Category: Security

MIL-OSI Security: Parkland County — Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit Investigate homicide in Parkland County – Update #2

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

One year later and the Alberta RCMP continue the investigation into the found remains of 19-year-old Eric Moonias who was located in a treed area south of Spruce Grove in Parkland County on May 15, 2024.

The body of Eric Moonias was located in a container, and RCMP believe he was transported there from a different location.

“The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit continue our investigation into the homicide of Eric Moonias” says Constable Peter Crockford of the Alberta RCMP Major Crime Unit, “Anyone with information about his death and his activities in the weeks leading up to his death are asked to call police.”

If you have any information about the whereabout and activities of Eric Moonias or have information about this crime please call the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-7267. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Human Rights Watch warns renewed fighting threatens West Papua civilians

Asia Pacific Report

An escalation in fighting between Indonesian security forces and Papuan pro-independence fighters in West Papua has seriously threatened the security of the largely indigenous population, says Human Rights Watch in a new report.

The human rights watchdog warned that all parties to the conflict are obligated to abide by international humanitarian law, also called the laws of war.

The security forces’ military operations in the densely forested Central Highlands areas are accused of killing and wounding dozens of civilians with drone strikes and the indiscriminate use of explosive munitions, and displaced thousands of indigenous Papuans, said the report.

The National Liberation Army of West Papua, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, has claimed responsibility in the killing of 17 alleged miners between April 6 and April 9.

“The Indonesian military has a long history of abuses in West Papua that poses a particular risk to the Indigenous communities,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.

“Concerned governments need to press the Prabowo [Subianto] administration and Papuan separatist armed groups to abide by the laws of war.”

The fighting escalated after the attack on the alleged miners, which the armed group accused of being targeted soldiers or military informers.

Operation Habema
The Indonesian military escalated its ongoing operations, called Operation Habema, in West Papua’s six provinces, especially in the Central Highlands, where Papuan militant groups have been active for more than four decades.

On May 14, the military said that it had killed 18 resistance fighters in Intan Jaya regency, and that it had recovered weapons including rifles, bows and arrows, communications equipment, and Morning Star flags — the symbol of Papuan resistance.

Further military operations have allegedly resulted in burning down villages and attacks on churches. Papuan activists and pastors told Human Rights Watch that government forces treated all Papuan forest dwellers who owned and routinely used bows and arrows for hunting as “combatants”.

Information about abuses has been difficult to corroborate because the hostilities are occurring in remote areas in Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, Nduga, and Pegunungan Bintang regencies.

Pastors, church workers, and local journalists interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that Indonesian forces had been using drones and helicopter gunships to drop bombs.

“Civilians from the Korowai tribe community, known for their tall treehouse dwellings, have been harmed in these attacks, and have desperately fled the fighting,” said the Human Rights Watch report.

“Displaced villagers, mostly from Intan Jaya, have sought shelter and refuge in churches in Sugapa, the capital of the regency.”

Resistance allegations
The armed resistance group has made allegations, which Human Rights Watch could not corroborate, that the Indonesian military attacks harmed civilians.

It reported that a mortar or rocket attack outside a church in Ilaga, Puncak regency, hit two young men on May 6, killing one of them, Deris Kogoya, an 18-year-old student.

The group said that the Indonesian military attack on May 14, in which the military claimed all 18 people killed were pro-independence combatants, mostly killed civilians.

Ronald Rischardt Tapilatu, pastor of the Evangelical Christian Church of the Land of Papua, said that at least 3 civilians were among the 18 bodies. Human Rights Watch has a list of the 18 killed, which includes 1 known child.

The daughter of Hetina Mirip said her mother was found dead on May 17 near her house in Sugapa, while Indonesian soldiers surrounded their village. She wrote that the soldiers tried to cremate and bury her mother’s body.

A military spokesman denied the shooting.

One evident impact of the renewed fighting is that thousands of indigenous Papuans have been forced to flee their ancestral lands.

Seven villages attacked
The Vanuatu-based United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) reported that the military had attacked seven villages in Ilaga with drones and airstrikes, forcing many women and children to flee their homes. Media reports said that it was in Gome, Puncak regency.

International humanitarian law obligates all warring parties to distinguish at all times between combatants and civilians. Civilians may never be the target of attack.

Warring parties are required to take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians and civilian objects, such as homes, shops, and schools. Attacks may target only combatants and military objectives.

Attacks that target civilians or fail to discriminate between combatants and civilians, or that would cause disproportionate harm to the civilian population compared to the anticipated military gain, are prohibited.

Parties must treat everyone in their custody humanely, not take hostages, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Free Papua Movement has long sought self-determination and independence in West Papua, on the grounds that the Indonesian government-controlled “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 was illegitimate and did not involve indigenous Papuans.

It advocates holding a new, fair, and transparent referendum, and backs armed resistance.

Vast conflict area
Human Rights Watch reports that the conflict areas, including Intan Jaya, are on the northern side of Mt Grasberg, spanning a vast area from Sugapa to Oksibil in the Pegunungan Bintang regency, approximately 425 km long.

Sugapa is also known as the site of Wabu Block, which holds approximately 2.3 million kilos of gold, making it one of Indonesia’s five largest known gold reserves.

Wabu Block is currently under the licensing process of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

“Papuans have endured decades of systemic racism, heightening concerns of further atrocities,” HRW’s Asia director Ganguly said.

“Both the Indonesian military and Papuan armed groups need to comply with international standards that protect civilians.”

Republished from Human Rights Watch.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: 3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory P. Magarian, Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis

The government can make you silence yourself — out of fear. Deepak Sethi, iStock/Getty Images Plus

When most people think of how governments stifle free speech, they think of censorship. That’s when a government directly blocks or suppresses speech. In the past, the federal government has censored speech in various ways. It has tried to block news outlets from publishing certain stories. It has punished political dissenters. It has banned sales of “obscene” books.

Today, however, the federal government rarely tries to censor speech so crudely. It has less blatant but very effective ways to suppress dissent. The current actions of the Trump administration show how government can silence speakers without censoring them.

My quarter century of research and writing about First Amendment rights has explored the varied tools that governments use to smother free expression. Among the present administration’s chosen tools are making institutions stop or change their advocacy to get government benefits; inducing self-censorship through intimidation; and molding the government’s own speech to promote official ideology.

A page from the CDC’s website, where the Trump administration states that it rejects the ‘gender ideology’ presented on the page.
CDC.gov

Using benefits to coerce speech

The Supreme Court has made clear that the First Amendment bars the government from conditioning benefits on the sacrifice of free speech.

Government employers may not refuse to hire employees of the opposing political party, nor may they stop employees from speaking publicly about political issues. The government may not stop funding nonprofits because they refuse to endorse official policies, or because they make arguments the government opposes.

The First Amendment, however, works only if someone asks a court to enforce it, or at least threatens to do so.

The Trump administration has issued orders that withdraw security clearances, cancel government contracts and bar access to government buildings for law firms that have opposed the administration’s policies or have advocated diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. Some law firms have sued to block the orders. More firms, however, have made deals with the administration, agreeing to end DEI programs and to do free legal work for conservative causes.

The administration similarly has withheld funding from universities that embrace DEI or that, by the administration’s account, have fomented or tolerated antisemitism. Harvard University has resisted that pressure. But Columbia University has capitulated to President Donald Trump’s demands that include cracking down on protests, giving university officials more control over controversial academic programs and hiring more conservative professors.

The Supreme Court may ultimately declare the administration’s gambits unconstitutional, but it has already succeeded in leveraging government benefits to make major institutions change their speech.

Intimidating speakers into silence

First Amendment law also restricts government actions that deter or “chill” expression rather than squarely banning it.

That means the government may not regulate speech through vague laws that leave lawful speakers uncertain whether the regulation reaches them. For example, the Supreme Court in 1971 struck down a Cincinnati, Ohio, ordinance that criminalized any public assembly the city deemed “annoying.”

