green and competitive European economy.

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    Encouragingly, multiple stakeholders are making progress in better accounting for ecosystem services. That’s good news, and this work must continue. Because dwindling ecosystems are no longer peripheral – they are central to financial stability, the economy and, ultimately, our daily lives.

    When you saw the title of my remarks this evening, some of you might have recognised a reference to John Donne’s poem “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Donne beautifully expresses that we are all part of a bigger whole: “No man is an island, Entire of itself.”

    Nor is our economy an island – it is not “entire of itself”, it depends on nature.

    If nature’s services suffer,
    And they do!
    Send not to know
    For whom the bell tolls.
    It tolls for thee, ECOnomy!

    Thank you for your attention.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Civil news: explore legal aid opportunities in the West Midlands

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Civil news: explore legal aid opportunities in the West Midlands

    We would like to engage with providers and stakeholders to explore the delivery of HLPAS provision in Kidderminster, Redditch, Hereford, and Worcester.

    We are inviting organisations to register for an online market engagement event. More information on Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) provision and an area guide (specific information) can be found here: Housing Loss Prevention Advice Services 2025 – GOV.UK

    Who can attend the event?

    The event is open to housing and debt providers with an interest in housing provision in Kidderminster, Redditch, Hereford and/or Worcester. We are also inviting representation from a wide variety of key stakeholders.

    We want to have a round table discussion about securing provision in this area. This will cover delivery concerns, views on innovation and alternative delivery methods.

    The online event will take place on Thursday 5 June 4pm – 5pm on Microsoft Teams. Registration deadline is 5pm on Friday 30 May.  Please register your interest via email or to request further information by the address below.

    Further information

    Civil.contracts@justice.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councillor Teresa Heritage elected as new Mayor of the City and District of St Albans

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Councillor Teresa Heritage has been elected the new Mayor of the City and District of St Albans and will support two charities during her year in office.

    She was made Mayor for 2025/26 at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Wednesday 21 May with Councillor Sue Griffiths becoming Deputy Mayor.

    Mayor Heritage, who succeeds Cllr Jamie Day, will raise money for Community First Responders and Pancreatic Cancer UK.

    She has also decided that the themes of her civic year will be encouraging volunteering and supporting small businesses.

    Mayor Heritage has been a District Councillor since 2002 and represents Harpenden South ward. She is the City’s 481st Mayor with the first having been appointed in 1553.

    She will chair Full Council meetings and represent the City at a variety of events, often involving voluntary and charity groups. 

    Mayor Heritage said:

    It is an honour to be elected to this historic position and I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

    During my time in office, I will be promoting volunteering, throwing some light on the selfless work people undertake to strengthen our communities. I will also seek to highlight our local businesses which provide so many jobs and services.

    Pancreatic Cancer UK is a cause close to my heart as the illness recently took away my dear friend Brian Ellis, a former District Councillor.

    Communities First Responders are volunteers, trained to attend local medical emergencies and save lives before an ambulance arrives.

    I will be urging people to donate to these wonderful causes and will start my fund-raising efforts with a sponsored slim.

    To charities and community groups across the District, I say please invite me to your events, so I can highlight your work in encouraging cohesion and inclusivity, so nobody feels left behind.

    Mayor Teresa Heritage

    Teresa has been a District Councillor for 23 years, serving on numerous Committees, and was formerly both a Town and County Councillor.

    Hertfordshire born and bred, she grew up in Borehamwood and went to work for Lloyds Bank after leaving school at 18.

    She later qualified as a Chartered Secretary and began a career in the City, rising to become Assistant Company Secretary and Investor Relations Manager for Lonrho.

    Teresa spent 26 years with Lonrho, being involved in high-profile takeovers and other major business dealings, and later joined a consultancy.

    She has also enjoyed a long career in public service, becoming a District Councillor in 2002 and a County Councillor six years later.

    As a County Councillor, she served in many roles including Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Children’s Services.

    In addition, she became a Mental Health Champion, joined the Royal British Legion and chaired Hertfordshire SSAFA, the armed forces’ charity. 

    Teresa has been heavily involved for many years in community and charity work in Harpenden and is currently President of Harpenden Village Rotary Club.

    She has been a school governor and a founding member of Harpenden Connect and Harpenden Seniors Forum.

    Her husband David, a retired businessman, is a District and Town Councillor. The couple have a son and three grandchildren.

    Deputy Mayor Sue Griffiths

    Sue, who is a District Councillor for Harpenden North ward, was born and raised in Liverpool where she attended university before going into banking.

    Work took her south and she held senior positions with the former Midland Bank, reaching the final of the Young Businesswoman of the Year in 1989.

    Sue later trained as a teacher in Business Studies and gained an MA in Education from the University of Hertfordshire while teaching at Marlborough Science Academy in St Albans.

    She later moved to Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden, where she has lived since 1987, and became Head of Faculty for Business and Economics

    She continues to work in education at Sir John Lawes and as a business lecturer at Oaklands College. 

    Sue is a supporter of Young Enterprise, a national charity to equip young people for the world of work, and has received their long service award.

    She also supports the Open Door homeless shelter in St Albans, cooking regular evening meals as part of a team.

    Her husband Roy is a retired banker and the couple have three children and two grandchildren.

    Charity contacts

    You can find out more information about Communities First Responders, including opportunities for volunteering, here. 

    More information about Pancreatic Cancer UK is available here.

    Pictures: top, the Mayor, Cllr Teresa Heritage; bottom, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sue Griffiths.

    Contact for the Mayor’s office: Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer, 01727 819544,  mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk.

    Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727-819533,  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on housing progress in Oak Bay, West Vancouver

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, has released the following statement regarding advisor reports on housing progress in Oak Bay and West Vancouver:

    “Every community and every local government has a role to play as we work together to solve the housing crisis, and make sure that our children and grandchildren can build a good life in B.C. in homes they can afford.

    “That’s why we have been working closely with municipal councils throughout the province to set housing targets that will strengthen communities for the people who live in them for generations to come.

    “I’ve been encouraged by the work of the majority of councils and the positive changes they have made, which are allowing them to meet or exceed their targets. The housing targets program is working, with more than 16,000 net new homes created in the 30 communities that have housing targets since this work started.

    “In other communities, there is more work to do. Earlier this year, I appointed advisors to review a lack of progress toward issued housing targets in the districts of Oak Bay and West Vancouver. The advisors conducted a two-month review assessing each district’s steps to increasing housing supply, including development approval processes, land-use planning, and housing policies and practices.

    “I have now received and reviewed the advisors’ reports, which have identified recommendations for how these councils can act to streamline processes and deliver homes for people in their communities. I have sent a letter to each district outlining the advisors’ recommendations.

    “In addition, I have notified the councils that I intend to issue the following directives as permitted under the Housing Supply Act, which provides both councils 30 days to submit written comments regarding the directives before they are issued:

    “For Oak Bay, the district must:

    • amend its Development Application Procedures bylaw to delegate minor variances to municipal staff by Jan. 31, 2026, which is consistent with past municipal staff reports and is a practice used in many other jurisdictions; and
    • amend its Parking Facilities bylaw to better align multi-unit residential parking requirements with best practices, to a minimum of one parking stall per unit where the bylaw currently requires a minimum of more than one parking stall per unit, by Jan. 31, 2026.

    “Further, I agree with the advisor’s conclusion that there is no requirement to pursue residential development in Carnarvon Park. In terms of alternative options, I will not be making a directive to pursue specific alternate sites for residential development. I do encourage Oak Bay council to consider these proposed options for their potential to provide much-needed housing, while keeping in mind environmental and other considerations related to these sites.

    “For West Vancouver, the district must:

    • by Dec. 31, 2026, amend its Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws to create a local area plan for the Park Royal-Taylor Way area, with additional, sufficient density to support its housing target order. The plan should enable housing that aligns with best practices for transit-adjacent housing as set out for transit-oriented development areas (TOAs) in the province; and
    • by Sept. 30, 2026, amend its Official Community Plan Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw to modify Local Area Plans to increase density in Ambleside and Dundarave Village.

    “Furthermore, I encourage both districts to review all of the remaining advisor-report recommendations and provide required updates on future progress towards those recommendations.

    “Let me be clear: This is not about punishing communities or removing authority from locally elected municipal councils.

    “The goal of local housing targets is centred around working with municipalities to remove unnecessary barriers to affordability and get more homes built for people faster, and ensuring we are building healthy and economically vibrant neighbourhoods for people. 

    “I look forward to continuing to work with the leaders of all communities to keep making progress, together.”

    Quick Facts:

    • West Vancouver delivered 58 of its 220 net-new units Year 1 housing target.
    • Oak Bay delivered 16 of its 56 net-new units Year 1 housing target.

    Learn More:

    To view the Provincial Advisor Report and Recommendations for the District of Oak Bay, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/OakBayAdvisorsReport.pdf

    To view Kahlon’s letter to the District of Oak Bay, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/OakBayLetter.pdf

    To view Kahlon’s notice to the District of Oak Bay about the appointment of an advisor, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/OakBayNoticeLetter.pdf

    To view the provincial advisor report and recommendations for the District of West Vancouver, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/WestVancouverAdvisorsReport.pdf

    To view Kahlon’s letter to the District of West Vancouver, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/WestVancouverLetter.pdf

    To view Kahlon’s notice to the District of West Vancouver about the appointment of an advisor, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/WestVancouverNoticeLetter.pdf (can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)

    Note: Portions of the reports have been redacted to meet requirements under Section 10 (3) of the act and Division 2 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Missouri Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Missouri of the June 23 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning Oct 15, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Missouri counties of Barton, Bates, Cedar, St. Clair and Vernon as well as the Kansas counties of Bourbon, Crawford and Linn.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs 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.

    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.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 23.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Private Nonprofits Affected by Wildfires

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation of the June 24 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by wildfires occurring June 22-July 8, 2024.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and 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.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at 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.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 24.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Cleveland

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Pawnee County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents affected by wildfires occurring March 14-15.

    Beginning Thursday, May 22, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Cleveland to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    PAWNEE COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Cleveland Fire Department
    The Courtroom
    201 N. Broadway St.
    Cleveland, OK  74020

    Opens at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 22
    Mondays – Fridays, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”

    The following DLOCs are open now:

    LINCOLN COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Fire Department
    335174 E. 750 Rd.
    Perkins, OK   74059

    Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Closes permanently at COB Friday, May 23

    LOGAN COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Logan County Courthouse Annex
    (Across the street north of Courthouse in
    the old Girl Scout Room)
    312 E. Harrison Ave.
    Guthrie, OK  73044

    Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

    Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

    PAYNE COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    City of Stillwater Community Center, Room 102
    315 W. Eighth Ave.
    Stillwater, OK  74074
    Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

    Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

    Closes permanently at COB Wednesday, June 11

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

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

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 20, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ministerial Appointment: 22 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Ministerial Appointment: 22 May 2025

    The King has been pleased to approve the following appointment.

    The King has been pleased to approve the following appointment:

    • Baroness Curran as a Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE has left the Government.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Gary Admans appointed as Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Gary Admans appointed as Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, has appointed Gary Admans as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) Advisory Board.

    Gary has extensive experience in sterling markets and audit, risk and control matters, including as Vice President Capital Markets and Banking Relations at BP Plc. 

    In this role Gary will support the DMO’s Chief Executive Officer and senior team and will bring considerable experience, skills and judgement to the full array of Advisory Board issues. Gary will also chair the DMO’s Audit and Risk Committee. 

