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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

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

               LITTLE ROCK—Demarius Chamon Johnson, a felon who possessed a firearm located next to a three-year old child, will spend the next 17 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 204-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

               A federal grand jury indicted Johnson, 35, of Jacksonville, in a superseding indictment on May 3, 2023. On January 24, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

               On September 17, 2021, officers with the North Little Rock Police Department located a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of El Dorado parked at the Fairview Inn in North Little Rock. The hotel’s surveillance footage showed that an individual had parked the stolen vehicle and entered one of the rooms on the second floor. Officers went to the room, noted the door was open, and saw Johnson by the doorway. When officers entered the room, they noticed a firearm next to a three-year old child who was lying on one of the beds. Johnson was initially detained in relation to the stolen car. While being placed in handcuffs, Johnson stated, “that gun’s mine, it belongs to me.” The Colt Commander, .45 caliber pistol that was located on the bed had one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Little Rock.

               Johnson has at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, and felony drug possession and distribution. 

               Judge Miller also sentenced Johnson to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

               This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Jegley.

    # # #

    This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

     

    http://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Algona Meatpacking Plant Worker Convicted in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former Algona, Iowa, meatpacking plant worker who obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans and recruited others into the scheme was convicted by a jury on May 8, 2025, after a four-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

    Yovany Ciero, age 48, from Mason City, Iowa, formerly of Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of money laundering, one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from a specified unlawful activity, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.  The verdict was returned following about three and a half hours of jury deliberations.

    The evidence at trial showed that Ciero is a former Sergeant in the Cuban military who crossed the Mexican border nearly twenty years ago after his request for a visa to enter the United States was denied.  In 2020, Ciero was working at an Algona meatpacking plant when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  Beginning in July 2020, Ciero, and over one hundred other immigrants from Cuba, obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on the false and fraudulent pretenses that they were self-employed businesspeople who earned approximately $100,000 in gross income in 2019 when they actually worked at the meatpacking plant or elsewhere in 2019.         

    Ciero was one of six “bundlers” in the fraudulent PPP loan scheme.  Ciero’s role was to recruit individuals into the scheme, obtain their personal identifying information for the fraudulent loan applications, and then pass that information to others who submitted the fraudulent loan applications to lenders who were participating in the PPP.  The evidence established that over $4 million in fraudulent loan PPP applications were submitted, and the government lost over $2.4 million as a result.

    Once the individuals received their fraudulent PPP loan funds, typically $20,000 each, Ciero served as a “funnel” in a money laundering conspiracy.  Ciero collected fees that the organizers of the scheme charged the applicants, typically $3,000 per $20,000 fraudulent loan.

    Ciero also obtained two fraudulent PPP loans for himself and his paramour.  Ciero used most of this PPP loan money to purchase a semi-truck.  Ciero is the sixth former Iowa meatpacking plant worker convicted in the PPP scheme.

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Ciero remains free on bond pending sentencing.  Ciero faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, over $10,000,000 in fines, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Daniel A. Chatham and was investigated by the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Storm Lake Police Department.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

    The case file number is 24-CR-3013.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How AI agents can help retailers and consumer goods companies improve operations

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How AI agents can help retailers and consumer goods companies improve operations

    Over the past 12 months, customer conversations have shifted from focusing on generative AI to discussing agentic AI. This evolution reflects the growing recognition of agentic systems to augment AI’s potential to enhance business processes and drive innovation.

    But, as with every technology, working out where to start is fraught with difficulties. “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”—or so the expression goes—but when it comes to business challenges, not every problem warrants an agentic AI approach.

    Learn more about Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    You may have determined candidate areas for agentic AI using a similar approach to that which we described when discussing rapidly ideating on value in a previous blog. However, how do you know if it really warrants an agentic approach, and then, once you’re confident that it does, how do you determine the value it will bring for your organization?

    This blog aims to provide guidance on how to address these areas to empower you to make informed decisions and unlock the full potential of agentic AI.

    Business and technical criteria

    Based on our experience working with retail and consumer goods companies across the globe, there are some common trends that can be considered as criteria for determining if a specific process—or part of a process—is a good use case for agentic AI.

    These aren’t considered to be “hard and fast” criteria that must be adhered to—they are merely guidelines.

    • Volume. A process with high volumes or number of interactions. For example, a consumer goods company receives many more orders than an aircraft manufacturer, therefore, it’s likely to be far more applicable to apply agentic AI to an order intake process in a consumer goods company. That doesn’t mean that agentic AI cannot help an aircraft manufacturer with this process. It means that the specific process element where it’s applied would be different. For example, in placing an order for an aircraft, multiple detailed configuration documents may be needed, and agentic AI may have a valuable role ensuring those documents are correct.
    • Interaction. A process that interacts with multiple systems. For example, updates, reads from, or consolidates data between different systems. Processes where users must review, or consolidate, content from multiple systems are prime candidates for the application of agentic AI. Sometimes referred to as “swivel-chair integration,” these types of processes are both tedious and fraught with error.
    • Human. A process where a high level of human interaction is required. Perhaps involving seeking, reading, considering, and reasoning over multiple pieces of information, documents, or systems. This is typically work that’s mundane and repetitive. Agentic AI can assess and highlight gaps, differences, or anomalies. It can make recommendations to be evaluated by a human and as such, is designed to work alongside or augment the human by reducing the amount of mundane, repetitive activity. The human element is critical here—AI allows the human to focus on exceptions, strategic analysis, and complex decisions while supporting innovation.
    • Errors. Processes that are error prone—which often occurs with repetitive, mundane human operations. More importantly, one where any errors or issues during the process execution cause adverse downstream consequences such as delayed deliveries, lost sales, compensation claims, or handling by a human that incurs cost or time. This can be a key area of concern and focus.

    There is an additional requirement, albeit one that must be considered when architecting a solution. This relates to data availability.

    It’s critical to ensure that the data required for the agentic AI application is available and accessible without causing challenges elsewhere. It’s common that agentic systems need to refer to data to aid decision-making. For example, it may be necessary to look something up on a customer or supplier master record in a transactional system. Where many of these are required in a very short time, it may be that the agentic solution causes performance issues in the transactional system. Architecturally, this challenge can be avoided by extracting this data into a data lake or other data store to act as a reference location.

    Retail Thought Leadership Study

    The AI Advantage: How retailers are shaping customer experiences with data-driven insights

    Defining value

    Advancements position agentic AI as a cornerstone for creating a more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and autonomous supply chain. When it comes to evaluating the business value of any technology investment, one of the first points to consider is determining the specific drivers of value. In addition, understanding how you’ll measure this is equally important.

    From the work we have done relating to agentic AI, value typically falls into three areas:

    1. Productivity. You can think of this as “agentic liberated time.” This reflects reducing the non-value-added time associated with human interaction in a process or process step using the “liberated time” for value-added activities. Scoping these additional activities is critical to delivering value from agentic AI. As an example, one retailer was seeking to free up time for their supply chain planners to spend more time with individual suppliers planning future promotional inventories. AI agents can streamline communications with suppliers, monitor contract compliance, and resolve disputes efficiently.
    2. Process efficiency. This relates to the elapsed time that a process takes. AI agents automate repetitive tasks and optimize operations leading to higher process efficiency levels and lower costs. This in turn has follow-on benefits—for example, reducing the time spent between receiving and processing a customer order translates to improved customer responsiveness.
    3. Quality. This can often be seen as cliché. However, in this instance, the focus is the reduction of errors or issues. Specifically, those that have a negative consequence downstream within the organization or supply chain. For example, promising inventory that does not exist will adversely impact customer satisfaction scores and may well result in future lost sales.

    Measurement is key

    For each of these value driver areas it’s important to establish the metrics or KPIs that this is likely to impact in your specific case. The graphic above gives some examples, but this is where the value of agentic AI really comes into force.

    For the productivity value driver, liberated time can be used to identify additional revenue generating opportunities, which can enhance your revenue per employee KPI. For process efficiency, reducing lost sales can be a relevant metric if, for example, you’re automating your customer order process.

    Quality, however, is where it becomes interesting. Determining the downstream negative consequences of a delayed or misinformed decision can be difficult, but it’s worthwhile. One approach to consider is to use Microsoft Copilot to help ideate on this, asking for suggestions as to what the negative downstream consequences of errors in a particular process might be. This may not yield the exact answer for your business, but practice has shown that it usually inspires a new thought or perspective that relates to your business.

    Microsoft Cloud for Retail

    Connect your customers, your people, and your data.

    Moving on value

    Selecting the right use cases for agentic AI requires a thorough understanding of both the criteria for implementation and the drivers of value. By focusing on high-volume, error-prone processes that require significant human effort and interaction with multiple systems, organizations can identify the most promising areas for AI application.

    Additionally, defining and measuring the value of AI investments through productivity, process efficiency, and quality improvements will ensure that organizations can unlock the full potential of agentic AI. With these guidelines, organizations can make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of AI use case selection, ultimately driving innovation and efficiency.

    Learn more about agentic AI

    Oliver Guy

    Global Industry Architect, Microsoft Retail & Consumer Goods, Microsoft

    Oliver Guy, Global Industry Architect, specializes in helping business leaders innovate and compete more flexibility and efficiently. For more than 25 years he has delivered value for retail and consumer goods companies across the globe with technology led change. Oliver is a recognized Retail Technology Influencer by Retail Technology Innovation Hub (RTIH) and is also a RetailWire BrainTrust panelist.

    See more articles from this author

    Felice Miller

    Business Strategy Leader, Supply Chain & Operations, Worldwide Retail and Consumer Goods and Gaming, Microsoft

    Felice leads Supply Chain and Sustainability Strategy for Microsoft’s Worldwide Retail and Consumer Goods Industry Group collaborating with customers and partners to reimagine data and AI solutions, and leveraging technology to drive innovation and better business outcomes. She has extensive experience in consumer products, retail, and global manufacturing. Felice has been an angel investor in early-stage startups, the founder of Delvv, a machine learning studio that created AI-driven interface technology to enhance the smartphone user experience and is an advocate for consumer-centric technology in the mobile space.

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    Paul Manikas

    Principal Industry Architect, Industry Solutions Delivery, Microsoft

    As a Manufacturing industry architect, Paul works with senior business and IT leaders to help them understand how to apply Microsoft’s technologies and partner solutions to digitally transform their company. Leveraging over 35 years of manufacturing industry experience, Paul works with clients to build their transformations strategy, considering four key pillars of digital transformation: customer experience, operational excellence, workforce transformation and product-as-a-service.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, Professor of Hispanic Theology and Ministry, Catholic Theological Union

    Players observe a minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis before the Spanish league soccer match between Real Madrid and RC Celta de Vigo at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2025. Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images

    The world of sport is “a constellation of many stars,” Pope Francis told La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian daily sports newspaper, during a wide-ranging interview in January 2021.

    On April 21, 2025, that world lost, if not one of its brightest stars, then certainly one of its highest-placed advocates in Francis. In his youth, Francis was only ever a street athlete, but he was an avid and lifelong sports fan, especially when it came to soccer. In fact, Francis incorporated his love of the beautiful game into his outlook as pope – for him, sport was a way to communicate with people from all backgrounds and all corners of the globe.

    With Leo XIV now installed as Francis’ successor, that sporting theme could continue in the Vatican, though the center of gravity may migrate from soccer to baseball. As befitting a U.S. pope, Leo is known to be a fan of the national pastime, in particular his native Chicago White Sox.

    Always ‘un cuervo!’

    Long before the papacy, even before his first steps toward priesthood, for Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the boy who would go on to become Pope Francis – there was his hometown sports club, Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo de Almagro.

    It was “part of my cultural identity,” Francis later said, so much so that he maintained his club membership throughout his life.

    That became news upon his death, when a photo of his club card went viral. Argentine sports fans noted that his membership card number, 88235, coincided with his age, 88, and the moment of his death in Argentina time: 2:35 AM.

    Francis’ relationship with San Lorenzo de Almagro was marked by mutual affection. The team memorialized him in various ways. They noted how he continues to accompany them by emblazoning on their jerseys his image and the words “juntos por la eternidad” or “together forever.”

    In a touching video tribute posted on social media following Francis’ death, the club affirmed his belonging, from his childhood through his papacy, as “un cuervo” – or “crow,” a nod to the nickname for the team and its fans rooted in the club’s founding by a Catholic priest. In Lunfardo, a dialect in Buenos Aires, “cuervo” is also slang for priest. For his team, “Papa Cuervo” was “never just one more fan, he was always one of us.”

    A sporting world pays tribute

    And it wasn’t just his home team that mourned Francis’ death.

    On the day of his passing, moments of silence preceded play from Citi Field, the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the temporary soccer venue of Spanish soccer giant Barcelona.

    In Italy, soccer matches were rescheduled to honor the national period of mourning, and players and coaches from AS Roma filed into St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects.

    Pope Francis holds a tennis racket presented to him by the Italian Tennis Federation in 2015.
    AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

    Across social media platforms, the sporting world responded to the loss of one they considered their own. Spanish tennis champ Rafael Nadal tweeted his condolences and observed that the day was indeed “un día triste,” or “sad day.”

    The NFL’s New Orleans Saints expressed condolences and commemorated their relationship with the pope, a connection born of a digital anomaly. Each time Francis posted #Saints on his X – formerly Twitter – account, it automatically tagged the NFL team, which did not mind the accidental blessings.

    When global attention turned to speculating about the next pope, the soccer world continued to mourn and honor their star. From April 29 to May 1, each Champions League semifinal match – youth, women’s and men’s alike – was preceded by a moment of silence.

    In the words of world soccer body UEFA’s president Aleksander Čeferin: “Pope Francis was a beacon of hope for… (a) humanity that will now remain orphaned of that voice – tireless and powerful – that always rose in defense of the poor, the humble, and the vulnerable to call for respect, acceptance, and equality and to implore a peace that always seemed distant …”

    Pope Francis is given a San Lorenzo’s shirt as he greets the faithful prior to his first ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013.
    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

    Sport as language of life

    For Francis, sport was more than a game or a pastime.

    It was a vernacular, and soccer was his dialect. He was fluent and it showed. He recognized in sport the potential to communicate in what he called a universal language that “extends across borders, language, race, religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people, together, by fostering dialogue and acceptance.”

    The online archive of his pontificate contains well over 60 sport-related audiences, messages and letters, including video greetings on occasions such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LI in 2017.

    The significance of sport as a distinctive body of his papal teaching is also indicated by the Spanish release in 2024 of “Más Allá De Los Límites: El Deporte Según El Papa Francisco,” or “Beyond the Limits: Sports According to Pope Francis.” The book came with a forward by Carlo Ancelotti, the storied manager of a litany of soccer greats, including Real Madrid.

    Sport emerged early as one of Jorge Bergoglio’s native tongues, bound intimately to memory, family, identity and belonging – threads also evident in his canon of teachings on sport. In “Hope,” his 2024 autobiography, Francis dedicates a chapter to sport and weaves stories of his beloved soccer throughout the book in a manner that reveals how “the experience of the people and their passions” became for him a source and site for his theology of encounter.

    A commitment to inclusivity is a constitutive element in his teaching on both sport and encounter. Among those who paid tribute on Francis’ passing were the organizers of the Paralympic Games, who posted: “Today humanity lost a great man … passionate about sport and passionate about inclusion, which epitomizes everything the Paralympic Movement stands for.”

    ‘Getting in the game’

    Francis urged, “‘Get in the game’ not only in sports … but also in life, in the search for the good, without fear but with courage and enthusiasm. Get in the game with others and with God … Place your talents at the service of the encounter among people, of friendship and of inclusion.”

    Pope Francis salutes the cricket team of the Vatican.
    AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

    He put this into practice with the launch and sponsorship in 2019 of Athletica Vaticana, a dedicated sports body for the city-state. He also gave his blessing and backing to St. Peter’s Cricket Club, the first-ever Vatican women’s soccer team, and Sport at the Service of Humanity, a collaborative global movement that seeks to “leverage the power of Faith and Sport as a platform for good.”

    “Get in the game” was a call intended not only for athletes – amateur, collegiate, Special Olympian, professional – but for street-ballers, schoolyard players, fans and gamers of all kinds. In sports and play, Francis found the potential for a “school of peace” because they provided opportunities “to go outside of our own walls and learn how to participate, to overcome, to struggle together,” charting ways forward for church and society “to overcome all forms of discrimination and exclusion.”

    Francis never forgot the joys or even the sorrows of sports as a player or as a fan. “Playing is a right,” he wrote in his memoir, “and there’s also the hallowed right not to be a champion.”

    Behind every ball, he saw a kid with a dream and aspirations, and he recognized himself on the soccer field – a “pata dura,” the kid with two left feet, “sleeves rolled up, and often with grazed knees.” On the sports field, like elsewhere, he recognized and took delight in the beauty of God.

    The link between the papacy and the sporting world looks set to continue under Pope Leo XIV.

    The media quickly noted that soccer aficionado Francis had been succeeded by an amateur tennis player and fan.

    The new pope’s brother had to resolve an online dispute by affirming Leo is a fan of the South Side’s Chicago White Sox and not the North Side’s Cubs.

    Regardless, the city’s two baseball franchises responded with dueling stadium signs claiming the pope as their own. Meanwhile, ESPN reported that NBA teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, former Villanova Wildcats-turned-New York Knicks chatted about a possible alumni reunion with the newest rising star in the constellation of sports: Pope Leo XIV.

    Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández 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. From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV – https://theconversation.com/from-pulpit-to-pitch-pope-francis-used-sport-to-get-his-message-to-a-wider-world-that-could-continue-with-baseball-loving-leo-xiv-255493

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Creating Jobs and Opportunity Across the Empire State

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will support small businesses and grow New York’s economy. Governor Hochul’s economic development initiatives include helping small businesses grow through access to capital, new contracting opportunities, and disaster recovery support; doubling down on semiconductors and advanced manufacturing; supporting transformative, community-driven projects, and boosting the state’s creative economy.

    “We’re making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation, creating jobs and economic opportunity in every corner of the Empire State,” Governor Hochul said. “By providing access to low-interest capital and investing in innovative industries like semiconductor manufacturing, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re positioning New York as a leader in the industries of tomorrow. These investments will ensure our businesses can thrive, attract new industries, and help communities grow across the state.”

    Helping Small Business Thrive in New York

    Support Small Businesses With Low Interest Capital
    High interest rates can incapacitate small businesses—which often pay higher borrowing rates due to their reduced collateral and higher risk profiles as compared to larger firms—preventing them from investing in expansion and creating new jobs. The successful Linked Deposit Program, which helps small businesses borrow at more affordable rates, has lowered the interest rate for nearly 6,000 businesses, resulting in $2 billion in bank lending, and leveraging over $4 billion in new capital investments by New York State businesses.

    In response to demand that far exceeds supply, Governor Hochul will launch the Low Interest Capital program (LINC), an expansion of the Linked Deposit Program, to help support hundreds of additional small businesses across the state. LINC will nearly double the funding available for linked deposits from $560 million to $1.1 billion.

    Increase Opportunities for MWBEs in State Procurement
    The FY26 Enacted Budget will eliminate barriers for minority and women-owned businesses to contract with state agencies and authorities by increasing the discretionary purchasing threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million when buying from NYS Certified MWBEs. This builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding opportunities for MWBE firms while bringing the State’s threshold into alignment with those of the MTA and New York City.

    Help Small Businesses Recover After Natural Disasters
    As extreme weather events become more common, Governor Hochul is modernizing the Empire State Jobs Retention Program to provide a lifeline for businesses impacted by a natural disaster. The overhaul will allow small businesses to receive financial incentives through the Jobs Retention Program for the first time, while streamlining burdensome eligibility criteria and focusing assistance on the immediate aftermath of natural disasters when it is most impactful.

    Doubling Down on Semiconductors and Advanced Manufacturing

    Grow the Semiconductor Industry and Build the Semiconductor Supply Chain
    New York has emerged as a leader in the semiconductor industry through the Green CHIPS program, attracting over $120 billion in private sector investment. Much of that success is owed to New York’s Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program, which encourages businesses to locate or expand in New York by providing Excelsior tax credits after meeting job creation and investment thresholds. While New York State continues to lead in bringing semiconductor manufacturing home to our state, multiple states are vying to attract the related supply-chain companies that are looking to do business with those manufacturers.

    The FY26 Enacted Budget doubles down on Excelsior with a new, enhanced benefit tier for semiconductor supply chain companies; a new program to provide tax credits for large-scale semiconductor R&D investments of $100 million or more in qualified expenditures; a new semiconductor manufacturing workforce training incentive; and an overall 5-year extension of the Excelsior program.

    Promote Opportunity With Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties
    New York State is attracting investment in new manufacturing and high-tech development faster than existing energy system planning and funding mechanisms can accommodate, and we need more power-ready sites — a key factor in where companies decide to locate. Indeed, lack of speedy connection to reliable power is often cited as a primary reason for advanced manufacturers taking their business, and jobs, towards other states or opportunities.

    Locating at a power-ready site can shave years off the timeline between site selection and a plant’s opening day. Extending transmission and electrical infrastructure to more sites around the State will help unlock equitable economic growth and supercharge our ability to connect New Yorkers with the advanced manufacturing jobs of the future.

    To help land more business and jobs in New York, Governor Hochul will launch a new $300 million program — Promote Opportunity with Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties (POWER UP) — to fund the proactive development of electric capacity to create power-ready sites and attract new businesses to the state. Governor Hochul is seeding the fund with $100 million this year, which will allow for the proactive development of dozens of sites.

    POWER UP will not only alleviate bottlenecks to connect businesses to power but will help defray electrical costs for regional consumers, who under our current regulatory structure are often left to foot the bill for grid improvements prompted by one particular project within their region. POWER UP will defray those costs by interjecting state capital dollars into projects that provide overwhelming public and economic benefits.

    Empire State Development (ESD) will provide economic development expertise to ensure the fund helps prepare sites that are strongly positioned to host manufacturing operations that will create jobs in New York State.

    The Department of Public Service will provide expertise in utility capital planning and will identify opportunities for project sites that bundle clean energy resources together.

    Double Down on Shovel-Ready Sites for Modern Manufacturing
    While New York State is a leader in business attraction, large scale manufacturing and industrial firms can only continue to locate and expand here if sufficient shovel-ready space is available.

    Governor Hochul established the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) program to build shovel-ready sites across New York and ensure the State is prepared to capitalize on high-value opportunities. Since its launch in 2022, FAST NY has committed over $175 million to 20 projects, transforming nearly 3,000 acres of previously underutilized land into future economic engines of the State.

    This year’s Enacted Budget includes $100 million to launch a new round of FAST NY that prioritizes semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain projects as well as cleantech and green economy projects. This new round of funding will include a focus on equipping sites with utility access, including renewable and clean energy.

    Strengthening Communities and Promoting Economic Growth

    Transform Regional Economic Development With High-Impact Projects
    The Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) have driven significant progress across New York, but their current funding limits make it difficult to support large-scale, game-changing projects. To address this, Governor Hochul will refocus the REDC initiative on transformative projects that serve as high-impact economic anchors such as cultural venues, waterfront revitalization efforts, and mixed-use development projects. This new approach will maximize the benefits that REDC awards deliver for local communities and regional economies, driving growth and revitalization in every corner of the state. Governor Hochul’s FY26 Enacted Budget includes $150 million to support the REDCs.

    Continue To Revitalize Our Downtowns and Rural Communities
    Governor Hochul is committed to supporting New York State’s downtowns, large and small, and recognizes that the strength of the State lies in its partnerships with local governments. By working together to create economically, socially, and environmentally healthy community centers through downtown revitalization, the State and local governments can make life better for New Yorkers and help secure the long-term well-being of the state. To further revitalize our communities, the Enacted Budget provides $100 million for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which has been transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work, and raise families. Participating communities are nominated by the State’s 10 REDCs based on the downtown’s potential for transformation. Each winning community is awarded funding to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.

    To support New York’s rural communities, the State will continue its investment in the NY Forward program, designed to advance the renaissance of our smaller downtowns. New York’s hamlets and villages serve as commercial and social centers, and support our agricultural, recreational, and tourism economies. Recognizing the distinct needs of smaller communities and their niche historical and cultural assets, the Enacted Budget includes another round of $100 million in funding for rural and smaller communities. Like the DRI program, NY Forward communities are selected in partnership with the REDCs, and the Department of State (DOS) will lead the community through an abbreviated planning process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects. The State’s investment in projects that demonstrate their ability to accelerate revitalization will strengthen the competitiveness and improve the future trajectory of New York State’s small communities and larger urban centers.

    Renew Our Commitment to Our State’s Capital City
    This year’s Executive Budget launches the Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) Initiative, an inclusive, State-led effort to invest $400 million to revitalize the downtown core of Albany—in partnership with local stakeholders and backed by significant State resources to catalyze change. The CAP Initiative includes $200 million to make real investments into tangible strategies and projects to revitalize Albany, such as: targeted strategies that address public safety and quality of life; revitalizing vacant or dated anchor institutions; reinvigorating commercial corridors; repurposing vacant and underutilized commercial buildings for housing and other new uses; leveraging open spaces and key public assets; coordinating with ongoing planning efforts related to the redevelopment of I-787 and the Livingston Avenue rail bridge; and creating new reasons to work, visit, or live in downtown Albany. This historic investment also includes up to $150 million to renovate the New York State Museum and upgrade the exhibits to be more inviting to visitors, including families, as well as funding for the State to temporarily supplement Albany’s public safety efforts by offering enhanced State Police resources to reduce crime and increase community policing in key corridors.

    Informed by conversations with local stakeholders, the CAP Initiative will play out through a comprehensive community engagement process with the public, elected representatives, and community leaders to identify key opportunities to promote business development, bolster public safety, build out community anchors, encourage housing, and enhance affordability.

    Fueling New York’s Creative Economy

    Investments in Arts and Culture
    The FY26 Enacted Budget builds on Governor Hochul’s record investments in the New York State Council on the Arts, which provides critical support for New York’s robust nonprofit creative sector. This includes more than $80 million in general operating support grants for nonprofit arts and culture organizations and individual artists; $80 million in capital funding to support critical renovation and expansion projects; and continued funding for two new programs established in the FY25 Budget to empower artists to take stage in the State’s continued economic growth – Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM NY), which will fund the design and installation of public murals in communities across New York; and the “State of the Arts” Fellowship Program, which will place artist fellows at State agencies to advance public policy goals through creative approaches.

    Cement New York’s Status as a Global Capital for Media Production
    The FY26 Enacted Budget strengthens and modernizes a range of programs to ensure that New York remains the premier destination for both traditional and new media production. This includes:

    • Enhancing the New York State Film Tax Credit Program to attract more high-value productions that create good paying jobs and inject millions of dollars into local communities. Modifications include a two-year extension, a new $100 million incentive track for independent studios, a new Production Plus benefit for studios that make significant long-term investments in New York, and other tweaks to speed up payments and bring more post-production and musical scoring work in-state.
    • Amending the Digital Gaming Media Production Tax Credit to align with new industry trends and strengthen the growth of this growing industry.
    • Extending the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit for two years to ensure the industry returns to pre-COVID levels and continues to drive the State’s $137+ billion tourism sector.
    • Amending the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program to allow affiliate companies to apply individually and therefore support a wider range of print and broadcast outlets across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Waller, Thank You, John

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Volker, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.1
    John Taylor is deservedly well known for his work on monetary policy rules, the best known of which bear his name. But in the early 1980s, John was part of a broader discussion about rules versus discretion in the setting of monetary policy.
    The traditional argument for discretionary monetary policy was that any policy choice that a rule would recommend could be replicated by discretion, especially when policymakers are aware of the rule, but not vice versa. Discretion allowed more flexibility than a rule and thus was the dominant strategy for setting monetary policy.
    Then, in 1977, Finn Kydland and Ed Prescott published their paper “Rules Rather than Discretion: The Inconsistency of Optimal Plans,” which argued that policy promises made today may not be carried out in the future if there are advantages to reneging on those promises.2 Reneging on promises made by discretionary policymakers, they argued, is much easier than reneging on a policy rule, which is a way to commit to future actions.
    Kydland and Prescott provided a simple and appealing model at the end of their paper. The model had an incentive for the central bank to renege on its promise to keep inflation low, since doing so would expand the economy and lower unemployment. If rational agents knew of this incentive, they would not find the promise of low inflation credible and would therefore raise their expectations for future inflation. The central bank would then have to validate those expectations with higher inflation to avoid a recession. In the end, the economy ends up in a high-inflation equilibrium with no gains from higher output or lower unemployment.
    Kydland and Prescott then showed that if, on the other hand, the central bank could commit to following a rule to set policy, then it could not renege on its promises. As a result, inflation would stay low while yielding the same outcomes for output and employment. In this case, rules beat discretion. This was pathbreaking research, and it came to influence both the theory and practice of central banking. It was also part of the basis for Kydland and Prescott’s Nobel Prize in Economics in 2004.
    But commitment to most things in life is easier said than done. Even rules can be abandoned if it is optimal to do so. In the absence of commitment, can the central bank do anything to enhance the credibility of its promise to keep inflation low?
    In 1983, Robert Barro and David Gordon used the Kydland–Prescott example to study reputation building by the central bank.3 The basic idea is to establish a reputation for fulfilling promises. But what promises can be made in a discretionary world that the public would find credible? They showed that promising the low-inflation outcome wasn’t credible. However, the central bank could promise an inflation rate that was between the low-inflation equilibrium and the high-inflation equilibrium. If private individuals expected this intermediate inflation rate, then the gains from reneging would be reduced just enough to dissuade the central bank from breaking its promise. Consequently, promises to deliver this intermediate inflation rate were credible, and society was better off than it would be in the high-inflation world, showing that credibility really mattered in a world in which commitment was not feasible.
    I now introduce John Taylor and his work into the story, which coincided with the beginning of my own research career.
    In 1983, having read the Barro and Gordon paper, I started working on reputation-building strategies as part of my Ph.D. dissertation research. In the process, I was struck by the thought that the building of credibility and reputation hinges on the person setting monetary policy at the time: If that person leaves, does the central bank have to start over to rebuild its credibility? At the time, I had in mind Paul Volcker, whose personal credibility seemed so crucial in the Federal Reserve’s campaign to vanquish high inflation. Relying on the credibility of individual policymakers seemed like a weak foundation for sustaining the credibility of policy promises.
    That is when I went back and read John Taylor’s discussion of the Barro and Gordon paper in the Journal of Monetary Economics.4 John applauded the analytical contribution that Barro and Gordon—as well as Kydland and Prescott—had made, but he was skeptical about the practical applicability of their story. In his critique, John said, “In other well-recognized time inconsistency situations, society seems to have found ways to institute the optimal (cooperative) policy.”5
    As I read that sentence, I thought, “How does society build credibility into the institution instead of relying on the credibility of an individual?” That one sentence that John wrote in 1983 set me off on a 20-year journey studying central bank design.
    So where did it lead me?
    Around that time, Ken Rogoff published his paper on what he referred to as “conservative” central bankers.6 In his terminology, a conservative central banker was someone who disliked inflation more than the rest of society did. Rogoff showed that a conservative central banker would choose a lower rate of inflation than the average citizen but at the cost of greater instability of output and employment. This tradeoff improved social well-being, but there was one catch to this solution—there had to be safeguards to guarantee that the conservative central banker could not be fired for this policy decision, ensuring that these promises to control inflation were credible. In short, the central bank had to be independent and protected from the threats to its independence.
    This type of institutional design issue was one that I was interested in researching.
    Up until Rogoff’s work, the underlying assumption had been that the central bank was trying to maximize social welfare and that its preferences were aligned with those of society. Think of it as a “representative agent” economy. But as I read Rogoff’s work, it suggested that society consisted of people who had a variety of views about inflation, meaning that they would also have different views on the tradeoff between inflation and output stability. Consequently, members of society may have different views on how conservative the central banker should be. But where are these views coming from?
    So I tried to endogenize the heterogeneity in preferences. I had the idea that individuals all had the same fundamental preferences for inflation and output stability but that they varied if they worked in different sectors of the economy. In one sector, wages and employment were determined in a standard competitive fashion. In the other sector, wages were determined by wage contracts, and employment was determined by demand. Thus, when a negative shock hit the economy, the wage contract workers suffered a bigger reduction in employment because wages couldn’t adjust, whereas in the competitive sector, wages would adjust to soften the blow to employment—implying that if the wage contract sector got to choose a conservative central banker, they would want a more dovish central banker who would accept higher inflation in return for greater employment stability. The flexible wage workers wanted the opposite: They were more hawkish on inflation because they didn’t bear the same employment volatility. The punchline was that if political parties formed around workers from different sectors, then they would install central bankers with different policy preferences if they won the election.
    It was around that time that I read Alberto Alesina’s paper on “partisan business cycles.”7 In that paper, he assumed there were different political parties, each having different preferences about inflation and unemployment. One party was more concerned with price stability and less concerned about output stability than the other. Monetary policy and inflation outcomes were determined by the party that won a national election. As power changed hands after an election, monetary policy would differ from expected policy depending on who won the election. These election surprises would create volatility in monetary policy and thus inflation and output. In other words, elections would lead to partisan business cycles. In Alesina’s model, monetary policy was fully accountable to the electorate, which is desirable, but it came at the cost of causing greater economic instability.
    This was a brilliant paper, but, again, it raised a serious question for me: Why would society choose full electoral accountability and maximum volatility in monetary policy? Economists usually think there are tradeoffs on the margin such that “corner solutions” like these aren’t optimal. It seemed to me that there could be a welfare-improving institutional design for the central bank. I looked at the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors structure, and I felt that electoral accountability could be achieved through the appointment process, but economic instability would be reduced by having a monetary policy board composed of current and past appointees who set policy according to majority rule. This thinking led me to taking a variant of Alesina’s model and studying how a policy board would change his results.
    I assumed that board members were appointed by the winning party of an election to serve for multiple periods. This appointment process provided accountability to the electorate via the nomination and confirmation process. To ensure that economic stability would be improved, I assumed these members served staggered and long (relative to the election cycle) terms in office.8 Furthermore, as in Rogoff’s model, board members could not be removed from office. This feature of the model captured the idea that the central bank board would be independent.
    My research showed that by having an independent policy board set monetary policy, social well-being was improved relative to Alesina’s results. Accountability to the electorate could be achieved through the nomination and confirmation process, and economic stability was enhanced by having a group of individuals set policy who could not be removed from office. This structure is the one that we have in place today at the Federal Reserve. I would argue that it has stood the test of time, and I hope that it continues to be in place for years to come.
    To conclude, I have come full circle in my professional life—from first reading that sentence that John wrote in 1983 to researching central bank independence and central bank boards for 20 years to then becoming a central bank board member, which led me here today. So, I can finally thank John for sending me on a wonderful journey that he had no idea he launched me on.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Finn E. Kydland and Edward C. Prescott (1977), “Rules Rather than Discretion: The Inconsistency of Optimal Plans,” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 85 (June), pp. 473–92. Return to text
    3. See Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon (1983), “Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 12 (1), pp. 101–21. Return to text
    4. See John B. Taylor (1983), “‘Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy’ by Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 12 (1), pp. 123–25. Return to text
    5. See Taylor, ‘”Rules, Discretion and Reputation in a Model of Monetary Policy’ by Robert J. Barro and David B. Gordon” in note 4. Return to text
    6. See Kenneth Rogoff (1985), “The Optimal Degree of Commitment to an Intermediate Monetary Target,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 100 (November), pp. 1169–89. Return to text
    7. See Alberto Alesina (1987), “Macroeconomic Policy in a Two-Party System as a Repeated Game,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 102 (August), pp. 651–78. Return to text
    8. See Christopher J. Waller (1989), “Monetary Policy Games and Central Bank Politics,” Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, vol. 21 (November), pp. 422–31; Christopher J. Waller (1992), “A Bargaining Model of Partisan Appointments to the Central Bank,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 29 (June), pp. 411–28; and Christopher J. Waller (2000), “Policy Boards and Policy Smoothing,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 115 (February), pp. 305–39. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Art dealer pleads guilty to Terrorism Act offence

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An art dealer from London has become the first person to be convicted of a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

    Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53 (05.05.72) of west London, was charged following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    Ojiri appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 9 May and pleaded guilty to all the charges. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 6 June.

    Following CPS authorisation, he was charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. The charges relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021.

    He was first arrested on Tuesday, 18 April 2023 in Wales. The charges relate to the sale of art to Nazem Ahmad, a man who has been sanctioned by the UK Treasury, suspected of financing Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group by the UK Government. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019.

    The investigation has been carried out in partnership with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation in HM Treasury, HMRC, and the Met’s Arts and Antiques Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Introduces Bill to Address Staffing Shortages at Ports of Entry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which would strengthen border security, address personnel shortages at ports of entry, and ensure America’s airports, seaports, and land ports of entry are fully staffed by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire no fewer than 1,000 additional officers annually until the agency’s staffing needs are met:
    “When ports of entry aren’t sufficiently staffed, we run the risk of legitimate trade and travel grinding to a halt,”said Sen. Cornyn. “Nowhere do we feel this more acutely than in Texas where we have more ports of entry than any other state, which is why I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to ensure our ports have the personnel needed to handle the safe and legal flow of people and goods into our nation.”
    Background:
    Texas is home to some of the nation’s busiest border crossings, including ports of entry in Laredo, Brownsville, and El Paso. CBP continues to face an ongoing shortage of officers. In addition to requiring more CBP officers, the bill also authorizes the annual hiring of mission support staff and technicians to perform non-law enforcement functions in support of CBP. These professionals will allow CBP officers to focus their efforts on law enforcement priorities, such as preventing drug trafficking, while supporting lawful international commerce through the nation’s ports of entry. According to CBP, 86% of the fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2024 was interdicted at ports of entry.
    The bill also requires reporting on infrastructure improvements at ports of entry that would enhance drug interdiction, information on detection equipment that would help officers better identify drugs, and safety equipment to protect officers from accidental exposure to dangerous toxins. Addressing a shortage of CBP officers would also help to reduce waiting times for travelers and critical cargo coming through our ports of entry. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Menendez, Senator Luján, Senator Bennet Lead Democrats in Calling on Trump Administration to Crack Down on U.S. Firearms Flowing to Latin American Drug Cartels

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Administration’s Designation of 8 Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations Unlocks New Tools to Crack Down on Southbound Arms Trafficking  

     

    Over 200,000 American Firearms Flow into Mexico Every Year, Fueling Gang Violence and Drug and Human Trafficking 

     

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today led 10 of their colleagues in urging the Trump administration to use its recent designation of Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) to take aggressive action to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms south across the Southern Border. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers called for a coordinated federal response to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of American firearms that arm violent drug cartels, fuel lawlessness along the Southern Border, and bring drugs into communities across the United States. 

    “We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels,” the Members wrote. 

    Anywhere between 200,000 and 500,000 American firearms are smuggled across U.S. borders into Mexico every year, arming Latin American criminal organizations that have used them to undermine domestic law enforcement and assert control over fentanyl and human trafficking operations back into the United States. 

    “The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years,” the Members continued. 

    The members urged the administration to effectively and strategically employ the full suite of legal options this new designation enables and offered their assistance to empower it to specifically address the “Iron River” of American firearms that are fueling violence and destruction in communities across the United States and Mexico. 

    “We hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue,” the Members concluded. 

    Read the letter here or below: 

    Dear Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Attorney General Bondi: 

    We write to you today regarding the Trump Administration’s recent designation of eight Latin American cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), a move aimed at addressing the growing harms these organizations are causing in the United States. As you know, the primary source of strength and control that these criminal organizations exert over the U.S./Mexico border stems from one source: American firearms. We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels.  

    It is a well-established fact that the overwhelming majority of the weapons used by Latin American cartels are manufactured in the United States. In fact, anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 are smuggled into Mexico every single year and a whopping 70 percent of firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico are traced to the U.S. Alarmingly, although Mexico has just a single gun store in the entire country, it still endures approximately 30,000 firearm related deaths every year. This steady supply of weapons coming in from the north has allowed these criminal organizations to gain control over fentanyl and human trafficking across the border and undermine Mexican law enforcement. 

    Put simply, if we do not stop the flow of American-made guns across the southern border to Mexico, we cannot stop the flow of fentanyl into our country over that same border.  

    The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years. Individuals and entities that provide weapons, funds, equipment, or other tangible support to designated terrorist organizations can face serious federal prosecution if found liable.   

    To leverage this designation most effectively, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of State (DOS) must take immediate steps to crack down on the “Iron River” of illegal arms flowing into Mexico by taking the following actions: 

    Increasing interagency cooperation to track, target, and dismantle smuggling rings that facilitate weapons trafficking across the Mexican border.  

    Expanding inspections at border crossings to intercept vehicles carrying firearms, related munitions, and other contraband into Mexico.  

    Increasing law enforcement efforts against straw purchasers and firearm dealers that knowingly provide material support to smugglers.  

    Strengthening our intelligence-sharing with Mexican authorities and trusted partners to target and disrupt arms traffickers and their networks. 

    Given that this issue has been a key topic of discussion between President Trump and President Sheinbaum of Mexico – which has resulted in the U.S. government agreeing to work together to stop the flow of firearms into Mexico – we hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue.  

    Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to continuing to work with you on this issue. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Foster Youth Caucus Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Recognize Foster Care Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Foster Youth Caucus Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Recognize Foster Care Month

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, on National Foster Care Day, Foster Youth Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Don Bacon (R, NE-02)introduced a resolution to recognize the month of May as National Foster Care Month alongside fellow Co-Chairs Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D, CA-37), Erin Houchin (R, IN-09), Gwen Moore (D, WI-04), Zach Nunn (R, IA-03), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D, PA-05). The bipartisan resolution encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the child welfare system and honors foster families, social workers, and advocates for the essential role that they play in the lives of foster youth.

    “As co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus and a foster-to-adopt parent myself, I know that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home, and this resolution not only recognizes the challenges faced by foster youth but honors the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to support them,” said Rep. Bacon. “Having witnessed the transformative power of foster care and adoption, I’m committed to implementing policies that improve the lives of every child in the foster care system.”

    “All children deserve stable environments where they can learn, grow, and thrive,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to re-introduce this bipartisan resolution alongside the Foster Youth Caucus to recognize the resilience of our foster youth, honor those who make a difference in their lives, and recommit to passing policies that help ensure all children have a safe and loving home. As a Representative of Los Angeles County—home to over 30,000 foster youth—I will always champion our most vulnerable children through my work in Congress.”

    “National Foster Care Month is an opportunity to lift up the young people in the child welfare system and continue pushing for proposals that improve outcomes and enhance the wellbeing of children and youth in care,” said Rep. Moore. “Serving as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am deeply committed to that work every day.”

    “Every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home. As a dad to six kids, including two Kelly and I were blessed to adopt, this resolution is personal to me,” said Rep. Nunn. “This month and every month, we honor the foster parents, the parents who choose to adopt, and the social workers who step up for kids with nowhere else to turn. I will keep working to build a system that helps more families who are ready to open their homes and their hearts to foster, adopt, and change a child’s life.”

    “Before coming to Congress, I spent decades working as a child advocate, seeing firsthand the challenges that young people and those who serve them face in finding permanent homes and connections,” said Rep. Scanlon. “It’s why one of my top priorities in Congress is to confront the challenges of our foster care system, support the more than 369,000 children it serves, and provide the resources that those dedicated to serving them need to ensure their bright futures. Raising awareness about the need to invest in the lives of children and youth in foster care is an important part of building support and driving change–that’s why I’m proud to join my co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth in recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.”

    According to the most recent data from the US Children’s Bureau, 369,000 children are living in foster care nationwide. Our nation’s foster youth face significant challenges, including disparities in positive outcomes in health, education, employment, and involvement with the justice system. National Foster Care Month was established in the United States in 1988 to recognize foster youth, foster parents, and all those who support children in the foster care system. 

    The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth provides a forum for Members of Congress to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall well-being of youth and families. The Foster Youth Caucus is committed to ensuring that our nation’s vulnerable, yet resilient, youth are provided with the opportunities and support necessary to succeed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, McClellan, Hyde-Smith, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Address Mental Health Treatment Shortages

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, McClellan, Hyde-Smith, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Address Mental Health Treatment Shortages

    Washington, D.C. –     Today, Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced legislation to address mental health and substance use disorder facility shortages during a growing mental health crisis.

    About one in five American adults live with mental illness, and over 75 percent of adults who needed substance use treatment in the past year did not receive that care. From shortages in inpatient beds to intensive outpatient programs to behavioral health providers, treatment availability has not kept up with growing demand. As a consequence, many patients go without care or are boarded in emergency departments for days to weeks until psychiatric beds become available, which can have deeply harmful impacts on patient well-being. 

    H.R. 3266, the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act would:

    • Establish a new loan and loan guarantee program within the Department of Health and Human Services to build or renovate mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities.
    • Reserve at least a quarter of the funding for pediatric- and adolescent-serving facilities.
    • Prioritize facilities located in high need, underserved or rural areas and able to provide integrated care for patients with complex needs.

    “At a time when one in every five U.S. adults report experiencing mental illness, we need to be investing in mental health care,” said Rep. Bacon. “The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act will expand mental health infrastructure and ensure we have the capability to treat those experiencing a mental healthcrisis. There is a significant shortage of available treatment, and it is crucial that we address this gap.”

    “We face a mental health crisis in this country, but have yet to meet that crisis with the necessary avenues of support that our neighbors, friends, and family members need to battle a mental health or substance use disorder,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Those bravely seeking support shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get it, and addressing these facility shortages now will help ensure that care is there when patients need it. I urge my colleagues to support the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act to invest in our nation’s well-being and ensure every American, especially our nation’s youth and underserved communities, get the care they need.”

    “This legislation recognizes that our nation faces a growing crisis in not having enough infrastructure and workforce to treat people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.  We struggle with this in Mississippi,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.  “Our goal is to use loans and loan guarantees to increase the number of facilities to provide quality mental health and substance abuse care, while lessening the burdens now placed on law enforcement and local hospitals.”

    “Mental health care is essential health care,” said Senator Merkley. “This legislation is about ensuring that communities in Oregon and across the nation have the infrastructure they need to provide critical mentalhealth and substance use disorder services. By investing in mental health care facilities, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the mental health crisis affecting so many of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”

    This legislation is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, Children’s Hospital Association, Clinical Social Work Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, National Association of Social Workers, National Rural HealthAssociation, The Trevor Project, and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
     
    Read the full bill text here. Read the one-pager here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Gottheimer Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Gottheimer Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel

    Washington, DC — Today, May 9, 2025, U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-2) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio demanding clarity on the May 6 agreement with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces. 

    The deal made with the Houthis would halt all U.S. strikes against the terrorist group without addressing the ongoing threat to Israel, our key democratic ally. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the U.S. agreement.

    “On May 4 — just two days before this deal was struck — a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States,” the Members of Congress wrote in a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio. 

    The letter continues, “We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.”

    “The Houthi threat to global shipping cannot be separated from the danger this terrorist group continues to pose to U.S. forces in the region as well as to our allies like Israel. Ultimately, Iran is at the heart of this threat,” said Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action. “Iran’s financial assistance and transfers of advanced weapons to the Houthis must be addressed and until they are, any agreement with this terrorist group will achieve only temporary calm. The Trump administration must develop and work with Congress to implement a long-term strategy to degrade the Houthi threat and hold Iran accountable for its continued support to this terrorist group.”

    In addition to Bacon and Gottheimer, Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Greg Stanton (AZ-4) also signed the letter. 

    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

    Dear President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio,

    We are writing to express our serious concern over the agreement reached on May 6 with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which halts U.S. strikes against Houthi targets without addressing the threat to Israel. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the agreement with the United States. This decision leaves Israel dangerously vulnerable and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iran’s proxy network. 

    After months of sustained operations—including more than 800 U.S. and coalition air and missile strikes—the Houthis remain not only operational, but increasingly emboldened, regularly launching ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory. This is unacceptable. The fact that such a deal was made despite the Houthis’ continued aggression underscores a troubling lack of strategic coherence. 

    Since Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Houthis have openly declared their unwavering support for Hamas and Iran’s broader proxy network, launching missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and global shipping in the Red Sea. These operations have not only endangered Israeli civilians, but have also raised prices globally by disrupting one of the busiest global shipping routes in the world. 

    Notably, on May 4—just two days before this deal was struck—a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States.

    Moreover, this ceasefire fails to address the root of the problem: Iran’s supply of advanced weapons, intelligence, and training to the Houthis. Without a strategy that targets Tehran’s supply lines, any agreement with the Houthis is merely a tactical pause and leaves Israel exposed.

    Given these serious concerns, we are requesting a briefing to Congress by no later than May 19 that includes:

    • The full details of the May 6 agreement, including a strategy for how Israel will be engaged throughout its implementation;
    • An assessment of the Houthis long-range missile capabilities, specifically their ability to target Israeli territory;
    • An examination of Iran’s supply of weapons systems to the Houthis, including how these supply routes have evaded U.S. forces;

    We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman: President Trump’s Memorandum a Big Win for the Great Lakes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, as first reported in the Detroit News, President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign a memorandum directing his Administration to “expeditiously implement the most effective mechanisms, barriers, and other measures to prevent the migration and expansion of invasive carp in the Great Lakes Basin and surrounding region.”  Less than one month ago, Rep. Jack Bergman, joined by Michigan GOP colleagues Rep. John Moolenaar, Rep. Tim Walberg, and Rep. John James sent a scathing letter to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calling for him to reverse course on a recent politically charged decision that would jeopardize efforts to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes after he halted the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.

    Rep. Bergman stated, “I once again commend President Trump for delivering on his promises to Michigan. By advancing the long-overdue construction of a new Soo Lock, accelerating the Line 5 tunnel project, securing a critical new fighter mission at Selfridge, and taking decisive action to prevent the spread of invasive Asian Carp in our Great Lakes, President Trump has proven his unwavering commitment to Michigan’s infrastructure, economy, and environment.”

    You can read Rep. Bergman’s full letter to Gov. Pritzker here.

    Read the full Detroit News article here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Mann Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Air Safety

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) alongside Reps. Nick Begich (AK-AL), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) introduced the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to tackle the nation’s air traffic controller staffing shortage and invest in the future of American aviation.

    The legislation codifies and expands FAA’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), improves recruitment and retention incentives, funds tower simulator systems, and supports mental health services for air traffic controllers, which addresses one of the most serious safety risks currently facing U.S. airspace.

    “Workforce limitations have led to a widening skills gap across all industries, including for our nation’s air traffic controllers,” said Rep. Mann. “Failure to support a robust talent pipeline to protect our skies puts the future of aviation reliability and the passenger experience at risk. Our bill seeks to ensure that we can prepare and equip the next generation of capable, qualified air traffic controllers to protect the future safety of our skies and maintain the American gold standard of aviation.”

    “Safe, reliable air travel is core to life in Alaska. Whether it’s delivering food and supplies to remote villages or ensuring medevac services reach those in need, air traffic controllers are essential to our state,” said Rep. Begich. “The Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025 is a commonsense solution to a national challenge. It strengthens the safety of our skies by making forward-looking investments to ensure we train and support highly skilled professionals. By training the next generation of controllers now, we’re building a safer, more connected future for every American.”

    “Our air traffic controllers are the best in the world, and they work hard to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all travelers. But controllers in Arizona and nationally have sounded the alarm for years about staffing shortages that have left them overworked and undersupported,” said Rep. Stanton. “The bipartisan Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act is an overdue investment in the recruitment and retention of highly-qualified controllers—their training, professional development and well-being.”

    “We put our faith in America’s air traffic controllers to keep us safe and protect our nation’s airways. I’ve seen firsthand how our air traffic controllers work tirelessly to fulfill their truly difficult and absolutely critical mission. They cannot do their jobs without our support,” said Rep. Goodlander. “I’m proud to help lead the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025, commonsense legislation to help recruit and retain air traffic controllers, improve working conditions, and equip our aviation workforce with the equipment and facilities they need to keep our skies safe.”

    The FAA currently employs 2,300 fewer Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs) than needed and continues to fall below its hiring and certification targets. The shortage has forced many controllers to work mandatory overtime, leading to fatigue and increasing the risk of errors. This bipartisan bill will help reverse that trend by expanding workforce pipelines, improving equipment, and placing high-fidelity simulators across the country to accelerate instruction timelines.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Obernolte, Stevens, Weber, Hudson introduce new legislation to expedite quantum computing applications in USA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia)

    U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act alongside co-leads Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). The bill aims to increase quantum technology commercial advancement through the creation of a quantum sandbox program. This program allows government and industry partners to come together to develop and deploy quantum and quantum-hybrid applications for near-term use.

    U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act alongside co-leads Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). The bill aims to increase quantum technology commercial advancement through the creation of a quantum sandbox program. This program allows government and industry partners to come together to develop and deploy quantum and quantum-hybrid applications for near-term use. 

    “Quantum computing is a game-changing advancement in technology. It will dramatically increase the speed at which computers can run algorithms and solve problems, enabling new opportunities to improve our supply chains, transportation networks, electrical grid, and our communication resilience,” said Rep. Obernolte. “The Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act will help to ensure the United States remains a global leader in not only the development but also the deployment of new quantum technologies by providing a cloud-based venue for developers to produce quantum-enabled software tools from a variety of different systems for use in sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, healthcare and defense.” 

    “The application of quantum technologies in manufacturing is vital to the future competitiveness of Michigan manufacturers. The bipartisan Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act will create testbeds to allow innovators to test quantum discoveries in real-world applications, like advanced manufacturing,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “This legislation will ensure businesses and researchers here at home can apply this emerging technology and help Michigan businesses continue to grow and innovate.” 

    Unlike traditional computers which store and analyze data as either zeros or ones, quantum computers operate with quantum bits, known as qubits, which are complex dual systems of both zero and one simultaneously, a concept derived from quantum physics. Although fully developed commercial quantum computing remains years away, finding new ways to tackle critical challenges is a key objective of a quantum sandbox program. Once use cases are identified, the sandbox program can provide an expedited pathway to develop targeted applications through public-private partnerships. 

    The quantum sandbox program will drive U.S. innovation toward solving critical real-world challenges impacting American society and will augment the long-term basic research currently being conducted through the National Quantum Initiative.  

    What they’re saying: 

    D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz: “We commend Representatives Obernolte, Stevens, Hudson and Weber for their continued leadership on advancing near-term applications of emerging technologies like quantum and AI. We’re already seeing meaningful progress where quantum computing is providing computational advantages. For example, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center recently developed a quantum application for wildfire management. A dedicated program to accelerate near-term quantum applications is essential to incorporating hardware and software advancements, and the quantum sandbox legislation would do just that by enabling public-private partnerships to safely test and validate applications within a 24-month timeframe. This effort is key to demonstrating the real-world viability of quantum technologies. We strongly urge its enactment this Congress.” 

    Strangeworks Founder and CEO whurley: “As a nation, our leadership in quantum technology depends on bold, forward-thinking initiatives and the Quantum Sandbox Act is a perfect example. At Strangeworks, we strongly support this legislation, which expands access to quantum computing and accelerates the development of real-world, near-term applications. With continued investment and public-private collaboration, quantum technology holds the promise to transform entire industries—advancing medical breakthroughs, driving sustainability, strengthening national security, and redefining artificial intelligence. This bill represents a pivotal step in shaping a more innovative, resilient future, and we are proud to stand behind it.” 

    Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director, QED-C: “The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C®) seeks to grow the quantum economy through the development of quantum technologies for applications in sensing, communication, and computing. As documented in various QED-C reports, there are many use cases that experts believe are highly feasible and within grasp. The Quantum Sandbox act will accelerate the discovery and development of near-term applications and in the process will build the capacity for longer term innovation as well.” 

    Alliance for Digital Innovation Executive Director Ross Nodurft: “We commend Reps. Obernolte Stevens, Weber, and Hudson for their commitment to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and the Quantum Sandbox bill is another step in the right direction. A quantum sandbox program is a critical program to provide rapid development of new and innovative cloud-based solutions to solve public-sector challenges, and we support enactment of this legislation.” 

    Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO of Quantinuum: “As the world’s largest integrated quantum computing company, Quantinuum strongly supports the bipartisan Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act. This legislation is essential to ensure the continued leadership of the U.S. in this critical emerging technology. By fostering application development and accelerating commercialization, the Act will help unlock solutions to some of today’s most complex challenges across a range of critical sectors—including healthcare, energy, national security and beyond.”

    Jitesh Lalwani, CEO Artificial Brain: “Artificial Brain warmly welcomes and urges the expeditious passage of the Quantum Sandbox Act. Our company is already developing and deploying our quantum software and hybrid QML solutions on quantum hardware through the cloud, achieving huge successes across all of our use cases, including in defense and energy. Artificial Brain has been a leading industry voice on the quantum computing advantages that are already here. Now is the moment for the U.S. to act boldly. The Congressional findings agree with our own clear message: Quantum innovation is critical and foundational to the United States and that quantum and hybrid applications can provide innovative near term solutions across the public and private sector. This is why it is imperative that our country shifts our focus to developing and deploying near-term applications. We must be positioned to develop an unrivaled quantum workforce and near-term application development or risk losing behind allies and adversaries alike. This shift will take total commitment, and we are pleased to see both the Congress and Administration as supportive champions so we can seize on these near-term, value-creating opportunities. This legislation might be one of the most consequential and bipartisan achievements for U.S. innovation of this congressional term.” 

    Paul Stimers, Executive Director of the Quantum Industry Coalition: “As the US quantum industry advances the commercialization of quantum technologies, it is increasingly important for the National Quantum Initiative to include a focus on near-term applications. The Quantum Industry Coalition commends Rep. Obernolte for addressing this issue, and looks forward to incorporating it into the National Quantum Initiative reauthorization process this year.” 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Advances Key Trump Border Security Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05), member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Committee approved its portion of the budget reconciliation package. The package provides $69 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security’s border security mission.  

    “The American people are safer today because Donald Trump is president. He wasted no time restarting construction of the border wall and reinstating effective immigration enforcement policies. His decisive action is protecting North Alabama by curbing illegal immigration, stopping drug trafficking, and dismantling dangerous criminal networks.” 

    “Now, Congress must provide the necessary resources to fund President Trump’s agenda. This is a once-in-a-generation border security overhaul that includes funding for a state-of-the-art border barrier system, investments in border personnel and fleet vehicles, and border surveillance technology,” said Representative Dale Strong. 

    Specifically, the budget includes funding for: 

    • Additional frontline personnel to accomplish their vital homeland security missions in the field, including additional Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, and Air and Marine operations personnel and equipment 

    • Technology to close exploitable gaps and enhance interdictions, including drone-mitigation, surveillance equipment and towers, and technology to assist frontline officers in detecting deadly illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, at ports of entry 

    Read the full text of the recommendations here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Ministry: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin reached many new important agreements

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) — During his visit to Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping held detailed, friendly and fruitful talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they exchanged views in-depth on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues, and reached many new important agreements, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.

    At the invitation of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping is making a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10, during which he is taking part in celebrations in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    Lin Jian made the above-mentioned statement in response to journalists’ requests to comment on the visit at a regular departmental press conference.

    The heads of state of China and Russia signed the Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation in the New Era to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations, and jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 20 documents on bilateral cooperation between the Chinese and Russian sides, which gave new impetus to the development of Chinese-Russian relations, Lin Jian noted.

    Lin Jian said that Xi Jinping said that China and Russia are good neighbors that can never be separated, true friends who share our sorrows and hardships, and reliable partners who help each other achieve success. China-Russia relations have a clear historical logic, strong internal dynamics and a deep civilizational foundation. They are not aimed at third parties and do not depend on the influence of any third party. The two countries have successfully paved the right path of cooperation between major neighboring countries, and formed the spirit of China-Russia strategic cooperation in the new era with eternal good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic cooperation, and mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation as its core. The two countries should adhere to the centuries-old friendship, deepen political mutual trust and strengthen strategic coordination; adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, and continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all fields; adhere to equality and justice, firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law; adhere to unanimous cooperation, uphold genuine multilateralism, and guide global governance in the right direction.

    Lin Jian noted that, as Xi Jinping emphasized, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War. In the face of unilateralism and hegemonic actions in the international arena, China, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, stands ready to shoulder special responsibilities together with Russia, show firm determination, jointly uphold the correct understanding of the history of World War II, safeguard the authority and status of the UN, firmly defend the fruits of victory in World War II, resolutely safeguard the rights and interests of China, Russia and a wide range of developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world as well as an accessible and inclusive economic globalization.

    According to Lin Jian, during the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, reaffirming that China and Russia are committed to genuine multilateralism and support the central role of the UN and relevant multilateral mechanisms in arms control. The document emphasizes that nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibility for international security and global strategic stability, and calls for abandoning the mentality of the “Cold War” and “zero-sum games”, resolving problems through equal dialogue and consultation, strengthening trust, and avoiding misunderstandings and erroneous decisions. This reflects the aspirations of China and Russia as major powers to maintain and strengthen global strategic stability.

    Lin Jian said the two sides also issued a joint statement on further strengthening cooperation to safeguard the authority of international law. In it, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the UN Charter and principles of international law such as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Both sides opposed the abuse of unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction,” and stressed that states have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation. The two sides outlined their common positions on major issues related to international law, and called on the international community to firmly uphold the world order based on international law. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First HS2 rail tunnel breakthrough completed in Birmingham, as project reaches latest milestone

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    First HS2 rail tunnel breakthrough completed in Birmingham, as project reaches latest milestone

    Longest railway tunnel ever built in West Midlands will help bring £10 billion into the region’s economy over the next decade.

    Bromford TBM Mary Ann breakthrough (9 May 2025) from HS2 Ltd

    • major construction milestone reached as first HS2 tunnel into Birmingham excavated
    • more than 30,000 jobs supported along the 140-mile route, providing highly skilled opportunities and driving up living standards, part of the government’s Plan for Change
    • HS2 will connect the UK’s biggest cities with faster and more reliable train journeys

    Passengers are closer to benefiting from faster, more comfortable travel between London and Birmingham as the first High Speed Two (HS2) rail tunnel in Birmingham is completed.  

    Today (9 May 2025), HS2’s tunnelling machine finalised the first excavation of the 3.5 mile Bromford tunnel, which connects Warwickshire and Birmingham.  

    Alongside slashing journey times and providing more seats for passengers, this major milestone will free up track space on the heavily congested West Coast Mail Line and allow more services to connect people to job opportunities that will put more money in their pockets, as outlined in the Plan for Change.

    Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, who attended the breakthrough event, said:

    Today marks a major milestone for the country’s biggest infrastructure project, opening up the HS2 gateway to Birmingham.

    This is the longest railway tunnel ever built in the West Midlands. It’s truly a monumental feat of engineering and represents huge progress. 

    Creating jobs, providing opportunities and supporting economic growth are at the heart of this project. 10,000 people and 400 businesses across the West Midlands alone are delivering this project as we speak, bringing £10 billion to the region’s economy over the next decade. 

    There is a lot of hard work still to do to get this project back on track. But today, people in the West Midlands can start to see this government’s Plan for Change connecting people with jobs, housing and opportunity.

    The Bromford Tunnel, which will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands, starts in the Warwickshire village of Water Orton and ends in the Birmingham suburb of Washwood Heath.  

    The Washwood Heath site has spurred the development of a 24 hectare brownfield site, which will unlock land for commercial use and logistics space, creating opportunities for employers and the community and more than 1,000 new jobs for local people. 

    The tunnel boring machine, which created the Bromford Tunnel, was named Mary Ann by the local community, after the Warwickshire-born writer better known by her pen name, George Eliot.  

    Mary Ann excavated around one million tonnes of spoil during the tunnel drive. In line with HS2’s sustainability policy, the excavated earth is being reused to support construction of the nearby Delta Junction, a complex network of 13 viaducts that will enable high speed trains to travel between London, Interchange Station in Solihull and Birmingham Curzon Street Station. The excavated material is transported via dedicated haul roads to minimise the number of construction vehicles on public roads. 

    The Department for Transport is currently overseeing a fundamental reset of the HS2 programme to make sure the railway can be delivered safely and for the lowest reasonable cost.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major improvement scheme at Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass planned to start this month

    Source: City of Leeds

    In February 2025, the Department for Transport gave the green light for £35.709 million funding to enable the council to deliver essential maintenance work, improving safety and reliability for people and businesses using Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass.

    This forms part of a £44.179m total package with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority funding of £8.470m.

    Dawsons Corner connects the A647 Stanningley Road and the A6120 Ring Road, two of the most important routes in the city. Around 57,000 vehicles and 1,200 pedestrians and cyclists use Dawsons Corner every day. The scheme forms part of the Connecting Leeds strategy to maintain and improve Leeds’ Inner and Outer Ring Roads.

    Road users are now being urged to prepare as significant enabling work begins this month to make improvements to the A647/A6120 Dawsons Corner junction and complete joint replacement and resurfacing works on the Stanningley Bypass.

    Works involve substantial enlargement and realignment of the junction ahead of construction.

    The council work hard to prioritise, plan and co-ordinate complex schemes to ensure as least disruption as possible across our busy city. To help minimize disruption, part of the works are planned during the school summer holidays to take advantage of reduced traffic levels.

    Changes to the junction will reduce congestion and delays, helping to support economic growth across Leeds and Bradford. The reduction in congestion will also lead to a better environment in terms of improved air quality. Improvements are also planned to see better traffic flow, with bus journey times also reduced and improved safer crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

    The scheme will:
    • Improve safety for people walking, wheeling, and cycling
    • Improve connectivity in key areas by providing pedestrian and cycling facilities at the Dawsons Corner junction linking in with the Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway
    • Make bus journeys more reliable with improved bus facilities and dedicated bus lanes on the A647 Bradford Road
    • Widen the carriageway on the A6120 Ring Road to improve the junction and accommodate a shared pedestrian / cycle route
    • Improve connectivity between Leeds and Bradford, supporting economic growth, and improved access to jobs, education, healthcare, and leisure opportunities
    • Enhanced landscaping and planting features

    The council’s appointed contractor John Sisk are set to construct the scheme, which is scheduled to take up to 18 months to complete.

    Find out more
    Attend a drop-in event, see the plans and chat to a member of the team:
    • Thursday 15 May between 11am-7pm at Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawsons Corner, LS28 5TA

    Sign up to project updates and find out more by visiting this link.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:
    “I am delighted to see works are set to commence this month – the need to improve the Dawsons Corner junction has been a major priority for some time. It’s important not only to improve traffic flow and air quality, but also support essential links to future housing growth and developments and for people to be able to access jobs more easily with consistent travel times.”

    “On Thursday 15 May 11am-7pm the council will hold a drop-in event at Pudsey Civic Hall, with your chance to view the plans and speak with the project team. We will keep residents regularly updated as the works progress and have set up a website https://dawsonscorner.commonplace.is/ with information about the project, along with plans and timescales. Local residents and businesses have been sent a letter to help them learn more about how the construction will impact them.”

    Sisk’s regional director Robin Metcalf said: “We’re delighted to be starting work on this important project and proud to be continuing our strong relationship with Leeds City Council. We’ve made commitments not only to deliver the scheme in a way that causes as little disruption as possible, but also to support the local economy by offering employment opportunities and using local businesses wherever we can. Our local teams will be on hand throughout the works to help keep things running smoothly and to work closely with the public as the project progresses.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Castle Shannon Felon Charged with Drug and Firearms Offenses

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    The three-count Indictment named Vaughn James, 40, as the sole defendant.

    According to the Indictment, on or about June 14, 2023, James possessed with intent to distribute quantities of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, protonitazene, heroin, MDMA, cocaine, and crack cocaine. The Indictment also alleges that James possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime and possessed a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of multiple prior felonies, including for state drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10.5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division’s Southwest Strike Force Unit and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Solidarity and dedication in response to devastating Myanmar earthquake

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    On 28 March, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar. From the epicentre in the city of Sagaing, the tremors were felt across Thailand, Bangladesh, China and Laos. Our teams already in the country immediately mobilised to travel to the affected areas in Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyitaw and Southern Shan states to assess initial needs, while our emergency teams prepared to arrive in Myanmar as earlier as possible.

     

    Jessa Pontevedra, emergency coordinator based in southeast Asia was one of them. She shares her experiences from the first week of our emergency response in Myanmar.

    Jessa Pontevedra, medical coordinator in Myanmar What I witnessed in Naypyidaw deeply affected me as a public health professional, but the devastation in Mandalay touched me to my core as humanitarian.

    Jessa Pontevedra, Switzerland, 2024.
    © Pierre-Yves Bernard/MSF

    We landed in Yangon in the middle of the night on 1 April and headed directly to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) office for briefings. After a few hours of rest, we set out the next morning on the 6.5-hour long drive to Naypyitaw, mainly along the highway to join the team who had already gone there on 30 March.

    But about 100 kilometres from the city we started seeing the impact of the earthquake – cracks marred the road, a stark reminder of the disaster’s reach. We entered this well-designed city, Myanmar’s capital, and checked into a hotel, where some displaced families who could afford it had taken refuge.

    In the evening, we met the rest of the emergency team to set the objectives for the coming days. As a medical coordinator, my role is to assess the health situation: evaluating both the condition of medical facilities and the urgent needs of affected people.

    A maternity ward in a jewellery museum

    Before the earthquake, Naypyidaw boasted major medical institutions: a 1,000-bed hospital, a 500-bed paediatric hospital, 500-bed orthopaedic hospital, 500-bed maternity, and more. Yet, all of these large, specialised hospitals couldn’t operate to their full capacity due to structural damage to the facilities.

    One of the more striking examples of adaptation was the repurposing of a 500 beds-obstetric-children’s hospital. The patients, staff and some of the equipment relocated to an unoccupied private jewellery museum that was untouched by the earthquake. The owner, eager to help, welcomed the maternity in his building and compound. The museum, originally intended to be a high-end tourist attraction, had become an emergency healthcare space. Inside the grand rooms, there were rows and rows of beds set up for pregnant women about to give birth.

    A metal detector at the entrance now served as the triage point, with desks further inside used for antenatal and postnatal consultations. Other rooms were transformed into emergency wards, and an operating theatre was already performing caesarean sections. Staff, who were themselves displaced, had set up tents to sleep in the compound, as well as the families of patients. A brick building in the back of the compound which looked like a train station, was used as the administration offices and kitchen for the staff. 

    The express road connecting Mandalay to Sagaing was cracked by the earthquake on 28 March and parts of it are still unusable. Myanmar, April 2025.
    Lena Pflueger/MSF

    I saw a lot of solidarity and dedication

    There, I met the superintendent of the hospital, who took the time to speak with us despite the challenging situation. Amid the hectic environment, she was still smiling. Staff and patient’s families were sharing the place, sharing meals, offering donations to the ones in need, supporting each other… acting as a big community. Everyone was coping as best they could… collectively.

    A paediatric hospital, originally another 500-bed facility, had been relocated across the city and was now operating as a 32-bed township hospital – without any operating theatre. Looking at the community’s needs – pregnant women give birth, and kids get sick even amidst a natural disaster –, a 500-bed hospital becoming a 32-bed hospital, the math was not adding up.

    The encounter with the superintendent at this facility, deeply touched me. The healthcare professionals were so dedicated, trying their best. The community spirit everywhere and coming together really resonated with me as I am southeast Asian, and this is a big part of our culture. Coming together in times of needs… They were also appreciative that MSF is with them in this emergency.

    Many people experiencing homelessness in an urban space

    Five days later, I left Naypyidaw, taking the old highway instead of the express road. As we approached Mandalay city, we saw makeshift shelters of plastic sheeting on one side of the road, housing perhaps 1,000 people. On the other side, buildings lay in ruins. The following days, as we moved around the city to assess the hospitals, we saw similar damages – collapsed homes and communities in disarray. Many affected people were quite vulnerable, without access to water and sanitation, lacking the basic requirement to preserve their dignity. 

    A patient receives medication at an MSF mobile clinic set up inside a monastery, which is currently sheltering about 80 families from the neighbourhood whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged and are no longer safe to live in. Myanmar, April 2025.
    Lena Pflueger/MSF

    In Mandalay, families who chose to stay close to their damaged or collapsed houses were staying at the gates or front yard, or along the street – some even re-entering their damaged houses, risking further injury just to access basic facilities like bathrooms. The hospitals were partially functional and able to attend to the injured – although oftentimes outside barely shielded from the elements by simple tarps.

    Throughout these assessments, our teams have already been providing basic health consultations, psychological first aid to the affected communities and distributed essential items such as hygiene kits in cooperation with local civil society organisations. The logistics teams have been working tirelessly to restore water and sanitation facilities, setting up latrines in monasteries where many displaced families sought refuge.

    More challenges may come

    With the rainy season approaching, the challenges are mounting. The situation might become increasingly precarious. If thousands of people are experiencing homeless in urban areas, and with the risk of disease outbreaks, responding to their needs will be incredibly challenging.

    What I witnessed in Naypyidaw touched me to my core as a public health professional, but what I saw in Mandalay touched to my core as humanitarian.

    For now, the communities are finding ways to support one another. I remember one couple staying at the same hotel in Naypyidaw, that I met when I was out for my usual run. They were also doing their morning exercise. It was the man’s birthday that day. But given the situation, the celebration would not be a party. “We have lost our home too,” he said, “But we are bit more blessed, so we want to give back.” And they did so by doing food, water and essential item distributions in one of the most affected neighbourhoods of Naypyidaw.

    I also keep in mind this doctor I met. He was from a less affected town who had rallied a group of healthcare colleagues to set up a free clinic. They quickly began receiving donations from people abroad – food, essential items, and more. This spirit of community in Myanmar is powerful, but I can’t help but wonder: how long can it last?

    Our emergency teams continue to work almost around the clock, further assessing and anticipating the needs, supporting the relief efforts wherever possible along with the communities that are so engaged. The recovery from this massive earthquake will be long for the affected people, no matter where they live, they need to have access to life-saving humanitarian assistance. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Burlison Joins Push to Scrap Biden’s $1 Trillion Energy Scam

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison (MO-07) joined fellow House Republicans in calling for the full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) costly green energy subsidies. In a letter sent to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, the lawmakers warned that keeping even a single subsidy undermines conservative energy principles and jeopardizes America’s return to energy dominance.

    “Republicans were elected on a promise to dismantle Biden’s Green New Scam,” said Rep. Burlison. “These subsidies are distorting the energy market, driving up costs, and threatening our grid. We must follow through—no half-measures, repeal it all.”

    The letter emphasizes that the IRA’s nearly $1 trillion in subsidies for solar, wind, EVs, hydrogen, and more are not only fiscally irresponsible but also weaken national security, destabilize the energy grid, and betray Republican commitments to free-market energy policy.

    Read the full letter below.

    Dear Chairman Smith:
    As fellow Members of the House Republican Conference, we write to underscore the urgent need to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its green energy subsidies, which will cost taxpayers approximately $1 trillion over the next decade. We are deeply concerned that President Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and ending what he calls the “green new scam” is being undermined by parochial interests and short-sighted political calculations. 
     

    The IRA contains eight major energy subsidies, each of which burdens taxpayers, inflates energy costs, and threatens the reliability of our power grid. Each of these subsidies props up unreliable energy sources while displacing dependable, proven energy like coal and natural gas.

    Republicans ran—and won—on a promise to completely dismantle the IRA and end the left’s green welfare agenda. The first chapter of our 2024 platform reaffirms our commitment to “terminating the Socialist Green New Deal.” Despite our previously unified stance, some Members of our conference now feel compelled to defend wind and biofuel credits, advocate for carbon capture and hydrogen subsidies, or protect solar and electric vehicle giveaways. Keeping even one of these subsidies opens the door to retaining all eight. How do we retain some of these credits and not operate in hypocrisy? The longstanding Republican position has been to allow the market to determine energy production. If every faction continues to defend their favored subsidies, we risk preserving the entire IRA because no clearly defined principle will dictate what is kept and what is culled. 

    Leaving IRA subsidies intact will actively undermine America’s return to energy dominance and national security. In 2024 alone, solar represented 61% of all new electricity generation in our nation, with more expected this year. By the end of this year, wind generation in the U.S. is expected to increase 11% from 2023 because of these subsidies.These numbers do not reflect a natural market shift. They are the result of government subsidies that distort the U.S. energy sector, displace reliable coal and natural gas and the domestic jobs they produce, and put the stability and independence of our electric grid in jeopardy.

    To see the consequences of this path, we need only to look at Europe’s overreliance on renewables, which has left them vulnerable and reliant on Russian oil and gas. Meanwhile, China gladly sells us solar panels and electric vehicle components while expanding its own coal capacity to maintain grid stability and economic advantage. If we do not course correct, we will trade American energy
    dominance for dependence on hostile regimes.

    Our path forward is clear. We must fully repeal the IRA’s green subsidies. Doing so will:
     

    • Save Taxpayers $1 trillion. Estimates project the Inflation Reduction Act will cost
      between $825 billion—according to the Congressional Budget Office as of January 2025—
      and over $1 trillion, per analysts at Goldman Sachs, over the next decade.4 Eliminating
      these subsidies will allow us to rein in the debt and reallocate funds to genuine national
      priorities.
    • Ease inflation and spur economic growth. IRA subsidies exacerbate inflation and push
      up interest rates, making it harder for Americans to buy homes and cars and start
      businesses. Repealing them will provide immediate financial relief and create a stronger
      economic environment.
    • Restore energy affordability and security. IRA subsidies force utilities to overbuild
      solar and wind capacity, weakening grid reliability and increasing energy costs. Ending
      these subsidies will restore affordability and stability to our energy supply.

    This is our only opportunity for an IRA repeal. Without effectively fully repealing all IRA subsidies, as envisioned under the House reconciliation framework, we would jeopardize America’s return to energy dominance and passage of an extension of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions, as well as the President’s other tax priorities. Failure to act undermines the mandate given to us by the American people.

    We urge our colleagues to stand firm in the upcoming reconciliation process. We must reject half-measures and deliver a full repeal of the IRA’s energy subsidies for the sake of American taxpayers and for the future of American energy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Grassley introduce Legislation to Assist Victims of Identity Theft

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act to provide a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration (SSA) for Americans whose Social Security numbers have been stolen.
    “Seniors are often a target for identity theft. If your grandparent fell victim, you’d want them to have a point of contact at SSA to help resolve the situation as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Cassidy.
    “Millions of Americans suffer from identity theft each year, and Social Security numbers are a top target. Unfortunately, when a victim calls up the Social Security Administration, they can be jerked around from one contact to another, having to reexplain the situation each time. Our bill will help streamline the process by providing a victim of identity theft with a single point of contact at the agency, easing this frustrating and stressful process,” said Senator Grassley.
    Cassidy and Grassley were joined by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), James Lankford (R-OK), Angus King (I-ME), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in introducing the legislation.
    The Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act has the endorsement of AARP, Social Security Works, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Violent man’s sentence increased after fatal stabbing

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Violent man’s sentence increased after fatal stabbing

    A violent man who helped his friend fatally stab Harleigh Hepworth to death has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

    Jovarn Esterine (18), from Wolverhampton, has had his sentence increased by two years after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.  

    The court heard that on 7 March 2024, Harleigh Hepworth and Harleigh’s friend travelled to Wolverhampton where they met Esterine and another teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons.  

    Harleigh, who was from Rugeley, Staffordshire, and his friend were taken to a park by Esterine and the other teenager before being asked to hand over their phones.  

    When Harleigh asked for his phone back, he was stabbed by the teenager. At the same time, Esterine held Harleigh’s friend at knifepoint, preventing him from helping Harleigh.  

    After the fatal stabbing, Esterine held a knife to the friend’s chest, threatening to kill him unless he handed over the passcode to his phone, which the pair then stole. 

    Esterine and his accomplice fled the scene, leaving Harleigh to die in the park.   

    In a Victim’s Impact Statement, Harleigh’s family said they now don’t have the opportunity to see Harleigh grow up and start his adult life.  

    The court also heard that Esterine has previous convictions for theft and other offences.  

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said: 

    I was shocked by the brutal violence in this case. Jovarn Esterine played an important role in Harleigh’s killing before callously leaving him to die on the ground. Harleigh had his whole life ahead of him and I would like to offer my sympathies to Harleigh’s family and friends. 

    The court has quite rightly increased Jovarn Esterine’s sentence. This government will not tolerate mindless violence and I will intervene to ensure justice is served.

    On 28 January 2025 at Manchester Crown Court, Jovarn Esterine was sentenced to seven years’ detention after he was convicted of one count of manslaughter, one count of carrying a bladed weapon and two counts of robbery. 

    On Friday 9 May, the Court of Appeal quashed Jovarn Esterine’s sentence and substituted it for a total of nine years detention.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including One Arrest in the Eastern District of Arkansas

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

          LITTLE ROCK—On May 7, 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

          “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

          “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

          If you harm or exploit a child and we can find a way to federally prosecute you, we will,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Protecting children from predators is one of the most important responsibilities we have at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement is crucial to bringing justice to the victims of these crimes.”

          “This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “FBI Little Rock will continue to prioritize these investigations, seek justice for victims and hold predators accountable for their actions.”

          As part of Operation Restore Justice, on May 6, 2025, the FBI in the Eastern District of Arkansas arrested a defendant that is alleged to have distributed large amounts of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in a chatroom dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children.  The day he was arrested, the defendant possessed a cellular telephone that had multiple images of CSAM to include an image depicting a fully nude pre-pubescent female laying on her back. The image also depicted the pre-pubescent female’s hands and feet tied together with a white cord or rope and blindfolded.

          Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

          In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

          This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

          The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

          The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

          The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

          Other online resources:

          Electronic Press Kit

          Violent Crimes Against Children

          How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

     

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

    # # #

    Additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

    https://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Centre Rawdon — RCMP investigates serious collision on Hwy. 14

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    East Hants District RCMP is investigating a serious collision that occurred in Centre Rawdon.

    On May 8, at approximately 12:05 p.m., RCMP officers, fire services, and EHS, responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and South Rawdon Rd. Investigators learned that a Freightliner truck was travelling west on Hwy. 14 and a Chevrolet Cruze was travelling north on South Rawdon Rd. when they collided.

    The rear passenger of the Cruze, an infant, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital by EHS LifeFlight. The driver and passenger of the vehicle, a 34-year-old South Rawdon woman and a 69-year-old Hantsport woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital by EHS.

    The driver and lone occupant of the truck, a 70-year-old man of Williamswood, suffered minor injuries.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    The intersection was closed several hours but has since reopened.

    File #: 2025-617980

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Infineon to Present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank ADR Virtual Investor Conference May 15th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MUNICH, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), based in Munich and a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, today announced that Daniel Gyoery, Senior Director Investor Relations will present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank American Depositary Receipt (ADR) Virtual Investor Conference on May 15, 2025. This virtual investor conference is aimed exclusively at introducing global companies with ADR programs to investors.

    DATE: May 15th
    TIME: 9:00 EDT / 15:00 CET
    LINK: REGISTER HERE

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.  

    Participation is free of charge.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • Infineon is the #1 global leader in automotive semiconductors, power semiconductors, and microcontrollers
    • Microcontroller: Infineon’s microcontrollers serve as the brains of smarter, safer cars and secure IoT devices. Over the past decade, the company has consistently outgrown the market and achieved the global #1 position.
    • Powering AI – from grid to core: the exponential data growth driven by digitalization and AI is increasing the energy demand of data centers. Infineon offers solutions, extending from the grid to the core to maximize the efficiency, power density and reliability of AI infrastructure.
    • Shaping mobility & Humanoid robots: ever-smarter, more integrated cars and humanoid robots need fast, secure controllers as well as high-speed networking. Infineon’s microcontroller leadership and the acquisition of Marvell Technology’s automotive ethernet business combine two world-class solutions, forming a unique system solution meeting the needs of these emerging technologies.
    • Focus on high growth and margin retention combined with consistent shareholder returns. Fiscal year 2025 guidance already includes a haircut for potential tariff headwinds.

    About Infineon
    Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization with its products and solutions. The Company had around 58,060 employees worldwide (end of September 2024) and generated revenue of about €15 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (ending 30 September). Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the OTCQX International over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: IFNNY).

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access.  Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:

    Infineon Technologies AG
    Daniel Györy
    Senior Director Investor Relations
    Office: +49 89 234 35078
    Daniel.Gyoery@infineon.com 

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall:  NC Crisis Services — Support For All Ages

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall:  NC Crisis Services — Support For All Ages

    NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall:  NC Crisis Services — Support For All Ages
    stonizzo

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, May 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss how people can support their mental well-being, find resources and get help for themselves or someone else who is struggling with mental health or experiencing a crisis. 

    Event participants include:  

    • Lisa DeCiantis, MA, LCMHC, Chief Clinical Officer for Mental Health Wellness, Treatment and Recovery, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS  
    • Natasha Holley, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Family Services PLLC
    • Noah Swabe, Chief Operating Officer, Promise Resource Network 

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and nearly 1 in 4 adults in North Carolina have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Mental health crisis services offer non-judgmental, confidential and compassionate care to connect North Carolinians with resources and support — available at little or no cost. People of all ages and stages of life can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, substance use or if they just need someone to talk to.

    The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 120795#. Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss:

    • What crisis services are and how to access them  
    • When to get support if you’re struggling, or a caregiver of someone who needs help  
    • Where to find mental health information and resources for youth and adults in North Carolina 

    A Crisis Services page is available in English and Spanish on the NCDHHS website to explain and connect people to services. This page includes a searchable map to find community crisis centers and has a zip code search to find a mobile crisis team. If you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed, NC crisis services are here to help: 

    • Call, text or chat with 988 for immediate support, 24/7
    • Talk to someone with lived experience through the Peer Warmline: 855-PEERS-NC
    • Have help come to you — trained mobile crisis teams will meet you in a safe place at no cost
    • Visit a community crisis center for fast, in-person help from licensed clinicians 
    May 9, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ProvisionAi Leads Industry in Sustainable Logistics: Webinar Highlights Available Online

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  ProvisionAi continues to set industry benchmarks in sustainable and cost-efficient logistics solutions with its revolutionary AI-driven AutoO2 platform. Recently, the company successfully hosted an insightful webinar on Scope 3 emissions management, attracting significant attention from logistics and sustainability leaders globally. The session, praised by participants for its practical insights, is now available on YouTube for public viewing.

    ProvisionAi’s AutoO2 has dramatically reduced both costs and carbon emissions for major shippers by intelligently designing replenishment loads to maximize truck utilization. Last year alone, AutoO2 eliminated 88,000 truck trips, delivering a 5-10% increase in truckload capacity.

    “Our recent webinar clearly demonstrated how businesses can simultaneously reduce transportation costs and environmental impact,” said Tom Moore, Founder and CEO of ProvisionAi. “We’re pleased to share the webinar online, providing valuable insights and strategies to an even broader audience.”

    A recent case study showcased during the webinar highlighted significant outcomes: a ProvisionAi client achieved an 8% reduction in truckloads and a corresponding 13% reduction in CO₂ emissions within just 21 days. This success equates to removing 149 truck trips and preventing 222 metric tonnes of carbon emissions—comparable to the annual carbon sequestration capacity of 265 acres of U.S. forests.

    Companies like P&G, Unilever, and Campbell’s have already benefited from ProvisionAi’s solutions, experiencing substantial economic savings and measurable sustainability improvements.

    “Our technology allows companies to align sustainability with profitability, proving that environmental responsibility doesn’t have to come at an additional cost,” Moore added.

    To view the full webinar and learn more about integrating cost-effective and sustainable logistics practices, visit ProvisionAi’s YouTube channel. For further details on ProvisionAi’s innovative solutions, please visit www.provisionai.com.

    About ProvisionAi
    ProvisionAi transforms logistics by delivering cost-saving, sustainable AI-driven solutions. With its flagship platform, AutoO2, ProvisionAi enables companies to significantly cut carbon emissions, reduce operational costs, and optimize their logistics operations sustainably.

    Media Contact:

    Tom Moore
    tom.moore@provisionai.com
    Cell: +1 615 417-9591
    ProvisionAi.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/065a4b9a-ed60-46fb-8ac6-51ddd23fcbf9

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi attends Russia’s Victory Day celebrations

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

    MOSCOW, May 9 — Chinese President Xi Jinping attended here on Friday celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    Leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations were invited to the events.

    Xi was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Friday morning. The leaders then walked to the Red Square together and took their seats at the main reviewing stand.

    At 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), as the chimes of the Kremlin clock rang out, the celebrations began. As the military band played The Sacred War, the honor guards marched in.

    Delivering a speech at the event, Putin said that the Soviet Union defended peace and freedom for all humanity at the cost of tens of millions of lives. “We will forever remember the moment of victory, carry forward the legacy of our forefathers, stand united, and always uphold the sacred glory,” he said.

    Putin noted that the Chinese people fought bravely in World War II (WWII), and highly commended their contribution to forging a shared future for mankind.

    “We remember the history of WWII and draw lessons from it,” said Putin. “Victory is sacred, history must not be distorted, and the victors must not be defamed. History and justice are always on our side.”

    Following Putin’s speech, the grand military parade began as the military band played the Russian national anthem and gun salutes echoed across the Red Square. Marching in unison, the formations passed through the square one after another.

    In the “historical” part of the parade, Russian service members, dressed in uniforms from the era of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, proudly carried the military flags and weapons of that time, evoking memories of the years of resistance against fascism.

    In the “modern” part, formations of Russia’s various military branches and modern weaponry units passed by the reviewing stand. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ flight formations roared overhead, soaring across the skies above the Red Square.

    Armed forces formations from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade.

    Following the celebrations, Xi, along with other leaders, walked from the Red Square to Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence.

    MIL OSI China News –