Likewise, the government may not make people disclose their identities as a requirement for acquiring controversial literature or for supporting unpopular causes. In the classic case, the Supreme Court during the civil rights era blocked Alabama from making the NAACP disclose its membership list.

Chilling of speech is hard to detect, but the current public climate strongly suggests that the Trump administration has plunged the thermostat.

College and university campuses, which rumbled in spring 2024 with protests against the Gaza war, have gone largely quiet. Large corporations that challenged the first Trump presidency have fallen into line behind the second. Big liberal donors have folded up their wallets.

Some of that dampening likely reflects fatigue and resignation. Much of it, though, appears to reveal successful intimidation.

The administration has proclaimed that it is deporting noncitizen students, using their lawful speech as justification. While those expulsions themselves are classic censorship, their hidden reach may stifle more speech than their immediate grasp. Noncitizens are legally attractive targets for government censorship because courts largely defer to the president on matters of national security and immigration.

The Trump administration could not lawfully treat U.S. citizens as it is treating, lawfully or not, foreign nationals. But most citizens don’t know that. The vivid spectacle of punished dissenters seems likely to chill other dissenters.

Whitewashing government speech

The First Amendment only bars the government from controlling private speech. When the government speaks, it can say what it wants. That means people who speak for the government lack any First Amendment right to replace the government’s messages with their own.

In theory, then, every new federal administration could sweepingly turn government institutions’ speech into narrow propaganda. That hasn’t happened before, perhaps because most governments realize they are just temporary custodians of an abiding republic.

The Trump administration has broken this norm. The administration has ordered the purging of ideologically disfavored content from the Smithsonian museums, implemented book bans in military libraries and installed political supporters to run cultural institutions.

None of those actions likely violates the First Amendment. All of them, however, have significant implications for free speech. In what may be the most quoted line in the First Amendment legal canon, Justice Robert Jackson declared in 1943 that government should never “prescribe what shall be orthodox … in matters of opinion.”

A 21st-century federal government can dramatically skew public discourse by honing government speech with the flint of official ideology. Trump has assigned Vice President JD Vance, who sits on the Smithsonian’s board, the role of “seeking to remove improper ideology.” If Vance decides what the Smithsonian can and cannot say about slavery and Jim Crow, then the Smithsonian will teach people only what Vance wants them to learn about those subjects. That influential source of knowledge will push public discussion toward the government’s ideology.

When government beneficiaries agree to say what the president wants, when the government intimidates speakers to silence themselves, and when the government sharpens its own speech into propaganda, no censorship happens.

But in all those scenarios, the government is doing exactly what justifies fear of censorship and what First Amendment law exists to prevent: using official power to make speech less free.

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

– ref. 3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship – https://theconversation.com/3-ways-the-government-can-silence-opinions-it-disagrees-with-without-using-censorship-254249

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USINDOPACOM Commander Travels to Singapore, Speaks at Shangri-La Dialogue

Source: United States Navy

SINGAPORE — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Singapore from May 29 – June 1, 2025, where he met with senior military and government officials to engage with allies and partners, deepen relationships, and discuss global security challenges at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Fort McMurray — Wood Buffalo RCMP and Major Crimes investigating found human remains – Update

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Tower Road has reopened.

Background

April 25, 2025

Wood Buffalo RCMP and Major Crimes investigating found human remains

Wood Buffalo RCMP and the Alberta Major Crimes Unit are investigating a report of found human remains. The remains were discovered on the outskirts of Fort McMurray on Apr. 25, 2025, off of Tower Road. Tower Road is currently closed to traffic.

No additional information is available at this time.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking anyone who may have travelled on Tower Road between 12:30 pm on Apr. 24, 2025 and Apr. 25 at 2:30 pm to contact them at 780-788-4040. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Wood Buffalo RCMP at 780-788-4040. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Southern Alberta — Joint efforts by Southern Alberta RCMP Units leads to significant seizure of stolen property and guns
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

On April 16 2025, after receiving an initial report of suspicious activity, the Central and Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Units (SAD CRU), with assistance from the Emergency Response Team and Strathmore RCMP, executed a Search Warrant for stolen property in Rockyford.

As a result of the search RCMP recovered:
- 5 stolen ATVs;
- 3 stolen firearms;
- 2 stolen trailers;
- A stolen car;
- Various other stolen items.
The stolen items were linked to thefts from Caroline, Airdrie, Drumheller, Vulcan, Strathmore, and Calgary areas.

As a result of the investigation RCMP have charged a 50-year-old individual with:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
- Possession of property obtained by crime (x11);
- Break and Enter;
- Failing to comply with a release order (x5).
The 50-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with a next court date set for May 22, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.

RCMP have charged a 42-year-old individual with:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
- Possession of property obtained by crime (x5).
The 42-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released with her next court date set for May 20, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary.

On April 19, 2025 Brooks RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle. During this investigation Alberta RCMP Detachments in Brooks, Redcliff, Drumheller, Strathmore, Three Hills, Bassano, Taber-Vauxhall all assisted in locating two stolen vehicles and arresting a suspect. SAD CRU followed up on this investigation and on April 21, 2025, SAD CRU with the assistance of the Emergency Response Team, High River RCMP and Okotoks RCMP executed a Search Warrant in Aldersyde.

As a result of the search, RCMP additionally recovered:
- Stolen trailers (x3);
- Stolen Trucks (x3);
- Stolen motor bikes (x3);
- A stolen ATV;
- Stolen firearm (x3);
- Forged documents;
- 61 other firearms.
After a brief pursuit RCMP arrested and charged a 44-year-old individual, a resident of Foothills County with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime (x8);
- Possession of a stolen firearm;
- Flight from police;
- Mischief;
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
- Failure to comply with a release order (x3);
- Possession of break in tools;
- Possession of a prohibited weapon.
The 44-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody for court on May 30, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

RCMP have charged a 78-year-old individual, a resident of Foothills County with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime (x5);
- (Allan)Careless storage of a firearm (x2) – (Chad) Careless storage of a firearm (x1);
- Possession of a prohibited weapon.
The 78-year-old individual and another individual were taken before a justice of the peace and released with their next court date set for May 30, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

From the original Brooks investigation, RCMP have charged a 43-year-old individual with:
- Flight from police
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (x2)
- Break and Enter
- Possession of break in instruments
The 43-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released for future court dates at the Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks.

“These investigations spearheaded by the Southern and Central Alberta Crime Reduction Units with assistance from RCMP detachments across Southern Alberta showcases the Alberta RCMP’s ability to work collaboratively in interdicting crime networks,” says Constable Adam Heather of SAD CRU, “two of the stolen firearms recovered in Aldersyde are linked to the same break and enter as two of the stolen firearm recovered in the Rockyford search, this demonstrates how different crime groups are interconnected.”

MIL Security OSI –
June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Maskwacis — Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigate Homicide in Maskwacis – Update

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

On Feb. 11, 2024, at 12:15 p.m., Maskwacis RCMP received a report of a deceased person in a residence on 6 Mile on Samson Cree Nation. Upon arrival, police located a deceased male. An autopsy determined the cause of death was homicide. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Gordelle Soosay.

On Dec. 6, 2024, a 33-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, was arrested and has been charged with second-degree murder. After a judicial interim release hearing, the individual was remanded into custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin, Alta., on Dec. 12, 2024.

MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Whitecourt — Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigate homicide in Whitecourt

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

On Dec. 7, 2024, at 3:21 p.m., Whitecourt RCMP received a report of a shooting near the Whitecourt Airport. As the report came in, RCMP were given the location of the suspect who was driving on Highway 43. Officers located and stopped the vehicle detaining a suspect and locating a firearm. Upon arrival at the airport, EMS and police located the victim deceased. The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Whitecourt resident David Beauchesne. Whitecourt RCMP contacted the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit who took carriage of the investigation.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP have charged a 43-year-old individual, a resident of Whitecourt with, second-degree murder.

The individual has been taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Dec. 10, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Whitecourt.

MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: ADB President Signals Bigger Singapore Presence in Talks with Prime Minister

Source: Asia Development Bank

ADB President Masato Kanda met Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Singapore today, where he set out plans to double the size of ADB’s Singapore office. He also reaffirmed the bank’s $10 billion pledge to help finance the ASEAN Power Grid and underscored the importance of deeper regional cooperation as Singapore prepares to assume the ASEAN chair in 2027.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on the 5 Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

MINNEAPOLIS – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement on the five year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

“Five years.
For five years we have carried the weight of George Floyd’s murder.
For five years we have called for a system that values Black life and ensures public safety.

“I am proud of the progress we’ve made, from organizing in our streets to the changes in local policy. I am grateful for the courage of our community in Minneapolis, and for the continued efforts of advocates fighting for justice every day. Because of these advocates, the world was forced to confront the violence embedded in our policing systems.

“But five years after George Floyd was murdered, there is still so much more work to do. Communities in Minneapolis and across this country continue to be over-policed and under-resourced. Too many families live with the fear that an encounter with law enforcement could turn deadly. And now, we face the horrifying possibility that Derek Chauvin could be pardoned. His pardon would be an insult to George’s memory and to the millions who took to the streets demanding change. Justice undone is still justice denied.

“This anniversary is a reminder that we need lasting police reform. We need the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and we need investments in our communities, not more militarized policing. George Floyd should be alive today and we will keep fighting in his name until we build a system that guarantees dignity and safety for all.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Statement on DOJ Move to Dismiss Minneapolis Police Consent Decree

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s decision to dismiss the Consent Decree.

“Five years after George Floyd’s murder in our city, the Department of Justice is now walking away from the very reforms his death demanded. This decision by the Trump Administration is truly a disgrace and a betrayal of the people who took to the streets demanding change and to the families who have lost a loved one to police violence.

“The consent decree was about honoring George Floyd’s life with real systemic change and addressing the unconstitutional policing that has harmed Black and Brown communities for decades at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. For the Trump Administration to dismiss this decree during the anniversary week of George Floyd’s murder is cynical. It sends a chilling message that police violence can be swept under the rug and that federal oversight is expendable when political winds shift.

“Despite this disappointing decision, I’m encouraged that Minneapolis city leaders have publicly stated their intent to implement the crucial reforms in the Consent Decree. Their commitment to reform is critical for the sake of police accountability but it does not absolve the federal government of its responsibility. Real change requires partnership and transparency at every level of government and the DOJ turning its back on this process undermines that trust we are working to rebuild.

“I stand with our community, with the Floyd family, and with everyone fighting for a world where an innocent man’s life cannot be taken without consequence.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Europe’s energy independence strategy and making use of Greek deposits – E-000777/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The Commission supports Member States to ensure security of energy supply in the Union. According to Article 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States have the full right to determine the conditions for exploiting their energy resources, their choice between different energy sources and the general structure of their energy supply, while adopting measures in view of the commitment for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050[1].

Regarding the exploitation of hydrocarbons, the EU legal framework is based on Directive 94/22/EC (Hydrocarbons Directive)[2] which lays down common rules for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons resources located on its territory. It applies to both onshore and offshore fields.

The directive underlines the sovereign rights of the Member States over hydrocarbon resources within their territories, e.g. determine the geographical areas and authorise entities to exercise those rights. The Commission can intervene only in cases where the directive is not correctly implemented.

[1] As laid out in the European Climate Law.

[2] On conditions for granting and using authorisations for prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Directive 94/22/EC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1994/22/oj/eng.
Last updated: 2 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Failed Covid contracts cost British taxpayer £1.4 billion
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Failed Covid contracts cost British taxpayer £1.4 billion

New report commissioned by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, reveals multibillion price British taxpayers paid for reckless handling of Covid contracts
New report commissioned by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, reveals £multibillion price British taxpayers paid for reckless handling of Covid contracts

Previous government failure to test defective PPE leaves millions of taxpayer pounds unrecoverable

It comes as Reeves drives work to recover £468 million for communities and public services, underlining commitment to investigate and account for every penny spent during the pandemic under the Plan for Change

Failed pandemic-era PPE contracts cost the British taxpayer £1.4 billion, as an interim report commissioned by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, lays bare the scale of the scandal.

The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner’s report reveals the price the British public has paid for undelivered contracts which saw taxpayer cash squandered on unusable PPE.

The last government’s over-ordering of PPE, and delays in checking it, mean that £762 million is unlikely to ever be recovered. These failures saw substandard PPE – gowns, masks and visors – not inspected for two years, meaning public money could no longer be recouped.

Now Reeves is going further and faster to recover the £468 million that could still be recovered from suppliers – money which the government will put back into communities and public services including the NHS, police and armed forces.

Recovery action has so far resulted in £182 million being returned to the public purse, and PPE suppliers referred to the National Crime Agency for suspected fraud.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said:

The country is still paying the price for the reckless handling of Covid contracts which saw taxpayer pounds wasted and criminals profit from the pandemic.

This investigation and plan to recover public money underlines our commitment to ensure that every penny spent during the pandemic is fully accounted for.

We have always been clear that money poorly spent or fraudulently claimed belongs to the British people. This Government will bring criminals to justice and put taxpayer’s money back where it belongs – in the NHS, police and armed forces.

Most of the wasted money went on surgical gowns. Over half (52%) were non-compliant, but because much of the defective PPE was not quality tested until after warranties had expired, there is little chance of recovering the money.

This interim report marks the end of Phase one of Commissioner Tom Hayhoe’s investigation– scrutinising PPE contracts. The Commissioner has now begun work on Phase two, which will see it investigating fraud and error in other pandemic spending programmes such as furlough, bounce-back loans, Business Support Grants and Eat Out to Help Out.

The Commissioner will provide a full update in a final report to the Chancellor at the conclusion of his term in December 2025.

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Published 2 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Loans are a Meaningful Option for Arkansas Storm Survivors

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: SBA Loans are a Meaningful Option for Arkansas Storm Survivors

SBA Loans are a Meaningful Option for Arkansas Storm Survivors

LITTLE ROCK, Ark

– Low-interest disaster loans from the U

S

Small Business Administration are available to Arkansas residents, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations that are recovering from back-to-back severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that swept across the state March 14-15 and April 2-22

Residents and businesses in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties may now apply if they had damage in the March storms

Similarly, residents and businesses affected by the April storms, tornadoes and flooding in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St

Francis and White counties may also apply

FEMA partners with other agencies to help meet the needs of disaster survivors

Disaster loans are the largest source of federal recovery funds for storm survivors

They help private property owners pay for disaster losses not covered by insurance, local or state programs

SBA loans also cover deductibles and increased cost of compliance after a disaster

Survivors should not wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application

Interest rates on disaster loans can be as low as 2

75% for homeowners and renters, 3

62% for private nonprofit organizations and 4% for businesses, with terms up to 30 years for physical damage to real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment

Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition

Survivors are not required to begin repaying the loan and the interest does not begin to accumulate for 12 months from the date the first disaster loan disbursement is awarded

Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding

SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the storms

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property, destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes

Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster

Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact

Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage

In partnership with FEMA and the state, SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at sites throughout the affected areas

SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are open at the following locations:INDEPENDENCE COUNTYOffice of Emergency Management – EOC Building1800 Myers Street, Batesville, AR 72501Regular hours: 9 a

m

to 6 p

m

Monday – Friday; 9 a

m

to 1 p

m

Saturday SHARP COUNTYCity Hall – Cave City – Conference Room201 S

Main Street, Cave City, AR 72521Entrance and parking at back of buildingRegular hours: 9 a

m

to 6 p

m

Monday – Friday; 9 a

m

to 1 p

m

Saturday SHARP COUNTYHardy Fire Station203 Church Street, Hardy, AR 72542Regular hours: 9 a

m

to 6 p

m

Monday – Friday; 9 a

m

to 1 p

m

SaturdayTo apply online or to download an application, go to SBA

gov/disaster

You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba

gov

The deadline to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan for the March storms is Monday, July 7