    Gary will be appointed for a three-year term. He will replace Dr Paul Fisher OBE whose term on the DMO Advisory Board is coming to an end later this year. 

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds said:

    Delivering economic and fiscal stability lies at the heart of this government’s Plan for Change and is at the forefront of the work the Debt Management Office do. Therefore, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Admans, his extensive knowledge, skills and experience will be invaluable to the organisation in its essential role in delivering economic stability.

    I would also like to thank Paul Fisher for his excellent contribution to the work of the DMO over many years.

    Dame Sue Owen, Non-Executive Chair, DMO Advisory Board said:

    I am thrilled to announce that Gary Admans has been appointed to our Advisory Board as a Non-Executive Director. 

    Gary’s profound expertise and experience in bond markets and audit, risk and control matters will ensure he is excellently positioned to assist the DMO in achieving its vital objectives, including fulfilling the government’s financing needs to the highest standards.

    Gary Admans said:

    I am delighted to be appointed to the Advisory Board of the DMO and look forward to helping the organisation deliver its financing mandate and other objectives. The DMO is recognised internationally for its market expertise and I will aim to use my financial and risk experience to allow the DMO to continue to flourish in the future.

    About Gary Admans 

    Gary Admans is an experienced financial markets professional and team leader who, after a derivatives-based career in banking, moved to BP plc where he manages a Capital Markets and Banking Relations team and is a key member of their Treasury Leadership team. On joining BP, he initially worked in the Risk Management team managing BP’s foreign exchange exposures before moving to the Capital Markets team. Gary joined the Board of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing in June 2022 where he is the Chair of the Treasury Committee.  

    Gary confirmed he has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years. 

    About the appointment process 

    The DMO is an executive agency of HM Treasury which is responsible for debt and cash management for the UK Government, lending to local authorities and managing certain public sector funds. 

    Gary Admans has been appointed following an open recruitment process run by HM Treasury. A panel comprising Dame Sue Owen (Non-Executive Chair, DMO Advisory Board), Martin Egan (a current Non-Executive Director of the DMO), Azin Roussos (Deputy Director, HM Treasury), and an external panel member Katherine Braddick (Group Head of Strategic Policy at Barclays and senior adviser to the Barclays CEO) interviewed a number of candidates and made recommendations to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, which informed her decision.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visits Japan to deepen strategic ties and reaffirm joint stand against terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri visited Japan on Wednesday. He held high-level meetings with senior Japanese officials and delivered a keynote address at the 2nd edition of the Raisina Tokyo Dialogue, reinforcing the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan.

    Foreign Secretary Misri met with Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi to review the full spectrum of India-Japan relations. The two sides discussed key areas of cooperation including political relations, defence and security, economic collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on pressing regional and international developments of mutual concern.

    Misri also held discussions with Japan’s National Security Advisor Masataka Okano and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Hiroyuki Namazu. The meetings focused on shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of maintaining peace and stability through a rules-based international order.

    A highlight of the visit was Misri’s spotlight address at the Raisina Tokyo Dialogue, organized by the Observer Research Foundation, ORF America, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives). In his address, the Foreign Secretary emphasized the critical need for nations to come together in the global fight against terrorism and to dismantle the infrastructure supporting it.

    The visit also served as a moment to express gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their support and solidarity with India following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. India has launched a diplomatic and military response to the attack, including Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF launches large hepatitis C campaign in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • MSF has begun a large-scale “test and treat” campaign for hepatitis C in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh, aiming to treat 30,000 people by the end of 2026.
    • Addressing the widespread hepatitis C epidemic among the Rohingya in the camps is challenging, considering the limited availability of care in the camps.
    • The campaign will include research to analyse challenges and propose solutions for testing and treating hepatitis C.

    COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH – To address concerningly high levels of hepatitis C in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, 30,000 people will receive care by the end of 2026 as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) significantly expands our treatment programmes. The initiative improves access to hepatitis C care for a group of stateless people who are particularly exposed to this curable, but potentially fatal, disease. MSF is establishing three specialised hepatitis C treatment centres within existing health facilities inside the camps, as part of a “test and treat” campaign covering an estimated third of all people living with hepatitis C in the camps.

    Between October 2020 and December 2024, MSF had treated over 10,000 people for hepatitis C at our clinics at Jamtoli and Hospital on the Hill. However, a 2023 MSF study published last month in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that nearly one in five adults –an estimated 86,000 people– are living with chronic active infection, highlighting the urgent need for a more robust response.

    MSF nurses are collecting blood samples from patients in the Rohingya refugee camps using rapid diagnostic tests as part of a hepatitis C “test and treat” campaign. Bangladesh, April 2025.
    Tania Sultana/MSF

    “Access to hepatitis C care in the camps, where more than a million refugees have been living for the past eight years, has been extremely limited,” says Dr Wasim Firuz, MSF deputy medical coordinator. “Treating hepatitis C is not part of the package of healthcare provided by over-stretched healthcare facilities. People are also not allowed to freely leave the camps to access healthcare, and even if they could, it’s unlikely they would be able to afford the cost of treatment.”

    Harsh living conditions in the overcrowded camps, a lack of access to or reduced provision of healthcare, and a lack of legal status which severely restricts their basic rights, have made Rohingya refugees more vulnerable to infections – including hepatitis C – in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Our survey found that exposure to unsafe medical practices for decades, such as therapeutic injections, could be the main reason for the transmission of this bloodborne disease within the camps.

    Our scaled-up programme in response sees teams conducting systematic community-based screening to proactively identify people with hepatitis C, a disease that does not show any signs or symptoms in its first phase. Rapid testing is followed by laboratory confirmation at the newly established treatment centres in Balukhali, Jamtoli, and at Hospital on the Hill. We are also implementing a comprehensive healthcare awareness campaign, which includes providing drugs for hepatitis C treatment and sharing prevention messages and treatment adherence counselling to adults.

    “In the absence of other alternatives to hepatitis C care for tens of thousands of people in the camps, we are undertaking this substantial increase in our treatment capacity,” says Dr Firuz. “Our goal is to reach 30,000 people with curative care by the end of 2026. This expansion represents a vital step towards preventing the spread of hepatitis C, especially to younger generations.” 

    Addressing this widespread hepatitis C epidemic nonetheless presents considerable challenges within the limited capacity of the overall health response in the camps. MSF will be conducting research to analyse such challenges and bring about solutions as part of our response.

    “While we are scaling up efforts and working in coordination with other organisations, the limitations within the health response, including insufficient staffing, equipment, and resources among partners, present a significant obstacle,” says Dr Firuz. “Our campaign is temporary and will not eradicate hepatitis C in the camps. Attention to hepatitis C must continue during and after the end of this campaign. We again call on other health partners and the international community to prioritise building a comprehensive strategy, to reduce the devastating impact of this disease on this community.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM’s remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    PM’s remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025

    PM’s remarks at his press conference on Diego Garcia.

    A few moments ago…

    I signed a deal…

    To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

    This is absolutely vital…

    For our defence and intelligence…

    And therefore –

    For the safety and security of the British people.

    The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified.

    But I want to speak as frankly as I can. 

    The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain.

    From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan…

    To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific…

    The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home.

    It has helped us to…

    Disrupt threats to the UK…

    Support counter terror operations against Islamic State…

    And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen. 

    The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East.

    It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia…

    It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face,

    Including from terrorism and hostile states…

    And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific.

    The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities – which benefit us directly.

    Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include…

    Airfield and deep-water port facilities…

    Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS…

    And the monitoring of objects in the earth’s orbit…

    And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty.

    The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States –

    Which is critical for keeping Britain safe.

    Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US.

    President Trump has welcomed the deal –

    Along with other allies.

    Because they see the strategic importance of this base –

    And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm.

    And let me be clear – 

    We had to act now…

    Because the base was under threat.

    The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position.

    And if Mauritius takes us to court again…

    The UK’s longstanding legal view…

    Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success…

    And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks.

    But this is not just about international law.

    This is about the operation of the base.

    Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us…

    International organisations and other countries would act on them.

    And that would undermine the operation of the base –

    Causing us to lose this unique capability.

    One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders…

    A right that’s recognised in regulations…

    And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union.

    The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm.

    If our right to control it is put into doubt…

    We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability…

    Rendering it practically useless.

    In addition – if we do not agree this deal…

    The legal situation would mean that…

    We would not be able to prevent China…

    Or any other nation…

    Setting up their own bases on the outer islands,

    Or carrying out joint exercises near our base.

    We would have to explain to you – the British people –

    And to our allies…

    That we had lost control of this vital asset.

    No responsible government could let that happen.

    So there is no alternative –

    But to act –

    In Britain’s national interest.

    By agreeing to this deal now – on our terms –

    We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence…

    That will allow the base to operate well into the next century…

    Helping to keep us safe for generations to come.

    Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years –

    And they have failed.

    [political content redacted]

    Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset.

    We pay for our other military bases.

    Allies like the US and France do the same.

    This cost is part and parcel of using Britain’s global reach to keep us safe at home… 

    And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year.

    *

    Today’s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term.

    There is no alternative.

    We will never gamble with national security.

    So we have acted –

    To secure our national interest…

    To strengthen our national security –

    And to protect the British people for many years to come.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Schumer, Padilla, Schiff, Raskin, Swalwell, and Johnson Introduce Bicameral Bill to Move US Marshals Service to Judicial Branch

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation that would address the potential for weaponization of the U.S. Marshals Service (“Marshals” or “USMS”) by President Trump and the executive branch. The Maintaining Authority and Restoring Security to Halt the Abuse of Law Act (MARSHALS Act) would move the Marshals from the operation and direction of the executive branch to the judiciary, ensuring that USMS can perform its primary mission of protecting federal judges and to obeying, executing, and enforcing federal court orders without political interference. U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), and House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts Ranking Member Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) introduced companion legislation in the House.

    President Trump and members of his Administration are systematically undermining judicial independence and the rule of law: the President himself called for impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against him, the Vice President has suggested that the executive branch does not need to follow court orders, and a federal judge has found that the Trump Administration demonstrated a “willful disregard” for its court order. Against the backdrop of Trump’s attacks on the rule of law, serious threats of violence against federal judges and their families have risen to alarming levels. Hundreds of unsolicited pizza deliveries have been sent to the homes of federal judges and their relatives across seven states in an apparent attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Many of the deliveries have been sent to judges who ruled against the Trump Administration and some have been placed in the name of Daniel Anderl, the son of New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas, who was fatally shot by an attorney who appeared in her courtroom.

    The USMS, the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, risks being ensnared in Trump’s efforts to upend our constitutional order. While the USMS’s “primary role and mission” is to protect the federal judiciary and obey and enforce its court orders, the USMS is under the control of the executive branch, specifically the U.S. Attorney General who in turn answers to the President. The potential conflict looming between the USMS’s duty to provide security for and carry out the orders of the federal judiciary and the Attorney General’s control of the Marshals will put our democracy to the test if the Administration directs the USMS to ignore a court order or otherwise prevents the USMS from carrying out its duties. For example, at a recent meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States, a federal judge expressed concern that the President could order the USMS to stop protecting judges.

    “President Trump has made it abundantly clear through his words and actions that he does not respect the law, court orders, the safety of our judges, or our institutions,” said Senator Booker. “Since 1789, the U.S. Marshals have valiantly protected our nation’s judges and enforced court orders. But their dual accountability to the executive branch and the judicial branch paves the way toward a constitutional crisis. To ensure these necessary functions are carried out, Congress must act to move the bureau into the judicial branch. Our U.S. Marshals are critical to protecting the rule of law, and they must be able to do their jobs without political interference.”

