NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Action to tackle human traffickers forcing female victims into prostitution in Romania and UK

    Source: Eurojust

    With support from Eurojust and Europol, Romanian and UK authorities have taken decisive action against a human trafficking network that forced at least 27 young female victims into prostitution. During a coordinated action day, twelve suspects have been identified and forty places were searched, while victims were brought to safety. Eurojust supported the action by setting up and financing a joint investigation team (JIT) in November 2024.

    Since 2019, the perpetrators have recruited young female victims from poor backgrounds or from social care centres without relatives, mainly in Bucharest and the Romanian Prahova region. Using the so-called ‘lover boy method’, the perpetrators promised the victims job opportunities in sectors such as catering or tourism, but in reality forced them into prostitution in Romania and the United Kingdom. This often occurred after they were deprived of their identity documents.

    © DIICOT Poliția Românăas

    The criminal network behind the human trafficking arranged for transport and housing in the UK. According to estimates from the Romanian authorities, they allegedly made profits of up to EUR 5.3 million. The identified perpetrators are suspected of organising a criminal group, engaging in continuous human trafficking, pimping and money laundering.

    Eurojust assisted the Romanian and UK authorities in setting up and financing the JIT, as well as organising three coordination meetings to prepare for the joint action in both countries. Experts from Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) provided analytical support and facilitated the exchange of intelligence and operational data between national authorities.

    The operations were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

    • Romania: Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Central Structure; Organised Crime Combatting Brigades of Ploiesti and Pitesti
    • United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service: London Metropolitan Police

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Software République unveils “vision 4rescue”, an integrated technological ecosystem for the next-gen of Emergency Services

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Software République unveils “vision 4rescue”,
    an integrated technological ecosystem for the next-gen of Emergency Services

    • In response to the increasing frequency and intensity of emergencies and natural disasters, Software République introduces “vision 4rescue,” designed to enhance the efficiency of emergency response during critical situations.
    • This ecosystem, comprising 20 interconnected solutions, aims to better integrate the various technologies used by emergency services for faster and more coordinated interventions.
    • For this innovative ecosystem, Software République has joined forces with 3 firefighter/emergency units as well as 4 other technological partners.

    Viva Technology, Paris – June 11, 2025 – For the 2025 edition of Viva Technology, Software République, a group of 7 European companies1 that combine their expertise towards an intelligent, secure and durable mobility, has partnered with three firefighter units2 to unveil “vision 4rescue,” a system of interconnected technological solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency and improving the coordination of rescue and emergency services.

    In France, natural disasters have increased fivefold in fifteen years, with two-thirds of municipalities now likely to experience some kind of major natural disaster3. Faced with more frequent, intense, and complex interventions (natural disasters, industrial hazards, urban accidents, or emergency medical interventions), emergency and rescue professions need to adapt to increasing challenges. This adaptation is all the more necessary given an aging population, growing urbanization, and an increasingly strained healthcare system, where personal assistance now accounts for over 80% of emergency services’ operational activity (4 million interventions per year4). These growing challenges call for new solutions to risk management, intervention methods, as well as the transformation of equipment and technologies used.

    Making a Difference:
    ​    A Technological Ecosystem serving Emergency Services and Populations

    To be more effective, a key factor is removing the technological barriers between the different services used by emergency teams. Whether it involves vehicles, video surveillance cameras, or communication systems, emergency services now need seamless integration among all these devices. “vision 4rescue” offers a system of integrated, interconnected, and secure technologies to address this challenge.

    By combining their expertise and leveraging a deep and comprehensive understanding of the Emergency services requirements, the partners have designed an ecosystem of nearly 20 interconnected solutions to:

    Anticipate with precision emergencies through enhanced field vision and real-time analysis of multi-source data.

    Act more effectively at every stage of the emergency and rescue intervention, with tailored, accessible, and integrated devices.

    Communicate more efficiently with emergency teams and with the public through more direct, faster, and targeted messaging, thereby enhancing collective resilience and the ability to respond effectively.

    Interconnected Equipment: A Decisive Lever for Emergency Response

    “vision 4rescue” includes several pieces of equipment designed to collect and share as much information as possible:

    • Long-range drones (Thales) and short-range drones (Parrot): Equipped with cameras and onboard communication systems, they provide precise surveillance of emergency zones, collecting and sharing information.
    • Connected urban furniture (JCDecaux) serves as a direct communication interface with the population and plays a sentinel role. The short-range drone can use the take-off / landing platform facilitating the incident diagnosis by the emergency services.
    • Renault 4 E-Tech electric vehicle (Renault Group): Tailored to emergency needs, acting as a mobile command center close to the operations.

    In addition to these three pieces of equipment, electronic sensor networks (STMicroelectronics) are used in both urban (urban furniture, traffic lights, etc.) and rural environments (forests, near watercourses, etc.) to detect anomalies.

    Next-Generation Technological Solutions

    Software République integrates a system of technologies into “vision 4rescue” a set of technologies that makes it a unique and comprehensive ecosystem, capable of adapting operational responses in real time to the most complex and simultaneous situations. These include:

    Modeling, simulation, and detection solutions:

    • Dassault Systèmes connects virtual twins of physical and digital systems in a collaborative virtual world to simulate complex risk scenarios, explore prevention plans, and orchestrate the optimal deployment of resources.
    • Cybersecure AI platforms (Thales) manage autonomous drone operations and orchestrate tactical missions, analyzing multi-source data (drones, satellites, etc.) in real time to better detect risks and anticipate their evolution – even from mobile, decentralized command centers like the R4.
    • The Flux Vision (Orange) analysis tools and mission planning tools (HawAI.tech) optimize drone flight paths taking into account all mission constraints.
    • A crisis management solution (Atos) integrates prevention plans, monitoring, and simulation data to organize emergency responses.

    Solutions to enhance responsiveness:

    • A V2X – vehicle to everything – solution (Orange) enables real-time communication between the vehicle and its environment.
    • A tactical communication tool (Atos) connects vehicles, field teams, and drones to maximize data collection, enhanced via AI, and shared in real time.
    • To transmit vital information to firefighters under stress in complex environments, Peripheral uses peripheral vision.
    • Embedded AI and electronic components (STMicroelectronics) optimize equipment responsiveness, reduce latency, and ensure high data security while incorporating energy-saving solutions for greater autonomy and durability.

    Guaranteed connectivity under all circumstances:

    • Hybrid networks and devices (Orange), including onboard 5G network and a connected SOS backpack, along with ultra-light Wi-Fi mesh technology (Green Communications) with embedded resilience applications, ensure communication between emergency teams during critical operations where traditional infrastructure is unavailable.
    • An emergency communication system (Thales) integrated into long-range drone or the R4, geolocates mobile phones in risk zones and sends alert messages to which civilians can respond if needed.
    • A communication solution compliant with the C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport System) international standard ensures native interoperability and secure exchanges between vehicles and road infrastructure (Atos).

    Key Partnerships

    For this project, Software République and its seven members (Atos, Dassault Systèmes, JCDecaux, Orange, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics, and Thales) partnered with three firefighter units and four other technology partners: Parrot, HawAI.tech, Peripheral, and Green Communications.

    Presentation at VivaTech

    At VivaTech (June 11 to 14, 2025), Software République will showcase “vision 4rescue” (Stand G18, Hall 1.1), highlighting several real-world use cases:

    • Forest Fire
    • Flood
    • Urban Emergency

    1Atos, Dassault Systèmes, JCDecaux, Orange, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics et Thales

    2Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris, la Fédération Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers et le SDIS 78

    3Source Ministère de la Transition Ecologique

    4Source Ministère de l’Intérieur

    About ​ Software République

    The Software République is defined as an open innovation ecosystem dedicated to intelligent, secure, and sustainable mobility. It was created in April 2021 by six founding members: Atos, Dassault Systèmes, Orange, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics and Thales. In March 2024, JCDecaux became the seventh partner member.

    The Software République builds collective businesses focused on tomorrow’s mobility through its unique horizontal collaboration model. The ecosystem stands out for its innovative approach, combining established companies and start-ups from different backgrounds to bring to market products and services that meet the new challenges of the connected vehicle, the smart city and energy. These projects are based on the complementary expertise of its partners in data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, connectivity, and virtual twins, and on the ambition to invent a new model of innovation while keeping people and the environment at the heart of its motivations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Fire in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon: girls and young women fighting for climate justice

    Source: Amnesty International –

    By Alicia Moncada, Americas climate justice researcher, and Tamaryn Nelson, legal advisor for business and human rights 

    SUCUMBÍOS, Ecuador.- 

    At night in the Ecuadorian Amazon, huge flames light up the darkness. Flames from the gas flares that tower over the oil wells and that, far from being a sign of progress, are living scars on the green lungs of our planet. Not only do they burn natural gas, needlessly wasting a non-renewable resource, but they also pollute the air, destroy biodiversity and threaten the lives and rights of nearby communities. Here, environmental justice has been a distant dream for over 57 years, while human rights burn with the gas.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: World Cup 2026: Growing threats to human rights set to undermine FIFA’s responsibilities one year out from kick off

    Source: Amnesty International –

    One year to go until the largest-ever sporting event across the USA, Canada and Mexico

    Urgent human rights risks in 2026 host countries – particularly in the USA – are impacting immigrants, the right to protest, and LGBTI+ rights

    Growing threats to civil liberties and human rights risk undermining FIFA’s commitments and responsibilities

    ‘FIFA and the US authorities must ensure that the World Cup does not become a pretext for stifling dissent or expanding mass surveillance’ – Daniel Noroña, Amnesty USA

    FIFA must take urgent and concrete action to uphold human rights for everyone involved in the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today.

    With just one year remaining before the tournament begins across the United States, Canada, and Mexico – and only days before the Club World Cup kicks off on June 14 – growing threats to civil liberties and human rights risk undermining FIFA’s own commitments and responsibilities in this area.

    In its statutes, Human Rights Policy, and 2026 Bidding Process Guide, FIFA accepts its responsibility to respect human rights in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Bidding Process Guide specifically requires would-be hosts to document their commitment to “ensur[ing] that the hosting and staging of the Competition do[es] not involve adverse impacts on internationally recognised human rights.” The guide gives particular attention to “labour rights, the rights of children, gender equality, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and protecting all individuals from all forms of discrimination.”

    The Sport & Rights Alliance has identified several critical areas where government policies in the 2026 host countries, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, pose significant and immediate risks to the human rights of immigrants; freedom of the press and free expression; LGBTI+ rights; safety for children; and the right to be free from discrimination, requiring urgent and transparent intervention.

    Andrea Florence, Executive Director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, said:

    “In 2018, the US, Mexico, and Canada provided clear human rights commitments in their bid documents to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

    “Despite FIFA’s mantra that ‘football unites the world,’ a World Cup held under discriminatory and exclusionary policies risks deepening social divides rather than bridging them. FIFA should exert its leverage and demand concrete, legally binding guarantees that human rights won’t be further sacrificed for the sake of the game.”

    Right to protest; freedom of expression

    With the 2026 Men’s World Cup potentially serving as a spotlight for public criticism and controversy, the escalating crackdowns on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, particularly for people engaged in speech and protest related to Palestinian rights, is deeply troubling, the Alliance said. Students and activists have been detained and their visas revoked for speaking out about their views. The Trump administration has also deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles following protests against immigration arrests, claiming they constitute an act of “rebellion” against the government.

    FIFA’s stated commitments to free expression have also previously been contradicted when it has imposed rules prohibiting players and fans from making political or religious statements. At the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, for example, Iranian fans displaying “Woman, Life, Freedom” banners were removed from stadiums, while rainbow flags were confiscated at a number of matches.

    Daniel Noroña, Americas Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA, said:

    “The ability to peacefully protest without fear of retribution is a cornerstone of a free society, yet it is increasingly under threat in the United States.