The last day for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations to apply for an SBA economic injury loan for the March storms is Monday, Feb

9, 2026

The deadline to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan for the April storms is Monday, July 21

The last day to apply for an SBA economic injury loan for the April storms is Monday, Feb

23, 2026

For the latest information about Arkansas’ recovery, visit fema

gov/disaster/4865 or fema

gov/disaster/4873

Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

com/FEMARegion6/
thomas

wise
Sat, 05/31/2025 – 13:30

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Survivor Assistance Available at Several Locations

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Survivor Assistance Available at Several Locations

Survivor Assistance Available at Several Locations

LITTLE ROCK, Ark

– The state of Arkansas, FEMA and the U

S

Small Business Administration have added four new sites that offer face-to-face help for residents affected by the March 14-15 and April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding

Hours are also extended at some sites

Homeowners and renters in the impacted counties may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance for losses not covered by insurance

Specialists are available to help you apply for FEMA assistance, review your existing application and submit documents needed to move your application forward

The new locations and extended hours include:CRITTENDEN COUNTYRoberta Jackson Neighborhood Center1300 Polk Avenue, West Memphis, AR 72301Regular Hours: 8 a

m

to 6 p

m

May 30 and June 2 to June 4; closed Saturday and Sunday West Memphis City Hall205 South Redding, West Memphis, AR 72301Regular Hours: 8 a

m

to 6 p

m

May 31 only Earle City Hall 1005 2nd Street, Earle, AR 72331 Regular Hours: 8 a

m

to 6 p

m

June 2 to June 4 CRAIGHEAD COUNTYLake City – City Hall406 Court Street; Lake City, AR 72437 Regular Hours: 8 a

m

to 6 p

m

June 2 to June 4 DESHA COUNTYMcGhee Municipal Complex901 Holly Street, McGhee, AR 71654Regular Hours: 8 a

m

to 6 p

m

May 30 to May 31 and June 2 to June 4 SHARP COUNTYHardy Fire Station203 Church Street, Hardy, AR 72542Days: May 30 to May 31 and June 2 to June 7 Hours: 9 a

m

to 6 p

m

Monday to Friday; 9 a

m

to 1 p

m

Saturday; closed Sundays Additional locations are listed online at x

com/FEMARegion6 and facebook

com/FEMARegion6/

Survivors in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties may apply for federal assistance if they had damage in the March storms

Similarly, those who were affected by the April storms, tornadoes and flooding in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St

Francis and White counties may also apply

Survivors affected by both the March and April storms should file a separate claim for each

Here are the ways to apply:Go to DisasterAssistance

govDownload the FEMA App for mobile devicesCall the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a

m

and 10 p

m

CT

Help is available in most languages

If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, go to Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

The Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations and businesses of any size

To apply online, visit https://lending

sba

gov or call 800- 659-2955

For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services

For the latest information about Arkansas’ recovery, visit fema

gov/disaster/4865 or fema

gov/disaster/4873

Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

com/FEMARegion6/
thomas

wise
Fri, 05/30/2025 – 21:31

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers – Press Conference | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

On the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, marked today (29 May) Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, “we are committed to maximising our own cost effectiveness,” but at the same time, he said “it is imperative that peacekeeping should be provided with the resources that are needed to deliver on the mandate.”

Speaking to reporters in New York, Lacroix said the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin brought together “more than 150 delegations,” 60 of them at ministerial level.

He said there “many expressions of support,” as well as “many pledges that were made to support peacekeeping.”

The main takeaway, Peacekeeping Chief was that “peacekeeping remains very strongly supported by Member States.”

He said, “we have a great amount of work to do to operationalise all the commitments and also to continue with the many bodies of work that we’re currently working on in different areas, such as safety and security of peacekeepers; performance; conduct and discipline; relation with the host government; how to introduce and make the best possible use of digital technology in peacekeeping and so many other bodies of work.”

Lacroix said, “Member States requested a broad review of all peace operations at the Summit for the Future last September. And we’re currently working on this with our sister department, the Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs. And, of course, we are working to operationalise UN80 initiatives, the Secretary-General initiative, within the peace and security pillar.”

Faced with financial constraints, he said, “peacekeeping is constant adapting” and “looking for innovative ways to deliver while remaining both an effective and really a low cost option compared to many other multinational deployments.”

Lacroix stressed that “we are committed to maximising our own cost effectiveness, but at the same time, we want to insist that it is imperative that peacekeeping should be provided with the resources that are needed to deliver on the mandate.”

Responding to a reporter’s question on the matter, he said, “I think it’s clear that most of our top financial contributors have constraints in terms of their public finances. Now, of course, we expect all of them to pay what they have to pay on time and in full, but at the same time, we live in a real world, and we know what those constraints are. So, we want to have a very productive dialogue with them, in addition of course to making sure that as far as we’re concerned, we work on cost effectiveness.”

Later in the day, Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath to honour the more than 4,400 United Nations peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1948.

During an awards ceremony at the ECPOSOC Chamber, Guterres said, “over the decades, more than 2 million women and men have served in 72 UN missions across four continents. And I’m deeply grateful to all Member States for these invaluable contributions. In the communities and countries in which they serve, UN peacekeepers are an important symbol of the United Nations at its best. And together, they’ve helped improve millions of lives, protecting people, preserving peace and providing hope, rebuilding infrastructures, repairing institutions, and ensuring life-saving assistance. With their support, nations around the world have made the transition from war to peace.”

The Secretary-General presented awards to the Military Gender Advocate of the Year, Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year, Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone. Both of them serve with our peacekeeping mission in Abyei.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ1I2OKaVs8

MIL OSI Video –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Killer Robots: Can We Stop Autonomous Weapons? | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Lethal autonomous weapon systems — AI-powered machines that can select and kill targets without human oversight — are no longer science fiction. This eye-opening explainer breaks down the risks of killer robots and why the United Nations is calling for a global ban.

Featuring UN Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, Mary Wareham (Human Rights Watch), Nicole van Rooijen (Stop Killer Robots), and Thompson Chengeta (AI & Human Rights Expert) we explore:

What autonomous weapons really are
How they could change the future of warfare
Why they risk violating human rights and humanitarian law
The push for a legally binding treaty

This is not just about technology. It’s about the future of warfare—and who gets to decide who lives or dies. With momentum building and lives at stake, the world faces a critical decision: How do we control AI weapons?

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Killer drones and UAVs
01:40 – What are lethal autonomous weapons?
03:16 – AI-enabled weapons and decision making
04:27 – International Humanitarian Law
06:07 – A new framework: Prohibition & Regulation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqCMkXftDx8

MIL OSI Video –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Africa’s new credit rating agency could change the rules of the game. Here’s how
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Daniel Cash, Reader in Law, Aston University

For governments, a credit rating is more than a financial signal. It is a verdict that can influence the cost of borrowing, access to markets and, ultimately, the ability to provide for their citizens.

Rating decisions are made behind closed doors in a private process that isn’t open to assessment or scrutiny.

For African countries, this opacity can be especially damaging. When rating decisions lack transparency, it’s impossible to challenge potential biases or inconsistencies in methodology that put developing economies at a disadvantage. The result is higher borrowing costs that drain resources from healthcare, education and infrastructure investment.

Africa’s new credit rating agency has the chance to change this. The African Credit Rating Agency is an initiative under development by the African Union and its partners. It is more than a new entrant; it is an attempt to rethink how financial authority is earned, exercised and scrutinised. The new agency plans to introduce transparent governance structures that could revolutionise rating methodology.

As a researcher who has looked closely at the working of rating agencies, I believe this opportunity to bring transparency to financial governance isn’t just about better ratings. It’s a step towards economic sovereignty.

Success for the African Credit Rating Agency shouldn’t be measured by whether it displaces the “big three” rating agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch). The real question isn’t whether an African agency can compete, but rather whether it can show the world how to rate credit differently.

A flawed process

The three big agencies do publish their methodologies – their criteria and risk models. This creates an illusion of transparency. Yet the final judgments emerge from committee meetings that produce no public record, no accountability, and no right of meaningful appeal.

These rating committees typically comprise five to 10 analysts who meet in closed sessions to make each sovereign rating decision. S&P, Moody’s and Fitch each operate internal rating committees for every sovereign rating decision. The deliberations, dissenting views, and specific reasoning behind final votes remain confidential. Only a brief summary is provided with a rating decision.

Research has shown that credit rating agencies are more accurate at assessing the creditworthiness of advanced economies than developing economies. There have also been studies on the discrepancy between what is expected when the public methodologies are applied and what the agencies actually rate. These studies have been done for economies like Hong Kong and China, but no equivalent research has yet been undertaken for African sovereigns.

This discrepancy exposes an accountability void. When methodology-based predictions miss the mark, we must question what happens in those committee rooms. Especially when African nations are being assessed by analysts stationed continents away, with limited understanding of local economic and political realities.

The African Credit Rating Agency could make three changes to the way ratings are done:
- through public deliberations
- by forming hybrid committees
- with technological intervention.
First, it could release committee transcripts within 30 days of each decision. This would give markets and governments unprecedented insight into rating rationales. This isn’t radical – central banks already publish meeting minutes, and courts publish opinions with dissenting views.

Second, it could pioneer panels that include not only rating analysts, but regional economists, sectoral specialists, and even civil society observers. All with recorded votes. This diversified expertise would disrupt “group think” while capturing nuances of African economies that traditional agencies overlook.

I have examined this idea from the perspective of injecting climate and sustainability-related expertise into credit rating committees. I believe this is a crucial step to take to evolve the concept of the credit rating committee.

Third, the agency could use artificial intelligence to analyse patterns across committee discussions, flagging potential regional biases or inconsistent methodology application. It might be able to use secure digital ledgers to create unchangeable records of decisions.

Why the big three keep it closed

The industry thrives on privacy – protecting proprietary methodologies and shielding decisions from external challenge. And the natural oligopoly (a market dominated by a few large players due to high entry barriers, reinforced by market preference for predictability) helps it stay that way.

The sovereign credit ratings of the three big agencies are built on quantitative and qualitative factors. But research shows that sovereign ratings are subjected to qualitative understandings. This puts developing economies at a disadvantage when agencies demonstrate pro-western biases because they lack data or knowledge.

The impact of a credit rating downgrade for a sovereign borrower is usually multifaceted. Research shows that a single-notch downgrade can raise borrowing costs by more than 100 basis points, equivalent to an extra US$100 million annually on a US$10 billion bond.

Investors prefer fewer, stronger signals rather than many competing views. So there’s little incentive for established players to change. The African Credit Rating Agency, as a new entrant, can offer something the incumbents won’t: governance innovation that serves both markets and nations.

Radical openness will shake markets, at least at first. Committee members might face political pressure. Transparency alone doesn’t guarantee fair outcomes.

But the world already demands transparency from central banks and constitutional courts. Why accept anything less from institutions that shape sovereign destiny?

Next steps

By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African. The financial architecture serving them must evolve towards systems that recognise the continent’s unique strengths.

Opening the rating committee to view represents more than technical reform – it’s about shifting who holds power in global finance. If it does this, the African agency won’t just deliver better ratings; it will model how global finance can be governed more justly.

Daniel Cash 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. Africa’s new credit rating agency could change the rules of the game. Here’s how – https://theconversation.com/africas-new-credit-rating-agency-could-change-the-rules-of-the-game-heres-how-257138
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing man in Ngau Tau Kok (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Appeal for information on missing man in Ngau Tau Kok (with photo)
Yan Wai-man, aged 73, went missing after he left his residence on Shing Fung Road on May 27 afternoon. His family made a report to Police in Kwun Tong on May 28.

He is about 1.85 metres tall, around 68 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured long-sleeved jacket, a blue and white polo shirt, brown trousers and black leather shoes.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Issued at HKT 13:22

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets new Liaison Office Director (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CE meets new Liaison Office Director
Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for its continued support to and care for Hong Kong, driving and supporting Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity. He extended his warm welcome to Mr Zhou on his new appointment. Mr Zhou had extensive experience in local governance and policy-making from a macroscopic perspective, having previously held such positions as Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Governor of the Henan Provincial Government.

Since taking office in July 2023 as the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou has been participating in taking forward Hong Kong’s work under national development strategies. He is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong and actively promoted the implementation of the Central Government’s policies benefitting Hong Kong. Last year, Mr Zhou led a delegation to visit Hong Kong and gain better insights into its economic development, providing his important views to the formulation of measures benefitting Hong Kong. He has also undertaken solid efforts to ensure the measures achieve optimal results.

Mr Lee said he is confident to work with Mr Zhou in actively aligning with national development strategies, as well as in implementing fully, faithfully and resolutely the principles of “one country, two systems” and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” with a high degree of autonomy, maintaining the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law, implementing the “executive-led” structure and implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, with a view to ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, and jointly expediting the development of Hong Kong from stability to prosperity.

During the session, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is currently undergoing an economic transformation, and that the HKSAR Government will uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground, endeavour to take forward reforms, and continue to lead all sectors of Hong Kong society to embrace changes and strive for innovation, actively exploring new areas of development and growth.

Mr Lee said he believes that under the leadership of Mr Zhou, the LOCPG will continue to support the HKSAR Government’s governance in accordance with the law. Noting that Mr Zhou is well acquainted with Hong Kong affairs, Mr Lee said that this will help Hong Kong better contribute to and benefit from its integration into national development, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative. The session was conducted in a cordial and productive atmosphere, with both Mr Lee and Mr Zhou sharing the common goal of expediting Hong Kong’s rise from stability to prosperity.
Issued at HKT 20:03

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing boy in Wong Tai Sin (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Appeal for information on missing boy in Wong Tai Sin Issued at HKT 15:19

Police today (June 2) appealed to the public for information on a boy who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

Cho Tik-laam, Ambrose, aged 17, went missing after he was last seen on Luk Hop Street yesterday (June 1) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

He is about 1.7 metres tall, around 52 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, green camouflage shorts, blue shoes and carrying a pink rucksack.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing boy or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 5562 1342 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station

Ends/Monday, June 2, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:19

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Celebrating Canberra’s volunteers
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Pearl is one of Domestic Animal Services’ dedicated volunteers.
In brief:
- National Volunteer Week in the ACT runs from 19-25 May.
- This article shares some of Canberra’s volunteer stories.
National Volunteer Week runs from 19-25 May. It’s a time to acknowledge and celebrate volunteers in Australia.

Volunteers make a positive impact on Canberra and its people.

No matter what you enjoy doing, there’s a way to help. This could be working with people or caring for animals or plants.

Meet some of Canberra’s volunteers.

Pearl, Domestic Animal Services volunteer

Pearl has been volunteering with Domestic Animal Services for six years.

‘It’s the best way to start the day! I usually walk dogs around the gorgeous bush trail first thing in the morning. It’s so beautiful to be surrounded by nature, wildlife and of course the gorgeous dogs in the morning sunshine,’ she said.

Since 2020, Pearl has spent countless hours at the shelter improving the wellbeing of dogs searching for their forever home.

‘Some dogs come in very timid and seeing them grow into happy and confident dogs makes me so grateful I get to be a part of the work Domestic Animal Services do for these animals,’ Pearl said.

Learn more about volunteering with Domestic Animal Services.

Adrian Manning, ACT State Emergency Service volunteer

Adrian had just turned 18 when he decided to volunteer for the ACT State Emergency Service.

‘Volunteering for the ACT State Emergency Service was something completely different. Not only was I able to help my community, but it also gave me the opportunity to learn new skills and trades, and that training has actually helped me in my paid roles in life,’ Adrian said.

‘It’s very rewarding to be able to assist the community. We sign up to help people, and whether it’s in Canberra or Queensland, it doesn’t really make a difference,’ he said.

Find out more about volunteering for the ACT Emergency Services Agency.

Manar, Co-founder of HelpingACT

Manar is the co-founder of HelpingACT. The charity aims to support Canberra’s most vulnerable through access to food and necessities.

He believes volunteering is a key to ensuring community services can be delivered efficiently.

‘If you’re nervous, start with volunteering that does not demand much from you and then go in deeper when you are more comfortable. My life is richer because of volunteering, and despite the hours I spend volunteering, I don’t see that as a cost. It has brought me in contact with wonderful people and made me stretch my capabilities,’ Manar said.

Learn more about HelpingACT.

Casey, volunteer at the National Arboretum, MIEACT and WaterWatch

Casey started volunteering to make a difference. She had always had grand ideas of environmental and societal change, and decided she wanted to be at the forefront of this change.

‘Volunteering has taught me to take initiative, and it gives me hope. Time is a valuable resource. By volunteering, you can give your time and energy to something you view as important. Volunteering has many benefits. It helps you. It helps others. It helps the world,’ Casey said.

Find out more about volunteering on the Volunteering ACT website.

Read more like this:

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MIL OSI News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Craig, Senators Klobuchar and Smith, Gov. Walz, Statewide and Local Officials Break Ground on US 169 Interchange Project

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

JORDAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02), Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Governor Tim Walz joined statewide and local officials to break ground on the US 169 & Highway 282/County Highway 9 Interchange Project in Scott County.

The project was funded, in part, by an $8 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant, which was granted to Scott County and their project partners – the City of Jordan and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) –through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Rep. Craig and Senators Klobuchar and Smith played an integral role in securing the RAISE grant.

“The federal, state and local partnership of this project, in particular, is incredibly critical,” said Rep. Craig in her remarks. “I remember the first time I visited down here, I looked at the possibilities and all I saw was economic opportunity for the state of Minnesota and for the Jordan area with this project, so it has been a true honor to work with so many mayors here to be able to get this across the finish line.”

Once completed, the project will replace the last signalized highway intersection within 50 miles of the Twin Cities with an interchange, creating a 75-mile stoplight free zone to improve a key interregional corridor in Minnesota that is essential for commuters, local residents and business owners.

This will also include a grade-separated interchange at TH-282/County Highway 9 and a bridge over the Union Pacific rail line, as well as a roundabout, a multi-use path and underpass of US 169, floodway improvements, stormwater improvements, and frontage roads.

In 2021, Rep. Craig wrote a letter to former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg advocating for the RAISE grant application and in 2022, Rep. Craig secured $1.12 million for the City of Jordan US 169 Multi-Use Trail Underpassthrough the annual funding bill.

You can view Rep. Craig’s full remarks here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: 8 injured in Colorado ‘targeted terror attack’

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

Eight people were injured Sunday in “a targeted terror attack” in Boulder, Colorado, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, said Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver office, on Sunday evening at a news conference.

Boulder police confirmed Sunday night that eight people, namely four women and four men, were injured in the attack. Officials initially told news outlets that six victims had been taken to hospitals.

The 45-year-old suspect was allegedly heard yelling “Free Palestine” while using a “makeshift flamethrower” during the attack. He was also reportedly heard yelling “They are killers” and “How many children you killed.”

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said at a news conference that Boulder dispatch received several calls reporting an incident at the county courthouse in downtown Boulder at approximately 1:26 p.m. local time (1926 GMT).

Police officers found several victims suffering from burns and other injuries upon arriving at the scene.

An organizer with Run For Their Lives, a group that holds weekly walks to raise awareness about Israeli hostages held in Gaza — told local television station KUSA that a man was waiting with bottles when they arrived at the historic courthouse near 13th and Pearl Streets.

The suspect threw the bottles, burning multiple people, including a woman who was severely injured and had to roll on the ground to extinguish the flames, according to the report.

One of the victims is a Holocaust survivor, said the report.

In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.”

White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller said in a social media post that the terror attack was committed by “an illegal alien.”

Fox News reported that Soliman is an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa after entering the United States, citing Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sources.

CNN reported authorities are working to determine whether the suspect may have suffered mental health issues.

“He’s shirtless, screaming, used rudimentary (explosive) devices, and stuck around to be arrested,” a source told CNN.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack as a “heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community” in a statement.

“Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror. The suspect should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.

MIL OSI China News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Africa’s new credit rating agency could change the rules of the game. Here’s how
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Daniel Cash, Reader in Law, Aston University

For governments, a credit rating is more than a financial signal. It is a verdict that can influence the cost of borrowing, access to markets and, ultimately, the ability to provide for their citizens.

Rating decisions are made behind closed doors in a private process that isn’t open to assessment or scrutiny.

For African countries, this opacity can be especially damaging. When rating decisions lack transparency, it’s impossible to challenge potential biases or inconsistencies in methodology that put developing economies at a disadvantage. The result is higher borrowing costs that drain resources from healthcare, education and infrastructure investment.

Africa’s new credit rating agency has the chance to change this. The African Credit Rating Agency is an initiative under development by the African Union and its partners. It is more than a new entrant; it is an attempt to rethink how financial authority is earned, exercised and scrutinised. The new agency plans to introduce transparent governance structures that could revolutionise rating methodology.

As a researcher who has looked closely at the working of rating agencies, I believe this opportunity to bring transparency to financial governance isn’t just about better ratings. It’s a step towards economic sovereignty.

Success for the African Credit Rating Agency shouldn’t be measured by whether it displaces the “big three” rating agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch). The real question isn’t whether an African agency can compete, but rather whether it can show the world how to rate credit differently.

A flawed process

The three big agencies do publish their methodologies – their criteria and risk models. This creates an illusion of transparency. Yet the final judgments emerge from committee meetings that produce no public record, no accountability, and no right of meaningful appeal.

These rating committees typically comprise five to 10 analysts who meet in closed sessions to make each sovereign rating decision. S&P, Moody’s and Fitch each operate internal rating committees for every sovereign rating decision. The deliberations, dissenting views, and specific reasoning behind final votes remain confidential. Only a brief summary is provided with a rating decision.

Research has shown that credit rating agencies are more accurate at assessing the creditworthiness of advanced economies than developing economies. There have also been studies on the discrepancy between what is expected when the public methodologies are applied and what the agencies actually rate. These studies have been done for economies like Hong Kong and China, but no equivalent research has yet been undertaken for African sovereigns.

This discrepancy exposes an accountability void. When methodology-based predictions miss the mark, we must question what happens in those committee rooms. Especially when African nations are being assessed by analysts stationed continents away, with limited understanding of local economic and political realities.

The African Credit Rating Agency could make three changes to the way ratings are done:
- through public deliberations
- by forming hybrid committees
- with technological intervention.
First, it could release committee transcripts within 30 days of each decision. This would give markets and governments unprecedented insight into rating rationales. This isn’t radical – central banks already publish meeting minutes, and courts publish opinions with dissenting views.

Second, it could pioneer panels that include not only rating analysts, but regional economists, sectoral specialists, and even civil society observers. All with recorded votes. This diversified expertise would disrupt “group think” while capturing nuances of African economies that traditional agencies overlook.

I have examined this idea from the perspective of injecting climate and sustainability-related expertise into credit rating committees. I believe this is a crucial step to take to evolve the concept of the credit rating committee.

Third, the agency could use artificial intelligence to analyse patterns across committee discussions, flagging potential regional biases or inconsistent methodology application. It might be able to use secure digital ledgers to create unchangeable records of decisions.

Why the big three keep it closed

The industry thrives on privacy – protecting proprietary methodologies and shielding decisions from external challenge. And the natural oligopoly (a market dominated by a few large players due to high entry barriers, reinforced by market preference for predictability) helps it stay that way.

The sovereign credit ratings of the three big agencies are built on quantitative and qualitative factors. But research shows that sovereign ratings are subjected to qualitative understandings. This puts developing economies at a disadvantage when agencies demonstrate pro-western biases because they lack data or knowledge.

The impact of a credit rating downgrade for a sovereign borrower is usually multifaceted. Research shows that a single-notch downgrade can raise borrowing costs by more than 100 basis points, equivalent to an extra US$100 million annually on a US$10 billion bond.

Investors prefer fewer, stronger signals rather than many competing views. So there’s little incentive for established players to change. The African Credit Rating Agency, as a new entrant, can offer something the incumbents won’t: governance innovation that serves both markets and nations.

Radical openness will shake markets, at least at first. Committee members might face political pressure. Transparency alone doesn’t guarantee fair outcomes.

But the world already demands transparency from central banks and constitutional courts. Why accept anything less from institutions that shape sovereign destiny?

Next steps

By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African. The financial architecture serving them must evolve towards systems that recognise the continent’s unique strengths.

Opening the rating committee to view represents more than technical reform – it’s about shifting who holds power in global finance. If it does this, the African agency won’t just deliver better ratings; it will model how global finance can be governed more justly.

– Africa’s new credit rating agency could change the rules of the game. Here’s how
– https://theconversation.com/africas-new-credit-rating-agency-could-change-the-rules-of-the-game-heres-how-257138

MIL OSI Africa –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: K. Nawrocki wins presidential elections in Poland

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

WARSAW, June 2 (Xinhua) — Karol Nawrocki, an independent candidate backed by the opposition Law and Justice party, has won the second round of Poland’s presidential election, the country’s National Electoral Commission said on Monday.

The final result, marked “elected in the second round,” was posted next to K. Navrotsky’s name on the official website of the State Electoral Commission on Monday.

Historian and head of the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland K. Nawrocki received 50.89% of the votes in the second round of the presidential elections, defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, representing the ruling Civic Coalition, who received 49.11%.

K. Nawrocki, born in 1983 in Gdansk, will replace the current president, Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Scott Statement on the Passing of Judge Jerrauld C. Jones

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Statement on the Passing of Judge Jerrauld C. Jones

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of former Delegate and retired Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jerrauld Jones:

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my longtime friend, Judge Jerrauld Jones of Norfolk. Jerrauld and I have known each other for many years. We served together in the Virginia General Assembly and shared the same commitment to justice and equality. That commitment to justice was inherited from our fathers, who served on the school boards of Newport News and Norfolk respectively during the public school integration controversies following the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. Our families have remained friends from that time.

“Jerrauld was a brilliant jurist and dedicated public servant. A proud graduate of Princeton University and Washington and Lee University School of Law, he used his talents in service of others. He broke barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not just as a legislator and judge, but as a community leader whose moral compass never wavered.

“Whether in the courtroom or the State Capitol, Jerrauld brought intellect, compassion, and a fierce commitment to fairness and fidelity to the law. He was never afraid to speak out for what was right, and he always carried himself with dignity, humility and grace.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Lyn, his son Jay, and to all who knew and loved Jerrauld. His passing is a profound loss for the Commonwealth, but his legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in the power of public service to make a positive impact for all.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Funding Delivered by Congressman Boyle Leads to Temple Campus Arrest of Suspect Wanted in Three States

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) joined the Temple University and New Castle County Police Departments to announce the arrest of a burglary suspect who was wanted by authorities in PA, NJ, and DE.

This arrest was made possible by Congressman Boyle’s community project funding for the Temple University Police Department, which enabled the deployment of Flock license plate reading cameras. Boyle was joined at the press conference by Jennifer Griffin, Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety at Temple University, and Richard Chambers, Master Corporal and PIO at the New Castle County Police Department.

“Not been too long before we had tragically lost Temple Police University Officer Christopher Fitzgerald,” said Congressman Boyle. “And so I wanted to secure funds that would help the public safety effort in and around Temple University. To see the fruits of that labor actually lead to an arrest is incredibly exciting. I thank again everyone who was involved in public safety in and around Temple University, and I thank all of the officers behind me. It’s never lost on me just what an enormously difficult job each and every one of you have in terms of keeping us safe.”

“I am very proud of our diligent police officers and detectives who made this arrest happen quickly,” said Jennifer Griffin, Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety at Temple University. “Temple’s license plate reading cameras were purchased through a grant that was secured by Congressman Brennan Boyle. We are so grateful and thankful for his continued support to make Philadelphia safer.”

“Detective Arnold from the Newcastle County Police was able to obtain a possible vehicle description,” said Richard Chambers, Master Corporal and PIO at the New Castle County Police Department. “Using the cameras, Detective Arnold quickly contacted the Temple University Police Department, and the Temple University Police Department quickly located the vehicle with the suspect in it.

Temple University was the first university in Pennsylvania to deploy the Flock license plate reader system. The system was used to locate a suspect wanted by the New Castle County Police Department for burglary and theft. New Castle County Police worked with the Temple University Police Department to quickly arrest him on Temple’s campus. He was extradited to Delaware, where he pled guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor charge.

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Advancement of $35 Million for Projects to Benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that he advanced 15 projects totaling over $35 million to benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. These projects would help to support public health and safety, transportation accessibility and community development, and environmental protection and sustainability in California’s 10^th Congressional District. Each year Congress provides Member-directed federal funding to a select number of Community Projects through the appropriations process. Under this process, each House member is allowed to submit 15 project requests on behalf of their Congressional District to the Appropriations Committee that meet the criteria set forth by the Committee.

“I am proud to again advance over $35 million in funding that would directly benefit communities in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties by making our roads safer and more accessible, improving our outdoor spaces, providing cost-savings and environmental benefits through sustainability, and bolstering protection from crime and natural disasters,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I appreciate the effort of and collaboration with our local governments and organizations in submitting these projects, and I will continue to fight to see them through this legislative process and get the funding delivered to our district.”

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership in advancing five projects that will improve safety, emergency response, and transportation infrastructure in Contra Costa County. These critical investments will ensure that Contra Costa continues to be a safe and welcoming place for residents and businesses to thrive. We appreciate the Congressman’s foresight in selecting these projects, which offer regional benefits to our community,” said Candace Andersen, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

“Central San wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing our Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Replacement Project. This critical project will provide direct community benefits by improving the resiliency of Central San’s wastewater operations during extreme weather events and significantly reducing its energy footprint. This federal funding will support the transition to a state-of-the-art UV system that will make the wastewater treatment plant more sustainable and energy efficient because it will decrease energy use and meaningfully reduce greenhouse gases produced annually,” said Roger Bailey, General Manager of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.

“For truly safe and stable communities, we must make robust investments in public safety, including preventing and prosecuting organized retail theft and fighting labor trafficking. Efforts like the Healing and Justice for Survivors of Labor Trafficking program are designed to significantly increase funding for the number of Victim Witness Unit staff, allowing them to better provide education, outreach, and support for survivors. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s success in securing this crucial funding demonstrates his deep understanding of these fundamental needs,” said Diana Becton, District Attorney, Contra Costa County.

“We appreciate the support from Congressman DeSaulnier in advancing our Community Project Funding request to provide resilient and modern emergency power infrastructure to support the East Bay Regional Communications System. This project will have a direct impact on improving the public safety radio infrastructure for our firefighters, ambulance crews, and all first responders throughout Contra Costa County and northern Alameda County. Congressman DeSaulnier is helping us to keep our communities and our first responders safe with this critical infrastructure investment,” said Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

“Investing in energy-efficient storage infrastructure ensures County Connection can power our future fleet with greater reliability and lower costs. This system strengthens our ability to deliver vital transit service during emergencies and supports a cleaner, more resilient future for our community. We’re grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier shares our commitment to sustainability and smart investment in local transit,” said Bill Churchill, General Manager, Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority.

“We are extremely grateful to be included for consideration; upgrading our officer’s body worn cameras is an important public safety project for our residents and our police department,” said Cindy Darling, Mayor of Walnut Creek.

“The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) sincerely appreciates Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support in advancing innovative transportation solutions in our county. This critical funding will allow CCTA to implement smart signal technology in the Cities of Antioch and Oakley, enabling signal synchronization, enhanced traffic flow, and smooth congestion. The upgraded system will also prioritize transit and emergency vehicles and support countywide efforts to achieve Vision Zero goals,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

“The City of Dublin is proud to have Congressman DeSaulnier’s support for our Community Project Funding Request for the Village Parkway Reconstruction and Complete Streets Project. This important project will address critical infrastructure needs by resurfacing roads, improving bicycle access, enhancing safety, and upgrading sidewalks near Dublin High School. Once complete, Village Parkway will be a significantly safer and more accessible corridor for all who live, work, and travel in Dublin,” said Sherry Hu, Mayor of Dublin.

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s vital support of this critical project. Upgrading our emergency generators will significantly enhance the resilience of the communication systems our first responders rely on during emergencies and disasters,” said Jon King, Board Chair, East Bay Regional Communications System Authority.

“Thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier’s support, the Marsh Drive Class I Bikeway Project will close a 1.3-mile gap in Contra Costa County’s expansive bicycle network, providing the residents of Pacheco and Martinez a low-stress and multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facility that connects to the 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail, improving connectivity to neighboring jurisdictions such as the City of Concord and City of Pleasant Hill, while also improving access to recreational areas such as the lower Walnut Creek channel and Pacheco Marsh. The project will help Contra Costa County achieve its ambitious “Vision Zero” safety goal of having zero fatalities or severe injuries along its road network,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.

“We greatly appreciate Congressman DeSaulnier championing the Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project, a multi-modal project that will construct bicycle lanes and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure along Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village of Walnut Creek. The Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements will provide a critical connection to the region’s 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail and active transportation options for commuters and residents of Walnut Creek. This project will transform the road corridor into a model example of complete streets design, improving connectivity to light rail transit (Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station), high-density housing, and thousands of jobs, further supporting economic, health, and transportation benefits for the Contra Costa Centre and Walnut Creek areas,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.

“This is more than a park project – it’s about honoring history, creating access, and supporting public spaces which will serve generations to come. The South of Bailey Road Community Development Project will open 890 acres of land to the public at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, laying the foundation for a regional destination rooted in community and remembrance. We deeply appreciate Representative DeSaulnier’s leadership in moving this vision forward,” said Sabrina Landreth, General Manager, East Bay Regional Park District.

“We are deeply grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier has again selected our Ocean Ambassadors educational program for consideration for Community Project Funding through the Appropriations Committee,” said Cecily Majerus, Chief Executive Officer, The Marine Mammal Center. “Environmental literacy is crucial. This critical funding support would allow the Center to expand our Ocean Ambassadors in Contra Costa County—bringing high-impact, standards-aligned marine science learning to more classrooms through educator training, coaching, and peer mentoring.”

“The Danville Townwide Fiber project is a transformative step toward a more connected and resilient community. By expanding our fiber infrastructure, we are ensuring that Danville’s traffic systems are smarter, safer, and prepared for the future,” said Renee Morgan, Mayor of Danville.

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support and unwavering commitment to help Diablo Water District build a resilient water system capable of withstanding potential seismic risks to our underground transmission lines and above-ground steel reservoirs,” said Dan Muelrath, General Manager, Diablo Water District.

“On behalf of the City of Concord, I extend our sincere thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing the effort to improve our Emergency Operations Center. His support is vital to addressing critical infrastructure needs that impact our emergency response and community safety. This funding will help transform the EOC into a modern, resilient facility that strengthens regional preparedness and protects lives. We deeply appreciate his leadership and commitment to public safety,” said Carlyn Obringer, Mayor or Concord.

Transportation Accessibility and Community Development Projects:
- $3,900,000 for the Town of Danville to install fiber optic cables and construct new conduit and junction boxes for 54 traffic signals in Danville to enable real-time traffic signal optimization to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety, and allow for future implementation of smart city technologies.
- $3,000,000 for the City of Dublin to improve safety and accessibility of Village Parkway by narrowing vehicle lanes, adding lighting, and constructing buffered bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and protected intersections.
- $2,000,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to create a separate bike path to fill a gap in the County-wide bicycle network along Marsh Drive in unincorporated Pacheco, which will improve safety for all road users and access to local commercial centers, recreational centers, and additional connections to the local mass transit system.
- $2,000,000 for the East Bay Regional Park District to construct visitor facilities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, public parking areas, and a turnout lane on Bailey Road to allow for the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park to be opened up to the public.
- $1,970,010 for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to upgrade and develop a network of smart traffic signals between Antioch and Oakley to improve commute times, reduce delays, and ease congestion.
- $1,500,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village in Walnut Creek to close a critical gap along the Iron Horse Regional Trail, which would improve safety for non-motorized road users and improve connectivity for first and last mile connections to public transit and local commercial establishments.
Public Health and Safety Projects:
- $4,875,000 to the Diablo Water District to provide structural and foundational reinforcements to water infrastructure to mitigate risks associated with major seismic events, safeguard water supply, and contribute to the region’s overall disaster preparedness strategy.
- $3,649,671 to the City of Concord to make improvements to the Emergency Operations Center in Concord to ensure its longevity, efficiency, and resilience as it serves as a critical hub for bolstering regional preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters.
- $1,915,000 for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) to replace and install equipment, including backup generators, shore power plugs, and automatic transfer switches, at radio towers across Contra Costa County that are used for communication between law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services to improve system reliability during emergencies and disasters that result in the loss of power.
- $1,000,000 to the City of Walnut Creek to purchase 120 body worn cameras, charging docks, and equipment to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in the police department.
- $600,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to create an Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Prevention and Prosecution Unit with the goal of addressing increased levels of retail theft crimes, helping local law enforcement better confront these types of crimes, and improving public safety.
- $500,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to enhance the identification and referral of survivors of labor trafficking and cases of labor trafficking occurring in the County, increase the capacity of the District Attorney’s Office to investigate cases of labor exploitation and trafficking, and improve the quality and scope of services provided to underserved and marginalized victims of human trafficking.
Environmental Protection and Sustainability Projects:
- $4,000,000 to the Central Conta Costa Sanitary District (Central San) to upgrade the water treatment facility’s ultraviolet (UV) technology to reduce the energy footprint of water treatment and protect public health and water quality in the region.
- $4,000,000 to the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) to construct a battery system to allow the agency to charge its zero emission buses overnight, and provide a source of power to maintain operations during emergencies.
- $272,918 for the Marine Mammal Center to help build scientific literacy and environmental stewardship of the coastal zone for 2,7000 students and their teachers and to develop a pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
Selection and submission of projects to the Appropriations Committee is the first stage of the process for Community Project Funding. The projects are subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed here by the Appropriations Committee. Examples of this vetting include certifying that Members have no financial interest in these projects, an audit of a sampling of these projects by the Government Accountability Office, and a requirement for demonstrated community support and engagement for each submission. More information on each project and the certifications of no financial interest can be found here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Police release e-fit of suspect in Islington sexual assaults

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Investigators have released an e-fit of a man who sexually assaulted two women in Islington earlier this year.

The assaults occurred within 15 minutes of each other on Sunday, 9 March.

Around 20:40hrs that day, a woman in her 20s reported being followed by a man down Cruikshank Street in Islington. The man sexually assaulted her, before walking away towards Great Percy Street.

Around the same time, another woman – also in her 20s – was walking along Britannia Street, Islington, when she was approached from behind by a man. He sexually assaulted her, then ran off down Wicklow Street.

The suspect is described as skinny, wearing a light-coloured t-shirt, dark bomber jacket, and a dark baseball cap. He appeared to be aged in his 30s.

No arrest has been made at this stage, though investigators are treating the two incidents as linked. They are appealing to anybody who believes they saw a man matching the e-fit on Sunday, 9 March to come forward.

Anybody who witnessed either of the assaults – or who has potentially relevant information – should contact 101, quoting investigation reference 01/7265403/25.

MIL Security OSI –

June 2, 2025