    “Trump’s tenure has been marked by corruption, chaos, and abuse, with his administration waging a war against the rule of law,” said Leader Schumer. “We will not allow Trump and Pam Bondi to interfere with the marshals as they enforce court orders, or weaponize them to intimidate government employees or American citizens. This legislation would protect the U.S. Marshals Service from abuse by the executive branch and ensure that law enforcement officers perform their essential duties.”

    “The Trump Administration has repeatedly undermined judicial independence and misused the U.S. Marshals Service for political gain,” said Senator Padilla. “They’ve politicized the Marshals Service by intimidating the former pardon attorney, threatening USAID officials, and potentially risking the security of federal judges. Our bill restores the Marshals Service’s independence by placing it within the judicial branch so it can fulfill its core mission of protecting judges and enforcing court orders without political interference.” 

    “We’ve seen threats against judges escalate as the president has threatened impeachment of those who rule against him. We have also seen the administration pull security from former officials who are still at risk because the president views them as enemies. And we have also seen the president ignore court orders he doesn’t like. The U.S. Marshals are central to preserving our democracy and upholding the rule of law. Marshals must be able to protect all judges, enforce all court orders and have the independence necessary to do their jobs,” said Senator Schiff.

    “We’re seeing a rise in outrageous attacks on federal judges simply for doing their jobs. Congress must act to make sure that our courts have reliable personal, physical and electronic security to count on, and that means security not subject to the discretionary whims of a president who may disrespect judicial independence and the rule of law. This legislation is necessary to fortify the independence of the judicial branch which is essential to the survival of strong democracy. Our legislation will ensure that the U.S. Marshals can perform their duties without political interference or coercive pressure from the president or anyone else in the executive branch,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

    “Judges should be in charge of their own security. Today, they’re not. And they’re facing more death threats than ever in the history of the judiciary. Today, independent judges must rely upon the executive branch, whose cases are often in front of them, for personal security. We’re in a constitutional crisis that necessitates a structural change to protect judges from political violence and intimidation,” said Congressman Swalwell. “I have seen how threats of violence to members of Congress pressure them into staying silent or influence their votes on the House floor. We cannot allow the same calculations to creep into the deliberations of independent judges. That is why I’m proud to introduce the MARSHALS Act to prevent political interference in the courts. In a time when we face a lawless president, giving the defendant command and control over the security of their judges is indefensible. That’s why my colleagues and I are moving forward to realign the U.S. Marshals Service under the judicial branch—the very institution they are sworn to protect.”

    “The independence of the judicial branch and the rule of law itself are under assault by Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies,” said Representative Johnson, ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet. “Putting control of the U.S. Marshals Service squarely within the judiciary goes a long way towards protecting the judicial branch from continued abuse by the Trump Administration.”

    Specifically, the MARSHALS Act would: 

    1. Create a U.S. Marshals Board modeled on the Board of the U.S. Capitol Police, the federal law enforcement agency that protects Congress. The Board would consist of the Chief Justice of the United States and the Judicial Conference of the United States.
    2. Authorize the Chief Justice, in consultation with the Board, to select a Director of the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Marshals in each judicial district of the United States and its territories.
    3. Allow the Marshals to continue their existing work of protecting judges and enforcing judicial subpoenas and court orders without political interference and preserve their other law enforcement functions (pursuing fugitives, seeking missing children, etc.) at the request of the Attorney General and with the consent of the Director of the Marshals

    The MARSHALS Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Court Accountability, Demand Justice, Fix the Court, People for the American Way, and Public Citizen.

    “As a co-equal branch of government the judiciary should be responsible for the security of judges and should not have to rely on the benevolence of the executive branch to enforce court decisions,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “But under our current system the courts rely almost exclusively on the executive branch for judicial security with the Attorney General overseeing the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice bureau responsible for protecting judges and enforcing court orders. With threats against judges both from litigants and public officials reaching historic highs, it is past time for this to change. We thank the lead sponsors for introducing the MARSHALS Act and encourage all senators to work together to ensure that the judiciary can fulfill its constitutional and statutory functions safely and without fear of political interference.”

    “This legislation is a critical bolster for checks and balances at a time when the Trump administration is defying court orders and leveling threats against judges simply for doing their jobs. If we want fair-minded judges to be able to defend the rule of law, it’s essential that we empower the judiciary to ensure compliance with its orders and protect judges from a dangerous surge in violent threats,” said Alex Aronson, co-founder and executive director, Court Accountability.

    “Trump has shown us that virtually nothing is out-of-bounds when it comes to eliminating checks on his dangerous, unpopular agenda. The Marshals must be able to carry out their duties without political interference and judges deserve to have protection regardless of how they rule on cases. This has been made even clearer by Trump and his allies’ threats and intimidation tactics against federal judges and others they view as their political enemies. We applaud the bill sponsors for introducing this bill and taking this important first step,” said Maggie Jo Buchanan, Interim Executive Director of Demand Justice.

    “Presidents supervise more than a dozen law enforcement agencies, but the fact that the primary mission of one of them is to protect members of another branch has never made a whole lot of structural sense. I applaud the bill’s sponsors for crafting a bill to move that agency, the U.S. Marshals Service, from Article II to Article III, thereby ensuring that judges’ safety isn’t subject to interbranch politics or other distractions — all the more important today, as both Democratic and Republican appointees face unprecedented threats,” Fix the Court executive director Gabe Roth said.

    “The US Marshals Service plays an essential role in enforcing federal court orders and protecting federal judges. Now, with a president who is undermining the rule of law and challenging courts’ authority,  coupled with a rising tide of threats against federal judges, the integrity of the Marshals Service is more important than ever. Without fair and independent courts, our freedom to speak our minds and challenge those in power will come to an end. Judges must be able to freely and fairly interpret the law and the constitution without fear for theirs and their families’ safety. We cannot wait until it’s too late to protect our courts. We congratulate Senator Booker, Leader Schumer, Senator Schiff, and Senator Padilla on introducing this important legislation and lifting up the need for robust protections for the safety and sanctity of our federal courts,” said People For the American Way, President Svante Myrick.

    “This commonsense legislation from Leader Schumer, Senator Booker, Senator Schiff, and Senator Padilla will simply ensure that the judiciary’s decisions are followed. In this era of executive branch court defiance, a repositioning of the marshals within the judiciary branch is a sensible move to protect the prerogatives of our coequal branches of government. Public Citizen applauds this smart policy,” said Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen, Co-President.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President El-Sisi of Egypt: 22 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President El-Sisi of Egypt: 22 May 2025

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

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

    The leaders discussed the deeply concerning developments in Gaza, agreeing that restrictions on humanitarian aid must be lifted.

    The Prime Minister pressed for the urgent release of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah so that he can be reunited with his family. He underlined how important it is to him to bring an end to the anguish Alaa and his family have faced.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fernando Pizarro, Lecturer, Department of Journalism, City St. George’s, University of London, City St George’s, University of London

    The first five months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been brutal for the Democratic party, which has been almost completely unable to stop his aggressive agenda. In March, CNN polling showed the favourability rating for the Democrats at just 29% – a record low in CNN polls dating back to 1992.

    The problem with the Democratic party “isn’t a lack of talent”, says Federico de Jesús, a Democratic strategist and spokesman for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign who I interviewed for this story. It is a “problem of vision and strategy”, he argues.

    “A lot of people, in theory, agree with the Democrats on a lot of issues. But they don’t necessarily feel comfortable with the direction the party is taking.” De Jesús told me that the Democrats allowed themselves to become identified by “woke issues” by many voters who abandoned them in November.

    However, the Democrats now have some reasons to celebrate. In early April, a Democratic-backed judge called Susan Crawford secured a seat in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. This kept liberal control of the state’s highest court intact. And a Reuters/Ipsos poll released a few weeks later showed that only 37% of US voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    As a Washington political correspondent for almost two decades, I have witnessed how the parties changed the guard after painful election cycles. This time, in the absence of clear leaders, the challenge is quite high for the Democrats.

    But who are the Democrats positioning themselves to lead the struggle against Trump’s policies? The acts of defiance are coming from two fronts: lawmakers in Congress and governors.

    Senate minority leader Charles Schumer has predicted that the Democrats will win back control of the Senate after the 2026 midterm elections. “The electorate will desert the Republican candidates who embraced Trump in an overwhelming way”, he said on April 23.

    Others, like California senator Adam Schiff and Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, are using tactics like holding town halls in strong Republican districts to rally the opposition. Michigan congressman Shri Thanedar even filed articles of impeachment against Trump on April 28, but top Democrats shot down the effort as impractical.

    At the same time, House of Representatives minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is facing an intra-party effort to unseat many long-time lawmakers in solid Democratic districts. David Hogg, vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, is pledging US$20 million (£15 million) to end a culture of “seniority politics” which allows “asleep at the wheel” lawmakers to stay in office.

    But it is New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has been stealing the headlines. She is setting fundraising records, preparing for an effort to challenge Schumer in a New York senatorial primary in 2028. Surveys this early are rarely predictive, but an April head-to-head poll has Ocasio-Cortez leading Schumer by double digits.

    Three Democrat governors are standing out at present: Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Minnesota’s Tim Walz and California’s Gavin Newsom.

    Shapiro is very popular with voters in his crucial swing state, and gets good marks even from Republicans on his bipartisan record. Walz was Kamala Harris’s running mate in November’s election, and his campaign performance was well received by his party. Walz is an obvious contender to run for the White House in 2028.

    But Newsom is probably the most notable of the three. While he’s been critical of his party, telling the Hill newspaper on April 21 that Democrats haven’t performed a thorough autopsy of what led to the loss in November, he is seen as someone who can address Republican voters well.

    A second tier of governors include Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, whose soft criticism of the Trump administration’s tariff regime saw Trump praise her for doing an “excellent job”. She is joined by Maryland’s Wes Moore, who is young and popular in his state, and JB Pritzker of Illinois.

    Pritzker called for “mass mobilisations and disruption” against Trump at a Democratic event in New Hampshire in late April. “These governors need to stand out”, said de Jesús, “either by fighting against Trump, or either [by] achieving something memorable.”

    Harris had largely kept a low profile since November’s election. But on April 30 she sharply criticised Trump’s first 100 days in office during a speech in San Francisco. She may decide to enter the race for California governor in the summer of 2025.

    Dark horse leader

    There could also be a dark horse leader waiting in the wings: Rahm Emanuel. As former Chicago mayor, Illinois congressman, Obama and Bill Clinton aide and US ambassador to Japan, he is considered a political heavyweight.

    Emanuel has hinted he may again run for public office, while criticising the party’s focus on gender issues and not on “kitchen table” issues as reasons for November’s defeat.

    Progressives chafe at the idea of dialling down the talk about certain policies, such as gender and identity issues. But both Newsom and Emanuel are among those suggesting that the focus should instead shift to defending changes that most voters can relate to.

    At the moment, the party still lacks a clear leader and direction to recover from the 2024 defeat. Newsom, for instance, told the Hill that he doesn’t “know what the party is”. “I’m still struggling with that,” he added.

    According to de Jesús, “people don’t necessarily want someone to just hate Trump, but to identify the issues voters care about and co-opt that populist message.”

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

    – ref. The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda – https://theconversation.com/the-top-democrats-leading-the-fight-against-trumps-agenda-254869

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Golden Dome: what Trump should learn from Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ missile defence system plan

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

    Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new “next-generation” missile defence system which he says will by “capable even of intercepting missiles launched from the other side of the world, or launched from space”. The US president says “Golden Dome”, which is reportedly partly inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome system that protects the country from missile attacks, will be operational by the end of his current four-year term of office.

    But critics say that it’s much harder to design a defence system to protect a land mass the size of the United States. This is particularly the case in an era characterised by the threat from hypersonic missiles, such as those used by Russia against Ukraine, as well as attacks from space.

    Ever since the first aerial attacks on civilian populations, there have been increasing calls to provide systems that can defend and destroy the potential for an adversary to attack people, governments and infrastructure.

    This developed from relatively basic defence systems, such as those employed by the UK from 1917 to protect London and the south-east of England from attack during the first world war, which developed further to provide a relatively large degree of protection during the Battle of Britain in the summer and autumn of 1940.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    During the cold war, which followed the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, research accelerated globally into ways of providing greater protection against nuclear attack. The most eye-catching of these ideas was the announcement by Ronald Reagan in 1983 of plans to develop a massive (and hugely expensive) land and space-based missile defence system.

    The project, officially called the Strategic Defence Initiative quickly became known colloquially – if slightly mockingly – as “Star Wars”.

    The concept behind the missile defence system was that it would provide a way of effectively making nuclear weapons obsolete. Through the application of a defensive system that incorporated both land and space-based missiles, it was believed that any nuclear warhead fired would be destroyed before it was able to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

    This would not only prevent intercontinental ballistic missiles from striking their intended target, but their destruction so high above the Earth would mean that they would not pose a threat in terms of nuclear radiation and fallout.

    It’s important to note that what was announced by Reagan in March 1983 was not about the development, construction or application of an actual defensive system. It was about funding research into the technologies that would be required for such a system.

    Reagan claimed this was a move to create a more peaceful world by making nuclear weapons effectively obsolete. But it was certainly not seen this way in Moscow.

    It was also something of a half truth. The move should be seen within the wider context of cold war relations and developments. The Reagan administration was seeking to bring the Soviet Union to the negotiating table to discuss reductions in strategic weapons.

    By developing a defensive system that would make strategic nuclear weapons almost obsolete, it was hoped this would force the hand of the Soviets and effectively compel them to agree to talks.

    The ‘Star Wars’ era: Ronald Reagan hoped his planned missile defence system would force the USSR to the negotiating table. He was right.
    Yuryi Abramochkin/RIA Novosti archive., CC BY

    But at the same time, as far as the decision-makers in the Kremlin were concerned, such a system – if developed and deployed – would give the United States a colossal strategic advantage. By the mid-1980s, it was highly unlikely that the Soviets could ever afford the investment in research and development and production capabilities to design their own system. This would mean that the Soviet Union was now highly vulnerable to a nuclear attack, while the US would be protected.

    This would place the United States in a similar position to that which it had enjoyed between 1945 and 1949, when it was the only nation that had the ability launch nuclear weapons. The theory of mutually assured destruction would fall almost overnight, meaning that the US had very little to fear from launching a nuclear attack, as any Soviet response would be futile.

    Given the potential for nuclear blackmail by the all-powerful US, it might cause the Kremlin to consider launching a pre-emptive strike against the US before such a system could be developed or implemented. Rather than making the world a safer place and diminishing the place of nuclear weapons, the world would become more dangerous.

    Pie in the sky?

    The Strategic Defence Initiative never really got off the ground. The initial mockery from large parts of the public of the US hid many real challenges to the development of such a defensive system. The research and development aspect alone came with a very large price tag. This was largely out of step with Reagan’s ideas about small government and limited public spending.

    In order to fund such a programme, money would have to be diverted from other domestic and social programmes, such as health and education. Despite the cold war context, this may well have risked unrest and protest from large swaths of the US population.

    The new technologies that were supposed to be developed as a part of this initiative were untested. It became evident that the only real way to test the efficacy and capability would be to expose the world to a nuclear attack and hope that the theoretical concepts that had been developed actually worked in practice.

    The Soviet Union also found ways of countering the potential developments that may emerge from the Strategic Defence Initiative, making the system almost redundant before it had begun.

    Proposed defence systems, like the Strategic Defence Initiative or the Golden Dome, can appear to be a panacea to defensive worries caused by heavily armed adversaries. Announcements about their development can cause global headlines and speculation about what this means for relations between nations and the international system.

    Take a step back from the US president’s hype, however, and it’s clear that Golden Dome will be hugely expensive and challenging to operate. Moreover it will require significant capabilities that do not yet exist and have yet to be tested operationally.

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

    – ref. Golden Dome: what Trump should learn from Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ missile defence system plan – https://theconversation.com/golden-dome-what-trump-should-learn-from-reagans-star-wars-missile-defence-system-plan-257372

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Boebert Secures Wins in One Big Beautiful Bill Passage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    WASHINGTON, DC– Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) provided the following statement on her YES vote and passage of H.R. 1, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill:

    “Voting YES on President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a major step towards implementing the America First mandate voters delivered to us last November. This critical legislation makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, unleashes American energy producers, invests billions in support of our farmers and ranchers by responsibly reforming SNAP benefits, strengthens Medicaid to focus on American citizens who truly need help, and delivers a final net deficit reduction of $1.5 trillion. There’s work to be done in the coming months to further codify President Trump’s agenda and executive orders, but The One Big Beautiful Bill puts us on a pathway to American greatness.”

    H.R. 1 includes the language of Congresswoman Boebert’s American Energy Act, which streamlines the permitting process for oil & gas producers and protects projects from being slowed down by malicious and frivolous lawsuits.

    Congresswoman Boebert also fought for specific policy victories in The One Big Beautiful Bill including:

    • Removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). This would remove the unconstitutional excise tax currently levied on suppressors as well as remove the onerous governmental restrictions including government registry, fingerprinting, extensive wait times, and the requirement of carrying proof of tax paid while visiting a gun range.
    • Ensuring all illegal aliens including parolees are not receiving federal benefits.
    • Continuing to remove the waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid by preventing reimbursements for transgender surgeries.
    • Putting in work requirements for Medicaid by 2026 to ensure these dollars will be used to help our most vulnerable populations.
    • Ensuring taxpayer dollars will not fund abortion providers.
    • Phasing out Joe Biden’s Green New Scam by 2028 and putting American Energy producers back in business.
    • Incentivizing states not to expand the welfare state and instead prioritize taking care of our seniors.

    BACKGROUND:

    The One Big Beautiful Bill includes the following key highlights:

    • Delivers an economy that is pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family, and pro-business:
      • Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, preventing the average taxpayer from seeing a 22% tax hike.
      • Delivers on President Trump’s priorities of no tax on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, and providing additional tax relief for seniors.
      • Supports small businesses and Made-in-America investments through immediate 100% expensing, incentives for new manufacturing facilities, R&D immediate amortization, and interest expense deductions.
    • Provides over $140 billion – the largest border security investment in history – to secure our borders and keep Americans safe:
      • Allows for the completion of 701 miles of primary wall and construction of 900 miles of river barriers.
      • Funds at least one million annual removals, 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, and detention capacity sufficient to maintain an average daily population of at least 100,000 aliens.
      • Supports the hiring and training of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new Office of Field Operations customs officers, and other urgently needed personnel.
    • Restores integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by requiring states to shoulder a share of the benefit costs, preventing states from manipulating SNAP eligibility and benefit calculations, and restoring SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without young dependents.
    • Strengthens Medicaid for Americans who truly need it, while rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse:
      • Establishes commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and stops new money laundering gimmicks like provider taxes and State Directed Payments.
      • Strengthens program integrity measures that protect Medicaid resources for the most vulnerable.
      • Closes loopholes that let illegal immigrants enroll in Medicaid and reduces funding to states that prioritize Medicaid coverage of illegal immigrants. In total, 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system will be kicked off Medicaid as a result of this bill.
    • Reverses Biden’s radical Green New Deal agenda:
      • Repeals Biden’s EV mandates and CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks.
      • Rescinding wasteful environmental slush funds.
      • Repeals and phases out Inflation Reduction Act subsidies.
    • Unleashes American energy dominance, ensuring affordable energy for families and creating jobs across the country:
      • Reinstates quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales and mandates at least 30 lease sales in the Gulf of America over the next 15 years and six in the Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska.
      • Resumes leasing for energy production in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coal leasing on federal lands.
      • Streamlines the permitting process for energy infrastructure.
    • Makes major reforms to streamline student loan options, support student success, and save taxpayer money.
    • Invests nearly $144 billion to modernize our military and strengthen national defense.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON REPUBLICANS PASSING TRUMP’S BIG UGLY BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    May 22, 2025

    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

    c: 202.913.0126

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement:

    “While the American people slept, Republicans passed the largest cut to healthcare in our nation’s history. Their Big Ugly Bill is an attack on their own constituents, it is an attack on children, veterans, the disabled, and our most vulnerable, and it is an attack on the less fortunate, all in the name of serving the ultra-rich.”

    “Americans are not falling for Republican propaganda about so-called waste and fraud. This was a ruse to rip medicine out of the hands of sick children to fund tax breaks for their obscenely wealthy puppet masters, and the audacity of my colleagues across the aisle to pretend otherwise is nothing but an insult.

    “House Democrats stood in the breach and voted unanimously against this villainous scheme, but the combined efforts of a sadistic GOP and the pressure campaign of their despicable president pushed their assault over the edge. As a result, Americans nationwide are now waking up in fear for their lives and livelihoods.

    “We already knew House Republicans are utterly subservient to President Trump, but to see so many of them defy their own principles and on-the-record positions just to avoid the wrath of one man is simply shameful. At every step, they’ve aided and abetted his ruthless, careless, and inhumane agenda of harm against the American people, all while blowing out the deficit they periodically pretend to care about. Truly, it is terrifying to witness just how willing House Republicans are to partake in the planned obsolescence of Congress as a co-equal branch of government.

    “I cannot stress the devastating impacts this bill will have on hospitals and nursing homes around the country. Their lies and cruelty will cause detrimental consequences to the 14 million Americans who will now lose access to essential healthcare services, the millions of children and families who will now lose their SNAP benefits for food security, and the millions of women who now will lose access to the proper maternal healthcare they need just to survive.

    “I pray the Senate sees this ridiculous and reprehensible bill for what it is, and takes a stand to stop it.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten, Smith Demand DOJ Investigation Into Trump Crypto Dinner

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    May 22, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Adam Smith (WA-09) led 35 House Democrats in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Integrity Section demanding DOJ immediately launch an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s offer for top investors in his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, to join him at a private dinner violates federal bribery laws or the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.

    “We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote. “This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.”

    Days before the start of his second term, President Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin. Its price quickly peaked at $75, before crashing and causing $2 billion in investor losses. In April, President Trump announced plans to invite $TRUMP’s top 220 investors to a private dinner, resulting in a 60% surge in price as investors rushed to accumulate enough value to qualify for a seat at the dinner. 

    The Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since $TRUMP was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement. Multiple investors have explicitly stated that they hoped to purchase influence with the president. 

    In addition, a Bloomberg investigation found that the majority of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. The top spot is held by Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto entrepreneur who faced an SEC lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his blockchain platform. The Trump Administration notably paused the legal action after Sun invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures, the World Liberty Project. 

    “U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns,” the lawmakers continued. “However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.”

    The Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) prohibits any federal government official, including the President, from accepting any benefit from a foreign government without the consent of Congress. It is critical that the DOJ conducts a nonpartisan investigation of President Trump’s private dinner.

    In addition to Reps. Casten and Smith, the letter was signed by Reps. Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Greg Casar, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Cleo Fields, Bill Foster, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Al Green, Jim Himes, Glenn Ivey, Marcy Kaptur, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gregory Meeks, Dave Min, Brittany Pettersen, Brad Sherman, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Juan Vargas, Nydia Velázquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.

    A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

    Dear Acting Chief Sullivan:

    We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025. This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.

    On April 23, 2025, a website connected to the Trump family, gettrumpmemes.com, announced that the top 220 investors in the $TRUMP memecoin would be invited to a gala dinner with President Trump on May 22, 2025, located at his golf course outside of Washington D.C. The top 25 buyers would get face time with the President at “an ultra-exclusive private VIP” reception before the dinner, as well as a “special” V.I.P. tour of the White House. And the top four investors would receive a limited-edition Trump-branded watch.

    President Trump promoted the event on social media as the “most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world,” causing the price of the memecoin to surge more than 60 percent as investors rushed to accumulate enough coins to qualify for a dinner seat. Overall, the Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since the memecoin was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

    Investors spent more than $145 million on $TRUMP tokens over the duration of this contest, with some stating explicitly that they hoped to purchase influence with President Trump. For example, GD Culture Group, a small technology company that facilitates e-commerce for other businesses and brands on TikTok, recently announced plans to purchase $300 million worth of $TRUMP coins. And in the company’s own words, its Chinese subsidiary may be subject to “[intervention] or influence” by the Chinese government. GD Culture Group’s announcement came just days after President Trump indicated that he’d “be willing” to delay the statutorily required ban on TikTok in the U.S. past its June 19, 2025, deadline. Freight Technologies, a Houston-based company that specializes in U.S.-Mexico-Canada cross-border shipping, was even more direct about why it planned to purchase $20 million worth of President Trump’s memecoin: to help the company “advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and U.S.,” the company’s CEO said in a statement. After the contest closed, at least 34 of the top 220 investors sold most of their memecoin holdings, further confirming that the $TRUMP memecoin is not a worthwhile investment, but rather a vehicle to buy influence with the Trump Administration.

    The $TRUMP memecoin website displays a leaderboard of the winners whose identities remain largely unknown due to the anonymity of digital wallets. However, a Bloomberg analysis found that 19 of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. Notably, Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire who has privately touted his ties to the Chinese government and founded a blockchain network often used to finance illicit activities, confirmed that he held the top spot. He owned more than $18 million worth of the memecoin on May 12, 2025, when the contest ended. Since March 2023, Sun has been facing a lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his platform. This legal action was notably paused by the Trump administration after he invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures. In what appears to be a quid pro quo move, Sun then invested an additional $45 million into President Trump’s World Liberty Project, while simultaneously increasing his holdings of the $TRUMP memecoin.

    Former Republican lawmakers, President Trump’s former aides, and cryptocurrency industry leaders recognize these national security risks and the opportunity for corruption. Charles Dent, the former chairman of the House Ethics Committee, recently stated that “ foreign entities and governments obviously want to curry favor with the president. This is completely out of bounds and raises all sorts of ethical, legal and constitutional issues that must be addressed.” Additionally, Anthony Scaramucci, a former official in the Trump administration, characterized President Trump’s memecoin as representing “Idi Amin level corruption.” Furthermore, Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, emphasized that politician-backed coins “are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states.”

    U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.

    The Public Integrity Section was established in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and exists to ensure that the Department of Justice conducts fair and thorough investigations into corruption by government officials at all levels, without regard to those officials’ political views or allegiances.

    We therefore urge you to launch an immediate inquiry to determine whether this dinner event violates the federal bribery statute or the foreign emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. If the Department of Justice concludes that it does, we ask that you set aside political considerations and pursue action to uphold public integrity and the rule of law.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH scientists test in an animal model a surgical technique to improve cell therapy for dry AMD

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    Media Advisory
    Thursday, May 22, 2025

    The technique may enable higher doses and combinations of cell therapies.

    What
    National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have developed a new surgical technique for implanting multiple tissue grafts in the eye’s retina. The findings in animals may help advance treatment options for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. A report about the technique published today in JCI Insight.
    In diseases such as AMD, the light-sensitive retina tissue at the back of the eye degenerates. Scientists are testing therapies for restoring damaged retinas with grafts of tissue grown in the lab from patient-derived stem cells. Until now, surgeons have only been able to place one graft in the retina, limiting the area that can be treated in patients, and as well as the ability to conduct side-by-side comparisons in animal models. Such comparisons are crucial for confirming that the tissue grafts are integrating with the retina and the underlying blood supply from a network of tiny blood vessels known as the choriocapillaris.
    For the technique, investigators designed a new surgical clamp that maintains eye pressure during the insertion of two tissue patches in immediate succession while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.
    In animal models, the scientists used their newly designed surgical technique to compare two different grafts placed sequentially in the same experimentally induced AMD-like lesion. One graft consisted of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells grown on a biodegradable scaffold. RPE cells support and nourish the retina’s light-sensing photoreceptors. In AMD, vision loss occurs alongside the loss of RPE cells and photoreceptors. In the lab, RPE cells are grown from human blood cells after they’ve been converted into stem cells. The second graft consisted of just the biodegradable scaffold to serve as a control.
    Post surgery, scientists used artificial intelligence to analyze retinal images and compare the effects of each graft. They observed that the RPE grafts promoted the survival of photoreceptors, while photoreceptors near scaffold-only grafts died at a much higher rate. Additionally, they were able to confirm for the first time that the RPE graft also regenerated the choriocapillaris, which supplies the retina with oxygen and nutrients.
    The findings expand on the capability demonstrated in an ongoing, NIH-led first-in-human clinical trial of patient-derived RPE grafts for the dry form of AMD.
    The work was supported by the National Eye Institute Intramural Research Program
    Who
    Kapil Bharti, Ph.D., scientific director, NEI, is available for interviews.
    Reference
    Gupta R, Bunea I, Alvisio B, Barone F, Gupta R, Baker D, Qian H, Daniele E, Contreary CG, Montford J, Sharma R, Maminishkis A, Singh MS, De Quadros Costa MTM, Kashani AH, Amaral J, Bharti K. “iPSC-RPE patch preserves photoreceptors and regenerates choriocapillaris in a pig outer regina degeneration model”. Published May 22, 2025 in JCI Insight
    Previous research
    Ruchi Sharma et al. Clinical-grade stem cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium patch rescues retinal degeneration in rodents and pigs.Sci. Transl. Med. (2019). DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aat5580
    About the NEI: NEI leads the federal government’s efforts to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research…driving innovation, fostering collaboration, expanding the vision workforce, and educating the public and key stakeholders. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and to broaden opportunities for people with vision impairment. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best 5 No Credit Check Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval In 2025: Top Online Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval – RadCred

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RadCred, a trusted online financial platform, is being spotlighted as the top choice for Americans seeking no credit check loans with same-day guaranteed approval in 2025. In an era where traditional banks often turn away those with poor credit, RadCred’s innovative lending marketplace offers a lifeline, providing quick, secure access to emergency funds without the usual hurdles. 

    This comprehensive report explores how RadCred has emerged as the best no credit check loan provider for fast, guaranteed approvals and what borrowers can expect when using this service.

    Key Takeways

    • How to find the best no credit check loans with same-day guaranteed approval in 2025 – and why RadCred stands out as the #1 platform for fast, hassle-free funding.
    • Why RadCred has become a leading online loan marketplace for urgent borrowing, especially for consumers with bad or no credit.
    • The specific features that make a no credit check loan safe, fast, and accessible – from instant approvals to flexible terms – and how RadCred delivers on these criteria.
    • The exact steps to apply for a personal loan through RadCred’s simple, three-step system, including how the platform works and what to expect at each stage.
    • Real-world scenarios and customer testimonials that highlight how RadCred’s same-day loans have solved urgent financial challenges for everyday people.
    • A detailed look at RadCred’s eligibility criteria, pros and cons, and commitment to customer safety and data security, including how it protects borrowers from fraud.
    • A comparison of RadCred vs. traditional lenders, illustrating how RadCred’s no-credit-check, fast approval approach offers a superior alternative for those with less-than-perfect credit.
    • Important disclaimers on “guaranteed” approvals, interest rates, and responsible borrowing practices to ensure readers make informed financial decisions in 2025.

    Best No Credit Check Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval in 2025 – RadCred Tops the List. 

    For U.S. borrowers with poor or no credit history—over 28 million adults carry a FICO® score below 600—getting approved for a bank loan can feel impossible..This article explains why RadCred is the best solution in 2025 for no credit check loans with same-day approval, offering a fast, reliable way to obtain emergency cash when traditional lenders won’t help. We break down how

    RadCred connects users with a broad network of third-party lenders for quick loans, often providing near-instant approvals and funds deposited by the next business day. 

    You’ll learn how RadCred’s easy online application (with no hard credit checks), flexible loan options, and robust security measures make it a standout choice for those in a financial crunch. 

    We also compare RadCred’s service to conventional loans from banks, outline the platform’s pros and cons, share real customer reviews, and provide tips on safe borrowing. If time is short and credit is low, here’s why RadCred is the go-to platform for fast, guaranteed-approval loans in 2025.

    Low credit score holding you back? Click “Apply Now” to unlock instant, no-credit-check approvals up to $5,000.

    Why Getting a Loan with Bad Credit Feels Impossible?

    For millions of Americans, trying to secure a loan when you have bad credit feels like hitting a brick wall. Many people with less-than-perfect credit find themselves shut out of traditional financing, whether it’s due to unexpected medical bills, a job layoff, or an emergency expense that led to debt. Banks and credit unions typically demand high credit scores, extensive paperwork, and even collateral to approve a loan. 

    As a result, borrowers with poor credit scores are often left with no options or offered only predatory, high-interest products. It’s not uncommon for a bank to outright reject an application if the applicant’s FICO score doesn’t meet a strict threshold. In short, the conventional lending system hasn’t been kind to those who don’t have excellent credit.

    Yet life doesn’t wait for your credit score to catch up. When urgent expenses strike car repairs, medical emergencies, rent due by tomorrow, you name it – people need a quick solution, not a drawn-out loan process. 

    This is exactly the situation countless Americans faced in recent years, fueling a search for alternatives that don’t rely on the traditional credit check. Enter the rise of no credit check loans, a form of lending designed to serve folks the banks turn away.

    Need rent money fast? Start with RadCred and match to lenders ready to deposit cash by tonight—no collateral required.

    Rise of No Credit Check Loans in 2025

    No credit check loans in 2025 have moved from the fringes to the financial mainstream, thanks to digital platforms that specialize in fast approvals for people with bad credit. 

    These loans bypass the lengthy credit verification that banks insist upon. Instead, lenders focus on what really matters to desperate borrowers: speed, accessibility, discretion, and control. Here’s why this type of loan has surged in popularity:

    • Speed: Applications can take mere minutes, and some lenders are able to fund loans within 24 hours of approval. There’s no waiting weeks for an answer – decisions are often made almost instantly.
    • Accessibility: Most no-credit-check lenders require only basic personal and income information. There are no hard credit inquiries, meaning applying won’t ding your credit score, and even those with a rocky credit history can qualify.
    • Discretion: Because the process is online, borrowers avoid the embarrassment or judgment that can come with an in-person bank denial. Everything is handled privately through a secure website.
    • Control: Borrowers can receive multiple offers and choose the one that best fits their needs, with no obligation to accept any particular offer. You’re not at the mercy of a single bank’s decision; you have options.

    Online money sites now use smart computer programs to match people with lenders fast. Even if your credit score is low, you can fill out one short form and see loan offers in minutes—no bank visit, no long wait. These sites save you time and keep your information private. 

    RadCred is the best of these services, giving no-credit-check loans with same-day approval. The next parts show why RadCred shines and how it can put cash in your account quickly.

    Overview of RadCred – A Top Platform for Same-Day No Credit Check Loans

    RadCred is a relatively new but rapidly growing player in the online lending space, and it has quickly earned a reputation as one of 2025’s best no credit check loan providers. In essence, RadCred operates as an online loan marketplace or intermediary – it is not a direct lender itself, but rather a platform that connects borrowers with a vast network of trusted third-party lenders. 

    This network is one of RadCred’s greatest strengths. With plenty of lenders in its system, the chances of finding a loan offer for a qualified borrower are very high, even if you have a poor credit score.What RadCred Offers: Quick Bad-Credit

    Loans, $300 – $35,000

    RadCred’s marketplace lets borrowers request no credit check loans as small as $300 or personal-installment loans up to $35,000—higher than most rivals. One short form reaches dozens of partner lenders, covering payday cash advances and larger debt-consolidation options.

    Guaranteed Approval for Low Scores

    RadCred’s partners run only a soft inquiry, so your score stays untouched. Because lenders focus on income (≥ $800 / month) instead of FICO, approval rates top 80 percent for applicants with scores under 600—far better than a single bank’s odds.

    Same-Day or Next-Day Funding

    Speed matters: accept an offer before noon on a weekday, and you could see money in your checking account that evening; later approvals usually fund the following morning. RadCred aims for a < 24-hour turnaround whenever banking hours allow.

    Zero Platform Fees, No Hidden Costs

    Applying is 100 percent free. RadCred never adds charges; any interest or fees come directly from the lender’s transparent offer. You’re free to decline and walk away.

    Trusted, Secure, and Educative

    With 2 million+ users and OLA membership, RadCred meets strict ethical-lending standards. The site uses 256-bit SSL encryption and publishes scam-avoidance tips, underscoring its commitment to consumer safety.

    Bottom line: RadCred blends speed, access, and trust to deliver fast cash for bad-credit borrowers without the usual headaches.

    Emergency medical bill? Tap “Get Started” for a quick, same-day cash advance without hurting your credit.

    RadCred vs. Top Competitors

    Here’s how RadCred compares to other known lenders in the market.

    Platform Credit Check Type Approval Time Max Loan Funding Speed APR Range
    Radcred Soft only to match 1–5 min $5,000 Same day–24 h 6 %–35.99 %
    MoneyMutuall None/Soft 5 min $5,000 24 h 60 % + (payday)
    CashUSA Soft 3 min $10,000 24 h 5.99 %–35.99 %
    BadCredit Loans Soft 4 min $10,000 24 h 5.99 %–35.99 %
    Personal Loans Soft-hard at funding 5 min $35,000 1–2 days 5.99 %–35.99 %

    *APR ranges compiled from lender disclosures and CFPB complaint data (2024–2025).

    Self-employed and denied elsewhere? RadCred welcomes 1099 income—apply free and secure fast funding.

    No Credit Check Loans: RadCred’s 3-Step Online Application for Instant Approval & Same-Day Funding

    Getting money with RadCred is super easy. Forget big bank forms and long lines. Just open the RadCred site, fill out a short five-minute online loan application (no hard credit check), and hit submit. Right away, bad-credit lenders review your info and send offers. 

    Pick the deal you like, sign online, and cash can land in your bank often the same day. Fast, simple, and perfect when you need an online payday loan alternative without the hassle.

    1. Five-Minute Online Application

    Visit RadCred, hit “Apply Now,” and complete a brief form containing your name, phone number, state, monthly income, bank details, and desired amount. No uploads, faxing, or collateral. RadCred pulls only a soft inquiry, so your score is untouched while you shop for bad credit personal loan options or small payday loans online.

    2. Real-Time Lender Matching

    RadCred’s algorithm instantly compares your profile with 60 + lending partners that specialize in fast cash for bad credit. Within 1–3 minutes, you’ll see multiple offers displaying loan limit, APR, fees, and repayment term. 

    This side-by-side view lets you choose the lowest rate or most comfortable payment—no obligation, no upfront fees.

    3. E-Sign & Get Same-Day Funds

    Select an offer, sign electronically, and the lender initiates an ACH transfer. Many borrowers receive money the same day; late-day approvals fund the next morning. Use it for car repairs, medical bills, or any quick emergency loan need.

    Because everything is digital, no branch visits, no piles of paperwork, RadCred moves you from application to cash in under 24 hours, delivering no credit check loan same day without a hard credit check.

    Looking for debt relief? Consolidate high-interest balances today with one easy, no-credit-check application.

    Eligibility Criteria for RadCred No Credit Check loans Same day Guaranteed Approval 

    One reason RadCred has become so popular among people with poor credit is that the eligibility requirements are very accessible. You do not need a perfect credit score, a high income, or any collateral to use the platform. 

    In fact, RadCred’s basic requirements mirror those of similar reputable bad-credit loan providers and are quite minimal. Essentially, if you meet the following basic criteria, there’s a good chance you can qualify to use RadCred and get matched with a lender:

    • At Least 18 Years Old: You must be a legal adult (18 or older). This is a standard requirement for any loan contract. RadCred will verify your age by asking for info like your date of birth and possibly requiring a government-issued ID during the lender’s final approval stage
    • U.S. Residency: RadCred’s services are available only to U.S. residents/citizens. You should be a legal citizen or permanent resident of the United States with a valid U.S. address
    • Steady Income Source: You don’t need to be traditionally “employed” in a 9-to-5 job, but you do need a regular source of income to show you can repay the loan. This income could be from a job, self-employment, gig work, disability, Social Security benefits, or even a pension. 

    RadCred’s application will ask you to report your monthly income. Generally, lenders in the network expect at least roughly $800 per month or more in income, but this can include various income types. There’s flexibility here – the key is you have some money coming in that you could use to make loan payments.

    • Active Checking Account: To receive your funds (and to make automated repayments), you’ll need an active checking account in your name. This is where lenders will deposit the loan money if you’re approved. It also allows for convenient electronic withdrawals for your repayments. You’ll provide your bank routing and account number during the application.
    • Contact Details: You should have a valid email address and phone number so lenders can reach you if needed and so RadCred can communicate updates. During the process, you may receive an email confirmation or even a phone call if a lender needs to clarify something. Accurate contact info is important to keep things moving quickly.

    You don’t need a high credit score, car title, or other collateral to start with RadCred. As long as you’re an adult U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a checking account in your name, and earn steady income, you unlock the no credit check loan application. 

    RadCred’s engine then filters out any lender whose rules don’t match your profile, sparing you wasted effort. Borrowers under 18, with no bank account, or without verifiable income are screened out automatically.

    This simple checklist makes RadCred the best option for bad credit personal loans, welcoming self-employed workers, freelancers, part-timers, and anyone with past credit problems. Meet the basics, and you’ll see tailored offers that can lead to instant approval, same-day funding, and the fast cash traditional banks won’t provide.

    Need a $1,000 boost? Fill out RadCred’s short form and get matched to real lenders—no hard inquiry, no pressure.

    Pros and Cons of Using RadCred For No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval

    Every financial service has its advantages and drawbacks. As part of an honest review of RadCred as the best no credit check loan platform of 2025, it’s important to consider both the pros and cons. Below, we outline the key benefits that make RadCred stand out, as well as some potential limitations to be aware of.

    Pros of RadCred:

    • High Approval for Bad Credit
      This platform focuses on bad-credit personal loans, so approvals come far more often than at banks. Its large lender pool means someone almost always says yes, even with a sub-600 score.
    • Same-Day Funding
      Thanks to an all-digital flow, many borrowers receive instant approval and cash in their accounts within 24 hours, a true lifesaver when emergencies strike.
    • No Hard Inquiry
      The initial request triggers only a soft credit check, protecting your score while you shop multiple no credit check loan offers.
    • Zero Fees, No Obligation
      Submitting a request is free, and you can walk away from any loan quote that doesn’t fit—risk-free comparison shopping.
    • Flexible Loan Sizes
      Choose anything from a $300 online payday loan to a $35,000 installment product for debt consolidation or large expenses.
    • Transparent, Vetted Lenders
      All partners follow Online Lenders Alliance guidelines; APR, fees, and terms are shown upfront—no hidden costs.
    • Bank-Level Security
      Data moves through 256-bit SSL encryption and daily security scans, keeping personal information safe.
    • Responsive Support
      Live agents are available weekdays, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. PT, plus email assistance 24/7, which is valuable when questions arise.
    • Strong User Ratings
      An average 4.3-star score highlights quick approvals, an easy process, and overall customer satisfaction.

    Cons of RadCred:

    • U.S.–Only Availability
      The platform serves American borrowers exclusively. In certain states with strict rules on payday or installment products, lender options for no credit check loans may be limited or unavailable.
    • Intermediary, Not Lender
      It acts as a marketplace, connecting you to third-party providers. Questions about APR, repayment dates, or late fees must be directed to the chosen lender, adding an extra communication step.
    • Higher APR for Bad Credit
      Rates on bad credit loans can range roughly 6 %-35.99 %, and short-term online payday loans may cost more. Borrow only what you can comfortably repay.
    • Short Terms on Small Loans
      Amounts under $500 often require payoff by your next payday, making monthly payments steep. Larger installment offers give multi-month terms but still demand discipline.
    • Possible Follow-Up Calls
      Submitting a request can trigger emails or calls from competing lenders. While some welcome the extra offers, others may find the outreach inconvenient.
    • Bank Account and Income Required
      A checking account and verifiable income- salary, gig earnings, or benefits- remain mandatory for instant-approval matching.

    Overall, the pros of RadCred far outweigh the cons for the audience it serves. The platform delivers exactly what its target users need: fast and accessible loans when others say no. The drawbacks are mostly inherent to the industry (higher interest for higher-risk borrowers, etc.) or minor inconveniences. 

    Borrowers should be aware of the terms and only borrow amounts they can reasonably repay. RadCred provides the tools and opportunities, but it’s up to each individual to use them wisely.

    Bad credit payday loan alternative. Secure funds privately—apply in minutes, repay flexibly.

    Real Customer Case Studies & Testimonials

    Case Study 1: Emergency Medical-Bill Loan for a Single Dad

    Name: Brian K.
    Location: Orlando, FL

    Situation: Brian’s young son needed an unexpected outpatient procedure that required a $750 up-front payment the following morning. With a FICO score in the low 500s, Brian’s bank rejected a personal-loan request, and his credit-card cash-advance limit was only $300.

    Solution: At 9 p.m. Brian completed RadCred’s five-minute form on his phone. He was matched instantly with a lender that offered an $800 short-term installment loan, no hard credit inquiry required. Funds landed in his checking account by 10 a.m., in time to cover the hospital payment.

    “RadCred felt like a lifesaver. They didn’t grill me about my score, just got me the money before the doctor’s office opened.”

    Case Study 2: Emergency Utility-Relief Loan for a Single Mom

    Name: Jasmine L.
    Location: Richmond, VA

    Situation: Jasmine, a single mom, fell behind on utilities after a week of unpaid sick leave. Two traditional lenders declined her $500 request because of a 560 credit score and a recent late payment.

    Solution: Through RadCred, she received three competing offers within minutes; the winning lender approved $600 without a hard pull and wired the money the next business morning. High approval odds—even after prior denials—spared her a shut-off notice and late-fee penalties.

    “I’d started to think nobody would help me. RadCred connected me with a lender who said ‘yes’ when everyone else said ‘no.’”

    Case Study 3: Transparent Debt-Consolidation Loan for a Gig-Worker

    Name: Marco D.
    Location: Albuquerque, NM

    Situation: Marco juggles rideshare driving and freelance design. He wanted to consolidate two payday balances totalling $1,200, but was wary of hidden fees after past bad experiences with storefront lenders.

    Solution: Marco applied via RadCred during a ride-share break. Within five minutes, he received an offer for a $1,500 six-month installment loan at a clearly stated 29.9 % APR, with no origination fee and the option to prepay without penalties. The terms he accepted matched exactly what was advertised on the offer page.

    “Everything was up front. No surprises at signing or in the repayment schedule. That transparency made me comfortable going ahead.”

    Key Takeaways Across Cases

    RadCred Promise Real-World Outcome
    Speed Same-day or next-day funding in all three cases
    Ease Five-minute mobile application; no collateral or paperwork uploads
    High Approval Odds Borrowers previously denied elsewhere received affirmative offers
    Transparency & Trust Loan terms delivered matched online disclosures; no bait-and-switch reports

    These stories mirror RadCred’s 4.3-star average rating: borrowers consistently praise the platform for fast approvals, clear terms, and dependable support, qualities that have propelled RadCred to the forefront of no-credit-check loans lending in 2025.

    Apply for a bad credit loan online—30-second form, no hard inquiry.

    RadCred vs. Traditional Lenders: No Credit Check, Same-Day Loan Advantage

    It’s worth comparing RadCred’s approach to lending with more traditional options (like banks or credit unions) and even other online lenders. For a consumer with bad credit, these differences are often what make RadCred such an attractive choice in 2025. Here’s a side-by-side look at how RadCred compares to conventional lenders in several key areas:

    Credit Requirements

    Traditional banks insist on hard pulls, high scores (600-650+), and often collateral. By contrast, this online loan marketplace uses a soft inquiry only, welcoming applicants with limited or bad credit– even those below 580. 

    Approval hinges on present income and repayment ability, not past mistakes, and no car title or property is needed. That makes the platform dramatically more accessible than a bank, giving everyday borrowers a realistic shot at fast cash when other doors slam shut.

    Speed of Approval & Funding

    Bank underwriting takes days; weekend requests stall until Monday. Here, the entire no credit check loan process runs on internet speed. Applications finish in minutes, offers appear almost instantly, and ACH deposits often arrive the same day, or the next morning for late-evening approvals. 

    This around-the-clock service is crucial when rent or car repairs can’t wait. Some online lenders in the network have funded users within hours, proving lifesaving during tight deadlines.

    Convenience & Accessibility

    Branch visits, appointments, and paper forms are still common at traditional lenders. In contrast, this platform is fully mobile-friendly: self-employed workers, gig drivers, or part-timers can apply anytime, anywhere. The user interface is straightforward, guiding applicants through each field without jargon. 

    Because the service operates 24 / 7, customers receive help on their own schedule, not the banker’s. It’s true on-demand financial assistance, replacing legacy bureaucracy with click-to-cash simplicity.

    Loan Terms & Flexibility

    Bank loans may advertise low APRs, but qualifying is tough, and minimum amounts can be rigid. The marketplace, however, offers a wide menu- small payday loan alternatives for $300 or installment loans up to $35,000 with terms reaching 73 months. 

    Early repayment is generally allowed, and many lenders will negotiate extensions if you hit a snag. This flexibility lets borrowers tailor the loan size and timeline to their actual needs rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all package.

    Cost & Fees

    Interest is higher than prime bank rates because lenders assume greater risk on bad credit personal loans. Still, marketplace offers are often cheaper than credit-card cash advances, pawn shops, or storefront payday lenders charging triple-digit APRs. 

    The platform itself is fee-free, has no application charge, and has no rate-shopping penalty. Competitive pressure among online lenders helps keep rates within the 6 %-35.99 % bracket for installment products, allowing cost-conscious borrowers to choose the best available deal.

    Transparency & Choice

    A single bank grants one yes-or-no verdict. Here, multiple vetted lenders bid for your business, promoting a competitive environment that can lower rates or fees. All offers show APR, monthly payment, and total cost upfront, no hidden fine print. 

    Comparative shopping tools let you sort by rate, amount, or funding speed in seconds. The result is a clear, consumer-driven experience that transforms loan hunting from opaque guesswork into an informed, side-by-side decision.

    RadCred’s online marketplace beats banks on access, speed, and privacy for subprime borrowers. Their no credit check loans and bad-credit personal loans deliver near-instant approval and same-day funding, eliminating traditional lenders’ paperwork and collateral demands. 

    Where a bank might dismiss you, the platform matches you to receptive lenders in minutes, quietly and securely, right from your phone. That discreet, user-first model turns a once-impossible task of getting cash with a low score into a fast, dignified, and dependable solution.

    Conclusion: Why RadCred is the Best Choice in 2025 for No Credit Check, Same-Day Loans

    In conclusion, RadCred has earned its position as the premier destination for no credit check, same-day loans in 2025 by combining technological innovation with a human-centric understanding of borrowers’ challenges. Its platform proves that “bad credit” does not have to mean “no options.” Instead, RadCred flips the script, giving consumers a fast, safe option to obtain cash when it’s needed, all while treating them with respect and dignity.

    RadCred has proven that when it comes to helping people weather life’s financial storms, it truly “has your back.” If you’re in a bind and worried that your credit score will hold you back, RadCred may well be the lifeline to get you through quickly, safely, and with your peace of mind intact.

    FAQ

    1. How fast can I get money from a no-credit-check loan?

    Most online marketplaces return offers within minutes; accepted loans are often deposited the same or next business day, depending on bank cut-off times and lender policies. 

    2. Does it cost anything to apply through RadCred?

    No. Submitting the online form is free; the platform is paid by participating lenders, so borrowers face no application fees or hidden platform charges. 

    3. Are no-credit-check loans safe to use?

    They’re safe when obtained from vetted, licensed lenders using encrypted websites; avoid advance-fee demands, unsecured pages, or unsolicited offers to steer clear of common personal-loan scams. 

    4. What’s the typical APR on bad-credit personal loans?

    Installment products on reputable networks range roughly 6 %–35.99 % APR, while short-term payday loans can exceed 200 % in permissive states—compare offers carefully before signing. 

    5. Who qualifies for no-credit-check loans?

    Applicants must be at least 18, possess an active U.S. checking account, and show steady income; hard credit scores are not mandatory for approval.

    Disclaimer: RadCred is an online loan marketplace, not a direct lender. Loan approval, terms, APRs, and funding speeds are determined by third-party lenders and state regulations. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or specific terms. Borrow responsibly and read all lender disclosures before accepting any offer.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s skills crisis is growing — here’s how we can fix it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Stephen Murgatroyd, Instructor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

    Canada needs to rethink how to prepare Canadians for the workforce. (Shutterstock)

    Canada is facing a significant skills shortage. According to recent data, 77 per cent of Canadian businesses surveyed say they are unable to find suitably skilled candidates for the jobs they have available.

    Even among those who apply with relevant skills, 44 per cent don’t have the required level of proficiency to secure employment. At present, there are about 700,000 job vacancies across the country.

    This mismatch persists despite Canada having one of its largest-ever graduating classes — nearly 360,000 students from colleges, universities and trade schools.

    As labour shortages deepen across sectors, the disconnect between formal education and real-world job requirements is becoming harder to ignore.

    Skills shortage will likely worsen

    Canada’s skills shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years. Between now and 2028, 700,000 workers in the skilled trades are due to retire.

    Canada’s antiquated apprenticeship system is struggling to produce enough workers to fill this gap. It is slow, outdated and has low completion rates: just 32 per cent of male and 35 per cent of female candidates complete their training.

    Some employers are losing confidence in using qualifications as a basis for hiring.
    (Shutterstock)

    Completing an apprenticeship can take up to four years in Canada, while many other nations have much higher completion rates in two years or less.

    It is not just trades that Canada has challenges with. If current trends continue, Canada is projected to face a shortage of 100,000 nurses by 2030. Significant shortages are also expected in technology-related positions, construction engineering and K-12 education, where demand for teachers and school administrators is rising.

    Meanwhile, rising demand is expected for jobs related to artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing and supply chain management.

    Rethinking how to prepare people for work

    Some employers are losing confidence in using qualifications as a basis for hiring. Increasingly, they feel degrees and diplomas don’t adequately prepare people for work.

    As a result, some organizations have moved to skills-based or competency-based hiring where candidates share skills portfolios and work testimonials to secure a position. As of 2024, approximately 80 per cent of Canadian companies have implemented some form of skills-based hiring practices, up from 74 per cent in 2023.



    Read more:
    Employers should use skill-based hiring to find hidden talent and address labour challenges

    Other companies, like Shopify, take candidates from high school and put them through custom programs designed to ensure they have the skills needed to work in a particular organization or industry.

    Colleges and universities have long been seen as the primary pipelines for skilled labour. But as employer expectations evolve, Canada needs to reconsider the role these institutions play in producing skilled workers.

    Simply expanding existing programs or opening new programs will not solve the underlying problem. What’s needed is a fundamental rethinking of how we prepare Canadians for the workforce.

    5 steps Canada should take

    Canada’s new government, in collaboration with provinces, territories and industry, needs to pursue a five-pronged strategy to address the country’s deepening skills crisis:

    1. Modernize the apprenticeship system.

    Canada must transition from a traditional, time-based apprenticeship model to a flexible, competency-based system. Instead of being tied to rigid journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios and multi-year timelines, learners should be able to demonstrate their skills on demand anywhere, anytime. The goal should be to reduce completion times to two years or less.

    Learning should be accessible through multiple formats, including workplace mentorship, YouTube tutorials, boot camps, micro-credentials and virtual labs. What matters is not where learning takes place, but whether a learner can demonstrate competence.

    Learners should be able to demonstrate their skills on demand anywhere, anytime.
    (Shutterstock)

    2. Accelerate skills recognition through micro-credentials.

    Canada should fast-track the adoption of micro-learning, stackable micro-credentials and competency-based certification. Micro-credentials are short, focused learning experiences that recognize specific skills or knowledge.

    In fields like IT, project management and supply chain management, many professionals succeed without formal academic degrees, instead relying on industry-recognized certifications.

    This model must expand into other sectors, especially health care, manufacturing and finance, where skills-based hiring could address labour shortages.

    3. Recognize informal and experiential learning.

    Millions of Canadians develop valuable skills through informal, self-directed and work-based learning.

    Yet Canada’s prior learning assessment and recognition systems, which convert informal learning into certified learning, remains fragmented, under-utilized and overly bureaucratic.

    Canada needs a nationally coherent, on-demand competency-based assessment system. Certified assessors should be able to validate individuals’ skills and link them to job profiles, occupational standards and credentials. This is not just an equity issue, but is an economic imperative. Other countries are much better at this than Canada is.

    4. Shorten and re-design post-secondary programs.

    The misalignment between program outcomes and labour market demands is well-documented. Closing this gap should be a top priority for post-secondary reform.

    Many college and university programs could be made shorter, more agile and more aligned with workforce needs — especially programs linked to workforce needs and skills in demand.

    Competency-based, work-integrated learning models that are designed with industry and delivered in two- or three-year formats could dramatically increase job readiness.

    5. Incentivize employer investment in upskilling and reskilling.

    Canada needs a stronger incentive framework for continuous learning. Canada’s training credit — a refundable tax credit that helps offset the cost of eligible training fees — helps some individuals, but employers still view training as a cost rather than a driver of productivity, retention and competitiveness.

    A new approach should include tax incentives for employers and employees investing in learning; co-funded, industry-led training partnerships; industry-sponsored micro-credentials; and public recognition for employers who demonstrate leadership in workforce development.

    Canada cannot meet today’s workforce challenges with outdated systems and thinking. Doing more of the same and expecting different results is no longer an option. What is needed is evidence-informed and future-focused reforms that prioritize skills, flexibility and inclusion.

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

    – ref. Canada’s skills crisis is growing — here’s how we can fix it – https://theconversation.com/canadas-skills-crisis-is-growing-heres-how-we-can-fix-it-256864

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith Joins Entire WA Delegation in Letter Urging President Trump to Reconsider Denial of WA State’s Request for a Disaster Declaration for November “Bomb Cyclone”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    Severe storms resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, parks, cultural sites, schools, public buildings, and more, resulting in over $34 million dollars in damages across six counties

     

    Letter comes following denial of initial request, WA delegation urges President Trump to reconsider and approve WA state’s pending appeal

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Adam Smith (D, WA-09) joined Washington’s entire Congressional delegation– U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse, (R, WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (R, WA-05), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10)—in sending a letter last night to President Donald Trump urging him to reconsider the denial of Washington state’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the devastating windstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides caused by a bomb cyclone that struck Washington state in November 2024.

    “As representatives of Washington state, we earnestly request that you carefully reconsider this decision and approve the state’s pending appeal without further delay,” the bipartisan, bicameral group of Members wrote.

    “From Grays Harbor, Pacific and Wahkiakum to King, Snohomish, and Walla Walla Counties, the storm’s impact was severe, far-reaching and well-documented. One of the most destructive storms in recent history, it overwhelmed public infrastructure, endangered lives, and left residents across the state grappling with long-term consequences. This is precisely the kind of catastrophic event for which the federal declaration process was designed. The state’s request outlines over $34 million in damages across these six counties—costs that local governments cannot and should not be expected to shoulder alone,” the Members wrote.

    “Disaster declarations are not symbolic, they are critical lifelines for communities in crisis. Washington state’s first responders, local governments, and emergency management professionals have done everything within their means to begin recovery, but the scale of the damage requires federal support through the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Anything less unnecessarily places our communities, infrastructure and long-term stability at an unacceptable risk.”

    “We remain committed to working with you to secure the support our constituents urgently need,” the Members concluded.

    Previously, the full group of Members urged President Biden to grant the request for a Major Disaster Declaration in January.

    The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

    Dear Mr. President:

    We are writing to express our serious disappointment and growing concern regarding the denial of Washington state’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the devastating bomb cyclone that struck between November 17 and November 25, 2024. As representatives of Washington state, we earnestly request that you carefully reconsider this decision and approve the state’s pending appeal without further delay.

    From Grays Harbor, Pacific and Wahkiakum to King, Snohomish, and Walla Walla Counties, the storm’s impact was severe, far-reaching and well-documented. One of the most destructive storms in recent history, it overwhelmed public infrastructure, endangered lives, and left residents across the state grappling with long-term consequences. This is precisely the kind of catastrophic event for which the federal declaration process was designed. The state’s request outlines over $34 million in damages across these six counties—costs that local governments cannot and should not be expected to shoulder alone.

    Disaster declarations are not symbolic, they are critical lifelines for communities in crisis. Washington state’s first responders, local governments, and emergency management professionals have done everything within their means to begin recovery, but the scale of the damage requires federal support through the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Anything less unnecessarily places our communities, infrastructure and long-term stability at an unacceptable risk.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We remain committed to working with you to secure the support our constituents urgently need.

    Sincerely,

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smith, Casten Demand DOJ Investigation Into Trump Crypto Dinner

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Adam Smith (WA-09) and Sean Casten (IL-06) led 35 House Democrats in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Integrity Section demanding DOJ immediately launch an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s offer for top investors in his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, to join him at a private dinner violates federal bribery laws or the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.
     
    “We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote. “This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.”
     
    Days before the start of his second term, President Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin. Its price quickly peaked at $75, before crashing and causing $2 billion in investor losses. In April, President Trump announced plans to invite $TRUMP’s top 220 investors to a private dinner, resulting in a 60% surge in price as investors rushed to accumulate enough value to qualify for a seat at the dinner. 
     
    The Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since $TRUMP was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement. Multiple investors have explicitly stated that they hoped to purchase influence with the president. 
     
    “U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns,” the lawmakers continued. “However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.”
     
    In addition, a Bloomberg investigation found that the majority of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. The top spot is held by Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto entrepreneur who faced an SEC lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his blockchain platform. This Trump Administration notably paused the legal action after Sun invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures, the World Liberty Project. 
     
    The Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) prohibits any federal government official, including the President, from accepting any benefit from a foreign government without the consent of Congress. It is critical that the DOJ conducts a nonpartisan investigation of President Trump’s private dinner.
     
    A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.
     
    Dear Acting Chief Sullivan:
     
    We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025. This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.
     
    On April 23, 2025, a website connected to the Trump family, gettrumpmemes.com, announced that the top 220 investors in the $TRUMP memecoin would be invited to a gala dinner with President Trump on May 22, 2025, located at his golf course outside of Washington D.C. The top 25 buyers would get face time with the President at “an ultra-exclusive private VIP” reception before the dinner, as well as a “special” V.I.P. tour of the White House. And the top four investors would receive a limited-edition Trump-branded watch.
     
    President Trump promoted the event on social media as the “most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world,” causing the price of the memecoin to surge more than 60 percent as investors rushed to accumulate enough coins to qualify for a dinner seat. Overall, the Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since the memecoin was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.
     
    Investors spent more than $145 million on $TRUMP tokens over the duration of this contest, with some stating explicitly that they hoped to purchase influence with President Trump. For example, GD Culture Group, a small technology company that facilitates e-commerce for other businesses and brands on TikTok, recently announced plans to purchase $300 million worth of $TRUMP coins. And in the company’s own words, its Chinese subsidiary may be subject to “[intervention] or influence” by the Chinese government. GD Culture Group’s announcement came just days after President Trump indicated that he’d “be willing” to delay the statutorily required ban on TikTok in the U.S. past its June 19, 2025, deadline. Freight Technologies, a Houston-based company that specializes in U.S.-Mexico-Canada cross-border shipping, was even more direct about why it planned to purchase $20 million worth of President Trump’s memecoin: to help the company “advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and U.S.,” the company’s CEO said in a statement. After the contest closed, at least 34 of the top 220 investors sold most of their memecoin holdings, further confirming that the $TRUMP memecoin is not a worthwhile investment, but rather a vehicle to buy influence with the Trump Administration.
     
    The $TRUMP memecoin website displays a leaderboard of the winners whose identities remain largely unknown due to the anonymity of digital wallets. However, a Bloomberg analysis found that 19 of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. Notably, an account named “Sun” held the top spot and owned more than $18 million worth of the memecoin on May 12, 2025, when the contest ended. Investigations into this account have traced it back to Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire who has privately touted his ties to the Chinese government and founded a blockchain network often used to finance illicit activities. Since March 2023, Sun has been facing a lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his platform. This legal action was notably paused by the Trump administration after he invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures. In what appears to be a quid pro quo move, Sun then invested an additional $45 million into President Trump’s World Liberty Project, while simultaneously increasing his holdings of the $TRUMP memecoin.
     
    Former Republican lawmakers, President Trump’s former aides, and cryptocurrency industry leaders recognize these national security risks and the opportunity for corruption. Charles Dent, the former chairman of the House Ethics Committee, recently stated that “ foreign entities and governments obviously want to curry favor with the president. This is completely out of bounds and raises all sorts of ethical, legal and constitutional issues that must be addressed.” Additionally, Anthony Scaramucci, a former official in the Trump administration, characterized President Trump’s memecoin as representing “Idi Amin level corruption.” Furthermore, Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, emphasized that politician-backed coins “are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states.”
     
    U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.
     
    The Public Integrity Section was established in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and exists to ensure that the Department of Justice conducts fair and thorough investigations into corruption by government officials at all levels, without regard to those officials’ political views or allegiances.
     
    We therefore urge you to launch an immediate inquiry to determine whether this dinner event violates the federal bribery statute or the foreign emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. If the Department of Justice concludes that it does, we ask that you set aside political considerations and pursue action to uphold public integrity and the rule of law.
     
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    ###
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sherrill Votes Against Republican Budget That Cuts Medicaid and Raises Costs for New Jersey Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill voted against the Republican budget and reconciliation package, which includes extreme cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and education funding, raising costs for New Jerseyans while providing tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. Additionally, the package fails to repeal the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, an unfair double-tax on New Jersey families. 

    “Once again, Donald Trump and House Republicans are pushing a budget that prioritizes tax cuts for billionaires over the needs of working families. This package slashes $736 billion from Medicaid and will take away health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans. It eliminates food assistance for vulnerable communities, strips funding from students, and pulls back funding for programs that help lower energy costs, all while adding $3.3 trillion to the national deficit through massive tax cuts for Trump’s donors like Elon Musk.

    “Moreover, this budget fails to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise to restore the SALT deduction. This bill will continue to penalize working families by making it more difficult for states like New Jersey to invest in our education, infrastructure, and communities. I have been fighting since day one to repeal this unfair double tax, and will keep working to ensure New Jerseyans are not shouldering the burden of Trump’s corruption and giveaways to the wealthiest Americans. 

    “I cannot support this reckless, cruel plan that makes it harder for families to make ends meet. I’m appalled by those who refuse to stand up for working people and choose instead to rubber stamp an extreme political agenda. I will never stop fighting for affordable healthcare, a fair tax system, and a government that delivers for New Jersey families.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mrvan Statement in Opposition to House Republican Reconciliation Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

    Washington, DC – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan released the following statement after opposing the House Republican Reconciliation Legislation this morning.  Despite his opposition, the House approved the measure by a vote of 215-214.  The measure has now been referred to the Senate, where it is currently pending consideration.

    “I opposed the House Republican Reconciliation legislation because it prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy at the cruel expense of seniors, veterans, children, and working families.  It is immoral for the powerful and politically-connected to exploit the legislative process for personal gain, and this legislation amounts to the largest transfer of wealth from the pockets of the most vulnerable and working families to the richest amongst us.  

    “Throughout my career, I have worked to support all individuals when they need emergency assistance or hit a bump in the road, and I have seen the tangible value of the Medicaid program in Indiana and how it predominantly assists seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children.  It will not only strip away these health benefits, it will also increase private healthcare costs and reduce services for everyone.

    “To verify the harmful impact of this legislation, I offered an amendment to simply produce a study on the effect of this legislation on out-of-pocket costs for services for individuals to prevent, screen for, and treat cancer, and it is very telling that the Majority did not permit the consideration of this amendment.

    “This deal leaves everyday Americans behind, and our job is to protect and fight for them.  I encourage the Senate to reject this deeply flawed legislation.”

    To watch Congressman Mrvan present his Amendment before the House Rules Committee, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Kansas Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Kansas of the June 24 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring June 26–July 7, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Chase, Clark, Comanche, Doniphan, Finney, Geary, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Logan, Meade, Pawnee, Scott, Thomas, Wabaunsee and Wallace.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25 and 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.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at 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.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 24.

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    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 –