    “There is a long history of peaceful protest in global football. FIFA and the US authorities must ensure that the World Cup does not become a pretext for stifling dissent or expanding mass surveillance, and every player, fan, journalist, and resident can participate and protest without fear of sanction, arbitrary detention or discriminatory treatment.”

    Discriminatory immigration policies

    FIFA anticipates that as many as 6.5 million people could attend the 2026 tournament across the host countries. The current US administration’s abusive immigration policies, including enforced disappearances under the Alien Enemies Act, travel bans, increased detention, and visa restrictions, threaten the inclusivity and global nature of the World Cup.

    Despite President Trump’s executive order stating that teams qualifying for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will be exempt from travel bans, as of now fans and extended family members from banned countries will not be allowed to enter the United States. Delays, denials, and the real prospect of detention for fans, media, and other participants from specific countries could severely disrupt the tournament.

    Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said:

    “FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration and other anti-human rights policies pose to the tournament’s integrity and use its leverage with the US government to ensure that the rights of all qualified teams, support staff, media, and fans are respected as they seek to enter the United States regardless of nationality, gender identity, religion, or opinion.

    “FIFA should establish clear benchmarks and timelines for the US policy changes needed to ensure respect for immigrants’ rights during the 2026 World Cup and beyond.”

    Human Rights Watch wrote to FIFA on May 5 to say that it should use its leverage to push the Trump administration to roll back discriminatory immigration policies in the United States. FIFA responded on June 3, stating that it “expects … host countries take measures to ensure that any eligible persons who are involved in the Competition are able to enter the respective countries,” and “is actively working on this matter with relevant authorities.” FIFA also said it would engage with relevant authorities if it became aware of human rights concerns.

    Ronan Evain, Executive Director of Football Supporters Europe, said:

    “Fans travel to the World Cup to celebrate and express their passion, and any attempt to curtail our fundamental rights, including the right to free speech, is a betrayal of the spirit of football.

    “We’re particularly concerned about the potential for selective enforcement and discrimination against fans based on our perceived political views or national origin. FIFA must obtain the necessary guarantees to ensure fans from all over the world are able to safely travel and attend the games.”

    Discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ people

    The increasing legislative and rhetorical attacks on the rights of LGBTI+ people, particularly transgender people in the United States, underscore the current administration’s intention to erase transgender people from public life and dismantle crucial human rights protections. Discriminatory laws and the hostile political climate around LGBTI+ rights in the United States could directly threaten the security, bodily autonomy, dignity, and inclusion of LGBTI+ fans, players, and workers at the 2026 Men’s World Cup.

    In Mexico, LGBTI+ people, and especially trans and gender-diverse people, face violence across the country, which affects their daily lives and participation in public events. Federal and state authorities should take urgent steps to prevent and punish violence against LGBTI+ people, with particular attention to the specific risks faced by trans and gender-diverse communities.

    Gurchaten Sandhu, Director of Programs at ILGA World, said:

    “The alarming discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ individuals in the United States and Mexico cast a chilling shadow over the promise of an inclusive World Cup.

    “As organiser of the event, FIFA should demand that all host cities and states uphold universal human rights, ensuring no fan, worker, or athlete faces discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or sex characteristics, and that any discriminatory laws are actively challenged and nullified.”

    Press freedom

    Journalists covering the 2026 Men’s World Cup face distinct and alarming risks in both Mexico and the United States. Mexico consistently ranks among one of world’s most dangerous and deadly countries for media professionals, who face threats, harassment, and violence from both organised crime and public officials. The pervasive impunity for these crimes creates a chilling effect and zones of silence in which critical information is suppressed. In the United States, journalists could face intrusive screening, social media monitoring, and be denied entry based on perceived political views, undermining their ability to report independently.

    Antoine Bernard, Advocacy and Assistance Director at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said:

    “Journalists covering the World Cup must be granted unimpeded access, free from arbitrary restrictions, detention, or violence.

    “FIFA and the local authorities must implement exceptional measures to protect all media workers – not only ensuring smooth entry for foreign press but actively safeguarding all journalists who will be covering large crowds, excited spectators, and potential protests, and addressing the systemic impunity that allows violence against them to persist.

    “Local law enforcement’s policies need to be strengthened to ensure the distinction of journalists from demonstrators, bystanders, and fans, and they must clearly communicate the policies they intend to follow in ensuring this distinction, in full respect of journalists’ freedom and independence.”

    Labour rights

    The immense scale of the 2026 Men’s World Cup will necessitate a massive workforce in host cities to staff stadiums, hospitality, transport, and more. The Trump administration’s dismantling of federal programs and anti-union sentiment increase the risk of exploitation and child labour, wage theft, and unsafe working conditions for these critical workers.

    Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), said:

    “The extensive network of contracts for stadium construction, hospitality, and event services in the host cities must be built on a foundation of respect for workers’ rights.

    “We are gravely concerned that without strong, enforceable labour protections, this tournament will inadvertently fuel precarious work and child labour, suppress wages, and deny workers their fundamental rights to organise and bargain collectively. FIFA must demand robust social dialogue and binding agreements to protect every worker contributing to this World Cup.”

    Transparency and anti-corruption

    The Sport & Rights Alliance also harbours significant concerns related to low governmental transparency and weak anti-corruption regulations in and around the 2026 Men’s World Cup, particularly given recent policy shifts in the United States and Mexico. As the tournament approaches, robust oversight and unwavering commitment to ethical principles are needed to prevent the exploitation of this global event for private gain at the expense of human rights and public trust.

    Tor Dølvik, Special Advisor at Transparency International, said:

    “The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in a global context where anti-corruption efforts are increasingly under strain.

    “All host countries and FIFA must uphold their anti-corruption responsibilities by establishing comprehensive risk management mechanisms that close potential loopholes for corruption, and reliable systems for detecting and reporting irregularities. Full transparency regarding all expenditures related to the World Cup – before, during, and after the events – will be vital in building trust and ensuring integrity throughout the process.”

    FIFA’s responsibility

    FIFA, as the chief actor responsible for an event that will leave a tremendous footprint, needs to conduct an updated human rights due diligence assessment, and unequivocally leverage its influence to ensure that the 2026 Men’s World Cup is a rights-respecting and rights-advancing event.

    A new human rights due diligence assessment should consider the need for tangible commitments to reverse discriminatory policies, strengthen protections for historically marginalised groups, ensure substantial accountability for human rights abuses, and establish truly effective, transparent, and independent grievance mechanisms for people to seek support and a remedy. Failure to act decisively risks irrevocably tarnishing the legacy of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and setting a dangerous precedent for future mega-sporting events.

    About the Sport & Rights Alliance

    The Sport & Rights Alliance’s mission is to promote the rights and well-being of those most affected by human rights risks associated with the delivery of sport. Its partners include Amnesty International, The Army of Survivors, Football Supporters Europe, Human Rights Watch, ILGA World (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), the International Trade Union Confederation, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International, and World Players Association, UNI Global Union.

    As a global coalition of leading nongovernmental organisations and trade unions, the Sport & Rights Alliance works together to ensure sports bodies, governments, and other relevant stakeholders give rise to a world of sport that protects, respects, and fulfills international standards for human rights, labour rights, child wellbeing and safeguarding, and anti-corruption.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Wildfire Season Approaches, Wyden, Budd, Schrier and Valadao Unveil Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Impacts of Wildfires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 11, 2025

    In 2024 alone, 8.9 million acres of land were affected by wildfires

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., and U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, D-Wash., and David Valadao, R-Calif., today introduced bipartisan legislation that would support prescribed burns as an essential, cost-effective, science-based strategy to save lives and property, and address the harmful impacts of the recent wildfires across the nation. 

    In 2024 alone, 8.9 million acres of land were burned by wildfires, one of the highest totals on record. Since vegetation continues to grow, the Forest Service has been unable to address the current hazardous fuel backlog as the nation suffers from hotter and drier fire seasons.

    The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of blistering infernos by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed  burns during cooler, wetter months. The legislation would grow a technically skilled prescribed fire workforce, and provide new tools to aid smoke management and prescribed fire permitting during winter months to reduce catastrophic fires and smoke in the summer. 

    “It’s no secret that rising temperatures and increased drought are leading to more and more wildfires, and firefighters are struggling to keep up as they put their lives on the line,” Wyden said. “We can no longer wait for disaster to strike before we address these fires destroying our neighborhoods and even taking people’s lives. I have heard firsthand from Oregonians who are sick and tired of inaction while the West burns. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will tackle wildfires head-on by focusing on prevention to get the West out of the cycle of crisis and devastation every wildfire season.”  

    “Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, thousands of acres of North Carolina forest were left destroyed,” Budd said. “Now, these downed trees and piles of leaves represent a serious wildfire risk. By enabling the Forest Service to better conduct controlled burns of unchecked vegetation and scattered debris, we can protect our forests from catastrophic wildfires that may occur in the hottest months of the year. I am proud to join my colleague, Sen. Wyden, in introducing this common-sense, proactive approach to preventing disastrous wildfires.”

    “Here in Washington State, we experience devastating wildfires every year.  That’s why Congress must act now and address this issue,” Schrier said. “My bill, the National Prescribed Fire Act, expands the use of prescribed fire to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires.”

    “In California, we understand the dangerous impact of wildfires—from damage to property to loss of life,” Valadao said. “By prescribing controlled burns to fire-adapted land in a safe and supervised way, we can limit dangerous fuel buildup and help reduce the threat of future wildfires. I’m proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing this bipartisan bill to protect our communities from wildfire risk.”

    The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025:

    • Dedicates funding for the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to plan, prepare, and conduct prescribed burns on federal, state, and private lands. 

    • Requires the Forest Service and Department of Interior to increase the number of acres treated with prescribed fire.

    • Establishes a new collaborative program to implement prescribed burns on county, state, and private land at high risk of burning in a wildfire. 

    • Establishes a workforce development program at the Forest Service and DOI to develop, train, and hire prescribed fire practitioners, and establishes employment programs for Tribes, veterans, underutilized employees, and those formerly incarcerated.

    • Facilitates coordination between land managers and state, tribal, and local air quality agencies to use current laws and regulations to allow larger prescribed burns, and give states more flexibility in winter months to conduct prescribed burns that reduce catastrophic smoke events in the summer. 

    “Prescribed fire is critically important for building resilience to wildfire across America’s public lands. The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 will help increase the pace and scale of this underused tool to a level commensurate with the wildfire crisis. Outdoor Alliance commends Senator Wyden, Senator Budd, and Representative Schrier and Valadao for their work on this important legislation,” said Jamie Ervin, Senior Policy Manager of Outdoor Alliance.

    “Prescribed fire is critical for maintaining healthy forests and protecting our communities from the threat of wildfire. State Foresters applaud the bipartisan efforts of Senators Wyden and Budd to ensure this important forest management tool remains in the toolbox while eliminating several key barriers to safely and responsibly expanding its use across the nation’s forest landscapes,” said Patty Cormier, President of National Association of State Foresters.

    “Beneficial fire, including prescribed fire, has historically been an underused and under-resourced tool for promoting fire-resilient landscapes, despite being among the most cost-effective land management strategies available. The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 would enable greater prescribed fire utilization by supporting workforce development and training for prescribed fire practitioners. It would also establish clear liability standards for non-federal partners engaged in essential cross-boundary mitigation work. We commend Senator Wyden and Senator Budd for working to equip land managers with what they need to protect our communities and treasured landscapes,” said Marek Smith, North America Fire Director at The Nature Conservancy.

    “Increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration is paramount, and prescribed fire is one of the most economical techniques for large-scale forest restoration. Western Governors support the expanded use of prescribed fire and applaud Senator Wyden and Senator Budd’s bipartisan effort to promote the judicious deployment of this management tool. The Western Governors’ Association urges the Senate to consider this critically important bill,” said Jack Waldorf, Executive Director at Western Governors’ Association.

    “Prescribed and cultural burning are the most effective, yet underutilized tools to address the nation’s wildfire crisis. This bill proposes comprehensive and practical solutions to increase safe use of beneficial fire to restore forest health, protect communities, and reduce the risk of mega-fires. Congress should act to pass it immediately,” said Dylan Kruse, President of Sustainable Northwest.

    “The Stewardship Project supports the National Prescribed Fire Act as a critical step toward ecological restoration through the expanded use of beneficial fire. We appreciate that this legislation elevates the role of Indigenous practitioners in cultural burning, invests in cross-boundary collaboration, and focuses on landscape-scale restoration to address the wildfire crisis,” said Scott Stephens, Don Hankins, and Sara Clark, Co-Leads at The Stewardship Project.

    “The exclusion of fire from our fire-dependent ecosystems over the past century has degraded America’s forests and grasslands and contributed significantly to the compounding climate and catastrophic wildfire crises. The National Prescribed Fire Act proposes practical solutions to expand the use of various types of beneficial fire,” said Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director at the Climate and Wildfire Institute.

    “As the leading non-governmental research organization with over 65-years of experience using prescribed fire science to solve land management problems, Tall Timbers is excited to see the reintroduction of the National Prescribed Fire Act. We support the emphasis on workforce training and collaboration across federal and non-federal stakeholders and believe this bill would greatly enhance how prescribed fire is conducted on public and private lands throughout the country,” said J. Morgan Varner, PhD, Director of Research at Tall Timbers.

    “Senator Wyden’s National Prescribed Fire Act is a must-pass bill for the sake of our communities and forests. Prescribed fire is the safest, most effective, efficient, and economical tool for influencing future wildfire behavior. Ask any wildland firefighter and they will admit that they’d rather be lighting fires under the best of weather conditions than fighting fires under the worst conditions. Proactive prescribed burning beats reactive wildfire fighting any day!” said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE).

    “In Oregon, The Nature Conservancy has been using prescribed fire since 1983. Prescribed fire is an essential tool to restore and steward fire-dependent ecosystems, reduce the risk to communities, and help many of Oregon’s most iconic natural landscapes become more resilient to extreme wildfires. We are grateful for Senator Wyden’s leadership on the National Prescribed Fire Act – providing a pathway to accelerate the pace and scale of prescribed fire necessary to combat the wildfire crisis in the western United States,” said Katie Sauerbrey, Oregon Fire Program Director at The Nature Conservancy. 

    The text of the bill is here. A one-page summary of the bill is here. A section-by-section of the bill is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Tax Parity for Tribes & Boost Economic Development in Indian Country

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that Tribes receive the same tax benefits and economic development tools as local and state governments. Specifically, this bill will help create good-paying jobs, foster local investment, and support businesses in Indian Country by updating the federal tax code and removing unfair tax burdens on Native American communities.

    “Tribes in Nevada and across the country deserve access to the same tools as state and local governments to strengthen their communities and support their local businesses and services like health, housing, and education,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Our bill makes commonsense updates to the tax code to ensure fairness, create more good paying jobs, and keep more money in Indian County.”

    “I’m pleased to join Senator Cortez Masto in introducing the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act, which aims to fix unfair tax rules that have limited economic growth in Native communities for far too long. By allowing Tribal governments to make better use of housing tax credits, improve the ability to issue tax-exempt bonds and incentivize new investment incentives, we’re opening the door for them to finance more infrastructure projects and promote job growth,” said Senator Murkowski. “I appreciate Senator Cortez Masto’s leadership as we have worked to ensure more Native communities benefit from this bill. Together, we have an opportunity to empower Tribal nations to build stronger, more resilient economies.”

    This bipartisan legislation would create parity between Tribal and state and local governments in the federal tax code by:

    • Updating rules for issuing tax-exempt debt to ensure Tribal governments are treated the same as state and local governments;
    • Ensuring that essential pension and employment benefits are taxed in the same way as benefits from state governments;
    • Ensuring that Tribal General Welfare Benefits are not unfairly categorized as income related to Supplemental Social Income eligibility or benefit amounts;
    • Creating new business opportunities in low-income Tribal communities with a $175 New Markets Tax Credit;
    • Increasing the effectiveness of Tribal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in Indian Country;
    • Extending and updating the Indian Employment Tax Credit to better serve Tribal families;
    • Allowing Indian Health Service (IHS) professionals to access recruitment and retention tax incentives; and
    • Making it easier for Tribal families to adopt children and for Tribes to enforce child support.

    “Providing for parity and equity among States and Local Governments, and Tribes and ANCs, when it comes to Tax Exempt Bonding for governmental and economic development purposes, as this bill will do if enacted, is long overdue and will be a major stimulator for growth, economic development, and job creation in Indian Country, the areas of our Nation that desperately need it, and will productively use it,” said Old Harbor Native Corporation CEO, Kristina Woolston.

    “The introduction of the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act in the Senate is a necessary and overdue effort to modernize the federal tax code in recognition of Tribal sovereignty. The bill reflects decades of Tribal efforts to secure tax parity. It guarantees Tribal governments have equitable access to financial tools, including tax credits and housing incentives, needed to build strong self-determined economies. NAFOA commends the bipartisan leadership behind the legislation, especially Senators Cortez Masto and Murkowski. We urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure that Indian Country is fully included in the nation’s tax and investment framework,” said NAFOA Board President Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

    “We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Murkowski for their consistent engagement with Tribal issues and for leading the bill’s introduction in the Senate. The Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act takes essential steps to align federal tax policy with Tribal sovereignty by addressing long-standing barriers to capital, workforce, and infrastructure development. As the legislation advances, NAFOA is committed to providing technical expertise that centers the realities of Tribal communities to support its passage,” said NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Member.

    You can read the text HERE and a summary of the legislation HERE.

    Senator Cortez Masto is one of the strongest champions for Native American communities in the Senate. In 2020, alongside Senator Murkowski, she passed the bipartisan Not Invisible Act and Savanna’s Act to help address the epidemic of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. She has repeatedly called on the administration to do more to address the epidemic of violence against Native women and girls, including securing funding to protect Native communities. She is pushing bipartisan legislation to support Tribal law enforcement and improve public safety in Native communities—one of the recommendations of the Not Invisible commission. Cortez Masto has also helped secure $125 million in additional funding for Tribes and urban Indian health organizations within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address the mental health needs of Native communities. She has also introduced legislation to help make it easier for IHS to recruit and retain doctors and to address health disparities for Native Americans in urban areas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Swatting Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Brayden Grace, 19, of Columbus, Ohio, pled guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

    According to the guilty plea, Grace helped create an online group known as “Purgatory.”  The group used multiple online social-media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, to coordinate and plan swatting and doxxing activities and to announce and brag about swats that they conducted.  

    “Grace and his co-conspirators threatened and terrorized others throughout the country, and then bragged about it online.  Make no mistake: swatting and doxxing are not pranks—they are dangerous and illegal acts that put lives at risk and drain critical law enforcement resources,” Hayes said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to relentlessly pursuing those who seek to gain notoriety by abusing our emergency services and striking fear in others. Such unlawful actions will not be tolerated.”

    “Brayden Grace admitted he engaged in swatting and doxxing to strike out at perceived rivals, gain online notoriety, attempt to make money, and for enjoyment. May his guilty plea make clear that the FBI and our partners take these threats seriously,” Koldjeski said. “Together, we will make sure offenders do not remain anonymous and face justice for their crimes which drain vital public safety resources, cause undue fear, and put innocent lives at risk.”

    “Swatting” is a term used to describe or refer to a criminal incident in which an individual contacts emergency services and falsely reports an emergency, often involving an act of violence that reportedly has or will occur at a particular location to elicit an armed law enforcement response to that location.  “Doxxing” is a term used to describe the practice of searching for and publishing on the Internet personal, private, or identifying information about an individual with malicious intent, such as providing the information for the purpose of swatting the individual.

    From December 10, 2023, through January 18, 2024, Grace and his co-conspirators placed swatting calls to police and other emergency departments. One or more of the conspirators falsely reported an emergency in the form of a violent act at a particular location to cause an armed law enforcement response with the intent to threaten, intimidate, and harass individuals and entities.

    Grace and his co-conspirators often used shared scripts to plan and coordinate their conduct and used Voice over Internet Protocol services to obscure their phone numbers and identities.

    As part of this scheme, the co-conspirators called the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (Dothan, Alabama). The co-conspirators threatened to burn down part of a residential trailer park and kill any law-enforcement officers who arrived to respond to the threat.

    Additionally, as part of the scheme, a Purgatory conspirator called the Newark Delaware Police Department falsely claiming that he heard a man firing shots in a Newark High School hallway. Moments later, a conspirator called the department again, threatening to shoot a specific Newark High School teacher and to kill unnamed students. As a result of this call, which occurred in the middle of the school day, authorities placed the school on lockdown and police officers responded to the scene. Later the same day, Grace agreed to post content from the incident, including images from news coverage of the incident, onto the group’s social media accounts.

    Grace also posted the address of the Hollywood Casino in Columbus, Ohio, the non-emergency telephone number for Columbus Police Department, and the name of a specific doxxing victim. Purgatory conspirators called the Columbus Police Department that day and threatened to “start shooting,” “kill everyone here,” and blow up the Hollywood Casino.

    Additionally, Purgatory conspirators called the Albany Police Department (Albany, New York), threatening the use of firearms and explosives at the airport.  Police units then rushed to respond to the threats.  On the same day, Grace bragged on a Purgatory group website about the group threatening the airport.

    Grace faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of threatening to damage or destroy by fire or explosive and a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats. 

    Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Additionally, Ms. Hayes praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Columbus; Ohio Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Lenoir City, Tennessee Police Department; Albany, New York Police Department; Albany County, New York Sheriff’s Office; Fairburn City, Georgia Police Department; Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Police Department; Giles County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office; Blue Springs, Missouri Police Department; Tarboro, North Carolina Police Department; Boston, Massachusetts Police Department; Dodge County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; Houston County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI’s Mobile, Richmond, Boston, Charlotte, and Cincinnati Field Offices for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert I. Goldaris and Patricia C. McLane who are prosecuting the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Felon with Gun Who Ran From Police

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Led officers on high-speed chase in Cedar Rapids before fleeing on foot and tossing firearm

    A felon who possessed a firearm was convicted by a jury today after a three‑day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

    Marcus Dejohn Wallace, age 29, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.  The verdict was returned this afternoon following about three hours of jury deliberations.

    The evidence at trial showed that on September 5, 2024, Wallace led officers on a high-speed car chase through Cedar Rapids before pulling over in a residential neighborhood and running from officers.  He was apprehended by a police K-9 and taken into custody.  Law enforcement found a loaded firearm within throwing distance of where Wallace was apprehended.  The firearm was missing a magazine.  That missing magazine was later located in the path where Wallace had run.  Wallace has a prior federal conviction for distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury.  

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

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Wallace remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Wallace faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra Hake, Shawn Wehde, and Dan Tvedt, and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-90.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan Man Sentenced After Being in the United States Illegally

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Guatemalan man who was in the United States illegally after being removed twice was sentenced today to 90 days in prison.

    Hector Palencia-Morales, age 55, a citizen of Guatemala, received the prison term after an April 7, 2025, guilty plea to being found in the United States after illegal reentry.

               On March 1, 2025, Palencia-Morales was found at a residence in Postville, Iowa, while law enforcement officers were executing a search warrant at the residence.  Officers confirmed he was in the country illegally.  Officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him on March 14, 2025.  Palencia-Morales had previously been removed from the United States in 2013 following a conviction for illegal entry and again in 2022.  

    Palencia-Morales was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Palencia-Morales was sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 25-CR-1012. 

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Man Faces 20+ Years in Prison After Being Convicted of Drug, Gun Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A jury on Tuesday convicted a man from St. Louis, Missouri of drug and gun crimes that will result in decades in prison.

    Christopher Glen Rhodes, 47, was found guilty in U.S. District Court of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Evidence and testimony at trial showed that Rhodes provided the methamphetamine that was sold twice to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. That source told investigators that he’d previously purchased both meth and fentanyl from Demetrius A. Ransom, Rhodes’ co-defendant. On Nov. 10, 2022, Rhodes provided 416.9 grams, or nearly one pound, of meth to Ransom, who sold it for $2,000. On Dec. 7, 2022, the confidential source bought 435 grams of meth from Ransom for $2,000.

    On Dec. 19, 2022, investigators were planning on conducting a court-approved search of Rhodes’ home in the 4900 block of West Florissant Avenue when they spotted Rhodes leaving. They made a traffic stop, but when Rhodes was asked to get out of the car, he sped away. In his home, agents found a total of 2.7 kilograms of meth, 3.8 kilos of fentanyl, 981.8 grams of cocaine and 129.7 grams of cocaine base. They also found $21,000 in cash, a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun, and drug paraphernalia including a pill press, empty capsules and a money counter. Rhodes is a felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm. Among his convictions is a 2002 case in which he pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base and was sentenced to 294 months in prison as a career offender. His sentence was commuted in 2016 to expire in 2018.

    Rhodes is scheduled to be sentenced on November 25. He will face at least 20 years in prison due to his prior convictions, the quantity of drugs involved and his use of a firearm during the drug trafficking crime, and could face more than 30 years.

    Ransom, 45, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9 and faces at least 15 years in prison.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torrie J. Schneider and Don Boyce are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader in scheme to monopolize transmigrantes market imprisoned for 11 years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Mission man has been sentenced for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry in the Los Indios border region, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Carlos Martinez, who pleaded guilty Feb. 6, and his co-conspirators controlled the transmigrate industry through monopolization and extortion of competitors.

    U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Martinez to serve 132 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay a $2 million fine. 

    Martinez and others used fear to control pricing, eliminate competition and keep the transmigrante industry profitable through “pool” allocations and piso payments.

    Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. Only a few U.S. border crossings, including the Los Indios Bridge, allow transmigrantes to enter Mexico.

    Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that help clients complete customs paperwork to export vehicles into Mexico. Martinez and his co-conspirators fixed prices for forwarding services and created a centralized entity, known as the “pool,” to collect and divide revenue among conspirators. They used the pool to eliminate competition and raise prices.

    “Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices. Consumers need to have faith that the prices they pay are fairly determined by the market, rather than the product of illegal collusion,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The 11-year sentence Mr. Martinez received reflects the size and scope of his criminal operation, as well as his leadership role in organizing and facilitating the unlawful scheme.”

    “The defendants extorted victims trying to make an honest living in the freight forwarding business, and by fixing prices illegally drove up the cost of moving goods,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The lead defendant’s sentence of 11 years in prison reflects the harm caused to the business community along the Southern border. The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division will continue to work to ensure that competition is fairly preserved.”

    “Today’s sentence reflects the significant danger and harm the American people face from violent and extortive actions aimed at fixing prices and monopolizing the market for essential services in the Texas border region,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will continue to aggressively pursue violent criminals who aim to corrupt America’s free markets and advocate for their incarceration.”

    “This case underscores the serious threat posed by transnational criminal networks operating at our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio. “Carlos Martinez and his co-conspirators orchestrated a violent scheme that extorted small businesses, fixed prices, and laundered millions of dollars — all while threatening the safety and integrity of lawful commerce. HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit legitimate industries through corruption and intimidation, and we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and our economy.”

    “The FBI will remain laser focused on transnational criminal organizations, including organizations that use violence, threats or extortion to fix prices and eliminate competition,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The American people deserve access to fair markets, free from threats of violence or the corrosive impact of illegal market interference, manipulation, or collusion. Together with our partners, we are committed to protecting our borders and dismantling every component of transnational criminal organizations.”

    Martinez, the son-in-law of a former Gulf Cartel leader in Mexico, ran a violent criminal syndicate operating at the U.S.-Mexico border. He seized control of the Los Indios bridge near Harlingen and Brownsville and hired workers to monitor transmigrante forwarding agencies and calculate the piso each owned.

    Workers collected piso payments in cash and submitted them to Martinez’s organization. He enforced compliance by ordering disciplinary action against agencies that operated without permission, violated pool rules, failed to charge fixed prices or refused to make extortionate payments.

    Forwarders not involved in the conspiracy were forced to join and pay into the pool. Martinez and other pool members monitored whether agencies followed pricing rules and made required payments. Martinez and his co-conspirators also demanded additional extortion fees, including a piso for each processed transaction and a fine for operating outside the pool. They used threats, intimidation and violence to enforce compliance and further their antitrust and extortion conspiracies.

    Clients who didn’t comply faced consequences ranging from being denied access to the Los Indios Bridge to having their cars stolen. In more severe cases, they were kidnapped, beaten, firebombed, shot or killed.

    Martinez personally collected at least $9.5 million in extortion payments. He and his family laundered the money through bank accounts they controlled, disguising the deposits to hide the true source, nature and ownership of the illicit funds.

    To date, seven others have been convicted, three of whom have already been sentenced in the case.

    ICE-HSI and FBI conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section; Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis and Michael G. Lepage, all of the of the Antitrust Division.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Sentenced for Roles in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in Monongalia County

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization in Monongalia County.

    Jason Davis, 35, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison. James Peoples, II, 28, of Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. According to court documents, Davis and Peoples worked with others to distribute drugs in Morgantown, West Virginia.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

    This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wasilla man indicted for distributing carfentanil resulting in two overdoses, one fatal and one non-fatal

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment yesterday charging a Wasilla man with distributing carfentanil to two individuals, resulting in the non-fatal overdose of an adult victim and the fatal overdose of a minor.

    Per court documents, the Alaska Bureau of Investigations (ABI) discovered that between Nov. 14 and 15, 2024, Sean Mobley, 45, allegedly distributed what appeared to be powder fentanyl to two different people, one adult and one minor. Both victims allegedly used the substance and overdosed. The adult victim was successfully revived by Narcan, but the minor victim died.  Further analysis revealed that the substance causing the overdose and death was not fentanyl, but carfentanil. Carfentanil is a highly potent opioid not approved for human use. It is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals and is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

    Court filings indicate that on Nov. 14, 2024, Mobley and an unnamed individual allegedly sold a small quantity of what appeared to be powdered fentanyl to the adult victim. Later that night, the unnamed individual received a telephone call informing them that the victim was overdosing. The individual returned to the victim’s residence where Narcan was administered to revive the victim.

    These same court documents further allege that Mobley later distributed the same carfentanil to a minor victim, causing her to overdose and die. Specifically, during the late evening of Nov. 14, 2024, Mobley drove to a gas station and met the minor victim. The minor victim entered Mobley’s truck, and at roughly 11:54 p.m., texted a friend that she was, “banging one out with Sean” (a slang phrase that allegedly means using drugs).

    The court records then allege that Mobley drove the minor victim to a remote ATV trail in Wasilla, arriving around midnight on Nov. 15, 2024. While at the trail, the minor victim used some of the carfentanil that Mobley allegedly provided to her, which resulted in the minor victim fatally overdosing in his truck.  He then allegedly dumped her body at the trail, all between 12:00 and 12:13 a.m.  Court documents additionally allege that after discarding the minor victim’s body, Mobley left to distribute more narcotics.

    On Nov. 15, 2024, a man walking his dog found the body of the minor female on the ATV trail. The state medical examiner found the minor’s cause of death as acute combined toxic effects of carfentanil and methamphetamine. 

    “Unfortunately, this indictment marks a troubling milestone – the first federal prosecution in Alaska for the distribution of poisonous carfentanil. To make matters worse, Mr. Mobley is accused of distributing this toxic substance to two people, resulting in the near deadly overdose of one and the heartbreaking fatal overdose of a local minor whose body he then dumped onto a secluded trail in the middle of the night,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Aggressive prosecutions of individuals peddling deadly drugs to our communities, including our children, is a national priority, especially when those narcotics kill and the perpetrator acts with callous disregard for his victims. I want to commend the ABI and the DEA for their diligent investigation, and to the Alaska Department of Law for their continued collaboration as we pursue justice for the victims and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

    “The callousness and cowardice of poisoning then dumping a young woman goes way beyond the pale, even for an alleged drug distributor,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This case cries for justice and I am proud that DEA and our partners helped bring federal charges in this case.”

    “This is a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences of dangerous drug use and distribution in our great state—especially when it involves our youth,” said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. “Your Alaska State Troopers remain committed to holding those accountable who deal deadly drugs like carfentanil. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims and disrupt drug trafficking in Alaska no matter where it occurs.”

    “The tragedy of this case highlights the urgent need to protect our Alaskan communities from the deadly impact that the illicit sale of controlled substances has on our state,” said Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor. “The Department of Law is resolved to aggressively prosecute those who traffic in these dangerous drugs and to work closely with our criminal justice partners to deter anyone who seeks to bring this harm into Alaska.”

    Mobley is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and death, one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of twenty-one. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 20 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The DEA Anchorage District Office and the ABI are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case, with assistance and collaboration from the State of Alaska Department of Law.

    Learn more: Carfentanil: A Synthetic Opioid Unlike Any Other

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (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: Harrison County Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathon Wade Cochran, 43, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, officers attempted a traffic stop on Cochran, who led officers on a chase. Cochran crashed and was injured. Officers found a 9mm pistol in his waistband. Cochran has prior drug and firearms charges, prohibiting him from having firearms.

    Cochran will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay $2M Fine for Conspiring to Monopolize International Transit Industry, Fix Prices, Extort $9.5M, and Launder Money

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Carlos Martinez, 39, of Mission, Texas, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison and a fine of $2 million for his conduct in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry in the Los Indios, Texas, border region. Martinez and his co-defendants controlled the TFA industry through monopolization and extortion of competitors.

    Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale across Central America. There are only a few locations where transmigrantes are permitted to cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge in Texas. TFAs are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. According to court documents and statements made in court, Martinez and his co-defendants fixed prices for TFA services and created a centralized entity known as “The Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the conspirators, limit competition from other agencies, and increase prices for their services.

    “The defendants exploited hardworking professionals in the freight forwarding business using extortion and illegal price-fixing schemes to manipulate the market and inflate the cost of moving goods,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The lead defendant’s 11-year prison sentence reflects the serious economic harm inflicted on the business community along the southern border. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue and prosecute those who threaten fair competition and the integrity of our markets.”

    “Today’s sentence reflects the significant danger and harm the American people face from violent and extortive actions aimed at fixing prices and monopolizing the market for essential services in the Texas border region,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will continue to aggressively pursue violent criminals who aim to corrupt America’s free markets and advocate for their incarceration.”

    “Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices. Consumers need to have faith that the prices they pay are fairly determined by the market, rather than the product of illegal collusion,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “The 11-year sentence Mr. Martinez received reflects the size and scope of his criminal operation, as well as his leadership role in organizing and facilitating the unlawful scheme.”  

    “All of these defendants used their positions with the TFA to extort hardworking individuals who relied on these services to support their families and livelihood,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable communities, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who abuse systems will be found, stopped and brought to justice.”

    “This case underscores the serious threat posed by transnational criminal networks operating at our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “Carlos Martinez and his co-conspirators orchestrated a violent scheme that extorted small businesses, fixed prices, and laundered millions of dollars — all while threatening the safety and integrity of lawful commerce. HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit legitimate industries through corruption and intimidation, and we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and our economy.”

    Individuals in the industry who were not part of the conspiracy were forced to join and pay into The Pool or face financial and violent consequences. Martinez and other members enforced the rules by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and whether the forwarder was making payments to The Pool.  

    Martinez and some of his co-defendants also conspired to force forwarding agencies to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed as well as a “fine” for operating in the market outside of Pool rules. Martinez and his co-defendants intimidated, coerced, and used threats and acts of violence in furtherance of the antitrust and extortion conspiracies.

    Martinez was responsible for collecting at least $9.5M in extortion payments. Cash obtained from the extortions was laundered through bank accounts controlled by Martinez and his family, with the cash deposits disguised to hide the nature, source, ownership, and control of the dirty money.

    Martinez is the son-in-law of the former leader of the Gulf Cartel in Mexico, a violent criminal syndicate that operates at the U.S.-Mexico border and elsewhere. Martinez took control of  Los Indios Bridge and employed individuals who worked to track TFA transactions to calculate the piso owed by each forwarding agency. Pool and piso payments were made in cash to the individuals working for Martinez. Martinez ordered disciplinary actions against those operating in the transmigrante market without permission, those who violated Pool rules, those who did not charge the fixed prices, and those who did not pay the piso. Disciplinary actions could include clients not being allowed to cross Los Indios Bridge, cars being stolen, or more serious repercussions such as kidnappings, beatings, firebombings, shootings, and murder.

    Carlos Martinez pleaded guilty in February  to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for TFA services, conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion, interference with commerce by extortion, and money laundering conspiracy. The government will also seek forfeiture of at least one house, luxury vehicles, a boat, and expensive watches.

    Prior to Martinez’s sentencing, his co-defendants were sentenced as follows:

    Carlos Yzaguirre, 66, of McAllen, Texas, was sentenced to two years in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.

    Sandra Guerra Medina, 70, of Rancho Viejo, Texas, was sentenced to eight months of home detention, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for TFA services and conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market.

    Juan Hector Ramirez Avila, 59, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served, after pleading guilty to one count of structuring a financial transaction to evade reporting requirements.

    Jose Tapia, Mireya Miranda, Pedro Calvillo and Roberto Garcia Villarreal pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Three other defendants, Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart, and Diego Ceballos-Soto, were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives.

    The Court will determine the final restitution amount owed to victims of the conspiracies at a hearing set for Sept. 3, 2025. 

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section; Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis, and Michael G. Lepage of the of the Antitrust Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.

    Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tipline at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: What family firms like Rothschild can teach Canadian businesses about resilience

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Liena Kano, Professor, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary

    The Gunnersbury Estate, which was purchased by merchant and financier Nathan Mayer Rothschild in 1835, is seen in London in 2022. (Shutterstock)

    Family businesses constitute a vital component of Canada’s economic landscape. They make up 63 per cent of privately held firms, employ nearly seven million people and generate about $575 billion a year.

    While Canadian family-run businesses express international ambitions, their overseas engagement tends to be more conservative compared to their non-family counterparts.

    In today’s turbulent economic environment — marked by geopolitical tensions, technological disruption and shifting trade patterns — international competitiveness is more important than ever.

    Around the world, family firms have shown remarkable resilience in the face of external shocks. Some of the world’s longest-standing corporations are family-owned, having endured world wars, revolutions, natural disasters and pandemics. For Canadian family firms aspiring to expand abroad, such examples offer both inspiration and insight.

    Among such long-standing multinationals is Rothschild, a centuries-old European family-run investment bank. Our case study of Rothschild, based on historical analysis, highlights how the family’s enduring relationships, reliable routines and long-term goals gave it significant advantages in international business.

    At the same time, however, families can contribute unique biases, especially “bifurcation bias” — a tendency to favour family resources over equally or more valuable non-family ones. Our study reveals that bifurcation bias can compromise a firm’s international trajectory, especially in distant and complex markets.

    A brief history of Rothschild

    Mayer Amschel Rothschild was a German-Jewish banker and the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    Initially a merchant business, the firm was founded in the late 18th century by Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a Frankfurt Jew.

    Rothschild and his wife, Guttle, had 10 children, including five sons: Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Carl and James.

    In 1798, Rothschild sent Nathan to Manchester, England, which initiated the firm’s growth in that country and a transition from merchant operations to financial transactions.

    By the 1820s, Rothschild became a multinational bank, with Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Carl and James leading banking houses in Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Naples and Paris, respectively.

    Bonuses and burdens of family bonds

    Nathan Mayer Rothschild was sent to Manchester in 1798.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    In the 19th century, the Rothschild’s strategy of relying on family members initially worked well for the firm.

    The five Rothschild brothers corresponded in a coded language and shared a common pool of resources at a time when shared balance sheets were uncommon in international banking.

    Their close familial bonds allowed the brothers to move information, money and goods across international borders with a speed and reach that wasn’t accessible to competitors. Rivals, by contrast, had to worry about protecting sensitive information and enforcing commitments.

    This internal cohesiveness safeguarded the Rothschild’s business, facilitated transactions and allowed them to maintain resilience through the periods of significant political upheaval: the Napoleonic wars, revolutions and, ultimately, the First World War, which interrupted economic and social progress in Europe.

    However, this same over-reliance on family became a disadvantage when Rothschild expanded into the United States.

    Missed opportunity and bifurcation bias

    The Rothschilds showed an interest in the American market as early as the 1820s. However, their repeated attempts to send family members to the U.S to expand operations failed, as none were willing to stay, preferring the comforts of European life.

    August Belmont was a German-Jewish immigrant to New York City in 1837 as an agent of the Rothschild bank in Frankfurt.
    (Shutterstock)

    Since they were unable to establish a family-based anchor in the country, the Rothschilds appointed an agent, August Belmont, to run the U.S. operations on their behalf in 1837.

    However, Belmont wasn’t given the authority to exercise entrepreneurial judgment, make investments or enter into deals. He also didn’t have unrestricted access to capital, was never entrusted with an official Rothschild mandate or acknowledged as a full-fledged partner.

    The Rothschilds were unwilling to delegate such decisions to someone who was not a direct male descendant of the founder, Mayer Amschel Rothschild.

    This failure to use Belmont as a link between the family — with its successful experiences, capabilities, routines and connections in Europe — and the American market — with its growing opportunities and the valuable networks Belmont had begun to develop — ultimately prevented Rothschild from replicating its success in the U.S.

    The Rothschilds were eventually eclipsed by the Barings and JP Morgan banks in America. Both competitors followed a different path in the market by opening full-fledged U.S. subsidiaries under their corporate brands with significant funds and decision-making autonomy.

    Escaping the trap of bifurcation bias

    Bifurcation bias does not always have an immediate negative impact. In fact, biased governance practices remained inconsequential for the Rothschilds — as long as there were enough capable family heirs available to lead the bank’s dispersed operations.

    In the short- to medium-term, the family’s connections, time-tested routines and mutual reliability built a well of resilience that sustained the bank through the 19th century, one of the most volatile political periods in European history.

    But as a firm’s international ambitions outgrow the size of the family, bifurcation bias can damage competitiveness, both in international markets and at home.

    At some point, family firms must shift from emotional, biased decision-making to efficient governance systems, which may involve incorporating non-family managers and selecting resources, locations and projects that do not carry emotional significance.

    A Cargill factory building in Wroclaw, Poland in 2020. American business executive William Wallace Cargill founded the Cargill company as an Iowa grain storage business in 1865.
    (Shutterstock)

    Many successful family firms implement tools in their governance systems to detect and eliminate biased behaviour. For instance, family-owned multinationals such as Merck (Germany), Cargill (U.S.) and Tata Group (India) have checks and balances that prevent decision-makers from thinking only in family terms.

    The most successful strategies to safeguard against bifurcation bias invite outside scrutiny into corporate decision-making: appointing non-family CEOs, establishing independent boards, hiring consultants and granting partners decision-making powers.

    Lessons for family firms

    Today, as the global business environment faces arguably unprecedented volatility, firms are seeking to build resilience to survive the turbulence.

    While multi-generational family firms must learn to guard against bifurcation bias to thrive in international markets, their demonstrated ability to withstand external shocks offers valuable lessons for other companies.

    How can non-family firms emulate the Rothschild’s success and longevity? The Rothschild case teaches us the value of having a shared organizational language, setting long-term goals, maintaining stable routines and placing a strong emphasis on brand reputation.

    These strategies can help any company, family-owned or not, build resilience during volatile times.

    Liena Kano receives funding from SSHRC.

    Alain Verbeke receives funding from SSHRC.

    Luciano Ciravegna receives funding from INCAE Business School, where he leads the Steve Aronson Endowed Chair.

    Andrew Kent Johnston 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. What family firms like Rothschild can teach Canadian businesses about resilience – https://theconversation.com/what-family-firms-like-rothschild-can-teach-canadian-businesses-about-resilience-254279

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Leader welcomes Government’s Spending Review

    Source: City of Manchester

    Statement from Council Leader in response to the Government’s Spending Review

    Statement from Council Leader in response to the Government’s Spending Review:

    Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is leading the way in building homes, creating jobs, growing the economy inclusively and supporting our residents. The announcements in today’s Spending Review will do much to help maintain that positive momentum.

    “We particularly welcome the announcement of £39 billion extra funding nationally for council, social and other genuinely affordable homes. We’re already delivering more affordable homes than at any time in the last 15 years and the availability of very significant extra funding will allow us to go even further in delivering this generational increase. It’s welcome to have an increase in spending for local councils, and I will look forward to the local government settlement to see what this means for places like Manchester who had our budgets cut heavily by Governments since 2010.

    “Following last week’s transport news, we also welcome the commitment to investing in our railways and other infrastructure – the sort of long-term strategic thinking which is vital to address years of underinvestment. Improved rail connections will help us power our aspirations for the city and its people and we look forward to the detail.

    “This Spending Review was delivered in challenging circumstances but there is still much in there which is encouraging as we await the detail in the coming days.

    “I welcome the largest investment in social and affordable housing in 50 years, alongside the record investment to rebuild the NHS. This alongside the expansion of Free School Meals, and investment in public transport address issues that really matter to Manchester people.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The silent killer: We need better risk governance to beat extreme heat | GP 2025

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Extreme heat is no longer a seasonal inconvenience. It’s a systemic, cross-cutting threat, silently claiming lives, stressing economies, overwhelming cities, and widening inequalities. Yet it remains one of the least governed climate hazards.

    At a high-level special event on extreme heat risk governance at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, leaders from governments, international agencies, labour unions, academia, and the humanitarian sector came together to discuss how better governance can protect people’s lives from the “silent killer.”

    “Extreme heat is the deadliest of all climate-related hazards,” said the World Meteorological Organization’s Director-General Celeste Saulo. “Yet it remains the least recognized and least managed.”

    The crisis is heating up

    Between 2000 and 2019, extreme heat caused an estimated 489,000 deaths annually. Heat takes its toll on global productivity, with International Labour Organisation estimates showing that in low- and middle-income economies in particular, the costs of injuries from excessive heat in the workplace can reach around 1.5 per cent of national GDP. And these risks are intensifying.

    “This is not just a health crisis. It is an economic, labour and governance crisis,” said Dr. Saulo.

    Despite this, as of 2023 only half of national meteorological services were issuing extreme heat warnings, and just 26 countries had dedicated heat-health early warning systems, WMO reported. 

    Urbanisation is compounding the threat. Cities are warming up twice as fast as the global average, and 68% of the global population projected to live in urban centres by 2050.

    From a reactive to a systemic approach

    Much of the current global approach to heat is reactive: authorities issue warning during events, the respond to spikes, and measure the toll on communities and economies. But the impacts cascade across sectors – disrupting health, labour, agriculture, education, and energy – and this requires a systemic governance response.

    “Heat is a systemic and pervasive risk,” said Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. “It cuts across public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience.”

    The problem is not technical, but a lack of effective plans and policies to implement live-saving measures.

    “Most of the extreme heat impact is predictable,” said IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. “If something is predictable, it’s preventable.”

    Responses need be rapid, and taken at the level of local communities, using cross-sectoral partnerships.

    Lessons in local leadership

    Examples from several countries demonstrate how integrated governance can work:

    • India first developed a local plan in Ahmedabad and now has 250+ cities and districts with operational heat action plans (HAPs).
    • France, after a devastating heatwave in 2003, launched a multi-ministry effort to integrate adaptation and risk communication. Stakeholders were asked to imagine life under a +4°C scenario, and then develop local and national resilience strategies around this likely reality.
    • The Philippines has developed a real-time “iHeatMap” platform and set up a cross-sectoral national task force to manage health, food, energy, and water impacts during heat events.

    To guide cities in improving heat governance, the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative has developed a resource package on urban extreme heat risk management, which gives practical recommendations to help local and national governments create urban heat strategies.

    “We are learning through lived experience,” said Senator Rosa Galvez of Canada – such as the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, which lasted 27 days and resulted in 618 deaths. “But we must understand that we cannot adapt forever.”

    Protecting the poorest

    “Poor people can’t afford poor design—especially on a heating planet,” said the International Labour Organization’s Mia Seppo.

    To address this imbalance, we need climate-informed finance that protects workers and promotes inclusive infrastructure investment.

    “Financial strategies must align with just transition principles,” Ms. Seppo said. “Climate risk must be integrated into investment decisions.”

    “Any development project should have a heat risk element,” said Dr. Mishra. “Projects should include protection for both users and workers. Construction companies, for instance, must provide heat protection for labourers.”

    Benoît Faraco, France’s Ambassador for Climate Negotiations for Decarbonized Energies and for the Prevention of Climate Risks, said that regulatory levers and standards can drive climate-resilient investment and avoid maladaptive pathways.

    “Standards and regulation play an important role in prevention. You cannot build a hospital or school as if climate change was not happening; it’s your job in the design to integrate mitigation and adaptation strategy,” he said. “If you let the market do things on heatwaves, people run to buy air conditioning systems, and during peak electricity demand this results in more fossil fuel use. It’s misadaptation.”

    A global framework for local action

    To facilitate coordinated approaches to extreme heat, UNDRR, WMO, WHO and the Global Heat Health Information Network are developing a Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance. This initiative aims to align actors across sectors, and to support national and subnational entities in integrating extreme heat into their DRR, climate, health, and urban strategies.

    The Common Framework is designed to support the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat, which outlines eight essential course corrections:

    • Accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.
    • Enhance investments in sustainable, low-carbon energy systems to mitigate heat-related risks.
    • Promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crops and sustainable irrigation.
    • Strengthen food supply chains to withstand heat-induced disruptions.
    • Integrate urban planning with heat mitigation measures, including green infrastructure and shaded areas.
    • Prioritize nature-based solutions that enhance resilience across sectors.
    • Implement national heat action plans, including early warning systems.
    • Establish heat-safe working conditions and policies.

    These actions form the foundation of effective heat governance and call for integrated leadership across all sectors of society, at all levels of government.

    “We must mainstream heat into both climate and disaster governance. We must embrace a multi-hazard approach,” Dr. Saula said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We need to align, scale and accelerate.”

    Every extreme heat death is preventable

    Closing the special event, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Kamal Kishore said we should aim for zero heat-related deaths next heat season.

    “We have the science. We know what to do. Now we must act – urgently, together, and at all levels,” he said.

    We can start by making schools safer against extreme heat.

    “One of my dreams is that in five years we will have 100,000 heat-resilient schools in all heat-prone areas,” Mr. Kishore said. “It’s not rocket science. We know what it takes to build heat-resilient schools in terms of built environment. We know how to incorporate green spaces and water bodies in schools. We know what kind of awareness children need to have to deal with heat waves.”

    The Common Framework will provide tools to make schools, homes, and workplaces safer from the heat – but political will, coordinated governance, and community-centred approaches will determine whether the world beats the heat or succumbs to it.

    We need to act for heat resilience today. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jacobs, Sens. Hirono and Wyden Reintroduce Bill to Protect Reproductive and Sexual Health Data

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    June 11, 2025

    Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the landmark My Body, My Data Act, which would create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data. 

    The weaponization of private reproductive and sexual health data has increased in recent years, especially since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In 2017, police used web searches and text messages to charge Latice Fisher with second-degree murder after a stillbirth at home. Facebook messages were also a key piece of evidence in an abortion-related investigation of a Nebraska mother and daughter in 2022. A data broker shared cell phone and geo-location data with an anti-abortion political group that then dispensed disinformation about reproductive health to people who visited 600 abortion clinics in 48 states. Earlier this year, police investigated a Pennsylvania mother and daughter after receiving text messages about her pregnancy. 

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Like millions of young people, I use a period tracking app – and the information in these apps, search history, location data, and so much more, has been collected, shared, and sold without our consent and even used to investigate and prosecute abortion cases. These threats are even scarier and more real in the second Trump Administration. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the My Body, My Data Act to ensure that bodily autonomy extends to our online lives and our private data. Our bicameral legislation provides the highest level of protection for our most sensitive data – reproductive and sexual health data – and I will keep fighting to pass it.”

    “As apps and devices that collect reproductive and sexual health information—like period and fertility trackers—become increasingly popular, everyone should be able to trust that their personal health data is safe and secure,” said Senator Hirono. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to protect people’s reproductive and sexual health data and prevent this information from being used against them. As Republicans continue their assault on our bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, I will continue doing everything in my power to ensure people have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and futures.”

    Sen. Ron Wyden said: “Anti-abortion Republicans are restricting abortion state-by-state, and they’re not going to stop until they get a national abortion ban,” Wyden said. “The way MAGA prosecutors and politicians enforce their cruel assault on women’s rights is by going after their privacy and abusing their personal data to track down and punish women for their personal reproductive health choices. Congress has to draw a line. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Jacobs and Sen. Hirono on the My Body, My Data Act to set the toughest protections ever for reproductive health data.”

    CEO and President of Reproductive Freedom for All, Mini Timmaraju, said: “Everyone deserves the freedom to make personal decisions about their bodies, lives, and health without the fear of surveillance or criminalization. The ‘My Body, My Data Act’ is a critical step toward protecting our most private health information—including abortion and pregnancy care—from being weaponized against us. We’re grateful to Representative Jacobs and Senator Hirono for their leadership in introducing this bold federal action. We are committed to working with them to fight back as Trump and Republicans continue to attack our fundamental freedoms.”

    “In a chaotic and dangerous post-Roe landscape, no one seeking an abortion should have to fear that their health information will be used to criminalize them,” said Jocelyn Frye, President of National Partnership for Women & Families. “Many women, including many women of color and those with low incomes, already face over-surveillance and heightened barriers to accessing abortion care. This bill is an important step in protecting data privacy surrounding abortion care, and we thank Rep. Jacobs and Senators Hirono and Wyden for their leadership on this issue.”

    “Americans’ health data is constantly used in ways that they do not expect. The My Body, My Data Act protects the privacy and safety of people seeking reproductive care but putting strict limits on when reproductive and sexual health information can be collected and how it can be used. Health care and privacy go hand in hand, and EPIC commends Rep. Jacobs for introducing this important bill,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

    Andrew Crawford, Senior Counsel, Center for Democracy & Technology, said: “It’s been nearly three years since the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and we continue to see states hostile to reproductive rights seeking access to health data. The My Body My Data Act contains critical privacy protections that limit the data companies collect and retain about their customers while providing people clear ways to access and delete their health data when they want. When companies don’t collect and keep people’s health data, they won’t have anything to turn over if folks come asking for it.”

    “As a physician, I know how critical it is for the personal information of the patients I care for to be protected. Too often, data related to reproductive health care is used to target and criminalize people seeking essential care. I am thankful to Senators Wyden and Hirono and Representative Jacobs for introducing the My Body, My Data Act of 2025. Ensuring the health and well-being of patients includes protecting the privacy of personal reproductive health information,” said Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, Physicians for Reproductive Health Board Chair and OB/GYN in Texas. 

    The My Body, My Data Act would:

    • Limit the personal reproductive and sexual health data that can be collected, retained, used, or disclosed to only what is needed to deliver a product or service.
    • Protect personal data collected by entities not currently covered under HIPAA, including data collected by apps, cell phones, and search engines.
    • Require regulated entities to develop and share a privacy policy outlining how they collect, retain, use, and disclose personal reproductive health information.
    • Direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the law and to develop rules to implement the statute.
    • Create a private right of action to allow individuals to hold regulated entities accountable for violations. 
    • Provide additional consumer protections, including the right of an individual to access, delete, or correct their personal data if they choose to.

    The legislation is supported by Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Partnership for Women & Families, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Reproductive Freedom for All, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center, National Abortion Federation, Catholics for Choice, National Council for Jewish Women, Power to Decide, United for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Indivisible, Guttmacher, and National Network of Abortion Funds, All* Above All.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During hearing with Treasury Secretary, Kelly highlights importance of passing “One Big Beautiful Bill”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a Ways & Means Committee hearing featuring U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday in Washington, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) highlighted the importance of passing the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in order to avoid a tax increase on American families and small businesses.

    “Current tax rates are set to expire at the end of the year. If we don’t pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, hardworking American taxpayers would see their taxes increase. We cannot let that happen,” said Rep. Kelly. “This legislation makes tax cuts permanent and creates much-needed certainty for American families and small businesses.”

    “The One Big Beautiful Bill will make the 2017 tax cuts permanent. This will provide individuals and businesses with certainty and build economic momentum. The legislation is squarely aimed at boosting the working and middle class and reinvigorating American manufacturing,” said Sec. Bessent in prepared remarks.

    You can watch a clip of Rep. Kelly’s exchange with Sec. Bessent here.

    BACKGROUND

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes permanent the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts and includes critical pro-growth policies that will cut taxes by an additional $1,300 for a family of four and deliver higher wages and incomes for millions of Americans. A recent report from the Council of Economic Advisers shows the legislation will produce up to $13,300 more in take-home pay for a typical family and up to $11,600 more in wages for American workers.

    The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Is Pro-Growth Tax Policy
    Permanent extension of the Trump tax cuts, alongside additional pro-growth policies, will fuel a resurgence in economic growth:

    • America’s real gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by an estimated 5.2 percent over the next four years and 3.5 percent in the long term.
    • 9.8 to 14.5 percent boost in investment in the next four years and a 4.9 to 7.5 percent boost in long-term investment.
    • 6.6 to 7.4 million full-time jobs saved or created in the next four years and 4.2 million saved or created in the long term.

    FACT SHEET: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Fuels America’s Economic Growth

    The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Makes Families & Workers Thrive Again

    • Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent – protecting the average taxpayer from a 22 percent tax hike.
    • Saves the average American family from a $1,700 tax hike – the equivalent of 9 weeks of groceries.
    • Delivers an additional $1,300 tax cut for the average American family.
      — Delivers up to $11,600 in higher wages per worker.
      — Delivers up to $13,300 more in take-home pay for a family with two children.
    • Delivers on President Trump’s priorities of no tax on tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and tax relief for seniors that will put more money annually in the pockets of millions of Americans:
      — Up to $1,750 for overtime workers.
      — $1,700 for tipped workers.
      — Up to $450 for seniors.
    • Locks in and boosts the doubled Child Tax Credit for more than 40 million families and provides additional tax relief for American families.
    • Preserves and increases the doubled guaranteed deduction for 91 percent of all taxpayers.
    • Expands 529 education savings accounts to empower American families and students to choose the education that best fits their needs, whether it is K-12 materials or obtaining a postsecondary trades credential.
    • Supports working families by expanding access to childcare and making permanent the paid leave tax credit.
    • Puts American families in control of their health care by expanding health savings accounts and cementing into law a Trump Administration policy that offers more choice and flexibility for health coverage options.
    • Starts building financial security for America’s children at birth with the creation of new savings accounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Hagerty Implores Colleagues to Support GENIUS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, spoke on the Senate floor imploring his colleagues to support the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, a historic piece of legislation that establishes a clear regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Remarks as prepared for delivery:

    Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of my legislation, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act—the GENIUS Act.

    America urgently needs a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. For too long, the lack of any such framework has forced digital asset innovation beyond our borders and into foreign countries, jeopardizing our nation’s financial leadership and putting American consumers at risk.

    Meanwhile, our slow and outdated payment rails – developed in the 1970s and 1980s — have failed to keep pace with many overseas jurisdictions. To modernize our payment system and restore our nation’s competitive edge, we must act now.

    That is why I have introduced the GENIUS Act.

    This legislation takes a commonsense, bipartisan approach to regulating stablecoins. Allow me to concisely explain with the GENIUS Act does:

    It clearly defines a payment stablecoin: a digital asset pegged to a fixed value, backed by U.S. Treasuries, and used for transactions.

    It describes clear procedures for institutions to issue stablecoins.

    It establishes a regulatory regime that balances the responsibilities of federal and state authorities.

    It implements standards that ensure safety, stability, and consumer protection.

    And it provides rigorous safeguards to deter illicit activity, increase transparency, and aid the vital work of law enforcement.

    These provisions are pragmatic and forward-looking. They both protect consumers and promote innovation. And, crucially, they represent bipartisan agreement—reflecting that both Democrats and Republicans recognize the vast potential of this emerging technology.

    The benefits of stablecoin innovation are immense. By reducing friction in the payment process, they can improve the speed and efficiency of cross-border payments. Faster and cheaper transactions can unlock much-needed working capital for American businesses and provide individuals with more effective tools for making international payments.

    Moving aspects of our payment system to the blockchain has been shown to increase efficiencies in capital markets. Innovators are constantly uncovering transformative use cases, and the rapid pace of innovation will only increase with regulatory clarity.

    Stablecoins also advance a vital national interest by driving demand for U.S. Treasuries. A recent report forecasts that with a well-crafted U.S. regulatory framework, stablecoin issuers could become one of the top holders of U.S. Treasuries by the end of this decade – if not sooner. This would strengthen our fiscal position and cement the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency. 

    If we fail to act now, not only will these benefits slip away—we will also fall behind in global competitiveness. Without a regulatory framework, stablecoin innovation will proliferate overseas—not in America!

    Americans using this new technology will be left with no choice but to rely on foreign stablecoins that lack vital consumer protections. And, critically, inaction would surrender our leadership to the Chinese Communist Party, which is aggressively advancing its own digital currency.

    We can avoid this outcome—but only if we unite behind this legislation.

    In this spirit of patriotic cooperation, I thank Senators Scott, Lummis, Gillibrand, and Alsobrooks, who co-sponsored an earlier iteration of this bill and who have worked hard to make this a bipartisan effort. And I also extend gratitude to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who supported this legislation in the Banking Committee and contributed to the consensus product now before the Senate.

    We have an opportunity to cement America’s financial dominance for decades to come and demonstrate that this body can come together and pass legislation that benefits our country and its citizens. I urge all my colleagues to join me in advancing the GENIUS Act.

    And I urge those watching from afar to view this critical vote for what it is: a statement of support for a vital, innovative technology, and a demonstration of our willingness to work together for America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mashatile’s office rebuffs claims of misuse of State funds for ’extravagant’ overseas trips

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Mashatile’s office rebuffs claims of misuse of State funds for ’extravagant’ overseas trips

    The Office of the Deputy President has released a statement denying allegations of misusing State funds related to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s international travel. 

    This statement follows extensive media coverage from various news outlets and public speculation on the matter. 

    “Categorically, the Office and the Deputy President have not, as seems to be suggested, misused State funds or been extravagant in financing the costs of the Deputy President’s international travel,” the statement read on Tuesday evening. 

    According to the Presidency, the matter was first raised after a written parliamentary inquiry from Action SA, which prompted detailed disclosures regarding travel expenses.

    “In light of such an expected phenomenon, the Deputy President replied to the question in full and also provided specific details, which include correct figures and breakdown of individual costs by members of the delegation supporting the Deputy President.” 

    The Deputy President’s Office has stressed that all international trips undertaken are in his official capacity, representing the South African government, as directed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

    “Moreover, the majority of these strategic international visits are aimed at strengthening existing bilateral, political, economic and diplomatic relations between South Africa and visited countries.” 

    Mashatile has engaged in several significant international working visits since taking office on 3 July 2024, including trips to Ireland, the United Kingdom and Japan, with further planned visits to France. 

    The Office has provided a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses associated with these trips, stressing that many figures circulated in the media are inflated. 

    News24 recently reported that the Deputy President’s recent trip to Japan in March cost R2.3 million, with R900 000 covering accommodation for him and his wife.

    However, the Presidency stated that the Japan visit was particularly highlighted for its strategic relevance, marking the first high-level engagement between South Africa and Japan in a decade, coinciding with the 115th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

    During the Japan working visit, the country’s second-in-command was accompanied by various Ministers. 

    The Presidency believes that the visit was advantageous for South Africa’s African Agenda, especially considering the current overlap of South Africa’s Group of 20 (G20) chairship and Japan’s upcoming hosting of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in August.

    “This presents a unique opportunity for South Africa to communicate its own and the continent’s position and priorities to Japan, and the expected support and role that Japan could play in this regard.”

    In addition, the Deputy President’s Office stated that the claims of exorbitant costs for certain officials have been disputed, and that the actual expenditure is significantly lower.

    “Regrettably, some of the figures presented by the media are significantly blown out of proportion and do not accurately reflect the cost of the trips. For example, one media liaison officer, referred to by TimesLive as the ‘most expensive supporting official’, is said to have cost R580 582 for Japan alone, when in fact, the total cost for that official is less than R66 000, including flights and accommodation.” 

    The Office has reassured the public that the Deputy President’s travels are conducted with fiscal responsibility and in alignment with South Africa’s commitment to global relations and investment.

    “In terms of the travel policy in the Presidential Handbook, transport for the President and Deputy President during travel outside South Africa is the responsibility and for the account of the State.” 

    In addition, the Office mentioned that the financial responsibilities for the visits, which include travel, accommodation, and other miscellaneous expenses, are typically shared between the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other participating departments. 

    “In all these visits, the Office of the Deputy President has insisted on the most cost-effective provisions for the Deputy President and his delegations and has therefore not misused or extravagantly used State funds, as alluded.” – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: April–June 2025

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Earth science missions have continued to demonstrate remarkable adaptability and innovation, balancing the legacy of long-standing satellites with the momentum of cutting-edge new technologies. The Terra platform, the first of three Earth Observing System flagship missions, has been in orbit since December 1999. Over a quarter-century later, four of its five instruments continue to deliver valuable data, despite recent power challenges. As of this writing, Terra’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) – Visible–Near Infrared (VNIR) and Thermal Infrared (TIR) bands, Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and one of the two Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy Systems (CERES) instruments onboard, are all still producing science data. For reasons explained below, only the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument has been shut down completely, after 25 years of successful operations. The longevity of the Terra instruments is credited to Terra’s instrument team members, who have skillfully adjusted operations to compensate for the reduction in power and extend Terra’s scientific contributions for as long as possible.
    Terra has been experiencing power-based limitations caused by platform orbital changes and solar array impacts. On November 28, 2024, one of Terra’s power-transmitting shunt units failed. A response team reviewed Terra’s status, and discussed potential impacts and options. Consequently, the team changed the battery charge rate and reduced spacecraft power demands by placing the ASTER instrument into safe mode.
    In order to maintain power margins, the Terra team also moved the MOPITT instrument from science mode into safe mode on February 4, 2025, ceasing data collection. On April 9, 2025, the Terra project determined that additional power was needed for the platform and MOPITT was moved from safe mode and fully turned off, ending the instrument’s carbon monoxide data record of near-global coverage every three days.
    MOPITT was the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) contribution to the Earth Observing System. Launched as part of Terra’s payload in 1999, it became the longest-running air quality monitor in space, and the longest continuously operating Canadian space mission in history. MOPITT’s specific focus was on the distribution, transport, sources, and sinks of carbon monoxide (CO) in the troposphere – see Figure. The spectrometer’s marquee Earthdata products have included MOPITT Near Real-Time Datasets and offerings from the MOPITT Science Investigator-led Processing System (MOPITT SIPS). From tracking pollution from wildfires to providing data that informs international climate agreements, MOPITT served as a powerful tool for gathering data about pollution in the lowest portion of Earth’s atmosphere, informing research, policies, and even helping to advance forecasting models used by scientists worldwide. Congratulations to the MOPITT team for more than 25 years of groundbreaking science and international collaboration!

    As chance would have it, the MOPITT Team had planned a 25th anniversary celebration in April, 10–11, 2025, at CSA headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec and online – which began one day after the instrument was shut down. The celebration was a fitting closeout to the MOPITT mission and a celebration of its accomplishments. Over the two days, more than 45 speakers shared memories and presented findings from MOPITT’s quarter-century record of atmospheric carbon monoxide monitoring. Its data showed a global decline in carbon monoxide emissions over two decades and could also track the atmospheric transport of the gas from fires and industry from individual regions. MOPITT is a testament to remarkable international collaboration and achievement. As it is officially decommissioned, its data record will continue to drive research for years to come.
    The Director General of the Canadian Space Agency—a key MOPITT partner—delivered remarks, and both Ken Jucks [NASA HQ— Program Manager for the Upper Atmosphere Research Program (UARP)] and Helen Worden [National Center for Atmospheric Research— MOPITT U.S. Principal Investigator] attended representing the U.S.
    More information is available in a recently-released Terra blog post and on the Canadian Space Agency MOPITT website.
    After continued investigation and monitoring of platform battery status, the Terra Flight Operations Team (FOT) determined there was sufficient power to resume imaging with ASTER’s VNIR bands, and as a result, ASTER once again began collecting VNIR data on January 17, 2025. Subsequently, ASTER resumed acquisitions for the TIR bands on April 15, 2025. (The ASTER Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) bands have been shut down since 2008).
    As one long-serving mission sunsets its operations, new missions are stepping in to carry forward the legacy of Earth system science with fresh capabilities and approaches. Launched on May 25, 2023, the NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission provides a groundbreaking approach to studying tropical cyclones using a passive microwave sounder CubeSat constellation. TROPICS uses multiple small satellites flying in a carefully engineered formation to measure precipitation structure as well as temperature and humidity profiles both within and outside of storms.
    Unlike traditional polar-orbiting satellites, TROPICS’ low-inclination orbits allow for hourly revisits over tropical regions, enabling scientists to better monitor storm structure, intensity changes, and key processes like upper-level warm core formation and convective bursts.
    The mission has already significantly contributed to operational forecasting and scientific research. With over 10 billion observations to date, TROPICS data have been used to validate storm models, support early-warning systems, and improve forecasts for events like Hurricane Franklin and Typhoon Kong-rey. Collaborations with agencies like the National Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center have shown the value of TROPICS channels, particularly the 204.8 GHz channel, in identifying storm structure and intensity. The data are publicly available through the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), and TROPICS continues to set the stage for the next generation of rapid-revisit Earth observation missions. To read more about the last two years of successful science operations with TROPICS, see NASA’s TROPICS Mission: Offering Detailed Images and Analysis of Tropical Cyclones.
    While some missions focus on monitoring atmospheric processes, others are expanding the frontiers of Earth observation in entirely different domains—ranging from seafloor mapping to land surface monitoring and beyond. NASA’s Ice, Clouds, and land Elevation Satellite–2 (ICESat-2) mission continues to provide critical data on Earth’s changing ice sheets, glaciers, and other environmental features. In March 2025, the satellite achieved a significant milestone by firing its two trillionth laser pulse, measuring clouds off the coast of East Antarctica. Despite challenges, such as a solar storm in May 2024 that temporarily disrupted operations, the mission has resumed full functionality, providing high-resolution data that has enabled scientists to map over 16 years of ice sheet changes. The mission’s advanced laser altimeter system, ATLAS, continues to deliver unprecedented detail in monitoring Earth’s changing ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and ocean floor.
    The ICESat-2 Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) workshop, held on March 17, 2025, in conjunction with the US-Hydro meeting, brought together experts and stakeholders from government, academia, and industry to explore the current capabilities and future potential of satellite-based seafloor mapping. With over 2000 journal articles referencing ICESat-2 in the context of bathymetry, the workshop underscored the growing importance of this technology in coastal management, navigation, habitat monitoring, and disaster response. For more details, see the ICESat-2 Applications Team Hosts Satellite Bathymetry Workshop report.
    As satellite technologies continue to evolve, so do the scientific communities that rely on them, bringing researchers together to share insights, refine data products, and explore new applications across a range of Earth and atmospheric science disciplines. As of early 2025, NASA’s Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) continues to provide critical insights into Earth’s atmospheric composition. In addition to scientific advancements, SAGE III/ISS has enhanced public accessibility to its data. In February 2025, the mission launched updates to its Quicklook and Expedited data portal, introducing a new ‘Highlights’ tab to showcase major stratospheric events and a ‘Comparisons’ tab for validating measurements with ground-based stations. These enhancements aim to make SAGE III/ISS data more accessible and increase its utilization for atmospheric research.
    The most recent SAGE III/ISS Science Team Meeting took place in October 2024 at NASA Langley Research Center and was held in hybrid format. Around 50 scientists gathered to discuss recent advancements, mission updates, and future directions in upper troposphere–stratosphere (UTS) research. The SAGE III/ISS team celebrated eight years of continuous data collection aboard the ISS and presented Version 6.0 of SAGE III/ISS data products during the meeting, which addresses previous data biases and enhances aerosol profile recovery. Presentations also covered aerosol and cloud studies, lunar-based aerosol retrievals, and collaborative projects using data from multiple satellite platforms and instruments. To learn more, see the full Summary of the 2024 SAGE III/ISS Meeting.
    Moving on to personnel announcements, I wish to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Dr. Stanley Sander, who passed away in March 2025. Sander devoted over 50 years to atmospheric science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, making groundbreaking contributions to stratospheric ozone research, air pollution, and climate science. His precise laboratory work on reaction kinetics and spectroscopy became foundational for atmospheric modeling and environmental policy, including the Montreal Protocol. Sander also played a key role in satellite calibration, mentored dozens of young scientists, and held several leadership positions at JPL. Remembered for his brilliance, humility, and kindness, his legacy endures through both his scientific achievements and the many lives he influenced. See In Memoriam: Dr. Stanley Sander.
    On a happier, though bittersweet, note, my congratulations to Jack Kaye [NASA HQ—Associate Director for Research, Earth Science Division (ESD)] who retired from NASA on April 30, 2025, after 42 years of distinguished service. With a background in chemistry and atmospheric science, he played a leading role in NASA’s efforts to understand Earth’s atmosphere and climate using satellite data and modeling. Throughout his career, Kaye has held various key leadership positions, managed major missions, e.g., the series of Shuttle-based Atmospheric Laboratory of Applications and Science (ATLAS) experiments, and supported the development of early-career scientists. He also represented NASA in national and international science collaborations and advisory roles. Kaye received numerous awards, published extensively, and was widely recognized for his contributions to Earth science and global climate research. I extend my sincere thanks to Jack for his many years of vital leadership and lasting contributions to the global Earth science community!
    Barry Lefer [NASA HQ—Tropospheric Composition Program Manager] has taken over as Acting Associate Director for Research in ESD. Reflecting on Kaye’s impact, Lefer said, “Jack has been a wonderful friend and mentor. The one thing about Jack that has had the biggest impact on me (besides his incredible memory) is his kindness. He has an enormous heart. He will be missed, but his impact on Earth Science will endure for a very long time!” See the full announcement, Jack Kaye Retires After a Storied Career at NASA.
    Steve PlatnickEOS Senior Project Scientist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The war on drugs – E-002297/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002297/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

    The spread of drugs, particularly among young people, remains one of the most important social threats in the European Union. New psychoactive substances are rapidly circulating on the market, often originating from non-EU countries, and are difficult to trace. At the same time, organised crime continues to use new trafficking methods, mainly using digital media and postal services.

    Given the consequences for health, safety and social cohesion:

    • 1.How does the Commission intend to strengthen the European early warning and information exchange mechanism on new substances?
    • 2.What financial instruments are available to Member States for prevention and rehabilitation, particularly in school and youth settings?
    • 3.Is there any intention to set up a pan-European information campaign on the dangers of drugs?

    Submitted: 6.6.2025

    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Regulation EU 631/2019 – E-001345/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Delivering on the EU’s climate targets[1] requires a swift decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors, including transport.

    The CO2 emission standards Regulation[2] sets targets to reduce emissions for new cars and vans, which creates long-term predictability for manufacturers and investors, while giving industry the necessary lead-time to adapt.

    This supports competitiveness, as EU manufacturers are strongly investing in zero-emission technologies and a strong home market is a crucial enabler for them to regain leadership in this area.

    From 2025, the limit value curve used for calculating car manufacturers’ specific targets has changed, taking into account recent developments in the relationship between the mass and CO2 emissions of new cars, including due to the increased uptake of battery electric vehicles.

    The CO2 targets apply to vehicles’ tailpipe emissions. This ensures that manufacturers implement innovative technologies, which reduce emissions of the vehicles when driven on the road.

    Emissions from other lifecycle stages of vehicles are regulated under separate pieces of EU legislation[3]. By end 2025, the Commission is required to adopt a methodology for assessing and reporting life-cycle CO2 emissions of vehicles.

    From June 2026, manufacturers may submit to the Commission life-cycle CO2 emissions data for their vehicles, calculated according to that methodology.

    • [1] Enshrined in the European Climate Law — http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/851/oj/eng.
    • [3] Such as the EU Emission Trading System Directive — http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/87/2024-03-01 and the Renewable Energy Directive — http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/2001/2024-07-16.
    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Blue Card scheme in the EU – E-001405/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Directive (EU) 2021/1883[1] applies to all Member States except Ireland and Denmark, in accordance with Protocol No 21[2] and Protocol No 22[3], annexed to the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

    Consequently, Denmark is not bound by EU legislation in the area of legal migration (opt-out), while Ireland has chosen to not opt-in to the directive.

    Directive (EU) 2021/1883 harmonises the conditions of entry and residence for third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment.

    Member States are required to put in place the necessary procedures in line with the relevant provisions of the directive and they remain competent to assess applications for an EU Blue Card. In all instances, in accordance with Article 79(5) of the TFEU, Member States retain the right to determine the number of admissions of third-country nationals seeking work in their territory.

    Regarding family reunification, Directive 2003/86/EC[4] applies, subject to some specific derogations. Article 4 of that directive enumerates the family members who are entitled to family reunification subject to compliance with the conditions laid down in this directive.

    These are the Blue Card holder’s spouse as well as minor dependent children, including adopted children. In addition, Member States may choose to authorise the entry and residence of other family members, including dependent ascending relatives, adult unmarried children, unmarried or registered partners with their dependent children in compliance with the conditions laid down in Directive 2003/86/EC.

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry to and residence in the Union of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment, and repealing Council Directive 2009/50/EC, OJ L 382, 28.10.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2021/1883/oj.
    • [2] Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Protocol (No 21) on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 295, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/pro_21/oj.
    • [3] Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Protocol (No 22) on the position of Denmark, OJ C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 299, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2012/pro_22/oj.
    • [4] Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification, OJ L 251, 3.10.2003, p. 12.
    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Development of life-saving medicines for rare diseases and bringing them to market – E-002031/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002031/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Aldo Patriciello (PfE), Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE), Anna Maria Cisint (PfE), Paolo Borchia (PfE), Silvia Sardone (PfE)

    The process of researching, developing and bringing life-saving drugs to market is hampered by significant financial costs, which often hinder access to innovative treatments, particularly for rare diseases.

    According to numerous industry experts and as documented in recent investigations, a significant number of promising drugs never reach the commercialisation stage because developers lack the funds needed to complete clinical trials, particularly for the transition phase from laboratory research to large-scale testing (known as ‘the valley of death’).

    Despite efforts to boost research into medicines for rare diseases, the number of medicines developed for rare diseases remains too low relative to patient numbers and therapeutic needs: there are more than 7 000 rare diseases and millions of Europeans have them.

    The Commission has a duty to ensure that everyone in the European Union has access to proper care, including life-saving therapies for rare diseases, through inclusive and sustainable health policies.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.What does the Commission have to say about the difficulties faced when researching and developing life-saving medicines?
    • 2.Could it inform Parliament how it plans to tackle this issue?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Israeli settlement products: alignment of EU policies with UN resolution – P-001801/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU has been consistently clear in its position that settlements are illegal under international law and repeatedly condemned Israel’s settlement policy and the occupation of the Palestinian territory that began in 1967.

    As reiterated by the European Council on 27 June[1] and 17 October 2024[2], the EU has recalled the requirement for Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, to fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, in all circumstances .

    EU positions and policies are fully aligned with United Nations (UN) resolutions on the status of the O ccupied Palestinian T erritory (OPT) and are therefore overall consistent with the conclusions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the OPT, including East Jerusalem, of 19 July 2024[3], as regards the duty of non-recognition, the duty to distinguish in the dealings with Israel between its territory and the OPT, and the duty of non-assistance.

    With regard to the duty to distinguish in the dealings with Israel between its territory and the OPT, the EU has taken care to fully comply with the obligations set out in paragraph 278 of the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 and point 4(d) of the UN General Council resolution of 13 September 2024[4].

    The Commission continues to monitor the situation in the OPT and has already listed nine individuals and five entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.

    The EU is firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace and has spared no effort to work with partners to revive the political process towards the implementation of a two-state solution.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/qa3lblga/euco-conclusions-27062024-en.pdf.
    • [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf.
    • [3] Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176.
    • [4] https://docs.un.org/en/A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1.
    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – IRIS² satellite constellation and contracts with European industrial manufacturers – E-001134/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission acknowledges the importance of ensuring that the EU’s critical communication infrastructure remains sovereign and resilient.

    The regulation establishing the EU Space Programme and the EU Agency for the Space Programme[1] and the regulation establishing the EU Secure Connectivity Programme[2] provide that the Commission applies eligibility and participation conditions if it deems that this is necessary and appropriate to preserve the security, integrity and resilience of the operational EU systems.

    In particular, they require that economic operators providing critical components and services are fulfilling the following eligibility and participation conditions :

    a) The eligible legal entity is established in a Member State and its executive management structures are established in that Member State;

    b) The eligible legal entity commits to carry out all relevant activities in one or more Member States; and

    c) The eligible legal entity is not to be subject to control by a third country or by a third country entity.

    It therefore ensures that critical technologies required to deploy and operate IRIS2 are under EU control.

    • [1] OJ L 170, 12.5.2021 p.69, ELI, Article 24: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/696/oj.
    • [2] OJ L 79, 17.3.2023 p.1, ELI, Article 22: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/588/oj.
    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Proposal for revision of Directive 2014/45/EU — Eliminates the possibility of exceptions to motorcycle IPOs – P-002245/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002245/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sérgio Humberto (PPE), Sebastião Bugalho (PPE), Paulo Cunha (PPE), Ana Miguel Pedro (PPE), Hélder Sousa Silva (PPE), Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (PPE)

    The Commission has proposed a revision of Directive 2014/45/EU that removes the exemption from mandatory periodic inspections on motorcycles with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm³, making inspections mandatory in the Member States. It has calculated that some 10 % of road accidents may be caused by technical defects. The purpose of the revised version is to standardise rules, improve road safety and reduce pollutant emissions.

    Some countries have adopted different approaches tailored to their circumstances, including other road safety measures such as upgrades to infrastructure and the provision of education on safe driving practices. Portugal has opted for alternative measures that adapt policies to its specific road-infrastructure and administrative needs.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.In the proposal for a directive, the Commission states that 10 % of accidents are caused by technical defects. What studies did the Commission base that figure on?
    • 2.With regard to the stakeholders it consulted, does the Commission not share the view that the bias was towards industrial associations, to the detriment of associations of users of two-wheeled vehicles?
    • 3.At a time when the Commission is taking steps to cut red tape and simplify, does it not consider that this proposal for a directive goes in the opposite direction by imposing more rules and obstacles to movement without a proper impact assessment having been carried out?

    Submitted: 4.6.2025

    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –