NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 02/27/2025 Blackburn, Rosen Introduce “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act to prevent any migrant tied to Hamas from entering the country. This follows Hamas’ savage murder and release of four innocent hostages, including a young mother, her two toddlers, and a journalist, last week. 
    “The Biden-Harris administration released nearly 100 individuals on the terrorist watchlist into our country over the last four years, and we need to make certain anyone tied to Hamas is not allowed to enter or remain in the U.S.,” said Senator Blackburn. “This common-sense, bipartisan bill would ensure that no migrant tied to Hamas and its savage terrorist attack on October 7 can enter our nation or receive immigration benefits on the taxpayer dime.”
    “No one who participated in Hamas’s brutal October 7 terrorist attack should be allowed to enter the United States,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m helping introduce bipartisan legislation to prohibit Hamas terrorists from being eligible to receive immigration benefits. I’ll always work across the aisle to keep our nation safe.”
    NO IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR HAMAS TERRORISTS ACT
    The No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act would:
    Prohibit any migrant who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated in any way the attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, from being admitted to the United States; and
    Prohibit any such individual from being eligible for any immigration benefits.
    RELATED
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police urge parents to be vigilant after sentencing in Dunedin

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Dunedin Police urge parents to be aware of the potential risks facing young people online after the sentencing of a 23-year-old man who posed as a young person online to deceive other children into sending sexualised content.

    The man was sentenced on 21 February to three years imprisonment.

    Detective Sergeant Reece Munro says Police were able to hold this offending to account thanks to the help of the victims.

    “The strength and bravery from these victims who came forward to assist in the prosecution of this offender cannot be overstated.

    “Unfortunately, this sentencing serves as a reminder that this offending continues, and we urge parents to ensure they take the appropriate steps in keeping their kids safe online.

    “We want parents to be alert of the possible risks, but not alarmed.”

    Police encourage parents and caregivers to educate themselves on this topic so they can have open and regular conversations with their young people about the dangers online.

    This is the most important tip we can give to ensure parents can promote healthy online habits and can verify who their children are communicating with and befriending online.

    Parents, caregivers, and young people can access more resources at www.keepitrealonline.govt.nz

    For parents and caregivers: 

    • Supervision is essential. This means knowing what your children are doing online, who they are interacting with, and what platforms, apps, or games they are using. 

    • Check privacy settings. We recommend parents and caregivers research and understand app settings, including privacy settings. This can include turning off location settings, setting profiles to private, or turning off chat functions. 

    • Long term impact. Offenders will often use tactics such as fear or shame to manipulate young people, and make them feel alienated or trapped, like they cannot escape the situation. These situations can be very distressing and can have long term impacts and need to be addressed appropriately.

    • Report suspicious behaviour. Make a report and seek help and support.

    For victims:

    • Stop talking to the offender and avoid sending any more images or videos – even if they are threatening you. Once you have complied with their demands, there is nothing preventing them from targeting you again.

    • Save all the online chat, immediately take screenshots. This is important for making a report to the Police, we need all the evidence that you can gather.

    • Report the content and person’s profile to the platform and request the content is removed.

    • Block the profile.

    Where to report offending:

    • To report any offending to Police, please call 111 in an emergency, and for non-emergencies, online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or by calling 105.

    • If you would like advice and support from Netsafe, text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282 or call for free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723). You can also report online at netsafe.org.nz/report or by email at help@netsafe.org.nz.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Connolly, Stansbury, House Oversight Members Open Investigation Into DOGE.gov After Alarming Failures to Protect Sensitive National Security Information

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    February 27, 2025
    DOGE employees may be sharing classified government information using insecure communications channels.
    “These incidents – whether due to maliciousness or incompetence – are inexcusable and raise additional questions about DOGE employees’ access to highly sensitive personal and national security information, and what they are doing with it.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, along with every Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, including Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Eleanor Homes Norton (D-D.C.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), wrote to Elon Musk, opening an investigation into DOGE.gov following two recent incidents of alarming security failures and reports that DOGE employees shared sensitive government information using insecure communications channels.
    “These incidents – whether due to maliciousness or incompetence – are inexcusable and raise additional questions about DOGE employees’ access to highly sensitive personal and national security information, and what they are doing with it,” wrote the lawmakers.
    DOGE has seized access to highly confidential government and personal information, including tax, Medicare, Social Security, and national security data, which has already led to multiple lawsuits. In just a matter of three weeks, DOGE employees have fed sensitive data into artificial intelligence software, ordered an unauthorized email server to be connected to the government network, and have accidentally been given “write” access to the U.S. Treasury payment system. 
    “DOGE employees do not appear to fully understand much of the information to which they have been given unfettered access, and given the cavalier and incompetent ways that they have handled this data, these individuals represent a clear threat to national security and the nation’s economy,” continued the lawmakers. 
    In fact, after the DOGE.gov website launched, two security researchers confirmed that the website was not hosted on secure government servers, making it especially vulnerable to third-party hackers. In particular, details on the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which designs and builds U.S. intelligence satellites, were searchable within the database, as well as controlled  information about the NRO’s budget and head count. This incident left federal intelligence employees “scrambling” to see if their sensitive information had been accessed.  
    “These examples of DOGE’s recklessness and inability to accomplish simple tasks – such as establishing a secure database and website housing such critical and confidential government data – combined with its broad access to government data and systems, poses a grave threat to the United States’ economy and national security,” wrote the lawmakers. 
    The lawmakers are requesting answers from Mr. Musk by March 6, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Raises Concerns Over Trump Administration Energy Policies That Will Raise Prices, Threaten Jobs and Reduce Competitiveness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to raise her concerns about President Trump’s harmful actions that will raise energy prices, threaten jobs and hurt our global economic competitiveness. The remarks came during consideration of a resolution Shaheen has cosponsored to terminate President Trump’s misguided national energy emergency, which has been used to bypass Congress to advance policies that benefit Big Oil at the expense of Granite Staters and working Americans. In her remarks, Shaheen shared the stories of Granite Staters and small businesses that will see their energy costs increase as a result of President Trump’s policies. You can view her remarks in full here.

    Key Quotes from Senator Shaheen:

    • “Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those [should] be things that we can all agree on. But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China … is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.”
    • “In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure. We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.”
    • “The tariffs that are set to go into effect … they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.”
    • “President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies. A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact.”

    Remarks as delivered can be found below:

    I come to the floor today in support of Senate Joint Resolution 10, which would terminate the misguided national energy emergency that President Trump signed on his first day in office.

    It has been 37 days since President Trump declared, for the first time in this nation’s history, a national energy emergency.

    This is an attempt to throw red meat to the base of the Republican party, and to seem like Donald Trump is the oil and gas president.

    But there’s no evidence to support that.

    In fact, the evidence we have points in exactly the opposite direction.

    This emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is producing more oil than any other country ever in this nation’s history.

    And we’ve been doing that for the past seven years.

    The emergency was declared despite the fact that the United States is in the midst of a clean energy boom and a manufacturing renaissance.

    We generated 17% more electricity in 2023 than the high point of the first Trump Administration.

    Clean energy jobs are growing at twice the rate of the economy overall.

    And this emergency was declared despite the fact that as the Wall Street Journal headline noted after the election, quote, “Trump’s oil and gas donors don’t really want to drill, baby, drill,” End quote.

    They are very happy to lock in demand for the long term. But increase supply and potentially undercut profits? Not so much.

    So we find ourselves within an emergency declaration in search of an emergency.

    But it’s not without consequences.

    President Trump has assumed vast power for the executive branch through this emergency designation.

    He’s encouraging the use of eminent domain that could literally allow the government to take your land away.

    He’s waving away key protections for clean water.

    And he’s suggesting that a timeline of just seven days is sufficient for public commitment—for public comment, excuse me—on projects that could cause irreparable harm to historic and cultural resources.

    President Trump campaigned on, and I’m quoting here, “lowering the cost of everything,” and he promised “your energy bill within 12 months will be cut in half.”

    Now, voters responded to those promises, and Americans do want to see lower energy costs.

    I’m all for that.

    I focused as governor on how we can address the high energy prices in New Hampshire.

    We permitted two gas pipelines through the state, both gas coming from Canada, and we negotiated to deal with our largest utility company that lowered rates 16.5%.

    So I’m all for lowering energy costs.

    We absolutely should be talking about that.

    But let’s take a step back here and let’s talk about what President Trump’s energy policies actually are, and how they affect the American people.

    In the first 37 days, we’ve seen the Trump administration cut off funding for solar, wind and clean manufacturing projects that are cheaper and faster to build than fossil fuel infrastructure.

    We’ve seen him halt energy efficiency programs, and we know energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs.

    He’s prepared a 10% energy tax in the form of tariffs on heating oil, propane, gasoline and other energy we import from Canada.

    And that hits New Hampshire really hard because of the energy sources we get from Canada—I talked about the two gas pipelines that come down from Canada, and because we have so many households that burn number two fuel oil to heat our homes and because it’s cold in New Hampshire at this time of year.

    So that hits us really hard.

    He’s fired more than a thousand workers at the Department of Energy, including those who are keeping state energy programs and weatherization up and running to respond to emergencies and to help folks like we have in New Hampshire stay warm this winter.

    And tomorrow, what we expect is that Senate Republicans will roll back a commonsense fee on venting or flaring of methane, rather than capturing it for productive use.

    And if that passes, and the president signs it, it will cost the taxpayers $2.3 billion over the next ten years, effectively lighting money on fire to save Big Oil a few bucks.

    Now in New Hampshire, as in other states, President Trump’s actions have sown chaos and uncertainty.

    They’re raising costs for families, for farmers, for small businesses, and for town budgets.

    For example, the tariffs that are set to go into effect, and I understand that the president has now decided he’s going to wait until April, but they could mean about $150 to $250 more for the average family in New Hampshire who are using heating oil just to keep warm through the winter.

    President Trump’s efforts to cancel promised funding for electric charging infrastructure in New Hampshire harms our travel and tourism sector, particularly in northern New Hampshire, where ski areas and other outdoor recreation drives our local economies.

    A recent study found that the state risks losing an estimated 1.4 billion in overall economic impact, if we don’t build up our charging infrastructure.

    One small business owner in Barrington in the seacoast of New Hampshire told me that he has nearly $3 million in projects.

    Those projects are on hold this year, including work with school districts, with the state and with other customers to staff install solar projects that provide long term taxpayer savings.

    And they’re on hold because of what President Trump has ordered.

    Farms and local shops across rural areas of New Hampshire are nervous about receiving promised reimbursements for energy saving work through the Rural Energy for America program, the REAP program.

    At least one business owner at Seacoast Power Equipment has been covering interest with the bank until his grant, which he has a signed commitment for, is actually paid out—And of course, this is affecting his bottom line.

    And then we have Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, in the northern part of our state.

    This is an award-winning small business that provides the best ice cream you’ve ever eaten.

    They were gearing up to install solar panels using $15,000 in federal funds.

    Now that project is on hold.

    Many family-owned businesses, like Super Secret Ice Cream, have very tight margins, and this small investment of $15,000 would help Christina and Dan grow their business and lower the electric costs that they’re paying to store their ice cream.

    And then we have the town of Peterborough in the western part of New Hampshire.

    They plan to use funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law to enhance much needed workforce development, but of course, they’ve had to wait far too long for federal approvals.

    And in rural towns like Berlin, in the northern part of our state, residents eagerly signed up for federally funded projects that will insulate and add solar arrays to their manufactured homes.

    This is a real solution to their high utility bills, but these projects are now on hold because the contractors are uncertain that they’re going to be paid.

    Now, I could go on as I know my colleagues could, but since we have people waiting, I want to close with a point of agreement.

    In his executive order, President Trump stated, and I quote, “we need a reliable, diversified and affordable supply of energy to drive our nation’s manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and defense industries and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness.”

    That makes sense to me.

    I agree with that.

    But unfortunately, that’s about the only thing he said related to energy in the past 37 days that does make sense.

    Lowering energy costs, creating good jobs, increasing America’s economic competitiveness in the world—those ought to be things that we can all agree on.

    But if we give up our leadership on clean energy now, the People’s Republic of China, who President Trump claims is our greatest competitor—and I agree with him on that—

    I just don’t understand how the Trump administration policies are allowing us to be competitive.

    But China is going to be more than happy to fill the void for its own economic advantage.

    I think we should also agree that Americans deserve clean air, clean water, and the chance to have a say in what happens in their communities.

    I want to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on these goals, and that work starts by ending this disastrous, misguided emergency declaration and by stopping the chaos.

    So I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to restore Congress’s appropriate role in setting energy policies that benefit the American people by supporting this resolution.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    I yield the floor.

    Shaheen has led efforts to oppose President Trump’s harmful and inflation-inducing tariff proposals. Last month, Shaheen led the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the White House urging him not to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China which are expected to cost the average American $1,200 per year.

    Earlier this year, Shaheen introduced new legislation with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States. The Senators’ legislation would keep costs down for imported goods, including energy, by limiting the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which allows a President to immediately place unlimited tariffs after declaring a national emergency—while preserving IEEPA’s use for sanctions and other tools.

    Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives and to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, Shaheen secured $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which work to bring down energy bills for families and communities. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that invest in energy efficiency, including funding for residential, municipal, industrial and federal entities to implement efficiency improvements and upgrades.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Leads Colleagues in Calling on Secretary Kennedy to Undo Drastic Cuts to Critical Health Care Assistance Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **The Navigator program has helped support historic health care enrollment in recent years**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today led a group of their Senate colleagues in a letter calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to reverse drastic funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator program, which helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The nearly 90 percent funding cut threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance to access the insurance they need and would lead to a reduction in health care enrollment.  
    The Senators wrote, in part: “Since its inception, Navigators have become a critical resource for individuals and families, especially those living in rural and underserved areas, by helping them purchase health coverage that meets their needs.” 
    They continued: “In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) slashed funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent. […] Unsurprisingly, ACA enrollment shrank by more than 2.5 million over the course of the Trump administration. Once Navigator funding was restored in 2021, enrollment rose and reached historic levels for the 2025 plan year.” 
    The lawmakers concluded: “We strongly urge the administration to reconsider this harmful decision and restore full funding to the Navigator program. Cutting these vital resources will only create more barriers for individuals and families seeking coverage, ultimately increasing the number of uninsured Americans.” 
    Read the full text of the letter here. 
    Co-signers of Shaheen’s letter include U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM). 
    Shaheen champions efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable and accessible for Granite Staters and all Americans. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) to permanently extend enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage that have lowered health care costs for millions of Americans.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo: WHO tracks deadly mysterious illness

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of another cluster of illness and deaths in Équateur province, UN officials reported on Thursday.

    In recent months, disease surveillance has identified increases in cases and fatalities on three occasions across different areas of the country, which triggered follow-up investigations to confirm the cause and provide needed support, WHO said in a statement.

    Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, sweating, stiff neck, muscle aches, multiple joint pain and body aches, a runny or bleeding from the nose, cough, vomiting and diarrhoea.

    DRC currently faces multiple challenges, with a conflict raging in the east, as Congolese armed forces face off against the Rwanda-backed M23 – with the fighting involving multiple other armed groups.

    Illness and death

    A series of outbreaks and fatalities have been occurring in Équateur province since the beginning of 2025, the UN health agency said.

    The most recent cluster occurred in the Basankusu health zone, where last week 141 additional people fell ill, with no deaths reported so far. Some 158 cases and 58 deaths were reported in the same zone earlier in February.

    In January, Bolamba health zone reported 12 cases including eight deaths.

    Major challenges

    The remoteness of affected areas limits access to healthcare, including testing and treatment, WHO said.

    Basankusu and Bolomba are around 180 kilometres apart and more than 300 kilometres from the provincial capital Mbandaka. The two localities are reachable by road or via the Congo River.

    However, poor road and communication links are major challenges, said the UN healthy agency, which continues to support local authorities in reinforcing investigation and response measures, with more than 80 community health workers trained to detect and report cases and deaths.   

    Further efforts are needed to reinforce testing, early case detection and reporting, said WHO, which remains on the ground supporting health workers, collaborating closely with health authorities at all levels.

    Increased surveillance

    The UN health agency has delivered emergency medical supplies, including testing kits, and developed detailed protocols to enhance disease investigation.

    Increased disease surveillance has identified in total of 1,096 sick people and 60 deaths in Basankusu and Bolomba fitting a broad case definition of the mysterious illness.

    In response to the latest cluster, a national rapid response team from Kinshasa and Équateur, including WHO health emergency experts, was deployed to Basankusu and Bolomba to investigate the situation.

    The experts are stepping up disease surveillance, conducting interviews with community members to understand the background and providing treatment for diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever and meningitis, WHO reported.

    Ongoing testing

    Initial laboratory analysis has produced negative results for Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease.

    Around half of the samples tested positive for malaria, which is common in the region, WHO said.

    Further tests are to be carried out for meningitis. Food, water and environmental samples will also be analysed for any possible contamination.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Venezuelan National Accused of Federal Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned and indictment charging a Venezuelan national, restricted from possessing a firearm and ammunition, with a gun crime after an alleged shooting incident in Summit County, Utah.

    Manuel A. Pimentel-Gonzalez, 24, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on February 21, 2025.

    According to court documents, on May 19, 2024, a dispute erupted at a party at a rural property in Summit County. During the investigation, security footage depicted a heavily built male, later identified as Pimentel-Gonzalez, reach into a parked BMW X7 sport-utility vehicle and remove a large firearm with a wooden feature. Pimentel-Gonzalez then shouted profanities and insults in Spanish. Immediately after Pimentel-Gonzalez stepped away from the camera view, several gunshots were heard on the security footage. Investigators recovered at least 42 shell casings, four firearms, and bullet damage to vehicles at the scene.

    During the execution of a search warrant in Eagle Mountain, Utah, law enforcement located a white BMX sport-utility vehicle, with gunfire damage. Investigators also found Pimentel-Gonzalez with at least one gunshot wound that he attempted to treat himself. A Draco 92 9×19 mm firearm with a wooden feature was also seized and later linked to expended shell casings recovered from the shooting scene in Summit County. At the time of the shooting, Pimentel- Gonzalez was on probation for a prior state firearm conviction by a restricted person.

    Pimentel-Gonzalez is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His initial appearance on the indictment has yet to be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated by an ATF Task Force Officer assigned to the Utah Department of Corrections.

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

    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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former federal officer guilty of money laundering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON –A former deportation officer has entered a guilty plea to charges of laundering money while working for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Christopher Washington Toral, 49, Spring, began working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2008 and was assigned to a processing center in Conroe.

    Over a two-month period in 2023, Toral agreed to transport $700,000 in drug proceeds under the protective cover of his position as a federal law enforcement officer.

    As part of an undercover operation, Toral agreed to transport a black bag containing $200,000 in cash from Dallas to Houston in February 2023. He believed this money was revenue from the sale of illegal narcotics. Later that same month, Toral repeated the trip, delivering an additional $200,000.

    In March 2023, Toral agreed to transport $300,000 from Newark, New Jersey, to Houston on a commercial flight. The money was represented to be the proceeds of drug trafficking. While carrying the illicit gains, Toral bypassed airport security and Transportation Security Administration checkpoints by exploiting his law enforcement position.

    Toral did all this in exchange for cash payments.

    “Christopher Toral swore to protect America from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threatens our national security….but he betrayed that oath,” said Ganjei. “Today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to hold accountable those who would choose corruption and deception over faithful service to their country, their community, and their brothers and sisters in law enforcement.”

    “In choosing greed over duty, former ICE officer Christopher Toral disgraced the badge he vowed to uphold,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “His crimes – frequently conducted under the guise of a righteous law enforcement officer – betrayed all the men and women who tirelessly protect and serve their communities with integrity every day. FBI Houston proudly partnered with DHS-Office of Inspector General (OIG) to ensure Toral’s corrupt and deceitful activities were exposed and brought to justice.”

    “Today’s plea sends a clear message that federal employees who violate the trust of the public and break the law will be prosecuted,” said DHS-OIG Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari PhD. “DHS-OIG is grateful for our continued partnership with our law enforcement partners as we continue fighting corruption.”

    U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea and set sentencing for May 15. At that time, Toral faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.

    FBI and DHS-OIG conducted the investigation. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and John Marck are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Kingpin Sentenced To 27 Years As Part Of Ongoing Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge today announced that United States District Judge Jane M. Beckering sentenced Jason Demyers, 44, a current resident of Arizona with significant ties to Lansing, Michigan, to serve 324 months in prison for his leadership of a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy. During sentencing, Judge Beckering described Demyers as a “kingpin” in what she described as a “nationally orchestrated drug trafficking organization” that dealt massive amounts of both cocaine and methamphetamine. Demyers is the seventh defendant to be sentenced in the case.

              Demyers was one of the leaders of the drug trafficking conspiracy. His organization distributed kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine in and around Detroit, Lansing, and Kalamazoo between August 2022 and July 2024. Demyers personally coordinated the shipment to Michigan of packages containing approximately ten kilograms of methamphetamine. He also worked with couriers who flew from Michigan to California carrying thousands of dollars earned from drug sales and then flew back to Michigan carrying kilograms of illegal drugs.

              During the pendency of the case, investigators seized approximately ten kilograms of methamphetamine, eight kilograms of cocaine, multiple pieces of real property used to facilitate the drug trafficking conspiracy, and jewelry valued at approximately $325,000.

              In total, the United States charged fourteen defendants as part of the organization. Twelve of the defendants have pled guilty, while two have entered into a pretrial diversion program. Of the defendants sentenced to date, the Court has imposed the following prison sentences:

    • Franchot Barnes – 324 months
    • Jomo Grady – 210 months
    • Evette Wallace – 110 months
    • Jamar Goins – 78 months
    • Lanise Moody – 40 months
    • Jonathan Conner – 37 months

              The remaining defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in May and June 2025.

              The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Lansing Police Department (LPD) began the investigation into Demyers’ drug trafficking organization in October 2022, in partnership with Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.

              “Today’s sentencing of Jason Demyers for his lead role in a national drug trafficking organization is a victory for the American public and a defeat to drug traffickers everywhere. The special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation continue in their mission to disrupt the flow of ill-gotten gains that is the life-blood for these criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to be relentless in our mission to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and bring the criminals who run them to justice.”

              “This case is a prime example of how a seemingly small investigation can evolve into a large-scale operation, thanks to the dedicated collaboration between our local, state, and federal partners,” said Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus. “By working together, we’re able to target and dismantle operations led by some of the most prolific offenders.”

              “DEA is committed to protecting communities throughout Michigan from drug traffickers who prey on the vulnerable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division Andrew Lawton. “Mr. Demyers ran a drug trafficking organization that funneled kilogram-quantities of drugs into Michigan along with an untold amount of misery and destruction. Together with our law enforcement partners, DEA will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations that threaten safety and disrupt communities.”

              This prosecution, dubbed Operation Cold as Ice, was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

              Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie M. Carowan and Austin J. Hakes prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Inuit children in Nunavut face a preventable food security crisis

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vandna Sinha, Adjunct Professor of Social Work, McGIll University & Associate Research Professor of Education, University of Colorado, Boulder, McGill University

    Nunavut has the highest rate of child poverty and the highest rate of food insecurity of any Canadian province or territory. In 2022, around 80 per cent of Indigenous children aged between one and 14 in Nunavut lived in households experiencing food insecurity. In 2018, the rate of childhood food insecurity in Nunavut was almost six times higher than in Canada as a whole.

    The Hamlet Food Voucher Program, funded through the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI), has recently offered some relief. This program gives families funds for groceries to meet the nutritional needs of Inuit children.

    However, ICFI funding only runs until March 31, 2025. With Parliament prorogued, plans for further funding remain uncertain. That means starting April 1, many Inuit children in Nunavut may again go hungry. The Canadian government can make sure that does not happen by extending funding for ICFI and the food voucher program.

    Long-term effects of food insecurity

    Food insecurity can have harmful, and sometimes lasting, impacts on a young person’s physical health, mental health, academic performance and cognitive development. Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable because they are completely dependent on adult caregivers whose physical and mental health can also be impacted by food insecurity.

    Recently, food security initiatives in Nunavut have been funded through the ICFI, which was launched in 2018. ICFI was meant to be a temporary measure to help families access essential services while an Inuit-specific framework is being developed.

    Nutrition support for children has been one of the most requested services under ICFI. Initially, each family had to submit extensive documentation, and often faced months-long delays before receiving services and supports.

    In 2023, municipal governments in Nunavut began to request, and receive, ICFI funding for nutrition supports for all Inuit children in their community. By December 2024, all but one community received funding for Hamlet Food Voucher Programs. These programs provide $500 per child for groceries and an additional $250 for children under four.

    High grocery costs

    The support provided through the Hamlet Food Voucher Program is significant, but $500 covers far less in Nunavut than in southern Canada. Groceries must be brought to Nunavut by plane or ship, and most communities have only one or two grocery stores. Accordingly, despite efforts to reduce prices through programs like Nutrition North Canada (NNC), the cost of groceries in Nunavut is much higher than in the rest of Canada.

    Grocery prices in Nunavut are also rising much faster than in the rest of Canada. Our research shows that, between 2022 and 2024, the cost of a basket of goods in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut’s largest region, rose by 26 per cent (compared to 13 per cent across Canada) and is now more than double the average cost in Canada.

    Even food subsidized through NNC is far more expensive: four litres of milk cost $9.95 in Qikiqtaaluk compared to a Canada average of $5.10. Prices for other items can be even higher: a February 2025 video from the hamlet of Grise Fiord shows a jar of jam selling for $35, pickles for $66 and a six-pack of apple sauce for $58.

    The high rate of food insecurity in Nunavut reflects a vast gap between household incomes and the money required to support a basic standard of living. Nunavut saw sustained income growth between 2005 and 2019, and a declining percentage of people receiving social assistance. Still, employment rates remain lower than in other territories.

    In 2023, the median income for households with two adults and two children was just under $36,000.

    This was around 40 per cent of the $89,420 needed for a two-adult, three-child family living in social housing in Iqaluit to afford the “modest, basic standard of living” represented by the official poverty threshold.

    The social assistance available to low-income Nunavut families is comparable to that in provinces with a lower cost of living. Even with $1,000 a month in food vouchers, a family of four making the median income remains far below the “deep poverty” threshold of 75 per cent of the official poverty line.

    An Inuit-led solution

    We have been interviewing service providers, grocery store employees and people co-ordinating Hamlet Food Voucher Programs. The interviews are part of an ongoing research project we are working on in collaboration with Sindu Govindapillai and Dheeksha Reddy from Qupanuaq, a service co-ordination program operated by the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, and research team members Kelly Mitchell, Mohammad N. Khan, Josee G. Lavoie and Tracey Galloway.

    Interviewees tell us that, because of the program, fewer people go without food and more families can cover rent, utilities and other necessities. People also told us that families are eating healthier, children are going to school more often and are more engaged when there, and families are less stressed. Other programs and services that were previously busy addressing food-related crises can now focus on providing medical care, fostering learning and keeping children safe.

    The people we interviewed also make it clear the Hamlet Food Voucher Program is not enough to solve the problem of food insecurity in Nunavut. They stressed that food security initiatives must be paired with supports for healing, well-being and life-long learning.

    Inuit plans for addressing poverty include such supports. They also include measures to increase community decision-making, reform income assistance, increase access to housing and strengthen local economies.

    Until such a framework is fully implemented, the Hamlet Food Voucher Program must remain in place. Nunavut families currently face record levels of child poverty, rising food prices and a potential North American trade war that would further drive-up costs.

    Losing food voucher support would be catastrophic for many households, particularly those with young children. The Canadian government must support Inuit leaders working toward a long-term solution to food insecurity in Nunavut. By funding the Hamlet Food Voucher program in the interim, it can help ensure that the children of Nunavut do not go hungry.

    The ongoing research described in this article is funded by the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

    Financial support for this research was provided by CN and Mr. Dan Einwechter through the Einwechter Centre for Supply Chain
    Management, Wilfrid Laurier University

    Nicholas Li receives funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant that helped support this research.

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

    – ref. Inuit children in Nunavut face a preventable food security crisis – https://theconversation.com/inuit-children-in-nunavut-face-a-preventable-food-security-crisis-250004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Moran, Fischer, Budd Measure Seeks to Improve Veterans’ Access to Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) as well as Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tedd Budd (R-NC) to introduce legislation that would permanently authorize and expand the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make it easier to schedule healthcare appointments for veterans in the community. 
    The EPS program allows the VA to view the schedules of community care providers. This reduces the amount of time it takes to find and create appointments for veterans in need of care. In initial rollout phases, this system led to a 65 percent improvement in the timeliness of community care scheduling and increased scheduling from seven appointments a day to over twenty.
    “Veterans deserve timely and quality access to medical care,” said Boozman. “Across our country, and particularly in rural areas, our former servicemembers rely on community care to receive the services and benefits they need. I’m pleased to join my colleagues on this effort to support and strengthen the important tools that help ensure veterans’ appointments are not delayed or denied.”
    “Veterans should not have to wait weeks or months to obtain the care and services they have earned,” said Moran. “By simplifying the community care appointment scheduling process and improving communication between VA and community providers, the External Provider Scheduling program has resulted in veterans getting the health care they need faster. This bill would continue the EPS program so that even more veterans will benefit from it, improving access to care nationwide.”
    “Our veterans shouldn’t have to wait long periods to receive the medical care and services they need,” said Fischer. “By making the EPS program permanent, we will put our veterans’ needs first as we improve care coordination between the VA and community providers, especially in our rural areas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to take care of our veterans by passing this legislation.”
    “No veteran should be forced to wait for the care they need and deserve,” said Budd. “That’s why I am proud to support Senator Moran’s legislation that allows the VA to schedule appointments with community healthcare providers in real time. Veterans in North Carolina and across the nation deserve the highest quality care we can provide them, and this bill will help us accomplish that mission.”
    Click here for full text of the legislation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Advocates for Farmers During Senate AG Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Bret Erickson, Board Member of the International Fresh Produce Association, and Anna Rhinewalt, Council Member of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Ag) hearing. During the hearing, they spoke about the dire state of the farm economy impacting specialty crop producers after four years of Joe Biden’s runaway spending and sky-high inflation.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for you being here today, all of you.
    Our Ag economy is a disaster, complete disaster. You know, if we don’t do something—and I don’t know how it’s going to work—we’re not going to have Ag Committee here in a few years. We lost 150,000 farms in the last few years. 150,000 farms.
    If that’s not a disaster, I don’t know what is. But we don’t help you at all. Regulations are overboard. Labor is out of sight. You have no water. I don’t know what we’ve done right up here. Doesn’t sound like a whole lot.
    But Mrs. Rhinewalt, what’s the ideal [wage] rate if we were to revert back to [previous H-2A] labor costs? What would be the ideal rate that we would pay […] to make a profit?”
    RHINEWALT: “Senator, thank you. We actually had that discussion yesterday. We chuckled talking about wages that were based on maybe 115% of the federal wage rate or state minimum wage rates. But we know that’s at $7.25, and farmers are not suggesting that we pay that low. But we do want to have some consideration, a formulation for the wage rate that takes into account that $14.83 may be the wage rate, but we need to consider the transportation cost, the administrative cost, the housing cost, and maybe […] prorate that in consideration of those factors. Because it’s a fallacy to say that because we’re paying $14.83, that’s not really the wage rate paying. It’s really more like $20-21 an hour.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Thank you.
    Mr. Erickson, $23 an hour, you got to be kidding me. How do you make it? I mean, what would be your cost to make a profit?”
    ERICKSON: “I wish it wasn’t. It is. And to Mrs. Rhinewalt’s comments, you know, the costs that are involved with applying for the program, transporting the laborers from their home country to the United States where they’re going to work—we transport them, we put them in housing, hotels, transport them from the hotel to the job site. We have catering services. We provide food. You know, you need to take them to doctor’s appointments and to get sundries and such. I don’t know, you know, how you roll back. And in Texas, the AEWR [Adverse Effect Wage Rate] is, I believe, it’s $15.87 an hour. Our actual cost is about $23 per hour when you add all that in.
    I don’t know what the number is. We definitely need to put a cap on the increases that have occurred. How do we deal with it? Unfortunately, in the case of Little Bear Produce, I wish Senator Lujan was still here. […] We had an onion packing facility in Deming, New Mexico. It was an important part of our operation that had about 15 full time people and we brought in 20-30 seasonal people. We rent onions, hatch chilies, pumpkins, watermelons up there. And we had to recently shutter that facility, in part, because of the water that’s being withheld in Mexico. And they’re using that water to grow our crops, and then we’re having to purchase those products.
    So, it is a crazy situation for us to be in. And as a business, we had to make the decision, and you have to sit down with each one of these, these people have been working for us for 12-15 years, and to sit down and tell them, you know, ‘We have to let you go, unfortunately. You know, we’re going to work with you to try to transition into another job.’ And you know what the craziest thing was? Those folks, in talking to them, they were so thankful for the opportunity that they had during the 12-15 years that they were working for us, and they were so thankful for that. But if we don’t get these costs under control for U.S. producers, we are going to continue to hand over the production of specialty crops and fruits and vegetables.”
    TUBERVILLE: “We’re not going to have it. It’s going to be over. Mrs. Rhinewalt, could we do without a H-2A program?”
    RHINEWALT: “No, sir. We would be completely out of business.”
    TUBERVILLE: “[…] How are domestic workers being affected by H-2A programs?”
    RHINEWALT: “Well, a domestic workforce is never again going to be the remedy for Ag production in the United States, per their response to the jobs. So, 97% of jobs remain open when we’re required to advertise them to domestic workers, first, before we can receive any assurance that we’re allowed to bring H-2A onto our farms. We would be happy to pay our own citizens a very reasonable wage and save all those auxiliary costs that I mentioned. But they simply do not want the jobs.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Good luck. Hope we get out of your way.”
    RHINEWALT: “Thank you.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Because that’s what we’re going to have to do.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Recruiting Starts for Province’s First Internal Travel Nurse Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Registered nurses can now apply to participate in the province’s first internal travel nurse program.

    The pilot program will create a Nova Scotia Health travel nurse team to be deployed to emergency departments.

    “We committed to establishing an internal travel nurse team so we can limit the hiring of nurses from external companies,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This program is the first of its kind in the Maritimes and is intended to help retain and provide a different opportunity to those already working in our system and bring those currently working for external travel nurse agencies into our public healthcare system.”

    The new program will hire 20 to 30 full-time registered nurses and offer internal and external candidates an opportunity to grow their skills and experience, travel and work in different areas.

    Expected to launch by the end of March, it is a joint effort of the Province, Nova Scotia Health and the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions.

    Quotes:

    “We’re very excited to be accepting applications for this pilot program. This is the result of a tremendous amount of work in close partnership with the council of unions, which will ultimately provide safer, more timely access to care for Nova Scotians and help Nova Scotia Health continue to attract and keep registered nurses.”
    — Annette Elliott Rose, Chief Nurse Executive and Vice-President, Clinical Performance and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Health

    “Since before the pandemic, nurses’ unions have been calling on the Province to reduce its reliance on agency nurses. This announcement is a step in the right direction, one that provides structure, support and stability for those interested in working in this area of nursing and for Nova Scotians who require care.”
    — Janet Hazelton, Chair, Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions, and President, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union

    Quick Facts:

    • Nova Scotia Health and the council of nursing unions will share details soon about information sessions for interested candidates
    • nurses on the team will have $6 per hour, or 15 per cent – whichever amount is higher – added to their registered nurse base hourly rate for all shifts worked as a travel nurse
    • internal candidates will continue to accrue pension and seniority and maintain their benefits with Nova Scotia Health
    • the Province announced changes to limit hiring of external travel nurses in December 2023

    Additional Resources:

    Provincial internal travel nurse program job posting: https://jobs.nshealth.ca/nsha/job/All-Locations-Internal-Travel-Nurse-Emergency-Department-NS/589878117/

    News release – New Approach to Hiring Travel Nurses: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/12/04/new-approach-hiring-travel-nurses

    Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare: https://actionforhealth.novascotia.ca/

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Waiwhetu Road closed following crash

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Waiwhetu Road is closed between Naenae Road and Norton Park Ave following a crash.

    The single vehicle crash was reported just after 2am.

    Two people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Worth woman sentenced for smuggling minors from Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old woman has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to smuggle two Mexican children from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Sandra Perez pleaded guilty Nov. 19, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Perez to serve three years in federal prison.

    “Smuggling children is absolutely reprehensible,” said Ganjei. “Who knows what awaited these children had the defendant managed to slip past authorities. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to unravel Perez’s false story and stop her smuggling scheme dead in its tracks.”

    On Aug. 8, 2024, Perez applied for admission into the United States driving an SUV. She had her three minor U.S. citizen children with her along with two minor Mexican children.

    Perez falsely claimed the two Mexican children were also hers and attempted to present Texas birth certificates and Social Security cards that belonged to her two other children as proof.

    After the Mexican children failed to answer authorities’ questions, Perez admitted to attempting to bring the Mexican children into the United States to the children’s mother in Fort Worth, knowing that they did not have legal authority to enter the country.

    She also admitted she expected to receive $5,000 per child after delivery.

    Perez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Who Ran Multi-Million-Dollar Cryptocurrency Investment Scheme Found Guilty Of Wire Fraud And Money Laundering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury convicted Douglas Jae Woo Kim, 32, of New York, New York, on 14 counts of wire fraud, international money laundering, and money laundering.  The jury reached its verdict yesterday afternoon, following a three-week trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.  

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between October 2017 and June 2020, after moving to San Francisco, Kim engaged in a scheme to defraud investors, many of whom were friends and acquaintances, of over $7 million in money and cryptocurrency by holding himself out as a legitimate trader of cryptocurrency, a form of virtual currency.  Kim falsely represented that he was seeking short-term liquidity in the form of loans or investments for cryptocurrency trading or other legitimate business purposes and promised to trade or invest the cryptocurrency provided by investors and lenders to make a profit.  He also told victims that the loans carried no or very low risk, promised high rates of return on their loans, and claimed that he had sufficient funds to personally guarantee the loans.  

    “This case may involve the new world of virtual currency, but there’s nothing new about the defendant’s scheme to defraud,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins.  “Douglas Kim made bogus promise after promise to investors and lenders, only to cheat them and send their money to offshore gambling sites.  Today’s verdict sends a clear message to anyone who engages in fraud in the Northern District of California: you will be prosecuted, and you will face serious consequences.”

    “Mr. Kim deceived those who trusted him, exploiting their confidence to fund his personal gambling activities rather than the legitimate investments he offered his victims. The FBI remains committed to identifying and bringing to justice individuals who manipulate and defraud others for financial gain,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin.

    In October 2017, Kim contacted a victim by text message and said he was looking for investors interested in making what he called a short-term loan for a “fairly modest operation.”  Kim represented that he was investing in a cryptocurrency operation in which he would make a profit from fees charged to a peer-to-peer network and from exchange transactions, and informed the victim that the operation “isn’t very risky to me.”  Within days of receiving cryptocurrency from the victim to finance the investment, Kim transferred almost all of it to bitcoin sports betting sites located outside the United States.  Kim went on to obtain over a million dollars’ worth of funds from this victim over the course of the scheme, the majority of which went to offshore sports betting sites.

    In November 2017, Kim contacted another victim by email and said he was looking for cryptocurrency for a trading strategy.  Kim assured that the victim that “my activities are fairly low risk.”  On Dec. 1, 2017, Kim obtained a cryptocurrency loan from this victim worth approximately $186,000 at the time. Once the cryptocurrency was obtained, Kim immediately sent all of it to offshore sports betting sites. In total, Kim obtained over $500,000 in funds from this victim.

    In an agreement dated Jan. 1, 2018, Kim set out the terms of a similar investment with a third victim.  The agreement called for the victim to provide cryptocurrency valued at approximately $200,000 at the time.  The same day, Kim converted more than half of the funds to bitcoin and, in the following days, transferred substantially all the converted cryptocurrency to his account with an offshore casino.  Kim went on to obtain over $4 million in funds from this victim.

    Kim defrauded numerous other victims, including nine who testified at trial, until at least July 2020, when he was charged by federal complaint.  In 2023, while he was out on pretrial release, Kim allegedly renewed his scheme to defraud.  One count related to this renewed period of fraud remains pending.  

    The jury acquitted Kim of one count of international money laundering.

    Kim is scheduled to appear on June 25, 2025, to set a date for sentencing.  He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and international money laundering, and 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering.  Any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.  

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Stern and Maya Karwande are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez, Maryam Beros, Andy Ding, Lynette Dixon, and Christine Tian. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington, D.C. Felon Sentenced to Ten Years for Illegal Firearm Possession After Leading Law Enforcement on a High-Speed Chase with Minors in the Car

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Washington, D.C. man was sentenced yesterday to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon.  On September 16, 2024, Tavon Everett Lee Vines, age 32, pled guilty to the charge.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 6, 2021, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Vines.  After the vehicle stopped, and while he was still in his police cruiser, the Sheriff observed Vines and a front-seat passenger switching seats. Upon approach, the Sheriff noted that three minor children were in the vehicle’s rear seat. The Sheriff further observed that Vines, who had moved to the front passenger seat, kept his hand under his shirt; the Sheriff recognized that Vines was in possession of a firearm. The woman who had been in the passenger seat but had moved to the driver’s seat was escorted out of the vehicle, and the Sheriff radioed in for a deputy to come assist in the stop.

    An assisting deputy shortly arrived on scene and tried to remove Vines from the vehicle as well, but Vines pushed the deputy and attempted to flee on foot.  The deputy stopped Vines from fleeing, at which time Vines kicked the deputy in the face and tried to steal the deputy’s service weapon from the holster.  Vines eventually broke free from the struggle, ran around to the driver’s seat of the car, and fled in the vehicle where the children had remained.  During the pursuit, which occurred after sunset, Vines turned off the vehicle lights and drove at speeds exceeding 120 mph before ultimately crashing into a guardrail and fleeing on foot, leaving the children, who were uninjured, in the car.  A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded .40 caliber firearm.  Vines has two prior felony convictions for crimes of violence and is not permitted to legally own a firearm.

    “Keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals, especially those who assault law enforcement, is a top priority,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that endanger our communities.” 

    “This case is a great representation of how we combat the violence of criminals who live or travel through our county,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Our office is grateful to have such dedicated law enforcement partners that willingly put their lives in danger every day to protect every citizen. This case would have not been possible without the hard work and collaboration of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

    “A felon in possession of a firearm is a serious threat to public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on stopping those who endanger our communities, and we’ll continue to utilize every resource we have to keep our streets safe.”

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II announced the sentence on February 26, 2025. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick  prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-00147M-001.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Cario introduces blockchain-based vehicle titling to modernize ownership and reduce costs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cario, a blockchain-powered vehicle titling platform, is leading the charge to modernize the outdated, paper-based system that governs car ownership in the United States. With the country’s newfound focus on government efficiency, a rare opportunity has emerged to transition vehicle titles into a secure, digital format. If this moment is not seized, self-sovereign ownership of vehicles could be replaced by centralized government databases, limiting individual control and future industry innovation.

    Vehicle titles remain one of the last major assets still reliant on paper, creating inefficiencies that affect consumers, dealerships, lenders, and the entire automotive industry. The current system is plagued by delays, red tape, and high operational costs, preventing dealers from legally selling vehicles until physical titles arrive by mail. Consumers, meanwhile, spend hours navigating DMV bureaucracy, while state governments face ongoing expenses tied to outdated technology.

    Blockchain as the future of vehicle titling

    Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent alternative, creating a tamper-resistant record shared among all stakeholders, including dealerships, insurers, lienholders, and DMVs. This approach enables near-instant verification and transfers while preserving the individual’s ownership rights. Unlike centralized databases, blockchain-based titles ensure that vehicle ownership remains in the hands of individuals rather than government-controlled registries and paves the way for a programmable asset future.

    A cost-free solution for state governments

    The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) has made slow progress toward e-titling, but existing solutions remain centralized and costly for states. Cario’s model, by contrast, is free for state governments. The cost burden shifts to dealers and lenders, who benefit from faster, more efficient title processing. This eliminates the need for expensive government contracts and taxpayer-funded technology overhauls. It also fundamentally aligns the incentives of government services with end-users, a key shift from how these services are designed today.

    A critical window for action

    With the launch of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the U.S. government is finally taking a deep look at reforming public services, making this a pivotal moment to advocate for blockchain-based titling. If blockchain solutions are not implemented, states may adopt centralized digital titles, which could limit individual access and control and hamstring future RWA innovation for decades. Cario urges consumers and industry stakeholders to take action before legacy systems cement a future of restricted ownership.

    How to get involved

    • Digitize your title: Vehicle owners can convert their titles into blockchain-based assets through Cario at no cost.
    • Spread the word: Follow us on X and sound off publicly – and to your friends and family who aren’t terminally online – about the importance of self-sovereign ownership for one of life’s most important assets.
    • Demand better: Join our campaign to let your state’s DMV and congressional representatives know that a blockchain solution for digital titling exists—and it’s cheaper, more transparent, and more efficient. Joining the campaign is quick and easy, just sign up with an email, enter in your address, and we’ll look up your representatives and craft an email for you to send (same way StandwithCrypto works).

    A new era for vehicle ownership

    Blockchain-based vehicle titling has the potential to save millions of dollars, streamline operations across the automotive industry, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and protect individual ownership rights. As government agencies explore modernization efforts, stakeholders must ensure that the future of vehicle ownership remains open, secure, and decentralized.

    To learn more or to digitize your vehicle title, visit Cario’s website.

    About Cario

    Cario is a venture-backed technology company dedicated to modernizing vehicle titling through blockchain solutions. The company has completed two rounds of funding and is actively seeking strategic partners passionate about decentralization and digital ownership.

    Media contact
    Nathan Hecht
    nhecht@cario.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Cario. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/812d3268-a037-49cf-b240-c23e2a4cd6af

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Witness on Anti-Drug Trafficking Efforts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Yesterday, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, questioned Director of the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program Shannon Kelly on the program to locate and intercept illegal drugs within the United States. She highlighted HIDTA’s successes in Nebraska, especially for the Panhandle’s Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group (WING) Task Force.  
    During the hearing, Senator Fischer asked Ms. Kelly what future challenges she anticipates in achieving the program’s goals. She also asked about the benefits of a government-wide shared map to identify the reach of transnational drug trafficking organizations.
    Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning
    Click here to download audio
    Click here to download video
    Senator Fischer questions Shannon Kelly:
    Senator Fischer: Ms. Kelly, I think a key step in addressing the illicit drug threat is ensuring the existing programs within the government are working. As you know, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, known as HIDTA, is a cornerstone of how we combat regional drug trafficking throughout the United States. And I have seen firsthand in my state of Nebraska, especially for law enforcement in rural areas with fewer local resources, how important this is. For example, HIDTA is the primary resource for the WING Task Force that covers 11 of our Panhandle counties. Through HIDTA, the task force has developed a uniquely cooperative investigative program, which is helping Western Nebraska law enforcement more actively manage narcotic and criminal investigations. In your view, how would you evaluate HIDTA’s effectiveness nationwide?
    Shannon Kelly: Thank you so much, Senator Fischer, for your support and for the question. Nationwide, we’re extremely proud of the work that HIDTA’s been doing. One of the things that we often tout is that for every dollar invested in the HIDTA program, the rate of return is $63, which is a pretty phenomenal testament to the success of the program overall. In 2023, HIDTA has collectively disrupted or dismantled more than 3,000 drug trafficking organizations or money laundering organizations, and collectively they seized more than 2,000 metric tons of drugs, which I think also completes the narrative here. Often when we’re talking about drug interdiction, we have a tendency to focus on the ports of entry and at the borders, which is critical to our overall success. But we often like to point to the work of the HIDTAs interdicting drugs within the interior of the United States. And I think the success rate there is phenomenal as well.Senator Fischer: What challenges do you see or that you possibly anticipate in the future in meeting your goals that you have out there?
    Shannon Kelly: Thank you, Senator, for asking that question. We do face a myriad of challenges. In some communities, the focus on drug trafficking is often subordinate to other threats, which is certainly a challenge in terms of making sure that there are state and local resources to put on HIDTA task forces. I would also say fatigue is a huge element for us, and I think it’s why the focus on border security and interdiction at the ports of entry and at the borders is key because I think we’re asking an awful lot of our state and local task force officers when they are being asked to interdict drugs that did evade the borders, and when they’re being asked to investigate the types of networks that are directly linked to cartels. That’s a huge challenge. It’s a training challenge, and it’s a resource challenge for all of our task forces. 
    Senator Fischer: You know, you brought up the border, and obviously the southern border is a major disruption zone. In years past, we’ve struggled with all the different agencies out there using different intel, using different maps, whether it’s DEA or FBI or CBP or the Department of Defense, as well. I think we have to have a shared map, government-wide shared map, to identify the threats that we have. In your testimony, you noted efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration to map out this data comprehensively. Can you speak about that further please? 
    Shannon Kelly: Thank you so much for that question, Senator Fischer. I agree. I think we all agree that a common operating picture is imperative, and a big challenge for us too is making sure that we are in a place where we can share information freely—from the fed, from the IC, all the way down to our state and local partners. This is where we really rely on the work of our federal agencies to be the bridge so that, as you say, the map, the common operating picture, can be not just conceived, but then communicated from top to bottom.
    Senator Fischer: And how do we achieve that?
    Shannon Kelly: How we achieve that is a work in progress. It is, I won’t lie, it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge both in terms of the security levels, but it’s also a challenge in terms of culture and promoting information sharing. We’re talking about people who are accustomed to building trust with each other as people to share information, and sometimes, when we’re working across communities like that, we have to figure out not just one bridge but multiple ways to bridge that gap.
    Senator Fischer: Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: As Republicans Attempt to Undermine Social Security, Sanders, Warren, Schakowsky, Hoyle Introduce Legislation to Expand Social Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 – As Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress attempt to advance legislation to give massive tax breaks to billionaires and undermine Social Security, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), introduced the Social Security Expansion Act. The legislation would expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and ensure Social Security is fully funded for the next 75 years by applying the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000. Importantly, this legislation would not raise taxes by one penny on the over 91 percent of American households who make $250,000 or less.
    These estimates reflect an analysis of the legislation conducted by the Social Security Administration at the request of Sen. Sanders in 2023.
    Joining Sanders, Warren, Schakowsky and Hoyle on the Social Security Expansion Act are Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), as well as 17 cosponsors in the House including Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-D.C.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Christopher R. Deluzio (D-Pa.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Troy Carter (D-La.), James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
    “At a time when nearly half of older Americans have no retirement savings and over 26% of seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $17,500 a year, our job is not to cut Social Security as many of our Republican colleagues want to do,” said Sanders. “Our job is to expand Social Security so that every senior in America can retire with the dignity that they deserve and every person with a disability can live with the security they need. The legislation we are introducing today will expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year, lift millions of seniors out of poverty and extend the solvency of Social Security for generations to come by making sure that the wealthiest people in our society pay their fair share into the system. Right now, a billionaire pays the same amount into Social Security as someone who makes $176,100 a year. Our bill puts an end to that absurdity. And by doing that, we can expand Social Security benefits and make sure that Social Security can pay out every single benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 75 years.”
    “Social Security serves as a lifeline for millions of seniors, and hardworking Americans deserve to receive the benefits they paid into,” said Warren. “It’s a mistake for Donald Trump and his allies in Congress to focus on securing tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations when we should be focusing on expanding and increasing Social Security benefits so that everyone can retire with dignity.”
    “Social Security is your hard-earned money; it is not an entitlement. President Donald Trump and his unelected billionaire sidekick Elon Musk think they alone can decide if you get your Social Security check. They had better think again. That is stealing. Americans pay into the program with each paycheck. We must expand Social Security benefits, not cut them, and I have a bill to do just that,” said Schakowsky. “The Social Security Expansion Act will protect the national treasure that is Social Security by extending the trust fund’s solvency for 75 years and expanding benefits by $2,400 a year so that everyone in America can retire with the security and dignity they deserve after a lifetime of hard work.”
    “Protecting Social Security is our commitment to seniors who’ve worked their whole lives to earn it,” said Hoyle. “While Congressional Republicans continue to threaten cuts to Social Security, I am proud to join Senator Sanders, Senator Warren and Representative Schakowsky in introducing a concrete proposal that extends the program for another 75 years by having millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share like every other working American. The Social Security Expansion Act was my first bill in Congress, and I will not stop fighting until I see it passed into law.”
    Social Security is the most successful government program in the history of our country. For 86 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American on time and without delay. Before 1935, when it was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, about 50 percent of the nation’s seniors lived in poverty, as did countless Americans with disabilities and surviving dependents of deceased workers. Nearly 90 years later, the senior poverty rate is down to 9.7 percent and in 2023 alone, Social Security lifted 27.6 million Americans out of poverty, including more than 19.5 million seniors.
    Despite this success, tens of millions of seniors are still struggling to get by, and many older workers fear that they will never be able to retire with security and dignity. While the average Social Security benefit is only $1,838 a month, nearly 40 percent of seniors rely on Social Security for a majority of their income; one in seven rely on it for more than 90 percent of their income; and nearly half of Americans aged 65 and 74 have no retirement savings at all.
    By requiring millionaires and billionaires to finally pay their fair share into the program, the Social Security Expansion Act would ensure the fund’s solvency to the end of the century, help low-income workers stay out of poverty by improving the Special Minimum Benefit, restore student benefits up to age 22 for children of disabled or deceased workers, strengthen benefits for senior citizens and people with disabilities, increase Cost-Of-Living-Adjustments (COLAs) and expand program benefits across-the-board.
    The Social Security Expansion Act has also been endorsed by over 25 groups, including: Social Security Works, MoveOn, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, American Federation of Teachers, Justice in Aging, Income Movement, Public Citizen, Blue Future, Campaign for America’s Future, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, Indivisible, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AAFGE Council 215, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFSCME Retirees, American Postal Workers Union, People Power United, Left Click, Defeat Republicans, Progress America, The People United, Iron PAC, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Other98 and Solidarity Action.
    Read the bill text, here.
    Read the fact sheet and full list of supporting organizations, here.
    Read the Social Security Administration’s 2023 analysis of the legislation, here.
    Read a 2021 analysis of what the world’s wealthiest people would pay under this legislation, here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of fish released to restock Cheshire river

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Thousands of fish released to restock Cheshire river

    A total of 4,000 fish, including chub dace and roach, have been released into the River Weaver at two key locations in Cheshire.

    The team preparing to stock the fish.

    The restocking aims to help replenish populations after two pollution incidents in October 2023, which sadly led to the loss of thousands of fish.

    The two key locations include Mill Island Weir and downstream in “The Willows” area.

    Restocking is done where natural population numbers have been depleted or to create new fisheries and opportunities for anglers. It occurs in winter because water temperatures are low and this minimises any stress on the fish, giving them the best possible survival rates.

    An image of the team restocking fish into the River Weaver

    February is a good time to introduce the fish into rivers, as it enables them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, ahead of their spawning season in the spring.

    Fish also play a critical role in sustaining a river’s finely-balanced eco-system, so the wider natural environment will also get a helping hand, as a result of the restocking.

    James Grosscurth, Fisheries Officer for the Environment Agency in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, said:

    Sometimes our native fish populations need a helping hand, particularly following pollution incidents.

    After careful and consistent monitoring, increased agricultural site inspections and enforcement and an enhanced officer presence upstream of Nantwich Lake, we were pleased to confirm that the water quality in the River Weaver can provide a healthy habitat for thousands of new recruits.

    This first restocking will form part of a three-year program, funded by rod licence income, to encourage natural recovery. Our thanks go to Nantwich Angling Society who have been working tirelessly, alongside our officers, to help make this happen.

    All of the fish introduced to the Weaver have been reared at the Environment Agency’s National Coarse Fish Farm in Calverton, Nottinghamshire.

    Every year, the Environment Agency stocks almost half a million fish of nine different species into England’s rivers. Being the principal supply of coarse fish for 32 years, the fish farm plays a crucial role to help improve fisheries around the country.

    Close up of fish entering the river during restocking.

    Fisheries officers use data from national surveys to identify where there are problems with poor breeding, issues with survival rates, or where numbers have been impacted following a pollution incident.

    These surveys help the officers ensure that fish are released into the right locations and where the need is greatest as well as supporting angling clubs to boost local fishing spots.

    Fisheries Officers inspect rod licences 24/7 throughout the North West, and work continually on cases of illegal fishing and other associated fisheries crime. Fishing illegally can result in a fine of up to £2,500, and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.

    It’s easy to buy a rod fishing licence online. Get yours here: Buy a rod fishing licence: When you need a licence – GOV.UK

    illegal fishing and other offences can be reported to the Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline on 0800 807060.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Mauritius Presents Credentials

    Source: United Nations 4

    (Based on Information Provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

    The new Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations, Milan J.N. Meetarbhan, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

    Prior to his appointment, he taught at the Mauritius campus of Paris-Panthéon-Assas University and served as a consultant to the university.

    Mr. Meetarbhan previously held the position of Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations from January 2011 to January 2015.  Before that, he was Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission from December 2005 to December 2010.Since 1995, he has been a senior adviser to the Prime Minister of Mauritius.

    Earlier in his career, he served as legal adviser in the Ministry of Finance and was later appointed as a member of the Stock Exchange Commission. He also chaired the Financial Services Consultative Committee, a government body responsible for reviewing financial sector legislation.  In addition to his public service roles, he was an Associate Professor of Law and Head of the Law School of the University of Mauritius.

    Mr. Meetarbhan holds a doctorate in international law and a diploma of advanced studies in international economic relations and international organizations law from Sorbonne University in Paris.  He also earned a specialized graduate diploma in diplomacy and international relations from the University of Paris XI.

    __________

    * This supersedes BIO/4267 of 24 January 2011.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Relief from ‘Suicide Disease’ Through Cutting-Edge Procedure at UConn Health

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    For years, Dominic Frasca Jr. of Manchester lived with the debilitating pain of trigeminal neuralgia, a rare neurological condition often referred to as the “suicide disease” due to its severity. Trigeminal neuralgia causes excruciating facial pain triggered by even the lightest touch, making everyday activities unbearable often described as an electric shock, stabbing, or burning feeling.

    For Frasca, the condition began after he suffered a mini-stroke, and despite undergoing multiple treatments, the pain inevitably returned.

    Initially, Frasca underwent a microvascular decompression (MVD) under the care of Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at UConn Health’s Brain and Spine Institute. The procedure aimed to reposition or remove blood vessels compressing the trigeminal nerve. Even though his pain was atypical facial pain, he had immediate relief following the procedure.  Unfortunately, his pain syndrome returned months after complete alleviation.  He then received treatment from Radiation Oncologist Dr. Emily Anstadt Lutz in collaboration with Dr. Bulsara and Dr. Wolansky for the radiosurgical planning and underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a highly precise form of radiation therapy that uses multiple, focused beams of radiation to damage the nerve root and disrupt pain signals. This time too, his pain syndrome resolved, only to return months later.

    Faced with another painful recurrence, Frasca was referred by Bulsara to Dr. Christopher Conner, a neurosurgeon at UConn Health’s Brain and Spine Institute. Dr. Conner is the only surgeon in Connecticut performing an innovative procedure involving a facial nerve stimulator, a groundbreaking alternative for patients who either do not qualify for traditional treatments like microvascular decompression and radiosurgery or have exhausted all other treatment options.

    Before committing to the permanent implant, Frasca underwent a temporary trial procedure in August to determine its effectiveness. The results were encouraging, and on October 7, he became the first patient in Connecticut to receive the permanent stimulator medical device by Abbott.

    Abbott’s stimulator, which functions similarly to a pacemaker, sends electrical signals to the trigeminal nerve to modulate pain. Unlike traditional treatments that may wear off over time, this device provides continuous relief by preventing the nerve from misfiring pain signals to the brain. Frasca describes the difference as night and day, noting that while he still experiences mild pressure sensations, the unbearable stabbing pain is gone.

    “I can finally live my life again without that constant, excruciating pain,” Frasca shared. only side effect I’ve noticed is slight blurriness in my left eye, but my eye doctor is adjusting my prescription to compensate,” Frasca shared. “Otherwise, I feel like a new person.”

    Throughout his journey, Frasca has placed immense trust in his medical team, including Drs. Bulsara, Lutz, and Conner. He recalls how Dr. Bulsara went above and beyond, even driving an hour on his day off just to check on him before discharge.

    “I sent a letter to the CEO of UConn Health to tell them what an amazing team they have here,” Frasca said. “Dr. Conner is brilliant, energetic, and has truly changed my life.”

    The advanced nerve stimulator provides ongoing pain relief, with settings that can be adjusted remotely to optimize comfort. Frasca now has control over his condition, allowing him to reduce reliance on pain medications that previously came with significant side effects.

    Looking ahead, Frasca is optimistic. He hopes that his experience will encourage more patients to explore this innovative treatment and inspire further advancements in the field. While trigeminal neuralgia remains a complex and unpredictable condition, his prognosis is promising. Thanks to the cutting-edge care at UConn Health that offers comprehensive innovative care for facial pain syndrome, he has regained his quality of life, proving that even in the face of relentless pain, hope and healing are possible.

    The Brain and Spine Institute provides world-class care in a premier academic medical center for patients suffering from disorders of the brain and spine. By providing individualized care to our patients through our unique multidisciplinary approach, we optimize patient outcomes and continue to shape the future treatment of brain and spine disorders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Department of Human Services grants to community organizations such as universities help people get free tax filing assistance

    Source: US State of Oregon

    hanks to an Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) program, two Oregon universities are helping many people file their taxes for free. The ODHS Tax Infrastructure Grant Program makes this free tax help possible for individuals and families with incomes below $84,000 a year.

    In 2024, the program was responsible for the filing of 14,246 current and prior year returns, more than triple the number filed two years ago, before the grant program began. Oregon State University (OSU) and Western Oregon University are two of the many grant recipients offering free tax help with more than 100 paid student workers helping people file their taxes – for free.

    Emily Plant, who is working on her Bachelor of Science degree from OSU is one of those student workers. It’s her second year working as student worker.

    She said all different types of people come in for the free service. About one-third are OSU students, and there are also community members, some OSU staff, some drive an hour or so to get tax help.

    “It’s really important work, really meaningful. It helps people who have low incomes, disabilities, 65 plus-aged people, and people for whom English is a second language. People just don’t know they can get money back. People come in and get several thousand dollars back. For some this is life changing,” she said.

    Another student worker is Kelleen Green, a Master’s degree student in education at Western Oregon University. She acknowledges that many people feel anxious and scared about doing their taxes.

    “When we get taxpayers in – it is amazing. You can see they are so anxious and so overwhelmed. They think it is going to be the worst scenario. We’re here to help them. We see people get refunds almost all the time. Helps them feel empowered,” she said.

    Another student worker at Western Oregon University, Camila Martinez, said that, “No situation is too hard to handle. We use all of our resources to help them.” And it is free.

    “Last Saturday, I filed a tax return for someone who went to a private tax accountant last year. They were charged $350 for the tax return– the same amount they got back this year from the state. In total, they got a sizeable refund this year– over $1,000. They said they were very grateful for our services and how accessible our program is,” Martinez, a senior majoring in accounting, said.

    What she would like to tell people is that, “It’s free and available to anyone who is eligible. It might be daunting to do taxes, but we’re here to help, answer questions, and lead you in the right direction.”

    These free programs use the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, or VITA. VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards.

    The Tax Infrastructure Program funds culturally relevant or culturally specific organizations, Tribal governments and rural community organizations to help educate and provide free tax filing help for people with low incomes. Help is available in multiple languages. The grant money is also used to increase the number of certified tax preparers in Oregon.

    Learn more at the ODHS Tax Infrastructure Grant Program website; and in Spanish.

    Where to get free help filing taxes

    • Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO); TAX@irco.org; 971-427-3993; Portland, Ontario

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Spree Finance Partners with BookIt to Revolutionize Web3 Commerce and Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spree Finance, the blockchain-native commerce, rewards, and credit infrastructure network, today announces an exclusive partnership to power payments and rewards for BookIt, the next-gen booking “super-app” from global travel and rewards technology leaders OneCompany and Superlogic. This partnership enables Spree and Bookit to reward consumers for accessing coveted travel, entertainment, and premium retail products and experiences.

    First-of-its-kind Decentralized Commerce Network

    This first-of-its-kind partnership marks the first time cryptocurrency holders can seamlessly transact with 2M+ Real-World merchants and brands in travel, entertainment, and retail directly from their self-custodied wallets, enabling crypto for real-world commerce. Spree’s on-chain payments and Commerce DeFi credit rails will integrate with BookIt’s premium travel and retail merchant network starting today. Users can pay with 3,000+ supported cryptocurrencies and tokens for travel and retail purchases while earning stable-coin-backed rewards: Spree Points.

    “Blockchain technology has proven its major use case of digital-asset-to-digital-asset ‘Trade’, but to reach mass-consumer adoption, we need to solve the use case of digital-asset-to-real-world-commerce ‘Pay’ use case,” said Jared Christopherson, Spree Co-founder. “While many blockchain protocols today are fast and charge low fees, bringing real-world merchants and brands on-chain at scale has been challenging, until now! With 2M+ merchants in its network, BookIt is the perfect partner for Spree to enable the future of decentralized commerce.”

    A Next-Generation Commerce and Credit Infrastructure

    Spree is redefining the future of digital payments with its innovative Commerce DeFi infrastructure, integrating crypto commerce with a robust DeFi credit infrastructure. This approach enables users to transact in digital assets effortlessly while providing merchants with instant liquidity.

    At the heart of the Spree Network is a pair of tokens. Spree token which governs the network while SP (Spree Points), a stable-coin backed “universal rewards” token can not only incentivize users and facilitate transactions across its extensive network of merchants, but also power Spree’s Defi-lending protocol to enable instant settlement for merchants and credit orchestration for consumers. Unlike legacy payment rails like Visa and Mastercard, merchants pay up to 90% less in processing fees when accepting payments over Spree’s decentralized payments network, which leverages secure blockchain-native rails to remove friction and middlemen, and reduce excess fees. Significantly lower fees allow merchants to take control of their revenue and directly reward the end consumer without middlemen. 

    Revolutionizing Rewards and Loyalty

    Offering consumers more than just travel, Bookit provides elite access to VIP experiences, from front-row seats at major sporting events, to exclusive concerts, private wine tours, and celebrity chef tastings. Bookit members can earn up to 10x the rewards of competing platforms, using SP as its native rewards token, providing consumers with additional benefits on purchases, and flexibility when redeeming SP universal rewards points across its network of 2M+ merchants and brands.

    “Our mission with BookIt is to reimagine the e-commerce journey for travel, entertainment and retail as a “consumer-first” experience, where your loyalty is our priority and your rewards is an asset – not something that corporations can arbitrarily devalue,” said Lin Dai, CEO of Superlogic, co-creator of BookIt super-app. “Integrating with Spree’s next-gen commerce and rewards rails is revolutionary for the entire travel and loyalty industry, and we are proud to be the first of many major enterprise partners to partner with Spree.” 

    A veteran in blockchain solutions for enterprises, Lin Dai has worked closely with world-class brands including Warner Music Group, American Express, Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch and more on Web3 initiatives. As part of the new partnership, Lin Dai will be joining Spree’s board to guide its strategy and adoption with enterprise clients. 

    Spree Finance at ETH Denver 2025: Buildathon, Partnerships & Exclusive Events

    Spree will have a dynamic presence at ETH Denver 2025, with co-founder and head of technology Carter Razink actively participating in the Buildathon. As part of its commitment to fostering innovation, Spree will sponsor the Buildathon winner’s trip to the next year’s EthDenver conference, empowering emerging developers to further their journey.

    On February 28, Spree will co-host an exclusive event with leading EthDenver communities including Spork DAO and Pudgy Penguins, bringing together industry leaders, builders, and Web3 enthusiasts, followed by an after-party at Temple nightclub.

    On Mar 1, at the BuiDl stage of the EthDenver conference, at 12:05pm, Lin Dai, Co-CEO of Bookit, Pat Yiu, of MEGA, and Carter Razink, co-founder and head of technology at Spree, will be interviewed live on stage to discuss the partnership and the future of decentralized commerce and credit, while any conference attendees can visit the Spree booth where the team will be showcasing the BookIt super app and Spree’s innovative Commerce DeFi solutions in action. For a limited time, conference attendees visiting the Spree booth will receive a complimentary pre-registration for Gold-tier membership to BookIt, a $99 value, to unlock higher rewards and build up their status towards future on-chain benefits. 

    To close ETH Denver in style, Spree Finance is hosting a private dinner together with leading hedge fund ETH Strategy bringing together key industry leaders and investors from both blockchain and enterprise world, to cross-pollinate ideas and collaborate on the future of mass-consumer adoption.

    For more information, users can visit www.spree.finance and www.bookit.com.

    About Spree

    Spree is a blockchain-native decentralized commerce and rewards protocol that enables frictionless real-world transactions by humans or AI agents. Powered by Spree, 3,000+ tokens can be used with 2M+ major Real-World merchants in travel, entertainment, and retail, earning consumers up to 30% back in on-chain rewards, while reducing merchant processing fees by up to 90%. Users can follow Spree on: https://x.com/spreefinance

    About BookIt

    BookIt is a next-gen platform that rewards consumers for booking coveted travel and entertainment experiences and purchasing premium retail products, co-created by Superlogic, the leader in experiential rewards technology, and Open Network Exchange, the leader in global travel and leisure-based commerce solutions. For more users can visit Bookit.

    Contact

    Jon Phillips

    PhillComm Global

    spree@phillcomm.global

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Perpetrators of coercive behaviour have sentences increased

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Perpetrators of coercive behaviour have sentences increased

    Two violent offenders who subjected women to campaigns of abuse have their jail terms increased by Court of Appeal following intervention from Solicitor General

    Macauley Nesfield, 28, from Eastfield, had his jail term increased by the Court of Appeal on 26 February, and Bilal Rasheed has his sentence increased on 16 January. 

    Both decisions from the Court of Appeal followed references by the Solicitor General after the original sentences for controlling and coercive behaviour were considered unduly lenient.

    The Court heard that Nesfield carried out a sustained campaign of abuse against a woman which included smacking, punching, throwing objects, grabbing by the throat, dragging by the hair and brandishing a knife.

    Nesfield was sentenced in December 2024 for one count of Controlling or coercive behaviour, one count of Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of Unlawful wounding.

    He also received a five-year restraining order. On 26 February 2025, following a referral of his original sentence to the Court of Appeal by Lucy Rigby KC MP, Nesfield had his sentence increased to three years’ imprisonment.

    Bilal Rasheed repeatedly abused a woman and was controlling or coercive towards her.

    He was sentenced in August 2024 for one count of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate family relationship, one count of sending a malicious communication, and one count of criminal damage.

    The Court of Appeal quashed his original jail term for coercive and controlling behaviour and increased it to three years.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    I welcome the Court’s decision to increase these sentences.

    This Government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and we will continue to use all tools at our disposal to protect victims and put perpetrators behind bars.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: International President Bryant Joins Iowa State Council for Discussion on Legislative Battles Ahead

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Delegates from Iowa IAM Locals convened at the IAM District 6 office to discuss the political climate and upcoming legislative battles the union is taking up in the state and beyond.

    IAM International President Brian Bryant and Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli joined the delegation and gave remarks to motivate the group of political activists for imminent policy threats to workers and IAM members.

    “Regardless of party affiliation, it’s going to get downright scary,” said Bryant. “We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines, and we must continue to communicate with and educate members and families about the issues that affect us in every election.”

    Bryant was adamant about supporting candidates that will support IAM members, no matter what side of the aisle they’re on.

    “Unfortunately, I could not find anything from one of these executive orders that the current President of the United States has signed that will benefit workers or IAM members,” said Bryant.

    Bryant also covered wins the union has fought for and their importance, not just legislatively but as an organization that is putting members first.

    “Concentrating on who’s really important to our union, and that’s our membership, the IAM offers more programs for our members and their families than any other union in the entire labor movement,” said Bryant before highlighting the achievements of the IAM William W. Winpisinger Center, Veterans Services, Critical Incident Response Training, Employee Assistance Program and Addiction Services, Human Rights Department, Disaster Relief, and Retirees.

    “Our union is strong, is sound, and is getting stronger every single day, sisters and brothers,” said Bryant. “We are winning industry leading contracts in all of our sectors, and we continue to grow and organize in both our traditional, but also in non-traditional industries,” said Bryant. 

    Cicinelli covered in-depth what measures have been taken on the political stage that are threatening IAM members and workers in general, citing recent actions by the executive branch.

    “The President has effectively shut down the National Labor Relations Board’s operations, leaving the workers it defends on their own in the face of union-busting and retaliation,” said Cicinelli. “These moves will make it easier for bosses to violate the law and trample on workers’ legal rights on the job and fundamental freedom to organize. ”

    Iowa Federation of Labor President Charlie Wishman thanked the State Council for their powerful work and support. 

    “There’s one union I know that we can call on and count on, and that’s the Machinists Union,” said Wishman. “We are the ones that stand up to the bullies. That’s why you’re here. We stand up to the bullies and the billionaires.”

    Iowa State Council President Gary Pickett presided over the meeting and led members to elect their executive board before Bryant swore-in the newly elected officers to their positions on the Council. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Southern Tier Winners of DRI and NY Forward Program

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Binghamton will receive $10 million in funding as the Southern Tier winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and the Villages of Bath and Dryden will each receive $4.5 million as the Southern Tier winners of the third round of NY Forward. For Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 3 of the NY Forward Program, each of the State’s 10 economic development regions are being awarded $10 million from each program to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments, to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods.

    “By investing in the future of these Southern Tier communities, this funding will revitalize their downtown areas by building vibrant and thriving destinations where businesses, families and visitors can flourish,” Governor Hochul said. “With our Pro-Housing Communities initiative, we’re giving local leaders the tools to transform their cities, towns and villages into hubs of opportunity, culture and affordable living. This is how we build stronger, more connected communities that work for everyone across New York.”

    To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program — an innovative policy created to recognize and reward municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential. Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities initiative allocates up to $650 million each year in discretionary funds for communities that pledge to increase their housing supply; to date, 273 communities across New York have been certified as Pro-Housing Communities. This year, Governor Hochul is proposing an additional $100 million in funding to cover infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing in Pro-Housing Communities, and a further $10 million to technical assistance to help communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 4,400 units of housing — 1,823 of which are affordable or workforce. The programs committed over $8.5 million to 11 projects that provide affordable or free child care and child care worker training. DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art (such as murals and sculptures) and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.

    $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award for Binghamton

    The City of Binghamton’s Clinton Street Neighborhood Business District is primed for revitalization. Its historic storefronts, walkable footprint, development ready spaces and proximity to Binghamton’s urban core make it ready-built as the next great downtown in Upstate New York. The Clinton Street corridor is recognized as the “backbone” of the City’s First Ward, providing a social center with dense commercial activity proximate to nearby residential areas. The area has a storied history of immigration, a legacy still felt today in the diverse churches and neighborhoods of the First Ward. The area also boasts a history of a “walk to work” culture fostered by General Aniline and Film (GAF)/Anitec Industries, a former area employer who attracted economic and social activity in the neighborhood. Binghamton seeks to make Clinton Street a reinvigorated corridor better connected to the city and serving the First Ward neighborhood through support for infill development, expanded affordable housing, adaptive reuse and rehabilitation and enhanced public infrastructure. Combined, these improvements will offer a welcoming, eclectic atmosphere fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and retail activity while retaining cultural and historical heritage.

    $4.5 Million NY Forward Award for Bath

    Situated along the scenic Cohocton River, the Village of Bath is a historic planned community that serves as a “Gateway” to Keuka Lake — renowned for its scenery, wineries and vineyards. The Village of Bath has experienced significant changes over the past decade and has recognized the need to strengthen its core and return to its role as the downtown neighborhood that people experience and enjoy. The Village’s Liberty Street Historic District revitalization is the next step in this journey. The Village seeks to bolster growth by creating an active downtown with enhanced public spaces, strategic placement of amenities and new housing opportunities that will attract visitors and foster an atmosphere that will retain and attract residents and businesses.

    $4.5 Million NY Forward Award for Dryden

    Dryden is an ideal place for young families to grow and for older generations to age. Home to just over 2,000 residents, Dryden has developed over time as a small bedroom community to the nearby cities and universities and as an extremely high traveled and visited community. With median home values and rents that are affordable to all, Dryden’s parks, tree-lined sidewalks and friendly neighborhoods make it a desirable small community to live in, promoting a high quality of life. Dryden seeks to reinvest in its historic downtown by continuing to support an attractive and inviting Main Street with a robust mix of shopping, dining and residential spaces to foster a high quality of life for its residents. The Village will foster a welcoming and walkable downtown community where residents can live a sustainable lifestyle in friendly neighborhoods with convenient access to goods and services.

    New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward program are playing a pivotal part in the resurgence of the Southern Tier region. The three communities selected as winners for this round — Binghamton, Bath and Dryden — are all focused on creating walkable downtowns with increased housing and economic opportunities that will improve the quality of life for existing residents and attract even more people to their communities. We look forward to seeing the exciting projects these communities select to make their visions for the future become a reality.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “These dynamic, community-led Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward investments will further fuel the economic engines needed to support local businesses, create new housing and foster growth in the City of Binghamton and the villages of Bath and Dryden. The transformational, inclusive plans will infuse new life into these communities, creating innovative spaces and places that will benefit both current and future generations of residents and visitors, showcasing all that the Southern Tier region has to offer.”

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Today’s $19 million investment in Bath, Dryden and Binghamton’s Clinton Street Neighborhood, continue the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward’s history of having a transformative impact on communities across New York. These three communities will soon experience benefits including increased housing supply and improved infrastructure that will enhance vibrancy and promote walkability. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to these targeted investments that create new economic opportunities in the Southern Tier.”

    State Senator Lea Webb said, “It is exciting to see continued investments in our downtowns, which are integral in community development. The City of Binghamton and Village of Dryden will receive funding through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the New York Forward programs. These state initiatives provide critical funding to support the revitalization and growth of downtowns small and large across New York. I am excited to see the full potential of the Clinton Street Corridor unlocked with this funding so that it can continue its growth as a vibrant neighborhood, attracting more businesses, residents and visitors to Binghamton’s First Ward. I am also thrilled to see the Village of Dryden receive this transformative funding, which will help reenergize the downtown, support long-term growth and economic prosperity.”

    State Senator Thomas O’Mara said, “This is great news for the Village of Bath that will allow local leaders to move forward on development projects that will strengthen our entire region. State investments through the NY Forward program and other initiatives have had an enormously positive impact on communities I represent across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions. These critical state investments have helped our local leaders bolster local communities and economies, spark economic growth and opportunity within the tourism sector and other small businesses and industries, ease the burden on local property taxpayers and strengthen the overall quality of life for community residents and families.”

    Assemblymember Anna Kelles said, “I was thrilled to learn of this award and excited for all the creative and thoughtful initiatives the Village of Dryden will invest in with this NY Forward Grant award. These much-needed funds will play a key role in revitalizing the village’s original business section on West Main Street, an area rich with history. By restoring and enhancing this district, the grant will not only preserve the village’s heritage, but also foster economic growth by attracting new businesses and visitors to support a vibrant walkable downtown. Additionally, these improvements will foster a strong pedestrian-friendly hub, encouraging community engagement and making Dryden an even more welcoming place to live, work and explore. I want to thank Governor Hochul and the Regional Economic Development Council for committing to our growth and helping build our communities.”

    Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “I am thrilled that the City of Binghamton’s proposal to revitalize Clinton Street won this year’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. They have exciting plans to develop this historically important section of the city into a thriving hub once again. The DRI and NY-Forward initiatives deliver resources that are reimagining important community spaces across the State. Over the years, we have seen real results from these efforts here in the Southern Tier. I’d like to thank the Governor, the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council and all of the awardees for their effort to transform our downtowns.”

    Assemblymember Philip A. Palmesano said, “This is terrific news for the Village of Bath and the surrounding community. The Village has worked tirelessly, finding ways to move forward with the strategic goals outlined in their Economic Development Strategic Action Plan, Housing Demand Study and Liberty Street Building Evaluation and Design Guidelines. Funding from the NY Forward program will give them the ability to implement that vision to benefit the whole community by promoting economic growth and strengthening the Village’s position as a hub for increased tourism and local investment. Thank you to the Regional Economic Development Council and Governor Hochul for recognizing the hard work and commitment of our local leaders.”

    Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said, “From my first days in office, we’ve been fighting for the First Ward. I made a commitment early on to invest in the Clinton Street neighborhood and work alongside community partners to unlock its potential as the Southern Tier’s next great downtown. Today’s announcement of $10 million in State funding kicks that work into overdrive and brings us one major step closer to making our vision a reality. Clinton Street’s time is now. With this historic investment from New York State and the hard work of our First Ward partners, the team at City Hall has never been better equipped to deliver on the promise of a better future for the First Ward and our community as a whole. I am grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the Regional Economic Development Council for recognizing our vision and supporting our efforts to make it a reality.”

    Village of Dryden Mayor Michael Murphy said, “We are incredibly excited and grateful that the Village of Dryden has been awarded $4.5 million from the NY Forward Grant Program! This achievement represents the culmination of a collaborative effort between the Village Board, our dedicated staff, the Dryden Business Association and passionate community members. With the combined support of state and private funding, the Village of Dryden is poised to transform into a thriving destination for new businesses and families. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Governor Hochul for this incredible program and for recognizing the potential of the Village of Dryden. Together, we are building a brighter future for our residents and businesses!”

    Village of Bath Mayor Michael Sweet said, “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for awarding this NY Forward grant and to the members of the Regional Economic Development Council for their support in making this possible. A special thank you to Omar Sanders, Regional Director; Judy McKinney-Cherry, Executive Director of SCOPED; Jamie Johnson, Executive Director of the Steuben County IDA; and Matthew Bull, Director of Community and Infrastructure Development at the Steuben County IDA, for their unwavering commitment to our community’s growth. Your leadership and dedication are truly making a lasting impact, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.”

    Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Judy McKinney-Cherry and Dr Mary Bonderoff said, “The STREDC is incredibly proud to continue our support for the City of Binghamton and the villages of Dryden and Bath, and their promising futures thanks to the Governor’s Downtown Revitalization and NY Forward Initiatives. These targeted, community-driven projects will benefit both residents and visitors alike, promoting economic growth and creating more vibrant downtowns where people will want to live, work and play for generations to come.”

    Binghamton, Bath and Dryden will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders, will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and can leverage and expand upon the State’s investment.

    The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all criteria before recommending these communities as nominees.

    About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

    The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the State to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through eight rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $900 million to 89 communities across every region of the State.

    About the NY Forward Program

    First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

    NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through three rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $300 million to 60 communities across every region of the State.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four people sentenced in Hounslow murder investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Four people have been jailed for a total of 48 and a half years following a Met Specialist Crime investigation into the murder of a man in Hounslow.

    Ben Laing, 23 (22.05.00), of De Brome Road, Feltham and Durra Abdi, 19 (27.02.04), of Western Avenue, Acton were both imprisoned for 22 years for fatally stabbing Tyreece Scott.

    Laing was also sentenced for being involved in the supply of drugs, while Abdi’s custodial sentence included possession of a bladed article.

    Two others were sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

    Reda Mohamed, 24 (09.01.01) of Linslade Close, Hounslow was jailed for four and a half years whilst Morgan Allen, 29 (09.01.96) of Reeve St, Feltham was jailed for two years which was suspended for 18 months.

    In a trial which started on Tuesday, 26 November at the Old Bailey, the jury heard that shortly before 01:00hrs on Tuesday, 16 January 2024, Tyreece was stabbed to death on Hibernia Road, a quiet residential street in Hounslow.

    Despite the efforts of emergency services, the 24-year-old died as a result of a stab wound to the chest a short time later.

    The prosecution told the jury the murder happened against a background of drug dealing, with a dispute over dealing on other people’s territory.

    Detectives worked around the clock to identify the suspects, and Laing and Abdi were arrested at Stansted Airport after landing back in the UK on Friday, 19 January. They were charged with murder two days later.

    Officers gathered a large amount of CCTV material which was then painstakingly examined, and enabled them to match a bag carried by Abdi at the scene of the murder to one he was carrying when he was arrested.

    Once specialist investigators had possession of the defendants’ mobile phones, they were able to recover all sorts of material including notes, text conversations and other data, including website searches of “Hounslow stabbing” on Abdi’s phone which provided vital evidence during the trial.

    Detective Inspector Paul Fagence, who led the investigation, said:

    “Drug dealing is an ugly business which has cost Tyreece his life.

    “The case is a tragic reminder of how the supply of drugs has devastating consequences on communities.

    “While there was no evidence to suggest Tyreece knew the defendants, it was the combination of CCTV, mobile phones and ANPR technology which checks vehicles of interest which helped us build a compelling case against these defendants.

    “Our thoughts remain, as ever, with Tyreece’s friends and family. We hope they can now find a level of peace to move forward with their lives.”

    All four defendants were convicted of their crimes at the Old Bailey on Friday, 10 January.

    As part of our A New Met for London plan, tackling knife crime and violence is a top priority for the Met, while officers are working alongside communities to crack down on individuals who supply drugs and seek to cause harm in London.

    You can visit Fearless for advice and discover real stories about people who turned their lives around after being involved in knife crime as well as places you can go for further help and support.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Millions have now taken action to access their eVisa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Millions have now taken action to access their eVisa

    Published statistics show millions have accessed their eVisa, as an extension to the period expired immigration documents can be used for travel is confirmed.

    Over 4 million UK visa holders have successfully created an account to access their eVisa, according to Home Office statistics published today. An estimated 600,000 people are yet to switch from their physical document to an eVisa.

    Securing our borders is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change and eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which is more digital and streamlined. This change will enhance the experience of people using the system, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.

    To support a continued smooth transition to eVisas, and ensure no one is disadvantaged, the Home Office is extending the ‘grace period’ announced in December 2024. We committed to keep this transitional measure under review and we are extending the end date from 31 March 2025 to 1 June 2025.

    This allows people with a biometric residence permit (BRP) or EUSS biometric residence card (BRC) that expired on or after 31 December 2024, and who continue to hold underlying immigration status, to continue to use their expired document for international travel up to and including 1 June 2025.

    From the 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and EUSS BRCs will no longer be acceptable evidence of immigration status when travelling to the UK. 

    Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP said:

    Today’s encouraging eVisa statistics show that a significant majority of the immigration status holders who needed to take action have done so.

    We continue to listen carefully to feedback, and our confirmation that expired immigration documents can be used for travel until June this year will help to further ensure the transition to eVisas continues to be as smooth as possible.

    Those yet to create an account to access their eVisa are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, to make the most of the benefits of using an eVisa and join the millions – including all EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status holders – who already have an eVisa. It is free, and straightforward for those who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.

    People with indefinite leave to remain (ILR, also known as settlement) who use an ink stamp or vignette in a passport to prove their rights can continue to use their documents as they do today, including for travel, but are encouraged to make the switch to an eVisa to take advantage of the benefits it brings.

    We had previously estimated the number of BRP holders who need to create an account to access their eVisa at over 4 million, but this number is hard to establish accurately given the daily fluctuations in this data. This is because of people’s leave expiring, people leaving the country before their leave expires, or leave being cancelled or curtailed.

    Since the first eVisa statistics publication in December 2024, we have carried out further analysis and quality assurance to enhance our understanding of who has not yet acted, though the data is presented in same format for clarity.

    A number of people who created a UKVI account already had one created as part of their visa application, and therefore now have 2 UKVI accounts – although only one eVisa. This should not cause issues for those people, but it does mean that the published data includes a number of duplicate accounts. To maintain consistency, we are continuing to publish data on eVisa account creation numbers, recognising that this contains duplicates.

    However, we are also clarifying our revised estimate of the numbers of immigration status holders who still need to access their eVisa, which we anticipate to be approximately 600,000 BRP holders. This number will decrease as people’s leave expires and they leave the UK.

    Further information can be found in our eVisa factsheet.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –