NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supreme Court Allows DOGE’s Unlawful Seizure of Americans’ Social Security Data as Challenge Continues

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    Washington, D.C. – The United States Supreme Court has stayed a preliminary injunction in AFSCME v. SSA, which had prevented the Trump administration from granting staff at the so-called “Department of Governmental Efficiency” (DOGE) unprecedented and dangerous access to the sensitive, personal data of millions at the Social Security Administration. An appeals court previously declined to stay the injunction, which recognized that DOGE’s operatives’ unprecedented access to private Social Security data, ranging from immigration records to health and financial information, violates critical privacy protections and will cause irreparable harm.

    This decision overturns a first of its kind order issued by a lower court that required Elon Musk and DOGE to “disgorge” and “delete” any personal data.

    Democracy Forward represents the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the American Federation of Teachers; and the Alliance for Retired Americans in this case. The coalition issued the following statement:

    “This is a sad day for our democracy and a scary day for millions of people. This ruling will enable President Trump and DOGE’s affiliates to steal Americans’ private and personal data. Elon Musk may have left Washington, D.C., but his impact continues to harm millions of people. We will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to keep unelected bureaucrats from misusing the public’s most sensitive data as this case moves forward.”

    The case will now proceed on the merits in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

    Democracy Forward’s legal team in this matter includes Anne Swift, Mark Samburg, Emma Leibowitz, and Robin Thurston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tenaris to Commence a USD 600 million First Tranche of its USD 1.2 Billion Share Buyback Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUXEMBOURG, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN) (“Tenaris”) announced today that pursuant to its Share Buyback Program (the “Program”) announced on May 27, 2025, covering up to USD 1.2 billion, it has entered into a non-discretionary buyback agreement with a primary financial institution (the “Bank”).

    The Bank will make its trading decisions concerning the timing of the purchases of Tenaris’s ordinary shares independently of and uninfluenced by Tenaris. The Program will be executed in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, including the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (the “Regulations”). Under the buyback agreement, purchases of shares may continue during any closed periods of Tenaris in accordance with the Regulations.

    This first tranche of the Program will cover up to USD 600 million (excluding customary transaction fees) and will start on June 9, 2025, and end no later than December 8, 2025. Ordinary shares purchased under the Program will be cancelled in due course.

    Any buyback of ordinary shares pursuant to the Program will be carried out under the authority granted by the general meeting of shareholders held on May 6, 2025.

    Some of the statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. These risks include but are not limited to risks arising from uncertainties as to future oil and gas prices and their impact on investment programs by oil and gas companies.

    Tenaris is a leading global supplier of steel tubes and related services for the world’s energy industry and certain other industrial applications.

    Giovanni Sardagna        
    Tenaris
    1-888-300-5432
    www.tenaris.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wolcott Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE COLON, 37, of Wolcott, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 13, 2024, Waterbury Police arrested Colon after he discarded a privately made 9mm handgun (“ghost gun”) loaded with six rounds of ammunition during a foot pursuit.

    Colon’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for assault, weapon, and risk of injury offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

    Colon has been detained since his arrest.  On February 20, 2025, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.

    This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Apple Valley Woman Charged with Participating in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – The 72nd defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme has been charged in a federal indictment with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

    “This fraud is outrageous, brazen, and seemingly never-ending,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “As Acting United States Attorney, I intend to put the full weight of this office behind rooting out and prosecuting the shocking and unacceptable levels of fraud in Minnesota.”

    “Stealing from a program designed to feed vulnerable children is not only criminal — it’s unconscionable,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to rooting out fraud that targets taxpayer-funded programs and ensuring those who exploit them are held fully accountable. The FBI, alongside our partners, will not relent in our pursuit of those who seek to profit from deception.”

    According to court documents, Dorothy Jean Moore, 57, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, launched two purported federal child nutrition program sites in late 2020 under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. According to meal count forms Moore completed and signed, Moore purportedly served 1,500 meals to children a day at each of her sites, which she purportedly operated out of community churches. Through Feeding Our Future, Moore claimed and received reimbursements, in federal taxpayer dollars, for those purported meals.

    At the same time, Moore claimed that she operated a catering company called Jean’s Soul Food. She claimed entitlement to further federal reimbursements for food she purported to provide from that company to her own sites. However, bank records show that Moore used little of the reimbursement dollars she received to purchase food. Instead, Moore used those funds for other purposes, including to purchase cars and fund an enhanced lifestyle.

    Moore made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Purpose. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America’s leadership in global innovation.  But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland.  Drug cartels use UAS to smuggle fentanyl across our borders, deliver contraband into prisons, surveil law enforcement, and otherwise endanger the public.  Mass gatherings are vulnerable to disruptions and threats by unauthorized UAS flights.  Critical infrastructure, including military bases, is subject to frequent — and often unidentified — UAS incursions.  Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and that its airspace remains safe and secure.
    Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:
    (a)  the term “unmanned aircraft systems” or “UAS” has the meaning given in 49 U.S.C. 44801;
    (b)  the term “critical infrastructure” has the meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e), and includes systems and assets in all of the designated critical infrastructure sectors identified in National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience) (NSM-22); and
    (c)  the term Sector Risk Management Agency or “SRMA” has the same meaning given in 6 U.S.C. 650 and as further described in NSM-22.
    Sec. 3.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS.
    Sec. 4.  Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty.  To assist in ensuring control over our national airspace, there is hereby established the Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty (Task Force).  The Task Force shall be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) or a designee, and include principals, or their designees, from appropriate executive departments and agencies as identified by the APNSA.  The Task Force shall review relevant operational, technical, and regulatory frameworks and develop and propose solutions to UAS threats, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, and shall make recommendations on the implementation of all actions identified in this order.
    Sec. 5.  Airspace Regulations to Protect the Public.  The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall:
    (a)  with respect to the rulemaking required by section 2209(f) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, as amended:
    (i)   promptly submit a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Task Force establishing the statutorily required process for restricting drone flights over fixed site facilities, and interpreting, to the extent appropriate, critical infrastructure consistent with the definition of that term in this order; and
    (ii)  promulgate a final rule as soon as practicable after publication of the NPRM;
    (b)  make national security and homeland security assessments under section 2209 in coordination with Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs), the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, as appropriate, and whenever military installations or operations are implicated, with the Secretary of Defense; and
    (c)  within 180 days of the date of this order, make freely available online Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in an open format easily accepted for drone geofencing and Aircraft Navigation and Guidance system purposes.  This online availability should supplement, but not replace, existing NOTAMs and TFR promulgation methods.
    Sec. 6.  Enhancing Airspace Sovereignty.  (a)  the Attorney General, in coordination with the Administrator of the FAA, shall take appropriate steps to ensure full enforcement of applicable civil and criminal laws when drone operators endanger the public, violate established airspace restrictions, or operate a drone in furtherance of an element of another crime;
    (b)  on a recurring basis, the Attorney General shall submit to the President, through the APNSA, legislative proposals that would revise criminal penalties for violations of restricted airspace; and
    (c)  within 30 days of the date of this order, and to the extent allowed by law, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that their respective departments’ grant programs permit otherwise eligible State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) agencies to receive grants to purchase UAS or equipment or services for the detection, tracking, or identification of drones and drone signals, consistent with the legal authorities of those SLTTs.
    Sec. 7.  Detection, Tracking, and Identification of Drones and Drone Signals.  (a)  To the extent permitted by law and consistent with the Fourth Amendment, executive departments and agencies shall use all available existing authorities to employ equipment to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals.
    (b)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission shall revise the August 2020 “Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems” to reflect relevant developments in Federal law and regulations addressing drones.
    (c)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of the FAA shall provide, to the extent permitted by law, including the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), automated real-time access to personal identifying information associated with UAS remote identification signals to appropriate executive departments and agencies and SLTT agencies for the purposes of enforcing applicable Federal or State law, with appropriate national security and privacy safeguards.
    (d)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the FAA, in coordination with the heads of other SRMAs as appropriate, shall publish guidance to aid private critical infrastructure owners or operators in employing technologies to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals.
    Sec. 8.  Enhancing General Protections.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit a recommendation to the President, through the APNSA, using risk-based assessment as defined in 6 U.S.C. 124n(k)(8), on whether the northern and southern land borders; large airports; Federal facilities; critical infrastructure; and military installations, facilities, and assets should be designated as covered facilities or assets under 6 U.S.C. 124n and 10 U.S.C. 130i and whether any changes to law would be necessary relating to such designation.  
    Sec. 9.  Building Counter-UAS Capacity.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall explore integrating counter-UAS operational responses as part of Joint Terrorism Task Forces for the purpose of protecting mass gathering events.
    (b)  The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the FAA; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Director of OMB; and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, shall promptly take all appropriate steps to implement the recommendations of the March 2022 Feasibility Report to Congress with regard to the creation of the National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Center), and, upon establishment of the Center, focus initial training provided by the Center on development of Federal and SLTT capabilities to secure major upcoming national and international sporting events held in the United States, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
    Sec. 10.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Transportation.
    DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        June 6, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leading The World in Supersonic Flight

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESTHE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE CENTERS FOR MEDICAREAND MEDICAID SERVICES
    SUBJECT:       Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid
    My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. 
    The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans.  To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare.  The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated.
    Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system.  For example, States “taxed” healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a “Medicaid payment,” which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional “burden-sharing” payment from the Federal Government.  Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided.  Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration.
    These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone.  This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid’s long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors.
    I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them.  Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves.  We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most.
    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law.  
    This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks at 94th Annual Vermont State Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) spoke at the Joint Opening Session of the 94th Annual Vermont State VFW convention. Senator Welch thanked Vermont veterans for their service to our country and discussed how Washington can better support veterans and servicemembers across America. 
    “Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices in patriotic service to our country. And if there were ever something for everyone to agree on, it is that the cost of the war must include the cost of taking care of the warrior. I’m proud of the work we’ve done on the PACT Act and am grateful to Vermont’s veterans service organizations who ensure our veterans, and their families, are supported and have access to vital services and care,” said Senator Welch. “I’m committed to doing everything I can to ensure that every Vermont veteran has the care, services, and tools they deserve to succeed in civilian life.” 
    View photos from the event below: 
    Senator Welch championed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act as a member of the House of Representatives. The PACT Act is delivering benefits and care to millions impacted by toxic exposures from burn pits while serving, as well as their survivors. It is also expanding toxic exposure screenings and other care services. Since the PACT Act was passed, more than 1.7 million PACT Act related claims have been approved, including 3,100 in Vermont.  
    Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act, Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, and Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act, bills that build on the PACT Act to increase support for Veterans exposed to burn pits, improve data collection on burn pit and toxic substance exposure, and help mitigate future toxic substance exposure for service members. In February, Senator Welch led the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity (DRIVE) Act, legislation to bring reimbursement rates for veterans travelling to receive VA care up to current federal standards. 
    Last Congress, Senator Welch led the Vermont and New Hampshire congressional delegations in urging Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use authority granted under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act to make it easier for Veterans stationed in Kosovo from 1999 onwards to access health care and disability benefits for conditions related to toxic substance exposure during their service. In 2023, a bipartisan amendment led by Sen. Welch requiring the VA to conduct a review on mortality and toxic exposure data for Veterans who served in Kosovo passed with bipartisan support.  
    Senator Welch’s talented team of caseworkers can help Veterans, families, and survivors with casework related to the VA, as well as other federal agencies. Vermonters seeking assistance are encouraged to visit welch.senate.gov or call his Burlington office: 802-863-2525. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits northern Chile, causing power outages

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    SANTIAGO, June 6 (Xinhua) — A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Friday, causing power outages in several areas but no casualties were reported, local authorities said.

    The earthquake struck at 13:15 local time /17:15 GMT/, 54 km south of the town of Diego de Almagro in the Atacama region of northern Chile, about 950 km north of Santiago, according to the National Seismology Center of the University of Chile.

    The earthquake’s hypocenter was located at a depth of 65 km, and tremors were felt in nearby cities.

    Local media reported power outages in affected areas, and officials said more details would be released later in the day.

    The Chilean Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service has ruled out the risk of a tsunami.

    Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response System continues to assess potential damage to populations, infrastructure and essential services.

    Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Staten Island, New York Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl While on Federal Supervised Release

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 2, 2025, Xavier Parker, 31, of Staten Island, New York was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to a term of 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Parker previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and admitted that in February and March 2024 he worked with a co-conspirator to distribute fentanyl in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Judge Sessions also sentenced Parker to 24 months’ incarceration, to run consecutively to the 18-month sentence, for a related supervised release violation.

    According to court records, the offense involved multiple controlled purchases and additional drugs quantities found hidden on Parker at his arrest, totaling approximately 12.1 grams of cocaine base, 2.2 grams of fentanyl, 0.67 grams of heroin, and 5.6 grams of cocaine. Critically, Parker committed this offense while on federal supervised release following his 2020 conviction in U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base. Parker began his supervised release in August 2022, and not even two years later, he was selling drugs again.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont State Police.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cate and Michelle Arra. Parker was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marathon County Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Leading Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

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

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua L. Lake, 32, Stratford, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 11 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Lake pleaded guilty to these charges on February 26, 2025.

    In early 2024, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a group of individuals, led by Lake, who were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Marathon County area.

    On February 26, 2024, Lake sold 118 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at Lake’s residence in Stratford, Wisconsin. Other co-defendants completed additional controlled purchases of methamphetamine in March and April 2024. On April 15, 2024, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers executed a search warrant at Lake’s residence. Officers found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, 2 rifles, over $25,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during the search.

    Further investigation revealed that between January 22, 2024, and April 15, 2024, Lake distributed approximately 23 kilograms of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine. Lake also delivered a firearm to a drug cartel contact in exchange for drugs. Lake admitted receiving the firearm in exchange for methamphetamine. Lake is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.

    At sentencing, Judge Conley described Lake’s conduct, including his drug trafficking and involvement with firearms, as egregious and said the quantity of almost pure methamphetamine found at his residence was stunning.

    Three others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Mercadys Perkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 6 years in federal prison on April 17, 2025. Dustin Brunker was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 7 years in federal prison on April 24, 2025. Jessica Colby was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison on May 1, 2025.

    The charges against Lake were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.

    This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Western District of Texas Adds 410 New Immigration Cases Going into June

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

    SAN ANTONIO –United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 410 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 30 through June 5.

    Among the new cases, Mexican national Albert Sanchez-Jaimes was charged with one count of illegal re-entry in Austin. Sanchez-Jaimes was encountered at the Burnet County Jail, where he was booked for alleged charges of boating while intoxicated and marijuana possession. Sanchez-Jaimes has lengthy immigration and criminal records that include four prior removals, a deadly conduct conviction in 2020, multiple convictions for assault on a family member, and two prior convictions for illegal re-entry.

    In Waco, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fugitive Operations Team arrested Mexican national Daniel Edgar Perez-Cortez on June 5as the result of an investigation stemming from a Waco Crime Stoppers referral. Perez-Cortez has a prior conviction for illegal re-entry in 2024, as well as convictions for Driving While Intoxicated and possession of prohibited weapons, and a conviction for deadly conduct discharging a firearm. He’s now federally charged with illegal re-entry and, if convicted, faces up to 20 years in prison.

    Two Honduran nationals were arrested for illegal re-entry charges in Eagle Pass. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Ariel Antonio Lopez-Serrano on June 2. Lopez-Serrano was convicted in 2023 for human smuggling and was removed to Honduras through Houston on Feb. 28. On June 3, Jose Aparicio Diaz-Amaya was arrested by USBP agents, having been deported three times—the most recent removal being to Honduras on May 2 through Alexandria, Louisiana.

    Multiple individuals were arrested and charged with human smuggling offenses in El Paso. On May 31, U.S. citizens Cynthia Guerrero and Berenice Stevens attempted to enter the U.S. through the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry, allegedly telling the Customs and Border Protection Officer that they were returning to El Paso from a baby shower in Juarez. A criminal complaint alleges that there were seven additional people inside the vehicle, including six children. After discussion about a stack of birth certificates Guerrero provided the CBP Officer, along with a handwritten note supposedly giving Guerrero permission to transport her alleged cousin’s children into the U.S., the officer referred the vehicle to a secondary inspection. At the secondary inspection, Guerrero allegedly told CBP Officers that she was smuggling three undocumented minors into the U.S. after she had been offered $1,900 to do so. The complaint also alleges that the minors had been given seven gummies of an unknown substance to make them sleep. Three of the six minors in Guerrero’s vehicle were found to be Mexican nationals. Both Guerrero and Stevens are charged with human smuggling charges and have been previously convicted. Guerrero Two Mexican nationals were charged in a human smuggling bust after Ysleta Border Patrol Station agents responded to a location where they apprehended five illegal aliens who had just crossed into the U.S. According to a criminal complaint, several of the individuals were continuously receiving calls on their cell phones, and one individual provided consent for the agents to view, search and utilize his phone. The communications led the agents to Jose Adan Meza-Marquez, who allegedly drove a vehicle to the area where the aliens had been apprehended and confirmed he was there to pick them up. Posing as the illegal aliens, USBP agents got in Meza-Marquez’s vehicle, which allegedly transported them to a stash house being used to harbor illegal aliens. A second individual, Jose Ramiro Chavez-Leal, allegedly opened the door. The criminal complaint alleges that agents found five additional illegal aliens present at the residence and both Meza-Marquez and Chavez-Leal admitted to smuggling illegal aliens on prior occasions.

    Another human smuggling bust by Ysleta Border Patrol agents led to federal charges four Mexican nationals: Erasmo Ortiz-Arzola, Cesar Arturo Beltran-Rocha, Jesus Alberto Fernandez-Vazquez, and Kevin Alexis Morin-Lopez. During a knock and talk operation, agents allegedly observed 15 individuals in the living room area of an apartment, and an additional 14 elsewhere in the apartment. A criminal complaint indicates that subjects were questioned and determined to be illegal aliens from Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador. During the arrests and subsequent investigation, the four defendants were identified as alleged pick-up drivers and caretakers.

    A Mexican national and convicted felon, Rosendo Dominguez-Morales, was charged with illegal re-entry and two additional counts for entering the U.S. through the National Defense Area (NDA), west of the El Paso Port of Entry. Dominguez-Morales was previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico on Aug. 20, 2024 through Brownsville, two days after he was convicted in Lyon County for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are 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).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: First week of June sees more than 200 charged in SDTX cases in relation to enforcement efforts along southwest border

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

    HOUSTON – A total of 202 cases have been filed from May 30-June 5 in immigration and border security matters, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

    The filed cases include seven involving human smuggling. A total of 129 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 63 face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes.

    One such person charged this week is Luis Humberto Gonzalez-Sanchez who was arrested for allegedly harboring 16 illegal aliens in his home in Mercedes. The criminal complaint alleges he harbored over 100 aliens in the last six months for whom he was paid $150 each. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

    Also facing new criminal charges are six Mexican nationals, all of whom had been previously convicted of illegal reentry into the United States and sentenced to terms ranging from 15-46 months in federal prison. However, their charges allege authorities had found them in the Rio Grande Valley after once again unlawfully returning without any permission to do so. Oscar Vicente Perez-Lopez, Juan Manuel De La Cruz-Mejia, Jose Luis Tostado-Flores, Jesus Morales-Vargas, Jose Patricio Rios-Rojas and Juan Manuel Alvarado-Gonzalez had allegedly been previously removed on varying dates between 2015-2023 and now face up to 20 years in prison, upon this conviction.

    In addition to the new cases, an illegal alien from El Salvador was sentenced for assaulting law enforcement. Authorities conducted a traffic stop in November 2024 in Rio Grande City when Oscar Adilio Sanchez-Rivera notified them of his alien status. As a Border Patrol (BP) agent attempted to place him in a vehicle, Sanchez-Rivera attempted to evade arrest, punched the agent in the face and caused an additional injury that required surgery. He will now serve 36 months in prison.

    “The defendant here managed to turn a simple removal case to a multi-year federal sentence,” said Ganjei. “Let this case be an example to others who may wish harm on police or federal agents; assaulting law enforcement will not be tolerated.”

    Also announced was the sentencing in Houston of an illegal alien for stealing a U.S. citizen’s identity. In imposing the 40-month sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offense and that Carlos Bedolla Sanchez’s previous penalties did not do enough good or make him repentant. The investigation revealed Sanchez began using the victim’s identity in approximately March 2009 to obtain state driver’s licenses and other U.S. identification, including a passport.

    Following a two-day jury trial in Corpus Christi, a Houston trucker was convicted of transporting illegal aliens. A lawful permanent resident since 1989, Armando Balladares-Prado had pulled up to the BP checkpoint south of Falfurrias and seemed nervous. His vehicle was completely empty but had a seal and lock on it as if there was a full transport load in the back. Authorities soon found two individuals hidden underneath the bed of the sleeper compartment. Both were determined to be citizens of Guatemala illegally present in the United States. Balladares-Prado told the aliens to get under the bed and instructed them on what to say if law enforcement discovered them. He now faces a federal prison sentence and possible loss of his status in the United States.

    In Laredo, two men also learned their fate for their roles in an extensive human smuggling conspiracy and operating stash houses in Laredo and Poteet. Manuel Capetillo and Michael Diaz are attributed with smuggling over 65 aliens, including adults and children as young as six, who came from multiple countries as far south as Guatemala. Over several months, Capetillo recruited drivers, scouts and caretakers to bring aliens in from countries in Central America and transport them throughout the southern and central areas of Texas. Capetillo received an 85-month-term of imprisonment, while Diaz was ordered to serve 70 months. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the inhumane conditions in which the aliens were transported and that Capetillo and Diaz had made a business out of smuggling aliens. “You thought of these people as cattle,” he said.

    Another sentencing in McAllen saw an illegal alien heading to prison for 37 months for trafficking over $1 million in cocaine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Rolando Banda-Lucero did not have status to be in the country and got involved in narcotics trafficking for money.

    Also finalized this week was an adult male pretending to be a minor as he illegally entered the country. On Feb. 2, Elger Fabricio Cotto-Navarro claimed to be an unaccompanied minor so he could be housed in a special facility. The investigation revealed Cotto-Navarro was actually an adult posing as a minor. He was sentenced and now expected to face removal proceedings. 

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The cases are 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

    An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces Changes to the iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) (NYSE: BLK), is announcing that iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF (the “iShares ETF”) is expected to experience higher than normal portfolio turnover as a result of upcoming changes to the evaluation process used to determine the composition of the Morningstar Jantzi Social Index (the “Index”). The iShares ETF seeks to replicate the performance of the Index, net of expenses. The composition of the Index will change as part of its regularly scheduled rebalance on June 20, 2025 (the “Rebalance”). As a result of the Rebalance, the iShares ETF may experience higher than normal transaction costs and is also expected to realize net capital gains. However, the iShares ETF’s total net capital gains income for the year will not be known until its tax year ends on December 15, 2025. The iShares ETF will follow its normal process for determining and distributing capital gains in December 2025.

    Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”), the index provider of the Index, announced that effective June 20, 2025: (1) the name of the Index will change to Morningstar Jantzi Social Index; (2) the Index will be reviewed semi-annually in June and December instead of annually in March; (3) the new parent benchmark for the Index will be the Morningstar Canada Large-Mid Index; and (4) certain other changes will be made by Morningstar to the ESG exclusions and constituent selection criteria for the Index.

    For more information about the iShares ETF, please visit www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

    About iShares

    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1500+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.3 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    The ETF is not in any way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morningstar. Morningstar does not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of the use of the ETF or the underlying data. “Morningstar” is a trademark and is used under license.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email: Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Demands That Trump Administration Restore Funding For Youth Mental Health Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    New York Was Awarded Over $18 Million Through The Now-Terminated Programs From FY2022-FY2024

    U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is demanding that the Trump administration restore funding to two grant programs that support school-based mental health services, the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH). MHSP and SBMH were designed to create a workforce development pipeline for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers to address the shortage of school-based mental health professionals in New York and across the country. Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the programs were slated to provide a combined $1 billion through Fiscal Year 2026, $18.2 million of which was already allocated to schools in New York State.

    “Protecting the mental health of our kids should not be a partisan issue,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am appalled by the Trump administration’s decision to terminate MHSP and SBMH funding, particularly as the shortage of mental health professionals and school counselors persists nationwide. Thousands of students are set to benefit from the mental health care they’re receiving because of these programs, and I am committed to fighting for the restoration of this vital funding.”

    Senator Gillibrand’s most recent letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon follows a similar letter that she sent with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in May. In that letter, the senators discussed the impact of the MHSP and SBMH programs nationwide and asked for the Department of Education’s rationale for terminating this funding. The senators received an unsatisfactory response to this outreach last month.

    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s most recent letter can be found here or below:

    Dear Secretary McMahon,

    I write to you with grave concern over the administration’s reports of terminations of youth mental health grant funding to school districts in New York. The Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) and School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) programs have benefitted not only New York but countless states across the country in urban and rural settings alike. I wrote to you about these terminations on May 9, 2025, and received an unsatisfactory response from your office on May 30, 2025. Both MHSP and SBMH programs play a vital role in addressing the shortage of school-based mental health professionals. Furthermore, they do not undermine standards for fairness, merit, and excellence in education as asserted in your response sent on May 30, 2025. 

    Your response to my earlier letter indicated that both the MHSP and SBMH programs would end at the end of the grants’ current budget periods. This outcome would harm both the students and mental health professionals who benefit from these programs. The demand for behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse disorder services is projected to increase in the coming years. By 2037, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 113,830 psychologists, 50,440 psychiatrists, and 39,710 school counselors. The MHSP and SBMH programs directly address this shortage, and discontinuing these programs will negatively impact current and future students.  

    These funding streams were intended to create a workforce development pipeline for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Thousands of students have benefited from the mental health care they received because of these programs. There are also hundreds of future mental health professionals in New York alone who benefit from these programs. However, with current grants set to expire soon, successful programs, like those in Lyons Central School District and the Seneca Falls Central School District, that have built mental health professional pipelines for students in high-need school districts could see their momentum stopped in its tracks. Hundreds of future mental health professionals, who are sorely needed across New York, stand to lose the support of innovative programs that serve my constituents and their families.

    I am concerned that the Department is disrupting grant funding that truly represents how the government can address the direct needs of our taxpayers and their families. These programs work, and New York students deserve their continued benefits.

    I request your response to the following questions by no later than June 4, 2025:

    1.         Will the Department commit to answering the nine questions from my original letter sent May 9, 2025, most of which were unaddressed in your response dated on May 30, 2025? 

    2.         How did each MHSP and SBMH grant that received a non-continuation notice violate Federal civil rights law?

    3.         What are the Department’s plans to recompete its mental health program funds in the next grant cycle, including the grant application and selection criteria for the upcoming cycle?

    4.         How will the Department address service disruptions for New York students after the expiration of this funding?

    5.         Explain how the Department plans to address mental health workforce shortages stemming from the disruption of this funding.
    6.         Have New York mental health and education stakeholders been engaged? Please provide a detailed explanation of your engagement processes with stakeholders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER STATEMENT ON USDOT SECRETARY DUFFY HEEDING HIS CALLS TO MEET WITH FLIGHT 3407 FAMILIES AHEAD OF FAA SENATE HEARING

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Trump’s FAA Nominee, The CEO Of Republic Airways, Has Previously Fought To Roll Back Basic Air Safety Standards – Including Rule That Pilots Must Have 1,500 Hours Of Flight Training – That Flight 3407 Families Have Fought For

    Senate Hearing For Trump’s FAA Nominee Will Be Next Week, And After Weeks Of Schumer Pressuring USDOT To Meet With Flight 3407 Families, The Transportation Secretary Has Now Agreed

    New York, N.Y. – Today, after calling on USDOT Secretary Duffy to meet with 3407 families amid growing concerns for aviation safety and the upcoming hearing of Trump’s controversial FAA Nominee, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer released the following statement on news of Secretary Duffy heading his calls to meet with the families of Flight 3407:

    Senator Schumer said, “The families of Flight 3407 have been my guiding light for more than 16 years and their unwavering dedication has unequivocally changed the course of aviation history in America for the better. Now, at this critical moment when so many Americans are worried about air travel, the safety reforms they fought for, like the 1,500 hour rule, are more critical than ever. I appreciate Secretary Duffy heeding my calls to meet with the Flight 3407 families. I remain seriously concerned about Bedford’s nomination to serve as FAA administrator, whose attempts undercut and circumvent basic air safety standards, including the 1500-hour rule the families and I have fought for years. Secretary Duffy must commit clearly and unequivocally to the protection of the 1,500 hour rule and other air safety reforms the Flight 3407 helped create, the safety of our skies depends on it.”

    “We are pleased to learn that Secretary Duffy has agreed to meet with the Families of Flight 3407 very soon regarding the pending confirmation of a new FAA Administrator,” said Scott Maurer, who lost his 30-year-old daughter Lorin in the crash. “Now is the time to strengthen the aviation system and not weaken it. Our families group intends to deliver that message when we meet with the Secretary, and we thank Senator Schumer for his advocacy and help facilitating this meeting.”

    Schumer has been a long-time, relentless advocate for air safety standards following the tragic crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. In February 2009, the tragic crash of Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York claimed 50 lives and alerted the nation to the shortfalls in our aviation safety system, particularly at the regional airline level. In the wake of the tragedy, Schumer worked with the families who lost loved ones in the crash, to pass the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. This landmark aviation safety legislation addressed many of the factors contributing to the increasing safety gap between regional and mainline carriers by requiring the FAA to develop regulations to improve safety, including enhanced entry-level pilot training and qualification standards, pilot fatigue rules, airline pilot training and safety management programs, and the creation of an electronic Pilot Record Database.

    Notably, the legislation included a mandate that first officers – also known as co-pilots – hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires that the pilot log 1,500 flight hours, and the advocacy of the families has led to many other laws including regulations to combat pilot fatigue, the establishment of the electronic Pilot Records Database, and more.

    Schumer’s previous letter to Secretary Duffy can be found HERE 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint donor statement condemning attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan by 30 donors

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 6, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Joint donor statement condemning attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

    “We condemn in the strongest terms the attack on a humanitarian convoy of 15 trucks from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Al Koma, North Darfur, on the night of 2 June, which resulted in the death of five members of the convoy and injuring several others. Four of the 15 trucks in the convoy were destroyed in the attack and five more sustained partial damage. These trucks were carrying about 100 metric tons of essential nutrition, health, education, and WASH supplies, intended to support children and families in El Fasher town.

    “The deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel is a violation of international law. Civilians and humanitarian workers must not be targeted by parties to the armed conflict. We urge all parties to allow civilians to safely exit areas with ongoing hostilities, and to guarantee immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver assistance to those in urgent need throughout Sudan.

    “We repeat our call to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their militias to immediately cease hostilities and uphold their obligations towards international humanitarian law, which includes the obligation to protect civilians and civilian objects – as also reiterated in the UN Security Council resolution 2730 (2024). Once again, we stress the civilian character of humanitarian agencies, the neutral and impartial nature of their life-saving operations, and the “need for them to operate across all of Sudan, regardless of area of control.

    “This attack represents yet another deadly and unacceptable attack on civilians and humanitarian workers since the beginning of this armed conflict two years ago, in blatant disregard of international humanitarian law. We remind the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their assets.

    “Last April, the international community strongly condemned the attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps which resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians and at least 12 aid workers. Just last week, a hospital was targeted in El Obeid, North Kordofan. On several occasions, UN and NGOs offices throughout the country have been directly hit, including WFP’s office in El Fasher only last week. These are just some of the many attacks over the past two years targeting civilians, aid workers and facilities, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure, which constitute direct violations of international humanitarian law.

    “We deplore all loss of civilian life resulting from acts of war throughout this conflict. The continuous attacks on humanitarian aid workers cannot be normalised. These serious and continued violations of international humanitarian law committed by the warring parties are unacceptable and must cease immediately.

    “We support the UN Secretary General’s call for an immediate and independent investigation into this attack and accountability of the perpetrators.

    “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed and those who have been injured while working to deliver humanitarian assistance under extremely dangerous conditions.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Condolences following the passing of former President of Zambia 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, June 6, 2025

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences following the passing of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

    “On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to President Lungu’s family and to the nation and government of the Republic of Zambia led by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema,” said the Presidency in a statement on Friday.

    President Lungu passed away on Thursday, 5 June 2025, in a Pretoria hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a number of weeks.

    “As regional compatriots, South Africans are standing by the people of Zambia in this difficult moment. We have had the duty and privilege in recent weeks to care for a leader from our region whom we embraced as a brother and friend.

    “We therefore share the grief and loss experienced at this time by the Lungu family, as well as the Zambian nation. May his soul rest in peace,” said President Ramaphosa.

    President Lungu passed away at the age of 68. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SIU secures freezing order in Transnet property contracts 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Special Tribunal has granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) an order to freeze assets – including luxury vehicles and property – worth some R20.3 million as part of an investigation into three alleged irregular Transnet property valuation contracts.

    The contracts have a value of some R89 million.

    “The order interdicts MM Real Estate (Pty) Ltd, Humphrey Tshepo Moyo, Neo Shown Matlala and any other party from selling, disposing, leasing, transferring, encumbering (including by granting rights of retention), transferring, donating, or dealing in any manner whatsoever to the frozen properties, pending the finalisation of civil proceedings,” the SIU said in a statement.

    The corruption busting unit explained that its investigation has “uncovered significant irregularities in the awarding of three contracts for property valuation services to Transnet”.

    “Transnet had referred various suspicious contracts involving Transnet Property to the SIU for further investigation. The contracts, awarded in 2019, 2021, and 2022, have a combined value of R89 million.

    “Working closely with Transnet, the SIU’s investigation revealed serious flaws in the procurement processes, raising concerns about compliance with supply chain management regulations and the possibility of undue influence in the awarding of these contracts.

    “Additionally, the SIU and Transnet reasonably believe that Transnet may not have received full and fair value for the payments made under the disputed contracts,” the unit said.

    Any evidence of criminal activity will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further processing.

    “The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by corruption, fraud, or maladministration,” the SIU concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Breaking barriers for youth in public service careers

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie

    The public service is often perceived as cumbersome and complex. In response, government has introduced targeted programmes to better prepare young people for careers in the public sector and the broader world of work.

    As the country marks National Youth Month, two key initiatives—the Breaking Barriers to Entry into the Public Service (BB2E) programme and the Cadet Programme—are empowering graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to thrive in public service roles. 

    Offered by the National School of Government, the five-day BB2E course and the 18-month Cadet Programme are designed for graduates with post-school qualifications, as well as interns in public sector departments and statutory bodies.

    Addressing graduate unemployment

    Graduate unemployment, particularly among those with post-school qualifications, continues to rise at an alarming rate. As one of the country’s largest employers, the public service has responded by creating opportunities for unemployed graduates through the Public Service Graduate Internship Programme, along with the BB2E and Cadet initiatives. 

    These programmes aim to equip graduates with practical skills and an understanding of how the public sector operates. They cover essential areas such as administration, communication, and job-readiness, providing a critical steppingstone toward meaningful employment. 

    This is a vital investment in youth development and capacity-building for the future of public service.

    About the BB2E Course

    The BB2E course introduces young participants to the structure and functioning of government. Key focus areas include: delivering quality public services; administration and management of public funds; performing basic administrative and communication functions; understanding policies guiding recruitment into public service; crafting effective CVs and interview preparation. 

    The orientation programme is underpinned by values and principles found in Chapter 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, (1996). It is aimed at orientating participants to the public service, how the public service is organised and the way the public service functions.

    About the Cadet Programme

    The 18-month Cadet Programme, a complementary initiative to BB2E, goes deeper by exploring the broader public sector landscape and touching on social entrepreneurship. It consists of four key modules: 1) The Constitution and the Administration of the Public Sector 2) Ethics in the Public Service 3) Writing for Government and 4) Personal Mastery. 

    The Personal Mastery module is particularly well-received by young people as it equips them with essential employability skills relevant in both public and private sectors, including: self-management; emotional intelligence; job search techniques; critical problem-solving; entrepreneurship and job creation.

    Shaping the public servant of the future

    These programmes aim to shape a new generation of public servants—cadres with a unique and progressive mindset. The ideal public servant is: 
    •    Innovative: Able to turn policy into effective action.
    •    Inspirational: Motivated and capable of motivating others.
    •    Exemplary: Committed to high standards at every level of work.
    •    Resourceful: Sees opportunity in challenges, not excuses.
    •    Impact-driven: Focused on tangible outcomes that meet public expectations.
    •    Collaborative: Values partnerships, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement.
    •    Accountable: Takes ownership of service delivery outcomes.

    Recent successes

    In the 2024/25 financial year a total of 1465 young people undergone training on the BB2E programme. While 4145 were trained on Personal Mastery and 1668 of these young people were part of the Youth empowerment and development programme within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE). 

    In the current financial year, a total of 570 young participants from the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC), an empowerment programme under the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, completed the Personal Mastery course.

    Feedback from both participants and departmental officials has been overwhelmingly positive and have requested that more young people undergo training on this programme.

    As the NSG, we strongly encourage departments and government entities at all levels to enroll their interns and young professionals in the Cadet Programme. Together, we can build a more capable, ethical, and responsive public service through empowering one young person at a time.

    Enrolment

    For enquiries and enrolment relevant officials in departments should contact The National School of Government call centre on 0861008326, via email on contactcentre@thensg.gov.za or visit the website on www.thensg.gov.za.

    *Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie is the Chief Director for Cadet and Foundation Management at the National School of Government.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: We can do more to protect our children 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Neo Semono 

    Murder, rape and mysterious disappearances are among the horrifying crimes committed against South Africa’s children.

    Over the years the nation has heard in horror, and watched in disbelief as news, always too inhumane to comprehend, unfolds about those we ought to be protecting the most. 

    Citizens have heard in horror of the now lifeless bodies of victims that have been found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches and seen in blow-by-blow detail, the violence that was perpetuated on often-lifeless bodies, more times than not found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches. 

    Communities and the police rush around frantically forming search parties for the missing, while agile keyboard warriors also do their bit by spreading the word on missing children and adults alike, on the various social media platforms.

    When children go missing, as was the case with six-year-old Joshlin Smith in 2024, law enforcement and communities go looking them. When children are mistreated and abused, the answer is to work together to rescue the child.

    Some will blame government for the onslaught of violence against children, but, government cannot solve the issue on its own. The onslaught of violence against children requires at its foremost a community approach, and a change in thinking around children. 

    Children are no lesser human beings than adults. In fact, our Constitution states that every child (any person under the age of 18) has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services as well as to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation. 

    The Children’s Act gives effect to certain rights of children as contained in the Constitution while also setting out principles relating to the care and protection of children while the Child Justice Act also exists to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

    The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act seeks to improve safety at schools. The legislation is in place to protect the lives of the nation’s children. And yes, while some will say that the existence of the legislation does not necessarily mean that they are effectively being implemented; when implemented properly laws do work.

    The judgement and sentencing of the trio involved in little Joshlin’s case is a victory in fighting back against the mistreatment of children, albeit the nation still being in the dark about what befell the Western Cape child.

    The recent news that a staff member at Laerskool Dalmondeor in Johannesburg was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a Grade 2 learner and the case whereby a Durban mother who beat and strangled her three-year-old daughter Fadillah Chantel Kok to death, must lead us to re-evaluate the type of people we are and the society we live in.

    The wellbeing of the nation’s children is important to government with Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe highlighting the worrying statistics of 26 852 cases of child abuse and neglect having been reported in the 2024/25 financial year.

    Sexual abuse was reported to be at 9859 cases across the provinces with deliberate neglect being the second most prevalent at 9485 cases among others. 

    These incidents and others in the past have many of us questioning in rage, our moral compass no matter one’s colour or religion.
    Children ought to be running around barefoot and getting up to mischief across parks and recreational facilities in communities. However, this is not the case for parents and guardians who fear for their safety while playing.

    According to the 2024 Mid-year population estimates released by Statistics South Africa, 27.5% of the population is aged younger than 15 years (16.8 million).

    The rate of abuse and shocking cases of violence should jolt us into action to do more to protect the nation’s children at all times of the year and not only on days when the country marks Child Protection Week or Child Protection Month in May.

    We should revisit the notion that your child is my child more than ever and not turn a blind eye when we see or hear of something untoward. 

    When we fail to protect children, we fail our country in the long term. If we are to raise generations of forward-thinking, responsible citizens that will take the country forward, it is in our best interest to do the best we can to shape the citizenry of tomorrow.
    And because the protection and care of children is a full-time job, government continues to provide the child support, disability and foster care grants as well as the school nutrition programme which provides meals to millions of children.

    Government is also paying attention to the boy child through the facilitation of dialogues and engagement to foster an environment of positive masculinity where boys are encouraged to express their feelings. Children living with disabilities have also not been left out as they are among the most vulnerable people.

    The enactment of legislation and the provision of funds through grants and government programmes are not the sole solution to protecting South Africa’s children.

    The protection of children involves taking proactive steps which include taking the time to truly listen to what children have to say and ensuring that we believe them when they say they have been violated by a family member, teacher, preacher or whoever they may cross paths with.

    Additionally, the inherent principle of ubuntu, also stresses that we help those around us. The wealth of a nation is not only measured in rands and cents, but also the priceless assets that are its children. Surely, we can ALL do better to protect them. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Collins Call for Immediate Implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON  – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today demanded the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) immediately implement the Social Security Fairness Act. The Social Security Fairness Act, which fully repeals the two unfair Social Security provisions Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), was signed into law on January 5, 2025, after Cassidy successfully secured a vote on the U.S. Senate floor.  
    “The Social Security Fairness Act restores full railroad retirement annuities or earned Social Security benefits for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by Social Security,” wrote the senators.
    “We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to railroad retirees and spouses impacted by WEP and GPO,” continued the senators.
    Cassidy played a pivotal role in getting the Social Security Fairness Act signed into law on January 5, 2025. Cassidy successfully demanded a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. In July and again in December, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to repeal WEP and GPO as part of his “Big Idea” to save, strengthen, and secure America’s retirement system. In June, Cassidy entered a statement into the record urging the repeal of WEP and GPO ahead of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee field hearing on Social Security. 
    Cassidy is a long-time cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate, having been an original cosponsor since he became a Member of Congress in 2009. He led the introduction of the legislation in the 117th and 116th Congresses.
    Cassidy led a bipartisan working group to preserve and protect Social Security. He released the inaugural Bill on the Hill video where he asked Capitol Hill visitors from across the country their thoughts on the looming benefit cuts to Social Security and presented his “Big Idea.”
    Cassidy has discussed the “Big Idea” at a public forum with AARP on the future of Social Security, outlined his Social Security plan in a fireside chat with the Bipartisan Policy Committee, and authored op-eds in the Washington Examiner in July, the Wall Street Journal in March, and State Affairs and Washington Post in May.
    As of June 4, 2025, the U.S. Social Security Administration has processed nearly 91% of payments, but retired railroad workers have not yet received the benefits granted to them by the Social Security Fairness Act.
    Read the full letter here or below. 
    Dear Chairman Chorlé,
    We write to you concerning the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (Public Law No: 118-273). This legislation passed Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis on December 21st, 2024 and was signed into law on January 5th, 2025.1 The Social Security Fairness Act restores full railroad retirement annuities or earned Social Security benefits for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by Social Security.
    The repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) means that individuals who were previously affected by these reductions will retroactively have their full tier-I railroad retirement benefit amounts restored for months after December 2023, the effective date of the repeal, and for future monthly benefit payments. The Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) website currently states, in part:
    The calculation and issuance of any retroactive payments, in addition to the processing of new railroad retirement annuity applications, will be delayed by the RRB’s need to significantly reprogram its computer systems to implement the SSFA. We anticipate that most individuals will begin receiving their new monthly annuity amount in July 2025 (for their June 2025 annuity). If an individual is due retroactive benefits as a result of the Act, they will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account RRB has on file, by the end of July 2025.2
    We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors impacted by WEP and GPO. In the interim, we request monthly updates and briefings regarding the status of the Railroad Retirement Board’s progress towards implementing the Social Security Fairness Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Warm weather expected for Comrades 2025 ultramarathon

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The thousands of runners participating in the Comrades 2025 ultramarathon this weekend can expect predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies.

    On Sunday, 8 June, the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon will take place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban with as many as 22 677 runners.

    The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has cautioned runners about a cool change in the weather later in the day.

    “… A coastal low and cold front are expected to move northwards up the KwaZulu-Natal coast, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior. 

    “Moreover, there will be a risk of showers or thunderstorms developing over the Drakensberg, spreading to the coast in the evening,” SAWS said on Friday.

    A particularly intense cut-off low system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, is expected to affect South Africa in the coming days.

    The weather service indicated that this system will begin affecting the Western and Northern Cape early on Saturday morning, 7 June 2025.

    “By Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025, this extensive and severe winter weather system will have shifted further east over South Africa, affecting the central and eastern provinces.

    “A significant and dramatic drop in daytime temperatures can be expected over all provinces, with the possible exception of Limpopo. Consequently, farmers of small stock are strongly advised to implement appropriate measures to prevent stock losses due to exposure to bitter cold and wind,” the SAWS said on Thursday.

    The weather service has warned of snowfall over almost every province, with the exception of Limpopo.

    Some of these snowfalls will be disruptive, affecting traffic flow over mountain passes, for example, the N3 highway at Van Reenen’s pass on Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025.

    “Given the intensity of the COL system, there is a low probability that Gauteng and the highveld region of Mpumalanga may experience light snowfalls Monday night, 9 June 2025, extending into Tuesday, 10 June 2025. However, at this stage there is significant uncertainty amongst the various numeric weather prediction models in this regard.

    “Heavy rainfall leading to localised flooding and infrastructure damage will be experienced over parts of the Eastern Cape coast and adjacent interior on Sunday, shifting to southern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday,” SAWS said.

    As of Sunday, many provinces will experience bitterly cold daytime conditions, with maximum temperatures unlikely to exceed +10 C. These conditions will be exacerbated by strong, gusty winds.

    Strong, damaging surface winds can be expected over large parts of the interior provinces from Sunday, leading to an elevated risk of wildfires, especially over the central and eastern interior, ahead of the cold change. 

    These extreme conditions are expected to persist over some of the eastern provinces until Wednesday.

    “Strong to near-gale force coastal winds and very rough seas from Friday along the south-west coast, spreading to the south and east coasts during Saturday, and lasting until at least Tuesday along the east coast,” SAWS said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Regressing into Progress: Remarks before the International Center for Insurance Regulation

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Thank you, Christian. I appreciate the chance to be part of this event. I must first let you know that my views are my own as a Commissioner and not necessarily those of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or my fellow Commissioners. Speaking of my views, they may not overlap much with those of Theodor Adorno, the famed early 20th century intellectual whose legacy is so prominent at this university. But his assertion that “progress occurs where it ends”[1] aptly describes my views of much of the global environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) movement.

    The ESG era, though marketed as progress, has harmed investors, companies, regulators, and society. Nothing is new about companies and investors taking a wide range of factors into account in deciding how to allocate capital. The materiality framework of our U.S. securities regulatory regime elicits disclosure about issues determinative to a company’s long-term financial value, including, when applicable, ESG issues. Our framework distinguishes between what is material to an investment decision and what is not material even though some investors might care deeply about it. Only the former warrants mandatory disclosure.

    The distinctive element that marks this new era is the presumptive categorization of anything bearing the ESG label as inherently material to long-term financial value. In doing so it departs from a near-century-old materiality-based disclosure regime. If ESG is treated as a short-hand for materiality, affixing the ESG label to something automatically justifies using it to drive capital allocation decisions. An ESG label substitutes for hard analysis by companies and investors about how something relates to long-term financial value. The thinking goes that if lots of people in society are talking about “fill-in-the-blank” issue, it needs to factor into all corporate and investor thinking and thus into regulatory mandates. That companies, investors, and their advisors may find certain ESG matters material to their decisions does not justify short-circuiting real analysis of what matters for the long-term financial value of a particular company or a particular investor’s portfolio. The current approach to ESG is harmful because it takes a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation. Instead of capital allocators performing individualized analysis of ESG criteria they are given a box-checking exercise composed of generic metrics and criteria concocted by a hodge-podge of interest groups. As a result, focused financial analysis is burdened by irrelevant and misleading red herrings which may lead to worse financial decisions.

    Let’s start with societal harm. ESG initiatives—even when couched in terms of disclosure—attempt to shift capital flows to uses favored by politicians, regulators, and powerful interest groups as embodied in the taxonomies that drive corporate and investor activity. These favored industries and companies are more likely to correspond to lobbying prowess than to the ability to improve society. Capital diverted to pet projects of the politically powerful is not available for companies working hard to meet people’s genuine needs or to solve society’s most pernicious and pressing problems. As political power shifts, the nature of the favored projects does too. Regardless of whose ESG it is, something other than people’s genuine needs determines who gets capital.

    Regulators, often driven by good intentions, have poured countless hours into devising and implementing ESG frameworks. Central banks, securities regulators, and insurance regulators scour their rule books for ways to inject ESG targets into their regulated entities’ decision-making so that money flows to ESG-positive projects. A sustainability standard setter now sits alongside the international accounting standard setter, which may lead to unwarranted confidence in the sustainability standards and unwanted degradation of the accounting standards.[2] International organizations of regulators have packed their agendas with ESG work streams. Regulators’ other responsibilities have suffered from the attention given to ESG. The climate rule, for example, consumed a tremendous amount of time and resources that could have been devoted to modernizing the disclosure rulebook. And bank regulators’ focus on climate risk may obscure other risks, such as interest rate risk.[3]

    The time and money regulators spend on ESG pales in comparison to what companies have spent. ESG initiatives coming from every level of government and reinforced by grifting, silver-tongued sustainability sirens consume tremendous amounts of corporate resources. Employees across the organization spend time collecting and analyzing ESG data—time which otherwise would be directed toward corporate value maximization. A growing list of ESG issues—amplified by proxy advisors, shareholder proponents, and ESG rating organizations—also demand the time and attention of boards and managers. ESG considerations influence product and supplier choices to the detriment of a company’s long-term value.

    Investors also have suffered from the ESG obsession. Most significantly, if ESG targets supplement financial goals for companies, holding company managers accountable for their performance may be difficult. Managers can claim success based on one of the company’s ESG metrics even if the company has failed to meet its goals related to maximizing the long-term value of the company. Further interfering with accountability, investors may find it hard to locate material information in disclosures brimming with mandated ESG items. So much for Plain English initiatives designed to make disclosure documents easier to read! As just one example in the decline of readability, from 1997 to 2017 the average length of an annual report has grown by almost 200%[4]. These lengthy disclosures are time-consuming and distracting to prepare and give ample fodder for costly shareholder class action litigation and SEC enforcement actions. In one recent case, a throwaway line about the recyclability of coffee capsules led to a $1.5 million penalty.[5] Increasing disclosure increases litigation risk. Shareholders foot the bill for non-litigation costs too. Besides aspiring plaintiffs, an ever growing outside industry of advisers, consultants, accountants, and attorneys who help companies prepare ESG disclosures and defend them in litigation are eager to take their cut. In addition, shareholders incur costs imposed by their fellow shareholders who submit proposals for inclusion on corporate proxies. These proposals increasingly focus on environmental and social issues rather than governance issues with a direct connection to financial returns, such as the presence of staggered boards and poison pills. Proponents, who come from both sides of the political spectrum and often own only a tiny percentage of company shares, impose large costs on companies. Even if the proposal never makes it to the proxy, it can serve as an express ticket to special backroom negotiations with company management. Companies, with the help of attorneys, process and analyze the requests and sometimes make quiet concessions to the proponents that may be wholly unrelated to—and might be directly deleterious to—the company’s long-term financial value. Even worse, shareholders often have no idea these deals are even taking place.

    Recognizing the dangers of an unthinking embrace of everything ESG, the United States at multiple levels, has paused to assess its approach. States have raised questions about how asset managers are taking ESG objectives into consideration in managing state investment portfolios. A knee-jerk prohibition on considering anything that might be categorized as ESG could impede legitimate investment analysis. But asking asset managers to be clear about what is driving their investment decisions can help to ensure that asset managers are fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to their clients.

    Change also is happening at the federal level. The U.S. Department of Labor will engage in new rulemaking to rescind ESG rules adopted under the prior administration.[6] The SEC’s signature ESG rulemaking faces a court challenge against which the current SEC has decided not to defend,[7] and other ESG initiatives, such as an ESG proposal for investment advisers, have lost steam. Earlier this year, Commission staff rescinded guidance that had made it easier for certain investors and their representatives to inundate companies with proposals that had nothing to do with the company receiving them. In rescinding this guidance, the staff returned to an analysis that considers the “policy issue raised by the proposal and its significance in relation to the company.”[8] This change should help prevent shareholder proponents from forcing companies to focus on ESG issues that are wholly unrelated to their business. To help prevent a shift back to ESG as an excuse for a disclosure mandate, I recommend embedding in the SEC rulebook an explicit commitment to materiality as the governor of disclosure mandates. This commitment is consistent with statute.[9] To complement such a rulemaking, the Commission could undertake a project, as appropriate, to remove from the SEC rulebook or modify any disclosure mandates that are not rooted in materiality.

    Europe too seems to be looking at its ESG regulatory framework with an eye toward streamlining it. Absent such streamlining, Europe could suffer economically. Also worthy of reconsideration is the direct and indirect imposition of Europe’s ESG mandates and regulations on American companies either because they have some European presence or have as investors European asset managers seeking to satisfy their own ESG mandates. These extraterritorial efforts threaten to spread economic malaise globally. International organizations would do well to work as hard to dismantle the ESG regulatory edifice as they have in building it.

    I look forward to a lively upcoming conversation. In this exchange of ideas, I hope that we can honor the legacy of Doktor Adorno in terms that are accessible to people like me who are not steeped in the erudite political, artistic, and philosophical discourse that flowed so readily from his pen.

    [1] Theodor W. Adorno, Progress, in Critical Models: Interventions and Catchwords 150, 143-60 (Henry W. Pickford trans., Columbia Univ. Press 2005).

    [3] See e.g. Governor Michelle W. Bowman, Statement on Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions (Oct. 24, 2023), https://federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bowman-statement-20231024b.htm (“The lessons learned from supervisory failures during the bank stress in the spring clearly illustrate that bank examiners and bank management should focus on core issues, like credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. Today’s guidance could ultimately distract attention and resources from these core risks.”).

    [4] Danny Lesmy, Lev Muchnik and Yevgeny Mugerman, Doyoureadme? Temporal Trends in the Language Complexity of Financial Reporting, SSRN Elec. J. 4 (Sept. 2019), https://ssrn.com/abstract=3469073.

    [9] See, e.g., Andrew Vollmer, Part 1: Reasons a Court Should Find that the SEC Lacked Legal Authority for the Climate-Change Disclosure Rules (Apr. 29, 2024), https://www.finregrag.com/p/reasons-a-court-should-find-that (“The statutory context of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act limits the SEC’s power to issue disclosure rules to specific types of information about the disclosing company’s business, finances, and securities that bear on investment returns.”); Sean J. Griffith, What’s “Controversial” About ESG? A Theory of Compelled Commercial Speech under the First Amendment, 101 Neb. L. Rev. 876, 923 (2023), https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4118755# (“The disclosure of financial material under an investor protection rationale must therefore be bounded by a baseline principle of relevance. Fortunately, securities law contains such a principle in the concept of materiality. . . . Using the concept of materiality as a guide to relevance suggests that in order to be justified under the investor protection rationale, mandatory disclosures must have a clear and plausible relationship to the financial return of the investment. Speculative or uncertain information would not meet this standard. Information that is immaterial . . . imposes a cost on investors.”).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: GC Strategies Inc. determined to be ineligible under the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 6, 2025  – Gatineau, Quebec                       

    Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has determined GC Strategies Inc. to be ineligible under the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy, effective June 6, 2025.

    A thorough assessment of the supplier’s conduct by the Office of Supplier Integrity and Compliance found the company to have met the threshold for a determination of ineligibility pursuant to the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy.

    As a result, the company is ineligible from entering into contracts or real property agreements with the Government of Canada for 7 years.

    PSPC had previously suspended the security status of GC Strategies Inc. in March 2024, which precluded it from participating in all federal procurements with security requirements. In addition, PSPC also suspended GC Strategies from all professional services contracts and contract vehicles administered by the department.

    The Government of Canada continues to take action to strengthen the integrity of the procurement process to help ensure it does not do business with suppliers of concern.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Reports of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returning to U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, Integrity, and Enforcement, released the following statement on reports that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is returning to the United States.

    “The administration is finally returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. This is a first step in our quest for justice in the case of Mr. Abrego Garcia, a legal permanent resident with a U.S. citizen wife and child who should never have been disappeared in the first place. The Trump administration should never have taken this long or fought this hard against his return to the U.S. The fact that the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the administration must facilitate his return, as well as the public pressure and horror of the American public at what has happened to Mr. Abrego Garcia, has finally forced the administration to return him. That is an important step and proof that our advocacy works. 

    “Mr. Abrego Garcia was kidnapped in front of his young child, and disappeared to El Salvador with no due process. He has been illegally held in one of the most infamous gulags in the world since March. Since disappearing Mr. Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has embarked on an intentional smear campaign, going as far as doctoring photos to create fake evidence against him. This was an enormous miscarriage of justice by a country that has always had the ability to bring him back to the United States and chose not to.

    “I urge the Trump administration to reunite Mr. Abrego Garcia with his family as quickly as possible and to stop their reign of terror against him.”

    Kilmar Abrego Garcia was kidnapped on March 15, 2025, and was deported through an “administrative error” as admittedoriginally by the Trump administration.

    Issues: Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gosar Reintroduces Federal Death Penalty Legislation to Combat the Fentanyl Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after reintroducing H.R. 3764, the Death Penalty for Dealing Fentanyl Act, legislation that would punish a defendant with the death penalty or life in prison if convicted of selling or distributing fentanyl that resulted in death:

    “During the Biden administration, more than 80,000 pounds of fentanyl has flooded into our nation.The fentanyl crisis has strained our healthcare system and touched every community across the country, including in my great state of Arizona.   For example, the largest single fentanyl bust in history recently took place in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah.  Those arrested included a leader of a Mexican drug cartel. Whether it’s from China or Mexico, the criminal networks are producing, transporting, and marketing these drugs and are poisoning America. 

    Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18-44.  More than 105,000 Americans died from drug poisonings in 2023 with nearly 70 percent of those deaths attributed to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. 

    I laud President Trump’s recent designation of deadly cartels trafficking drugs into our country as terrorist groups and calling for the death penalty for those who sell illicit drugs, including fentanyl.  As a result of President Trump’s war against drug dealers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts a 26.5% national decline in drug overdose deaths from the previous year when Biden was last in office.

    More should and can be done to support President Trump’s efforts to stem the flow of deadly drugs into the United States.  That’s why I have once again reintroduced the Death Penalty for Dealing Fentanyl Act, legislation authorizing capital punishment or life imprisonment for any individual convicted of distributing, possessing with the intent to distribute, or manufacture fentanyl that resulted in death. 

    Fentanyl is so potent that even a very small parcel of the drug can cause many deaths and destruction to American families. We must get tough on those criminals that are responsible for this public health crisis.  My legislation would punish anyone who knowingly traffics fentanyl with the death penalty or life in prison,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

    Original Cosponsors:

    Representatives Brecheen, Ezell, Higgins, Moore (AL), Luna, Ogles

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The fourth season of the University Shifts project has started.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The fourth season of the University Shifts project has started. This year, more than 100 Russian universities have joined the project.

    “University Shifts” is a career guidance project, within the framework of which schoolchildren and college students get a unique opportunity to experience student life, see the structure of universities from the inside and get acquainted with the educational program and opportunities of higher education institutions. Universities create an environment for the children that is as close as possible to a student environment, immerse them in the educational process and introduce them to the scientific potential of the university, including through visits to specialized enterprises – potential employers and university laboratories. During the shifts, the children live on university campuses and country camps. To implement the principle of harmonious personal development, the career guidance program is combined with cultural and leisure activities: visits to museums and theaters, excursions, participation in interactive classes on the history and culture of Russia, as well as meetings with students, university teachers, government officials, athletes, and cultural figures.

    “Our President Vladimir Putin spoke about the importance of choosing a job that you love and realizing your calling. The University Shifts project allows the younger generation to choose a profession and a future university at an early age. In the fourth season, children aged 14 to 17 will be able to participate, including those from new regions. This year, the program’s capabilities have been expanded thanks to the decision of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that during his working trips he visited organizations that are project sites. For example, the Mariupol State University named after A.I. Kuindzhi.

    Among the participants of the first shift of this season are 570 children from the Donetsk People’s Republic, Zaporizhzhya and Belgorod regions. In total, nine shifts are planned for the summer season.

    “The first groups will go to universities in Rostov-on-Don, Kostroma, Arkhangelsk, Tambov, Nalchik, Ryazan and Moscow. It is important that this year, in addition to career guidance and cultural and leisure events, the shifts will integrate a program dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry in Russia. Thus, children will learn more about the great deeds of the heroes and scientists of our country,” said the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov.

    It is planned that over 16 thousand children aged 14 to 17, including those from new regions, will be able to participate in the fourth season.

    Over three years, more than 44 thousand children went to the “University Shifts”, in 2024 alone, 107 universities of the country accepted more than 15 thousand schoolchildren and students of secondary vocational education. The children were able to visit the most remote corners of the country, and discovered Kamchatka.

    Let us recall that since 2023 the project has been implemented jointly with the “Movement of the First”. The All-Russian Children’s Movement has developed methodological recommendations for conducting educational, cultural, educational and career guidance events of the shifts.

    “University shifts are an excellent opportunity for the participants of the “Movement of the First”, schoolchildren and students of professional educational organizations of all regions of Russia to get acquainted with domestic universities, their scientific base and areas of professional training. Career guidance programs will cover more than 100 universities and will be held in eight areas: technical, humanitarian, medical, creative, sports, pedagogical, agricultural and information technology. Immersing yourself in student life for 10 days is the best way to shape your future professional trajectory,” emphasized the chairman of the board of the “Movement of the First” Artur Orlov.

    The University Shifts project has been implemented since 2022. It is both a social support measure and a form of encouragement for talented youth. Young people from new regions, border territories and families of SVO participants take part in it within a separate quota. Participants of the Movement of the First from all over Russia get into the program as a result of a competitive selection, within which they complete tasks in the areas of professional training that interest them.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Automatic Conversion of Depository Receipts: Second Round

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    From June 9, 2025, the automatic conversion of depositary receipts into shares of Russian issuers whose programs were terminated in accordance withby law. Bank of Russia determined the order its implementation.

    The conversion will only affect those investors whose securities are registered with Russian depositories at the time of the conversion. No later than June 17, 2025, issuers are required to send a notice of the launch of the procedure to the depository where the shares for which the depository receipts were issued are stored. All transactions with depository receipts are suspended until the conversion is completed.

    Depositories will write off depository receipts from accounts and credit shares of Russian issuers instead. Investors, regardless of whether they are residents or non-residents, do not need to take any action. The entire process will take no more than one month.

    Automatic conversion will also affect those depository receipts whose programs were extended in accordance with the procedure established by the Government. It will be carried out after the program ceases to be effective.

    Preview photo: Muanpare Wanpen / Shutterstock / Fotodom

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 24684

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexey Overchuk held a meeting with the Governor of the Sakhalin Region Valery Limarenko

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Alexey Overchuk held a meeting with the Governor of the Sakhalin Region Valery Limarenko.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk held a working meeting with Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko.

    During the conversation, Valery Limarenko spoke about regional climate policy – efforts being undertaken in the Sakhalin Region to improve the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improve measures aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, and their impact on the sustainable economic development of the region.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: Keeping Idaho Families Informed About Online Safety

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Keeping Idaho Families Informed About Online Safety

    Dear Friends,
    As both a parent and Idaho’s Attorney General, I’m deeply troubled by recent reports that Meta’s AI technology is exposing children to sexually explicit content and potentially facilitating online predators. I want to take a moment to share what Idaho families need to know.
    My office has joined a 28-state coalition demanding immediate answers from Meta about disturbing findings that their AI assistant, integrated across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, may be putting children at serious risk of exploitation. Nearly a billion people use this feature monthly, and many of those users are minors.
    Investigators found that Meta’s AI personas were engaging in sexual conversations with users who identify as children. In one case, an AI pretending to be a celebrity had explicit exchanges with someone posing as a 14-year-old girl. The AI even acknowledged this was illegal. Just as troubling, adults can interact with AI personas identifying as children, giving predators a way to practice grooming behaviors.
    What makes this worse is that Meta reportedly removed safety guardrails to make their AI “less boring” and more “humanlike,” despite internal warnings from their own staff. One Meta employee reportedly wrote: “The full mental health impacts of humans forging meaningful connections with fictional chatbots are still widely unknown. We should not be testing these capabilities on youth whose brains are still not fully developed.”
    Another thing that concerns me is that Meta has assured parents that their AI tools are “safe and appropriate for all ages.” Their parent guides claim these tools come with “guidelines that tell a generative AI model what it can and cannot produce.” But those guides fail to mention any risks related to sexual content or romantic role-play capabilities. This means that parents are being kept in the dark about these dangers.
    But technology keeps changing, and our commitment doesn’t. That’s why Idaho led the way last year when the Legislature passed House Bill 465, now Idaho Code Section 18-1507C. This forward-looking statute criminalizes the production, distribution, receipt, possession, or access of visual representations of child sexual abuse created using generative AI or machine learning. We were one of the first states in the country to recognize this emerging threat and give our prosecutors the tools they need to combat it.
    Now, here’s what this means for your family. The same platforms your children use every day to connect with friends may also expose them to AI companions that aren’t what they seem. These synthetic personas can engage in inappropriate conversations with minors and may normalize dangerous interactions.
    We’ve given Meta until June 10 to answer critical questions: 

    Did Meta remove guardrails from Meta AI to allow sexual or romantic role-play with users?
    Are any sexual or romantic role-play capacities of Meta AI still available on Meta’s platforms?
    Are any sexual or romantic role-play capacities of Meta AI available on Meta’s platforms to users under the age of 18?
    Are any sexual or romantic role-play capacities of Meta AI involving youth-focused personas (those identifying as being under the age of 18) available on Meta’s platforms?
    Does Meta intend to halt access to Meta AI’s sexual or romantic role-play capacities for Meta platform users under the age of 18?
    Does Meta intend to halt access to Meta AI’s sexual or romantic role-play capacities involving youth-focused personas (those identifying as being under the age of 18)?

    As Idaho’s Attorney General, protecting families remains my top priority and we will not wait for problems to get worse before we act.
    If you suspect a child is being exploited online, please contact your local police, call our ICAC Unit at (208) 947-8702, or file a report at www.cybertipline.com. For internet safety resources or to request a presentation in your community, visit ICACIdaho.org.
    Parents are the first and best line of defense in keeping kids safe online. Stay informed, stay engaged, and know that my office will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect children in Idaho from those who would do them harm—whether they’re real predators or AI-enabled ones.
    Best regards,

    MIL OSI USA News –