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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Republicans are throwing millions of Americans off their health insurance

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – May 14, 2025

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. Pleased to be joined with the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Ted Lieu.

    This week, Republicans have laid out exactly who they are fighting for. After weeks of promises that they wouldn’t cut Medicaid, their budget contains drastic cuts that will throw millions off of health insurance. After campaigning on helping working-class Americans get ahead, their budget, once again, rewards billionaires and wealthy corporations and makes it harder for families to make ends meet. They are watching prices go up because of Trump’s reckless tariffs, and their response is to take food off of the table for women, veterans and children. The Republican budget doesn’t address the cost-of-living crisis, it makes it worse. The cost of groceries, clothing and everyday necessities are still too high, and Republicans want to add to that and make health care more expensive on top of it. This isn’t about helping people find good-paying jobs or a shot at a better life. This is simply about helping people like Elon Musk pay less in taxes.

    House Democrats believe that we can shore up these basic-needs programs and help everyday Americans reach their full potential. It’s long past time that the wealthiest of Americans pay their fair share and make it easier for working families to afford basic needs like health care and housing. These devastating cuts will make Americans—particularly children—sicker, hungrier and poorer. They’re shortchanging the future just so their friends can continue to get richer. The American people cannot afford the Republican budget and House Democrats are using every tool at our disposal to stop it. I want to thank our Energy and Commerce Members who continue to meet, Ways and Means Members who continue to highlight the unfairness of this plan that Republicans are putting forward and the Agriculture Committee, who will continue to fight for nutrition programs throughout the day. Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. Omaha, Nebraska is the sixth-largest city in America led by a Republican. And last night, in a stunning upset, Democrats flipped that seat from Red to Blue. I want to congratulate Mayor-Elect John Ewing Jr., who’s going to be the new mayor of Omaha, Nebraska. We also know that voters are very angry at Republicans who continue to enable Donald Trump’s harmful policies. And the Republican mayor, in this case, aligned herself completely with Donald Trump, and the voters spoke out in Omaha, and now we have a Democratic Mayor-Elect.

    I also want to talk about now the Qatari luxury palace in the sky gift to Donald Trump. There is no such thing as a free palace in the sky. What do foreign countries want when they gift massive amounts of money and other gifts to the President? Donald Trump should reject this gift of the luxury palace in the sky, Boeing 747, completely and righteously. Because we are the United States of America, we don’t need gifts from foreign countries. We can build our own very impressive Air Force One. We don’t need to fly a Qatari plane around as our Air Force One. That’s also un-American. I also want to note that new reporting came out showing that to retrofit this Qatari 747 would take perhaps up to a billion dollars, because you can’t just fly a palace in the sky from a foreign country. You have to actually make it safe and secure. You have to make this plane ready to launch nuclear weapons. You can’t have people eavesdropping on it, and so it’s going to cost way more money to do it this way. And again, people need to ask why is a foreign country trying to give this massive gift to Donald Trump? And think about the precedent it would set. Would it be okay if Brunei gifted a luxury 757 to J.D. Vance for Air Force Two? Would it be okay if Germany gave a Porsche SUV to Senator Thune as his official car? Would it be okay if Italy gave a bunch of expensive Armani suits to Speaker Johnson for his official duties? No, it wouldn’t be okay. Also, because the Constitution says you can’t do this, it requires Congressional approval for the President to accept the gift of this size. And we urge the Republicans in Congress to stand up, speak out and call for a vote if Donald Trump were to accept this essential bribe from a foreign government. 

    And then let me now conclude on Medicaid. We now know that the Republicans lied when they said that they weren’t going to cut Medicaid. They’re cutting Medicaid by a massive amount of money, one of the largest cuts in U.S. history. Over 13.7 million people would be kicked off Medicaid. I also note that two-thirds of nursing home patients rely on Medicaid. This is also going to close down rural hospitals. It’s going to make it so that health care for all of us becomes more expensive, because if you don’t have health care under Medicaid, you’re still going to get treated. You just walk into the emergency room, and it costs even more money for all of us. So we urge Republicans to reject this massive Medicaid cut. And I just want to say, we told you so. We told you that Republicans were going to cut Medicaid, and now we know that they are doing it. So they lied, we told the truth, again.

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Presses Social Security Administration on Surge in Constituent Concerns About Social Security Delays

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is pressing the Social Security Administration about a surge in constituent concerns about delays in receiving their Social Security benefits.  

    “Due to the haphazard actions of Elon Musk and his so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency,’ seniors in New Hampshire are struggling with significant delays in receiving the Social Security benefits that they worked for their entire lives,” wrote Senator Hassan in her letter to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “I urge you to immediately reverse Elon Musk’s slow-down in Social Security benefit payments, open an investigation into Social Security payment delays, and provide transparent answers to Congress regarding how many seniors are waiting longer than they did last year for their Social Security checks. 

    “My office has seen a significant increase in outreach from Granite Staters who are facing issues receiving the Social Security benefits that they have earned,” continued Senator Hassan. “Constituents have reported delays in receiving their checks or receiving a lower benefit amount than usual. Others have reported being unable to access their accounts and unable to reach anyone on the phone to get assistance… The surge in issues faced by seniors comes as the Administration has made very clear that this Administration is deliberately trying, as part of its agenda, to make it more difficult for seniors to access their earned benefits.”  

    Senator Hassan urged Commissioner Bisignano to explain the delays and pressed him to provide information on how many seniors have experienced delays, as well as information on what actions Elon Musk and DOGE have taken that affected systems related to the timely payment of benefits.  

    Senator Hassan has been speaking out against President Trump’s attacks on Social Security, including the Administration’s moves to close Littleton’s Social Security office and to fire employees across the country who help provide in-person and telephone customer service to seniors. Earlier this month, Senator Hassan participated in a town hall with Granite State seniors to hear about their concerns, particularly their concerns about Social Security. In March, she met with North Country seniors to hear their concerns and explore what can be done to avert closure of the Littleton Social Security field office. Earlier this year, Senators Hassan and Shaheen sent a letter calling on the leaders of the General Services Administration and Social Security Administration to stop any efforts to close the Littleton Social Security field office as well as stop broader attacks on Social Security. 

    Click here to see the full letter or see below:  

    Dear Commissioner Bisignano:

    Due to the haphazard actions of Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” seniors in New Hampshire are struggling with significant delays in receiving the Social Security benefits that they worked for their entire lives. I urge you to immediately reverse Elon Musk’s slow-down in Social Security benefit payments, open an investigation into Social Security payment delays, and provide transparent answers to Congress regarding how many seniors are waiting longer than they did last year for their Social Security checks. 

    My office has seen a significant increase in outreach from Granite Staters who are facing issues receiving the Social Security benefits that they have earned. Constituents have reported delays in receiving their checks or receiving a lower benefit amount than usual. Others have reported being unable to access their accounts and unable to reach anyone on the phone to get assistance. Most concerning is that multiple seniors have contacted my office after the Social Security Administration unilaterally suspended their benefits with little explanation and limited recourse to get assistance online or by phone. This is absolutely unacceptable. 

    The surge in issues faced by seniors comes as the Administration has made very clear that this Administration is deliberately trying, as part of its agenda, to make it more difficult for seniors to access their earned benefits. Elon Musk called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and called for cutting one-third of Social Security and Medicare. Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Department Secretary, subsequently claimed that seniors waiting for Social Security checks “wouldn’t call and complain.” According to Secretary Lutnick, only fraudsters would complain about a delayed or missing Social Security payment: “a fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”

    Given the harm that Elon Musk’s actions have imposed on seniors in New Hampshire, I urge you to take immediate steps to reverse any changes at the Social Security Administration that have delayed Social Security payments to seniors and to open an investigation into the consequences of DOGE’s actions on payments to beneficiaries. Further, I ask you to answer the questions below by June 5th.

    1. How many seniors have experienced delayed Social Security payments from January 20th, 2025, to present? Please compare this figure to the same period over each of the preceding three years.
    2. What is the Social Security Administration’s on-time payment rate for Social Security retirement benefits from January 20th, 2025, to present? Please compare this figure to the same period over each of the preceding three years.
    3. What has been the typical Social Security payment delay-period experienced by a senior from January 20th, 2025, to present, among those seniors who are not paid their benefits on time by the Social Security Administration? Please compare this figure to the same period over each of the preceding three years.
    4. What actions taken by Elon Musk and DOGE have affected systems that relate to the timely payment of Social Security benefits to seniors? Please provide a comprehensive list of these actions, the dates on which the actions took place, the affected systems, and the DOGE-affiliated individuals who carried out the actions.
    5. Does the Social Security Administration collect information regarding how many seniors attempt to call the Social Security Administration for assistance but cannot reach a person for assistance? If so, please provide this figure for January 20th, 2025, to present and please compare this figure to the same period over each of the preceding three years.

    Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Today, at Microsoft Build we showed you how we are building the open agentic web. It is reshaping every layer of the stack, and our goal is simple: help every dev build apps and agents that empower people and orgs everywhere. Here are 5 big things we announced today…

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Today, at Microsoft Build we showed you how we are building the open agentic web. It is reshaping every layer of the stack, and our goal is simple: help every dev build apps and agents that empower people and orgs everywhere. Here are 5 big things we announced today…

    Today, at Microsoft Build we showed you how we are building the open agentic web. It is reshaping every layer of the stack, and our goal is simple: help every dev build apps and agents that empower people and orgs everywhere. Here are 5 big things we announced today: 1. Coding agent: We are taking GitHub Copilot from being a pair programmer to peer programmer. You now have a full coding agent built right into GitHub. You can assign it issues – whether it’s bug fixes, new features, or ongoing code maintenance. And it will complete these tasks autonomously. 2. Copilot tuning: Copilot can now learn your company’s unique tone and language. It is all about taking that expertise you have as a firm and further amplifying it so everyone has access. 3. Agent factory: Foundry is the complete app platform for building apps and agents. We are adding support for more models from Grok, Hugging Face, Meta, Mistral, and more. Plus: Agentic retrieval in Azure AI Search, Foundry Agent Service, integration with Copilot Studio, and more.  And we are ensuring the tools you already use for identity, management, and security will now all extend to agents too. 4. NL Web: This is a new open project that lets you use natural language to interact with any website. Think of it like HTML for the agentic web. 5. Microsoft Discovery: We’re bringing together the full tech stack to help speed up science itself. Discovery uses agents to generate ideas, simulate results, and learn. A great example is this promising candidate for a coolant that doesn’t rely on forever chemicals. You can read more about all of this – and much more – here: https://lnkd.in/gik2mTNb

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Saying Goodbye to Doug Beard, CASC Senior Administrator

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Doug has received numerous accolades for his leadership in the federal climate space, including the 2021 Climate Adaptation Leadership Award (Federal Government category) from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, recognizing his “outstanding efforts to increase the resilience of America’s valuable living natural resources and help sustain the many people, communities, and businesses that depend on them.” He has also been awarded many USGS and DOI recognitions, most recently the Superior Service Award of the Department of the Interior for his leadership role in producing the USGS Climate Science Plan in 2023.  

    He has also become an important figure on the international stage, injecting USGS science into conversations on global stewardship and biodiversity. He has organized and led multi-national meetings, such as the 2024 World Fisheries Congress, chaired and co-chaired working groups with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and been a frequent panelist and attendee of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

    “Doug’s understated approach to navigating the complex landscape of science diplomacy is so incredibly effective,” says National CASC Research Fish Biologist Abby Lynch. “He has had an outsized influence on the development of major initiatives at national and international scales.” 

    There has never been a CASC network without Doug. As he moves on to his next phase, CASC staff reflect on how he has impacted their work and careers. 

    “Doug has been an inspiration among staff of all experience levels in our program, especially for his patience, political savvy, and charming mid-western demeanor,” says Shawn Carter, Chief Scientist of the National CASC. “His thoughtful and cool-headed leadership have garnered universal support for our program.” 

    “Doug has been an impactful mentor, role model, colleague, and friend. I am thankful for his guidance and support of my own career, and I hope that I can continue to apply what I’ve learned from him to support natural resources.” – Abby Lynch, Research Fish Biologist, National CASC 

    “Doug is an unassuming yet masterful strategist, building and positioning an innovative program that has made countless advancements in knowledge and application to challenging natural resource issues across the Nation,” says Molly Cross, Regional Administrator of the North Central CASC. 

    Fifteen years after that first unexpected meeting, Doug is still in a bit of disbelief how a “fish guy” like him become a foremost climate expert within the USGS and an international expert in global biodiversity issues. 

    “It’s been an honor to work for the American people,” he says. 

    Doug, we wish you all the best! 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Urges Federal Court to Keep U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Civil Rights Offices Open

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to maintain three offices within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that are meant to oversee the agency, protect people’s civil rights, and help noncitizens with immigration matters. In March, DHS announced plans to shut down three offices within the agency, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), that were created by Congress to exercise oversight of various DHS programs. The offices’ sudden closure affects pending complaints and investigations and did not provide individuals or employers any alternative avenue for redress. Attorney General James and the coalition argue in an amicus brief that DHS‘s unilateral closure of congressionally mandated offices exceeds its statutory and constitutional authority and will harm the states’ residents and employers who interact with DHS.

    “The Department of Homeland Security cannot singlehandedly shut down congressionally mandated offices that were created to ensure the agency abides by the law,” said Attorney General James. “Shutting down DHS’s civil rights office and other offices that provide immigration services is dangerous and unprecedented. I stand with my fellow attorneys general in urging the court to keep these offices open so that people can continue to get the services they need, and DHS can be held accountable if and when it violates the law.”

    In March, despite congressional objection, DHS announced that it would unilaterally abolish three offices, CRCL, the CIS Ombudsman, and OIDO, through reductions-in-force. Attorney General James and the coalition write in their brief that shutting down these offices will impact residents in New York and other states who rely on these offices for various services. For example, prior to its closure, the CIS Ombudsman provided direct assistance, ranging from employment authorization to naturalization, for noncitizens and employers in tens of thousands of immigration benefits cases each year. In 2023 alone, the CIS Ombudsman received 2,757 requests from New York.

    The attorneys general assert that without the services provided by the CIS Ombudsman, thousands of individuals in New York and other states will likely face denials or extreme delays in obtaining vital immigration benefits such as work and student visas, work authorizations, and green cards. Moreover, the coalition argues that the closing of the CIS Ombudsman will be costly for many states that issue grants to fund legal assistance programs to help their residents apply for T- and U-visas, asylum, or temporary protected status.

    In their brief, the attorneys general warn that without the ability to make complaints to OIDO or to rely on OIDO’s site visits and unannounced facility inspections, detained individuals are likely to face unsanitary and dangerous conditions. Prior to its abrupt closure, OIDO’s case managers conducted hundreds of monthly site visits and unannounced inspections at detention facilities across the country. At site visits, case managers provided direct, face-to-face assistance to detained individuals. The inspections allowed OIDO to identify and remedy systemic conditions such as critically low medical staffing levels, leaking roofs, and mold in living areas. The OIDO also responded to thousands of complaints from detainees annually about issues related to living conditions and medical care.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the court to restore these offices to continue the services that employers and residents rely on and to continue oversight of various DHS programs.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at business reception: 19 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM remarks at business reception: 19 May 2025

    Prime Minister’s remarks from the business reception in Downing Street.

    Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

    Commissioner Sefcovic.

    It’s fantastic to welcome you all to mark the strategic partnership that we have agreed today with the EU.

    Trade deals are much talked about.

    People tried for a long time to get a trade deal with India, and it didn’t happen for eight years. We came along and did that deal with India.

    People tried and talked about a deal with the US, we came along and did that deal with the US.

    Nobody believed we could do a better deal with the EU, and we’ve just done a better deal with the EU.

    I always said, I’m not particularly keen on the performance side of politics. I think it’s the delivery that matters.

    And this has happened because of the serious, pragmatic way that we’ve gone around our negotiations, and when I met Ursula and Antonio at the beginning of the exercise, we committed to each other that we wouldn’t do it by megaphone diplomacy.

    We would do the hard yards of real diplomacy and negotiation, and that’s the base on which we got this deal today.

    And so, in the space of just under two weeks, three trade deals.

    That tells you something about serious pragmatism.

    It tells you something about our commitment to growth, but it also tells you something about the country, because others only want to do trade deals with businesses and economies that they want to tie themselves to going forward.

    It reflects the strength of all those that are represented here and many, many others, because we have dramatically improved our trading ties with the largest economy in the world, the US, the fastest growing economy in the world, India, and the largest trading bloc in the world, the EU.

    And that is, as I say, a vote of confidence in this country.

    We’re living in a different world. It’s a different era, and notwithstanding that instability, that uncertainty, the decisions that we’ve taken to stabilize the economy and lead the way internationally have made Britain a place that people want to do business with once again.

    And I’m really proud to be leading a government and a country where others are telling me that they’re very pleased to see the UK back leading on the world stage, whether it’s defense and security, whether it’s trade or the economy or many of the other global issues that face us.

    And to underline that Britain is a place where people want to do business. Once again,  I’m delighted that we’re announcing major new European investments into Britain today.

    Rheinmetall investing £60 million in Telford.

    Knauf Insulation…

    Investing £170 million in North Wales.

    And NewCold investing £235 million in Corby.

    Together, creating hundreds of new jobs across the UK.

    We also have news today of great British companies – like Octopus energy – expanding in Europe.

    So I want to say a huge thank you to everyone here… 

    For backing Britain.

    And let’s just take a closer look at the deal we’ve struck today.

    It gives us unprecedented access to the EU market –  

    The best of any country outside the EU or EFTA.

    All while sticking to our red lines.

    It’s good for bills, good for jobs, good for borders…

    Good for businesses large and small.

    By 2040 it will increase Britain’s GDP by around £9 billion.

    Our SPS agreement will make food and agriculture trade cheaper and easier…

    Cutting admin costs that can reach thousands for a single lorry…

    Opening up EU markets for British food exporters…

    Lifting the de facto ban on British burgers, bangers and shellfish…

    And bringing down prices for British consumers.  

    Our new Defence and Security Partnership…

    Will strengthen our security…

    And open the door to working with the EU’s new defence fund –

    Boosting Britain’s defence industry.

    By increasing our co-operation on emissions trading…

    We’re saving UK businesses…

    From having to pay £800 million in EU carbon taxes.

    By increasing cooperation on energy…

    We’re bringing down bills over the long term,

    And boosting our renewables industry in the North Sea.

    The deal also protects our steel exports from new EU tariffs,

    Saving the industry £25 million each year.

    And it puts the fishing industry on a stable footing…

    Protecting our access, rights and fishing areas…

    With no increase in the amount that EU vessels can catch in our waters. 

    And our fishing industry will also benefit from that new SPS agreement, slashing costs and red tape.

    So this a new deal for a new era…

    One that will bring huge benefits to the British people.

    And by the way –

    For business travellers – and tourists –

    We confirmed today…

    That you’ll be able be able to use e-Gates in Europe –

    Ending those huge queues at passport control.

    That really is something to celebrate!

    You know, when I became Prime Minister…

    Almost a year ago…

    I said I would deliver in the national interest.

    And I think we’ve shown today, once again –

    That I meant it.

    So thank for you for your support –

    Now let’s build on this progress…

    Let’s keep showing that Britain is open for business…

    And working with all our partners –

    To deliver for the British people.

    Thank you all.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In Mongolia, forest-steppe fires have destroyed about 750 thousand hectares of forests and pastures since the beginning of 2025

    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

    ULAN BATOR, May 19 (Xinhua) — A total of 89 forest-steppe fires have been recorded in Mongolia since the beginning of 2025, destroying 748,802 hectares of forests and pastures, the General Administration of Emergency Situations of Mongolia said on Monday.

    “These forest-steppe fires occurred in Ulaanbaatar and in 58 soums of 12 Mongolian aimags,” the official statement said.

    During the specified period, the amount of damage caused amounted to 4.3 billion Mongolian tugriks (about 1.2 million US dollars).

    According to experts, most forest-steppe fires occur due to human negligence, careless handling of fire and burning of grass in the spring.

    In this regard, the Main Directorate for Emergency Situations called on residents of Ulaanbaatar and 21 Mongolian aimags not to light fires or throw cigarette butts on the ground in dry areas. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Any attempts to distort the history of World War II and deny the historical contribution of China and Russia are unacceptable and doomed to failure – Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui

    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

    Moscow, May 19 /Xinhua/ — This fall, China will widely celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. China will take up the baton of celebrating the Great Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. Any attempts to distort the history of World War II and deny the historical contribution of China and Russia are unacceptable and doomed to failure. This was stated by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in his article published in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper on Monday.

    “This autumn, China will take over the baton of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory from Russia and will solemnly celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. This will be evidence of the enormous contribution of the Chinese people to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, will unite all peace-loving countries and peoples, will help preserve the memory of the past, honor the feat of heroes, carefully preserve peace and create the future,” Zhang Hanhui notes.

    “Victory is sacred, history cannot be distorted, and the victors cannot be insulted. Any attempt to distort the truth about World War II, denigrate the historical contributions of China and Russia, or deny the achievements of victory in World War II is unacceptable and doomed to failure,” the diplomat wrote in an article titled “Based on the new era in human history, writing a new chapter in Sino-Russian relations, hand in hand opening up a bright future for the world.”

    The deficit of peace is obvious in the modern world, the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation emphasizes. The Cold War mentality, power politics and hegemonic aspirations are once again raising their heads. Against this background, the international community increasingly values the role and influence of China and Russia, placing great expectations on them.

    As the diplomat recalls, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow on May 7-10, China and Russia synchronized their strategic watches on such important issues as global strategic stability and upholding the authority of international law, and jointly opposed the Cold War mentality, zero-sum games, unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction.”

    “The importance of strengthening cooperation within the UN, SCO, BRICS and other multilateral organizations, promoting the expansion of the voice of developing countries in the global governance system, jointly promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization that benefits everyone was emphasized,” says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in his article. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests 40 in Southern West Virginia in Operation Shake Down

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Charleston, WV — A U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force two-week warrant operation has resulted in 40 felony arrests.

    During Operation Shake Down, conducted from May 5 -16, law enforcement officers also recovered 40 grams of methamphetamine, 1 oz of fentanyl, and five firearms.

    The wanted subjects had a wide range of felony warrants to include kidnapping, sexual assault, soliciting a minor via computer, possession with intent to deliver and distribute controlled substances, armed robbery, weapons offenses, child neglect causing risk of injury, burglary, and failure to register as a sex offender.

    Significant arrests include:

    Christopher Spaulding, 53, of Ripley, wanted out of Jackson County for possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. Spaulding was also wanted in the Southern District of West Virginia on a federal supervised release violation. Spaulding’s underlying federal conviction is felon in possession of firearms.

    Kirk Donovan Thomas, 36, of Charleston, wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, has been evading apprehension since 2023 from the West Virginia State Police. Thomas was also wanted on a circuit court capias warrant out of Putnam County. Since Thomas’s arrest, the West Virginia State Police has charged Thomas with additional counts of failure to register as a sex offender in Kanawha County.

    Dwayne Edward White Jr., 27, of Ripley, wanted in Jackson County for delivery of methamphetamine. White has self-proclaimed gang affiliations. 

    David Argueta-Marquez, 29, of Lyburn, wanted out of Harris County, Texas, for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Argueta-Marquez was arrested in Kimper, Kentucky, by U.S. Marshals task force members. Argueta-Marquez is also under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s and is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang in El Salvador.

    Two individuals were also federally indicted from U.S. Marshals Service investigations. 

    Ronald Tinsley, 52, of Charleston, was indicted by a federal grand jury for escape. Tinsley is alleged to have escaped from Bureau of Prisons custody March 19. 

    Charles Clement, 42, of Hillsboro, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Adam Walsh Act. Clement, a sex offender, is alleged to having failed to register as a sex offender after moving to the state of West Virginia and establishing residency. 

    Both men are currently incarcerated.   

    “I would like to thank our partner agencies across Southern West Virginia for dedicating officers to the CUFFED Task Force,” said Michael T. Baylous, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia.  “Their commitment and dedication have allowed the CUFFED Task Force to become one of the most efficient and effective in the country at apprehending fugitives.”   

    U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.

    Agencies involved in operation included:

    U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force
    U.S. Marshals Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force
    West Virginia State Police
    Kentucky State Police
    Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
    Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
    Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
    Logan County Sheriff’s Office
    Mason County Sheriff’s Office
    Mingo County Sheriff’s Office
    Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
    Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office
    Parkersburg Police Department
    Saint Albans Police Department
    South Charleston Police Department 

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Pass the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make good on the promises Republicans have made — and that’s why advocacy groups and other stakeholders are coming out in droves to urge Congress to immediately pass the landmark bill.
    Here’s what they’re saying about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:
    American Exploration & Production Council CEO Anne Bradbury: “On behalf of America’s leading independent producers of oil and natural gas, AXPC urges all House Republicans to pass the budget reconciliation and advance President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy. This legislation takes decisive steps towards improving our nation’s energy landscape by repealing the Biden-era menthane tax, unlocking oil and gas development on federal lands, and alleviating regulatory pain points that have stymied the build out of American energy. Passing this bill is essential to secure America’s energy dominance through smart, durable reforms.”
    NumbersUSA: “For decades Congress has promised to secure the border and failed to deliver. The House Reconciliation bill delivers on the promise of building the border wall, 10,000 ICE officers, detention beds, historic funding for Customs and Border Patrol and a tax on money illegal aliens send out of the country. The Trump Administration needs this funding to deport illegal aliens, millions of whom entered the country over the last four years. The American people voted in mess this last election to secure our borders and return law and order to our immigration system. Congress must not fail them.”
    Airlines for America: “A4A strongly supports the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and applauds the inclusion of a critical investment of $12.5 billion in modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic facilities, systems and infrastructure. For years, A4A has been sounding the alarm about ATC staffing shortages and antiquated equipment, such as copper wires and floppy disks. Given the challenges facing the air traffic system, these funds are a vital down payment on updating the technology that guides 27,000 flights, 2.7 million passengers and 61,000 tons of cargo every day—all while driving five percent of our nation’s GDP. The legislation also makes smart, strategic investments in Customs and Border Protection personnel and training for the aviation workforce of tomorrow while supporting American energy dominance in aviation fuel production. We encourage the House to pass this legislation and deliver on the Department of Transportation’s plan to help keep our skies safe and efficient. Modernizing our National Airspace System is necessary, and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help ensure the United States has a world-class aviation system.”
    National Federation of Independent Business SVP for Advocacy Adam Temple: “On behalf of NFIB, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, I write in support of the Committee’s legislative proposal to comply with reconciliation instructions contained within the concurrent resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, H. Con. Res. 14. As written, this is one of the most pro-small business pieces of tax legislation in recent history.”
    CTIA—The Wireless Association President and CEO Ajit Pai: “The wireless industry urges swift passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The critical spectrum and tax provisions in this legislation will allow the wireless industry to invest, create jobs, propel economic growth, and secure America’s edge in innovation.”
    Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz: “House Republicans’ big, beautiful reconciliation bill is exactly what the country needs to jumpstart the economy and guarantee the safety and prosperity of Americans for decades to come. It helps people of all backgrounds but especially small businesses, the backbone of our economy, by making permanent and expanding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It increases the small business tax deduction used by 26 million entrepreneurs annually from 20% to 23% — a tax cut Job Creators Network has long been the leading voice for. The bill also restores 100% immediate expensing, allowing businesses to write off investments, expansion, and modernization. It will empower Main Street to expand, hire, raise wages, and reinvest in their communities, while also providing significant tax relief for ordinary folks. All Republicans should unite to support this historic reconciliation bill. We need Tax Cuts Now.”
    Business Roundtable President & COO Kristen Silverberg: “Business Roundtable strongly supports the House budget reconciliation bill. This important legislation ensures a more competitive, pro-growth tax system, secures our borders and takes the necessary step of raising the debt ceiling. We urge members of the House Budget Committee to swiftly pass this measure.”
    Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan: “SBE Council strongly supports the One Big, Beautiful Bill and urges every member of the U.S. House to vote in support of this economically powerful package. The One Big, Beautiful Bill provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with the tools and policy environment they need to invest in their businesses and workforce, to innovate and strengthen their firms, and to lead America’s economic resurgence.”
    Associated Equipment Distributors SVP Daniel B. Fisher: “This legislation will spur economic growth and job creation, incentivize capital investment, and ensure AED members, which supply and maintain the equipment needed to build, feed and fuel America, remain competitive for years to come. We urge support for the bill and look forward to working with the entire House of Representatives to approve it as soon as possible.”
    National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association Interim CEO Michele Stanley: “NSSGA appreciates that ‘The One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ includes aggregates industry priorities, such as bonus depreciation, the Research and Development Tax Credit, small business deductions, keeping the corporate tax rate at the status quo and protecting percentage depletion and estate taxes. Additionally, we appreciate the committee’s commitment to safeguarding associations’ tax-protected status. NSSGA thanks the committee for introducing this bill and encourages the Ways and Means Committee and the House of Representatives to pass this package in a timely manner.”
    60 Plus Association Chairman Jim Martin: “It’s a win for seniors across the country. The President and House Republicans are providing much needed tax relief to middle and low-income seniors.”
    Association of Mature American Citizens Action SVP Andrew J. Mangione, Jr.: “This bill is a win for seniors, for taxpayers, and for the future of our country. We urge swift passage and full support from lawmakers who value liberty, accountability, and the financial security of AMAC members across the country.”
    RATE Coalition Executive Director Dan Combs: “This legislation is a clear step toward preserving a tax code that spurs job creation, boosts wages, and builds on the legacy created by President Trump and Congress under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Now is the time for Congress to come together, finish the work, and deliver a strong, stable economic foundation for American workers and businesses. A competitive corporate tax rate is key to keeping the U.S. ahead and a top destination for investment in the global economy. This bill goes a long way towards making that possible.”
    Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: “We’ve said from the start: No Tax on Tips should include @Uber drivers & couriers. Grateful the new House Ways & Means bill does just that. Thanks to @POTUS and @RepJasonSmith for backing all tipped workers—no matter how they work. Let’s get this done!”
    DoorDash CEO Tony Xu: “Thanks to @POTUS and @RepJasonSmith, millions of Dashers may soon get a tax break on their hard-earned tips. Following advocacy from 40K Dashers, including dozens in DC last week, the House’s budget bill is an important step in making #NoTaxOnTips a reality.”
    Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner: “The Republican Party has an incredible opportunity to put the country on the right track for long-term economic growth by making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent and avoiding the largest tax hike in American history. This bill is smart pro-growth policy that would provide certainty for American businesses and lead to sustained prosperity for millions of working Americans. This legislation also takes meaningful action to cut billions in special interest giveaways, reforming broken programs, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse –   ensuring that taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars are spent wisely. It’s about making government work better for the people it serves. We’re encouraged by the foundation laid in the House and stand ready to work with Senate lawmakers to get this measure across the finish line. The moment for action is now. We urge all Members to support this legislation and put our economy on the path to growth and opportunity.”
    Concerned Veterans for America Executive Director John Vick: “Failing to extend President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would impose the largest tax hike in U.S. history on American families and businesses. Congress must seize its opportunity to protect our long-term prosperity while improving the lives of middle-class Americans. The American people sent a clear message last November: they are tired of massive tax hikes, higher prices, reckless government spending, and Biden-era “Green New Deal” giveaways. Congress must answer this call by moving budget reconciliation forward. As veterans, we fought for a better future for our fellow Americans. We also understand that a strong economy is the bedrock of American strength at home and abroad. Today, CVA calls on Congress to act to protect the promise of long-term economic growth and prosperity for all Americans.”
    The LIBRE Initiative Executive Director Sandra Benitez: “We commend the House Budget Committee for taking a positive step to ensure that we continue extending tax relief to middle-class families and job creators, including Latinos who cannot afford a tax hike. Now it is critical that the House of Representatives have a full House vote as quickly as possible and approve this pro-growth legislation to help unleash prosperity and opportunity for all. The LIBRE Initiative looks forward to educating and activating the Latino community on the benefits of this critical legislation.”
    America First Policy Institute: “Conservatives must deliver to the American people! The One, Big, Beautiful Bill cuts taxes for ALL Americans, secures the border, stands up to the woke mob by empowering parents and protecting women and children, and much more!”
    Independent Women Center for Economic Opportunity Director Patrice Onwuka: “Passing the Big, Beautiful Bill is an imperative. The stakes are high. If Congress fails to pass this bill, average Americans face a massive 22% tax increase, 40 million families will see their Child Tax Credit slashed in half, and 26 million small businesses face a 43.4% top tax rate. Republicans should not hold up tax relief for American families and small businesses to bail out high-tax blue states.”
    Family Business Coalition: “Family Business Coalition supports the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ which includes tax relief that will help family businesses expand, upgrade equipment, and hire more workers. FBC urges the House to take action now to move this process forward in Congress.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Family Doctor Day

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of Family Doctor Day:

    “Today is Family Doctor Day, which gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work of family doctors who deliver personalized, comprehensive and continuous care to patients and communities in B.C.

    “Family doctors are the cornerstone of our health-care system, managing many of the health concerns people experience throughout their lives. They provide holistic care rooted in strong patient relationships and are experts in treating the whole person at every stage of life.

    “We know that family doctors want to spend as much time as possible with their patients and we have heard that unnecessary paperwork robs them of valuable time to do that. To address this, we are eliminating sick notes for short-term absences to cut administrative burden, make our system more efficient and free up family doctors to focus on what they do best – providing care to people in British Columbia.

    “Along with eliminating unnecessary sick notes, outdated fax and paper-based processes will be replaced by digital systems, making referrals more efficient, consolidating and standardizing forms, and enhancing information-sharing among providers.

    “Our government is working hard to strengthen care by hiring and training more family doctors so people can get better and faster care, close to home. With the uncertainty and chaos happening south of our border, we have an opportunity to attract the skilled health-care workers our province needs to strengthen public health care. We are ramping up our recruitment efforts in the U.S. and streamlining regulatory processes.

    “Since March 2025, when we announced that we are fast-tracking credential recognition for health professionals from other countries and provinces, 573 doctors from the United States have expressed interest to come work in B.C. Building on that, we are working with health authorities, regulatory colleges and other partners to co-ordinate a marketing campaign in the states of Washington, Oregon and California.

    “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to family doctors for their steadfast dedication, compassion and expertise in caring for individuals and families in our communities. Your efforts to support health, prevent illness and build trusted, meaningful relationships have a profound impact on countless lives each day.”

    Learn More:

    For information about the restriction of short-term sick notes, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025LBR0016-000336

    For information about the recruitment plan to attract health-care professionals from the U.S., visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0013-000194

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salesman Who Defrauded Women and Older Adults Denied Bankruptcy Discharge

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment denying a bankruptcy discharge to a door-to-door salesman who concealed his business interests and lied in his bankruptcy case to evade his creditors, including women and older adults whom he defrauded.

    On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon entered a default judgment denying a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Jason Gillis. Gillis — who sold vacuums, air filters, and related products — crafted fraudulent schemes generally targeting women he pursued as romantic partners and their elderly parents. In one such scheme, he solicited investments in his businesses but used the money primarily for personal expenses. His victims included a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke. In addition to running up debts using the identities of the woman and her daughter without their knowledge or consent, Gillis arranged for the older woman to take out a mortgage on her home, purportedly under duress. In total, he persuaded her to transfer more than $100,000 to a business bank account that he controlled, then diverted a significant amount of the funds to pay for personal expenses.

    Gillis also used some of those funds to lease a recreational vehicle valued at about $150,000 from another woman in her seventies, whose daughter he briefly dated. After taking possession of the RV, which he then lived in, Gillis stopped making lease payments and refused to disclose the vehicle’s location.

    Gillis filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2024 amid several lawsuits and judgments based on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and theft by deception. An investigation by the USTP’s Portland office revealed that to avoid collection efforts, Gillis concealed his interests in several businesses by transferring nominal ownership to victims while he retained full control and by forging signatures on forms filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. He also made several false statements in his bankruptcy case about his assets and financial affairs, including his multiple business interests; the transfers of nominal ownership; deposits to undisclosed financial accounts; and a wrongful death settlement related to his mother’s estate.

    Gillis did not respond to or defend against the USTP’s complaint to deny his bankruptcy discharge, leading to a default judgment in the USTP’s favor. As a result, Gillis remains personally liable for his debts — including more than $1.7 million in unsecured debts listed in his bankruptcy schedules — and creditors may continue collections on claims against him.

    “Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson for Region 18, which includes the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Trustee Program, as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, is committed to rooting out deceptive schemes that harm innocent victims.”

    One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Generally, under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they conceal property with intent to hinder, delay or defraud a creditor or an officer of the bankruptcy estate, such as the private trustee administering the estate. The Code also prevents a discharge if the debtor knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath or account in or in connection with the bankruptcy case.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Charged With Possession of Unauthorized Access Devices, Aggravated Identity Theft, Passport Fraud, and Tampering With Witness

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Brendyn Andrew, 33, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Dominique Collins, 37, of Stafford, Virginia.

    In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Andrew for aggravated identity theft, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, social security number misuse, and theft of government property. Andrew is now charged with additional criminal charges for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins is named as a co-defendant for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David M. Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office.

    According to the superseding indictment, in October 2022, with the intent to defraud, Andrew possessed 15 or more electronic benefit transfer cards. In February 2024, Andrew used someone else’s identification to apply for a U.S. passport. Then in March 2025, Andrew and Collins corruptly tampered with a Google electronic-mail account so that it could not be used in a court proceeding.

    If convicted, Andrew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, up to five years for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, up to five years for misuse of a social security number, and up to 10 years for theft of government property. Additionally, Andrew is facing up to 10 years for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and up to 15 years for passport fraud. Andrews and Collins both face up to 20 years for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant.

    A federal district court judge determines sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment or a superseding indictment are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment, or a superseding indictment, are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Multiple Firearms While Trafficking Fentanyl in Chicago Suburbs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than a decade in prison for possessing multiple guns, including a semiautomatic rifle, while trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics in the Chicago suburbs.

    A jury last year found OMARI ANDREWS, JR. guilty of possessing an AR-15 style firearm and three handguns while trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in Mt. Prospect, Ill., in 2023.  Andrews also pleaded guilty prior to trial to distributing fentanyl and heroin in Westmont, Ill., Villa Park, Ill., Des Plaines, Ill., and Hillside, Ill., in late 2022 and early 2023.

    Andrews, 26, of Mt. Prospect, Ill., has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in 2023.  On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Andrews to ten years and three months in federal prison.

    The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.  The Skokie, Ill. and Evanston, Ill. Police Departments provided valuable assistance.

    “The defendant possessed a small arsenal of guns and ammunition in his apartment to protect his drug trafficking activity,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drugs, and especially fentanyl, are a scourge to the public health and to law enforcement across the country, and a stain on the community.”

    Holding firearm and drug offenders accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Man Sentenced on Firearm Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ricardo Sanchez, 32, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers contacted Sanchez and found him to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Role in Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme, Illegally Reentering U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 40 months of imprisonment, for illegally reentering the U.S. and his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford.  The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero and others in Connecticut and Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S.  In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico.  They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.

    After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities.  Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.  In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced.

    Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt.  If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.

    To date, investigators have identified 19 victims of this scheme.  Multiple victims were minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian.

    In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas.  He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses.  He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019, and subsequently illegally reentered the U.S.

    Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023.  On November 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien.

    Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.  On April 11, 2025, Sanchez was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment, and on March 7, 2025, Ramos was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.

    Judge Dooley ordered Paredes to pay, jointly and severally with his codefendants, restitution of $574,608.

    Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.

    This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Celebrates National Police Week

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

    [embedded content]

    CLICK HERE to download Rep. Mann’s floor speech.

    CLICK HERE to watch Rep. Mann’s floor speech on YouTube.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) spoke on the U.S. House floor to honor the service of the nation’s law enforcement officials. To celebrate National Police Week, Rep. Mann joined his Republican colleagues in passing multiple bills, including the LEOSA Reform Act, the BELO’s Act, and H.Con.Res.30. Rep. Mann also participated in a vigil for fallen police officers in the U.S. Capitol. 

    Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:

    Mr. Speaker, this week the nation has come together to celebrate National Police Week—a time to honor the brave men and women who wear the badge and put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families and communities.

    In the Big First and across the country, law enforcement officers run toward danger when the rest of us run away. They wake up every day with a calling to uphold the rule of law, serve their neighbors, and keep their communities safe. And yet, too often, they are met with hostility and policies from Washington that make their job harder and put their safety at risk. 

    Let me be clear: I unapologetically stand with the men and women in blue. I will always oppose any effort to defund, demoralize, or dismantle the law enforcement agencies that keep our streets safe. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to make our communities stronger, safer, and more secure, and we should all be grateful. 

    I express my deepest gratitude to the police officers, Customs and Border patrol agents, detectives, state troopers, sheriffs, investigators, correction officers, drug enforcement agents, and U.S. marshals who have dedicated their careers to serving their communities. Today and every day, we recognize your sacrifice and honor all that you do to serve our great nation. 

    America is grateful for all you do.

    ###

     

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salesman Who Defrauded Women and Older Adults Denied Bankruptcy Discharge

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment denying a bankruptcy discharge to a door-to-door salesman who concealed his business interests and lied in his bankruptcy case to evade his creditors, including women and older adults whom he defrauded.

    On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon entered a default judgment denying a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Jason Gillis. Gillis — who sold vacuums, air filters, and related products — crafted fraudulent schemes generally targeting women he pursued as romantic partners and their elderly parents. In one such scheme, he solicited investments in his businesses but used the money primarily for personal expenses. His victims included a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke. In addition to running up debts using the identities of the woman and her daughter without their knowledge or consent, Gillis arranged for the older woman to take out a mortgage on her home, purportedly under duress. In total, he persuaded her to transfer more than $100,000 to a business bank account that he controlled, then diverted a significant amount of the funds to pay for personal expenses.

    Gillis also used some of those funds to lease a recreational vehicle valued at about $150,000 from another woman in her seventies, whose daughter he briefly dated. After taking possession of the RV, which he then lived in, Gillis stopped making lease payments and refused to disclose the vehicle’s location.

    Gillis filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2024 amid several lawsuits and judgments based on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and theft by deception. An investigation by the USTP’s Portland office revealed that to avoid collection efforts, Gillis concealed his interests in several businesses by transferring nominal ownership to victims while he retained full control and by forging signatures on forms filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. He also made several false statements in his bankruptcy case about his assets and financial affairs, including his multiple business interests; the transfers of nominal ownership; deposits to undisclosed financial accounts; and a wrongful death settlement related to his mother’s estate.

    Gillis did not respond to or defend against the USTP’s complaint to deny his bankruptcy discharge, leading to a default judgment in the USTP’s favor. As a result, Gillis remains personally liable for his debts — including more than $1.7 million in unsecured debts listed in his bankruptcy schedules — and creditors may continue collections on claims against him.

    “Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson for Region 18, which includes the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Trustee Program, as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, is committed to rooting out deceptive schemes that harm innocent victims.”

    One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Generally, under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they conceal property with intent to hinder, delay or defraud a creditor or an officer of the bankruptcy estate, such as the private trustee administering the estate. The Code also prevents a discharge if the debtor knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath or account in or in connection with the bankruptcy case.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Build 2025: The age of AI agents and building the open agentic web

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Build 2025: The age of AI agents and building the open agentic web

    TL;DR? Hear the news as an AI-generated audio overview made using Microsoft 365 Copilot. You can read the transcript here.

    https://msblogs.thesourcemediaassets.com/2025/05/Build2025_OMB_AI-generated_AudioOverview_Final.mp3

    We’ve entered the era of AI agents. Thanks to groundbreaking advancements in reasoning and memory, AI models are now more capable and efficient, and we’re seeing how AI systems can help us all solve problems in new ways.

    For example, 15 million developers are already using GitHub Copilot, and features like agent mode and code review are streamlining the way they code, check, deploy and troubleshoot.

    Hundreds of thousands of customers are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to help research, brainstorm and develop solutions, and more than 230,000 organizations — including 90% of the Fortune 500 — have already used Copilot Studio to build AI agents and automations.

    Companies like Fujitsu and NTT DATA are using Azure AI Foundry to build and manage AI apps and agents that help prioritize sales leads, speed proposal creation and surface client insights. Stanford Health Care is using Microsoft’s healthcare agent orchestrator to build and test AI agents that can help alleviate the administrative burden and speed up the workflow for tumor board preparation.

    Developers are at the center of it all. For 50 years Microsoft has been empowering developers with tools and platforms to turn their ideas into reality, accelerating innovation at every stage. From AI-driven automation to seamless cloud integration and more, it’s exciting to see how developers are fueling the next generation of digital transformation.

    So, what’s next?

    We envision a world in which agents operate across individual, organizational, team and end-to-end business contexts. This emerging vision of the internet is an open agentic web, where AI agents make decisions and perform tasks on behalf of users or organizations.

    At Microsoft Build we’re showing the steps we’re taking to make this vision a reality through our platforms, products and infrastructure. We’re putting new models and coding agents in the hands of developers, introducing enterprise-grade agents, making our platforms like Azure AI Foundry, GitHub and Windows the best places to build, embracing open protocols and accelerating scientific discovery with AI, all so that developers and organizations can go invent the next big thing.

    Here’s a glimpse at just a few of the announcements today:

    Reimagining the software development lifecycle with AI

    AI is fundamentally shifting how code is written, deployed and maintained. Developers are using AI to stay in the flow of their environment longer and to shift their focus to more strategic tasks. And as the software development lifecycle is being transformed, we’re providing new features across platforms including GitHub, Azure AI Foundry and Windows that enable developers to work faster, think bigger and build at scale.

    • GitHub Copilot coding agent and new updates to GitHub Models: GitHub Copilot is evolving from an in-editor assistant to an agentic AI partner with a first-of-its-kind asynchronous coding agent integrated into the GitHub platform. We’re adding prompt management, lightweight evaluations and enterprise controls to GitHub Models so teams can experiment with best-in-class models, without leaving GitHub. Microsoft is also open-sourcing GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code. The AI-powered capabilities from GitHub Copilot extensions will now be part of the same open-source repository that drives the world’s most popular development tool. As the home of over 150 million developers, this reinforces our commitment to open, collaborative, AI-powered software development. Learn more about GitHub Copilot updates.
    • Introducing Windows AI Foundry: For developers, Windows remains one of the most open and widely used platforms available, with scale, flexibility and growing opportunity. Windows AI Foundry offers a unified and reliable platform supporting the AI developer lifecycle across training and inference. With simple model APIs for vision and language tasks, developers can manage and run open source LLMs via Foundry Local or bring a proprietary model to convert, fine-tune and deploy across client and cloud. Windows AI Foundry is available to get started today. To learn more visit our Windows Developer Blog.
    • Azure AI Foundry Models and new tools for model evaluation: Azure AI Foundry is a unified platform for developers to design, customize and manage AI applications and agents. With Azure AI Foundry Models, we’re bringing Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini models from xAI to our ecosystem, hosted and billed directly by Microsoft. Developers can now choose from more than 1,900 partner-hosted and Microsoft-hosted AI models, while managing secure data integration, model customization and enterprise-grade governance. We’re also introducing new tools like the Model Leaderboard, which ranks the top-performing AI models across different categories and tasks, and the Model Router, designed to select an optimal model for a specific query or task in real-time. Read more about Azure AI Foundry Models.

    Making AI agents more capable and secure

    AI agents are not only changing how developers build, but how individuals, teams and companies get work done. At Build, we’re unveiling new pre-built agents, custom agent building blocks, multi-agent capabilities and new models to help developers and organizations build and deploy agents securely to help increase productivity in meaningful ways.

    • With the general availability of Azure AI Foundry Agent Service, Microsoft is bringing new capabilities to empower professional developers to orchestrate multiple specialized agents to handle complex tasks, including bringing Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a single, developer-focused SDK and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) support. To help developers build trust and confidence in their AI agents, we’re announcing new features in Azure AI Foundry Observability for built-in observability into metrics for performance, quality, cost and safety, all incorporated alongside detailed tracing in a streamlined dashboard. Learn more about how to deploy enterprise-grade AI agents in Azure AI Foundry Service.
    • Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning and multi-agent orchestration: With Copilot Tuning, customers can use their own company data, workflows and processes to train models and create agents in a simple, low-code way. These agents perform highly accurate, domain-specific tasks securely from within the Microsoft 365 service boundary. For example, a law firm can create an agent that generates documents aligned with its organization’s expertise and style. Additionally, new multi-agent orchestration in Copilot Studio connects multiple agents, allowing them to combine skills and tackle broader, more complex tasks. Check out the Microsoft 365 blog to learn how to access these new tools as well as the Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 spring release, which has moved to general availability and begins rolling out today.

    Supporting the open agentic web

    To realize the future of AI agents, we’re advancing open standards and shared infrastructure to provide unique capabilities for customers.

    • Supporting Model Context Protocol (MCP): Microsoft is delivering broad first-party support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) across its agent platform and frameworks, spanning GitHub, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365, Azure AI Foundry, Semantic Kernel and Windows 11. In addition, Microsoft and GitHub have joined the MCP Steering Committee to help advance secure, at-scale adoption of the open protocol and announced two new contributions to the MCP ecosystem, an updated authorization specification, which enables people to use their existing trusted sign-in methods to give agents and LLM-powered apps access to data and services such as personal storage drives or subscription services, and the design of an MCP server registry service, which allows anyone to implement public or private, up-to-date, centralized repositories for MCP server entries. Check out the GitHub repository. As we expand our MCP capabilities, our top priority is to ensure we’re building upon a secure foundation. To learn more about this approach see: Securing the Model Context Protocol: Building a Safe Agentic Future on Windows.
    • A new open project called NLWeb: Microsoft is introducing NLWeb, which we believe can play a similar role to HTML for the agentic web. NLWeb makes it easy for websites to provide a conversational interface for their users with the model of their choice and their own data, allowing users to interact directly with web content in a rich, semantic manner. Every NLWeb endpoint is also an MCP server, so websites can make their content easily discoverable and accessible to AI agents if they choose. Learn more here.

    Accelerating scientific discovery with AI

    Science may be one of the most important applications of AI, helping to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges, from drug discovery to sustainability. At Build we’re introducing Microsoft Discovery, an extensible platform built to empower researchers to transform the entire discovery process with agentic AI, helping research and development departments across various industries accelerate the time to market for new products and accelerate and expand the end-to-end discovery process for all scientists. Learn more here.

    This is only a small selection of the many exciting features and updates we will be announcing at Build. We’re looking forward to connecting with those who have registered to join us virtually and in-person, for keynote sessions, live code deep dives, hack sessions and more — much of which will be available on demand.

    Plus, you can get more on all these announcements by exploring the Book of News, the official compendium of all today’s news.

    Tags: AI, Azure AI, Azure AI Foundry, Book of News, GitHub, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Purview

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are independent vets really better? The real issue isn’t necessarily who owns them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Williams, Reader in Human Resource Management, Cardiff University

    maxbelchenko/Shutterstock

    Taking your pet to the vet might feel different these days, and there’s a reason for that. About 60% of UK practices are now owned by just six big companies, raising concerns about cost, care and competition.

    But ownership is only part of the picture. After four years researching life inside vet practices, I’ve found that what really shapes the experience – for vets and pet owners alike – is how each clinic is managed.

    Although it is the head offices of these large companies that determine business strategies, it is local managers who implement the policies. The way they choose to do this can significantly affect the experiences of vets and their clients.

    Until 1999, UK vet practices had to be owned by qualified vets. Most were small, local and privately run.

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    But that changed when the Veterinary Surgeons Act was amended to allow wider ownership. This opened the door for venture capitalists, healthcare companies and multinational corporations, like Mars and Nestlé, to expand into the veterinary sector. They quickly bought up small vet practices and soon dominated the market.

    This domination has led to concerns of an excessive focus on profit rather than affordable veterinary care, leading to high costs for owners and stressful performance targets for vets. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the veterinary sector since September 2023 because of this.

    Veterinary practices are either owned by individuals, joint ventures between corporations and vets, or wholly owned by large corporations. Those in the first category tend to be known colloquially as “independents” and the rest as “corporates”.

    Much of the narrative in the media has concentrated on the dichotomy between independents and corporates. There’s a suggestion that corporates charge excessive fees and pressurise vets to sell additional services.

    But my research, which included 97 interviews with 25 vets, suggests that the profession is far more nuanced than this. I spoke with a vet who described the most stressful, target-driven environment not in a corporate, but in an independent practice.

    In contrast, several vets working for corporates had remained in the same practice since they graduated. They experienced supportive working environments, high standards of care and no pressure to meet targets.

    Another vet had switched between corporate and independent practices and believed that it was easier to provide affordable care in the independent practices due to lower prices and greater autonomy. But they left one independent practice as they were uncomfortable with the standard of care offered. “Independent good, corporate bad” is not always the case.

    shutterstock.
    Vaillery/Shutterstock

    Management matters

    I found that practice management shapes the experiences of vets and clients far more than ownership. Even within the same corporate, there are significant differences in how managers implement policies and support their teams.

    Whereas in one practice a manager may turn a blind eye when a vet supports a client by missing a minor item from a bill, in another they may be reminded to bill correctly. Vets described staying in practices where they felt valued and supported, where they could provide appropriate care for their patients and where they could keep learning.

    High professional standards and compassionate management cultures were important. But other vets described crying at the end of the day when the relentless workload and lack of support meant they could not care for their patients as they wished. They spoke out and nothing changed until eventually they left.

    Vets may not agree with all elements of the corporate business strategy, but they are more likely to remain with a practice due to the actions of local managers than due to decisions made at the corporate headquarters.



    Read more:
    Rising vet fees leave pet owners facing tough choices – and vets often bear the brunt

    What about pet owners? A survey by the CMA as part of their investigation found that most people choose a vet based on location and quality of care, not cost.

    However, the research also found that many owners were not aware that their vet practices were corporates. Only two of the six corporates use distinct corporate names and branding for their practices, with the others often only mentioning corporate ownership in their small print. This lack of transparency may lead to owners choosing a practice because they incorrectly believe it is independent, a situation that concerns the CMA.

    There are real challenges facing the veterinary profession, from rising costs to staff burnout and workforce shortages. But pitting independents against corporates risks missing the point. The conversation needs to be shifted away from who owns the practice and towards how they’re run on the ground. What matters is whether vets are supported to provide the kind of care they trained for, and whether managers are equipped to lead teams with compassion, fairness and professionalism.

    After all, that’s what benefits everyone, whether it be the vets, the clients or the animals.

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

    – ref. Are independent vets really better? The real issue isn’t necessarily who owns them – https://theconversation.com/are-independent-vets-really-better-the-real-issue-isnt-necessarily-who-owns-them-256035

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Overshooting 1.5°C: even temporary warming above globally agreed temperature limit could have permanent consequences

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Dodds, Professor of Energy Systems, UCL

    Earth’s surface temperature has been 1.5°C hotter than the pre-industrial average for 21 of the last 22 months.

    The 2015 Paris agreement committed countries to keeping the global temperature increase “well below 2°C”, which is widely interpreted as an average of 1.5°C over a 30-year period. The Paris agreement has not yet failed, but recent high temperatures show how close the Earth is to crossing this critical threshold.

    Climate scientists have, using computer simulations, modelled pathways for halting climate change at internationally agreed limits. However, in recent years, many of the pathways that have been published involve exceeding 1.5°C for a few decades and removing enough greenhouse gas from the atmosphere to return Earth’s average temperature below the threshold again. Scientists call this “a temporary overshoot”.

    If human activities were to raise the global average temperature 1.6°C above the pre-industrial average, for example, then CO₂ removal, using methods ranging from habitat restoration to mechanically capturing CO₂ from the air, would be required to return warming to below 1.5°C by 2100.

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    Do we really understand the consequences of “temporarily” overshooting 1.5°C? And would it even be possible to lower temperatures again?

    Faith that a temporary overshoot will be safe and practicable has justified a deliberate strategy of delaying emission cuts in the short term, some scientists warn. The dangers posed by remaining above the 1.5°C limit for a period of time have received little attention by researchers like me, who study climate change.

    To learn more, the UK government commissioned me and a team of 36 other scientists to examine the possible impacts.

    How nature will be affected

    We examined a “delayed action” scenario, in which greenhouse gas emissions remain similar for the next 15 years due to continued fossil fuel burning but then fall rapidly over a period of 20 years.

    We projected that this would cause the rise in Earth’s temperature to peak at 1.9°C in 2060, before falling to 1.5°C in 2100 as greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere. We compared this scenario with a baseline scenario in which the global temperature does not exceed 1.5°C of warming this century.

    Our Earth system model suggested that Arctic temperatures would be up to 4°C higher in 2060 compared to the baseline scenario. Arctic Sea ice loss would be much higher. Even after the global average temperature was returned to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in 2100, the Arctic would remain around 1.5°C warmer compared to the baseline scenario. This suggests there are long-term and potentially irreversible consequences for the climate in overshooting 1.5°C.

    Temperature increases caused by overshooting 1.5°C are primarily felt in the Arctic and on land.
    Selena Zhang, Maria Russo, Luke Abraham and Alex Archibald.

    As global warming approaches 2°C, warm-water corals, Arctic permafrost, Barents Sea ice and mountain glaciers could reach tipping points at which substantial and irreversible changes occur. Some scientists have concluded that the west Antarctic ice sheet may have already started melting irreversibly.

    Our modelling showed that the risk of catastrophic wildfires is substantially higher during a temporary overshoot that culminates in 1.9°C of warming, particularly in regions already vulnerable to wildfires. Fires in California in early 2025 are an example of what is possible when the global temperature is higher.

    Our analysis showed that the risk of species going extinct at 2°C of warming is double that at 1.5°C. Insects are most at risk because they are less able to move between regions in response to the changing climate than larger mammals and birds.

    The impacts on society

    Only armed conflict is considered by experts to have a greater impact on society than extreme weather. Forecasting how extreme weather will be affected by climate change is challenging. Scientists expect more intense storms, floods and droughts, but not necessarily in places that already regularly suffer these extremes.

    In some places, moderate floods may reduce in size while larger, more extreme events occur more often and cause more damage. We are confident that the sea level would rise faster in a temporary overshoot scenario, and further increase the risk of flooding. We also expect more extreme floods and droughts, and for them to cause more damage to water and sanitation systems.

    Floods and droughts will affect food production too. We found that impact studies have probably underestimated the crop damage that increases in extreme weather and water scarcity in key production areas during a temporary overshoot would cause.

    We know that heatwaves become more frequent and intense as temperatures increase. More scarce food and water would increase the health risks of heat exposure beyond 1.5°C. It is particularly difficult to estimate the overall impact of overshooting this temperature limit when several impacts reinforce each other in this way.

    In fact, most alarming of all is how uncertain much of our knowledge is.

    For example, we have little confidence in estimates of how climate change will affect the economy. Some academics use models to predict how crops and other economic assets will be affected by climate change; others infer what will happen by projecting real-word economic losses to date into future warming scenarios. For 3°C of warming, estimates of the annual impact on GDP using models range from -5% to +3% each year, but up to -55% using the latter approach.

    We have not managed to reconcile the differences between these methods. The highest estimates account for changes in extreme weather due to climate change, which are particularly difficult to determine.

    We carried out an economic analysis using estimates of climate damage from both models and observed climate-related losses. We found that temporarily overshooting 1.5°C would reduce global GDP compared with not overshooting it, even if economic damages were lower than we expect. The economic consequences for the global economy could be profound.

    So, what can we say for certain? First, that temporarily overshooting 1.5°C would be more costly to society and to the natural world than not overshooting it. Second, our projections are relatively conservative. It is likely that impacts would be worse, and possibly much worse, than we estimate.

    Fundamentally, every increment of global temperature rise will worsen impacts on us and the rest of the natural world. We should aim to minimise global warming as much as possible, rather than focus on a particular target.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Paul Dodds has received funding from the UK government through the Climate Services for a Net Zero World (CS-N0W) programme. While the UK government set the research questions for the study, it was carried out independently by scientists from nine organisations. Dodds has also received funding for other research projects from a range of organisations, including UK Research and Innovation organisations (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council); the IEA Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program (ETSAP); and private organisations (National Grid; Fuels Industry UK; Johnson Matthey; Cadent). A team at UCL led by Paul Dodds jointly develops the UK TIMES energy system model in a partnership with the UK government. This model was not used in this study.

    – ref. Overshooting 1.5°C: even temporary warming above globally agreed temperature limit could have permanent consequences – https://theconversation.com/overshooting-1-5-c-even-temporary-warming-above-globally-agreed-temperature-limit-could-have-permanent-consequences-255523

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Batteries that absorb carbon emissions move a step closer to reality – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Commandeur, Surrey Future Fellow, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, University of Surrey

    Future power. Sweetie Khatun

    What if there were a battery that could release energy while trapping carbon dioxide? This isn’t science fiction; it’s the promise of lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries, which are currently a hot research topic.

    Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries could be a two-in-one solution to the current problems of storing renewable energy and taking carbon emissions out of the air. They absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into a white powder called lithium carbonate while discharging energy.

    These batteries could have profound implications for cutting emissions from vehicles and industry – and might even enable long-duration missions on Mars, where the atmosphere is 95% CO₂.

    To make these batteries commercially viable, researchers have mainly been wrestling with problems related to recharging them. Now, our team at the University of Surrey has come up with a promising way forward. So how close are these “CO₂-breathing” batteries to becoming a practical reality?

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Like many great scientific breakthroughs, Li-CO₂ batteries were a happy accident. Slightly over a decade ago, a US-French team of researchers were trying to address problems with lithium air batteries, another frontier energy-storage technology. Whereas today’s lithium-ion batteries generate power by moving and storing lithium ions within electrodes, lithium air batteries work by creating a chemical reaction between lithium and oxygen.

    The problem has been the “air” part, since even the tiny (0.04%) volume of CO₂ found in air is enough to disrupt this careful chemistry, producing unwanted lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃). As many battery scientists will tell you, the presence of Li₂CO₃ can also be a real pain in regular lithium-ion batteries, causing unhelpful side reactions and electrical resistance.

    Nonetheless the scientists noticed something interesting about this CO₂ contamination: it improved the battery’s amount of charge. From this point on, work began on intentionally adding CO₂ gas to batteries to take advantage of this, and the lithium-CO₂ battery was born.

    How it works

    Their great potential relates to the chemical reaction at the positive side of the battery, where small holes are cut in the casing to allow CO₂ gas in. There it dissolves in the liquid electrolyte (which allows the charge to move between the two electrodes) and reacts with lithium that has already been dissolved there. During this reaction, it’s believed that four electrons are exchanged between lithium ions and carbon dioxide.

    This electron transfer determines the theoretical charge that can be stored in the battery. In a normal lithium-ion battery, the positive electrode exchanges just one electron per reaction (in lithium air batteries, it’s two to four electrons). The greater exchange of electrons in the lithium-carbon dioxide battery, combined with the high voltage of the reaction, explains their potential to greatly outperform today’s lithium-ion batteries.

    In terms of the benefits to carbon emissions, by our rough calculations, 1kg of catalyst could absorb around 18.5kg of CO₂. Since a car driving 100 miles emits around 18kg-20kg of CO₂, that means such a battery could potentially offset a day’s drive.

    However, the technology has a few issues. The batteries don’t last very long. Commercial lithium-ion packs routinely survive 1,000–10,000 charging cycles; most LiCO₂ prototypes fade after fewer than 100.

    They’re also difficult to recharge. This requires breaking down the lithium carbonate to release lithium and CO₂, which can be energy intensive. This energy requirement is a little like a hill that must be cycled up before the reaction can coast, and is known as overpotential.

    You can reduce this requirement by printing the right catalyst material on the porous positive electrode. Yet these catalysts are typically expensive and rare noble metals, such as ruthenium and platinum, which is a significant barrier to commercial viability.

    Our team has found an alternative catalyst, caesium phosphomolybdate, which is far cheaper and easy to manufacture at room temperature. This material made the batteries stable for 107 cycles, while also storing 2.5 times as much charge as a lithium-ion. And we significantly reduced the energy cost involved in breaking down lithium carbonate, for an overpotential of 0.67 volts, which is only about double what would be necessary in a commercial product.

    Our research team is now working to further reduce the cost of this technology by developing a catalyst that replaces caesium, since it’s the phosphomolybdate that is key. This could make the system more economically viable and scalable for widespread deployment.

    We also plan to study how the battery charges and discharges in real time. This will provide a clearer understanding of the internal mechanisms at work, helping to optimise performance and durability.

    Lithium-carbon dioxide batteries could help humans to colonise Mars.
    Forelse Stock

    A major focus of upcoming tests will be to evaluate how the battery performs under different CO₂ pressures. So far, the system has only been tested under idealised conditions (1 bar). If it can work at 0.1 bar of pressure, it will be feasible for car exhausts and gas boiler flues, meaning you could capture CO₂ while you drive or heat your home. Demonstrating that this works will be an important confirmation of commercial viability, albeit we would expect the battery’s charge capacity to reduce at this pressure.

    If the batteries work at 0.006 bar, the pressure on the Martian atmosphere, they could power anything from an exploration rover to a colony. At 0.0004 bar, Earth’s ambient air pressure, they could capture CO₂ from our atmosphere and store power anywhere. In all cases, the key question will be how it affects the battery’s charge capacity.

    Meanwhile, to improve the battery’s number of recharge cycles, we need to address the fact that the electrolyte dries out. We’re currently investigating solutions, which probably involve developing casings that only CO₂ can move into. As for reducing the energy required for the catalyst to work, it’s likely to require optimising the battery’s geometry to maximise the reaction rate – and to introduce a flow of CO₂, comparable to how fuel cells work (typically by feeding in hydrogen and oxygen).

    If this continued work can push the battery’s cycle life above 1,000 cycles, cut overpotential below 0.3 V, and replace scarce elements entirely, commercial Li-CO₂ packs could become reality. Our experiments will determine just how versatile and far-reaching the battery’s applications might be, from carbon capture on Earth to powering missions on Mars.

    Daniel Commandeur receives funding from the Royal Society. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Christians in Science.

    Siddharth Gadkari receives funding from UKRI.

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

    – ref. Batteries that absorb carbon emissions move a step closer to reality – new study – https://theconversation.com/batteries-that-absorb-carbon-emissions-move-a-step-closer-to-reality-new-study-256915

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: What the strength of your grip can tell you about your overall health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lawrence Hayes, Lecturer in Physiology, Lancaster University

    A strong grip can tell you many things about your health. XArtProduction/ Shutterstock

    Predicting your risk of a range of health outcomes – from type 2 diabetes to depression and even your longevity – is as simple as testing how tight your grip is.

    Grip strength refers to the power generated by the muscles of the hand and forearm to perform actions such as grabbing, squeezing an object or even shaking hands. This action involves a complex interplay between the various muscle groups located in the forearm, as well as the muscles within the hand itself.

    Grip strength is a very cheap, easy and non-invasive measure of muscle strength. This test has been used since the mid-1950s as a measure of overall health. Since then, the simple test has been firmly established as a reliable marker of various aspects of health – with some researchers even suggesting grip strength can be used to determine a person’s risk of everything from type 2 diabetes to depression.

    The standard method for measuring grip strength involves using a handheld dynanometer – an instrument which can measure a person’s power. This test is usually done while a person is sitting down. With their forearm bent at a 90-degree angle and wrist held in a neutral position, the person then squeezes the dynamometer as hard as they can – usually three separate times for one minute each.

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    The average of the highest readings from each hand, or sometimes just the dominant hand, is then recorded as the person’s grip strength. This can be measured in both kilograms or pounds. A grip strength value of under 29kg for men and 18kg for women is typically considered low. You can pick up a handgrip dynamometer for under £5 should you wish to test at home.

    Not only is grip strength a trusted indicator of overall health, it’s also strongly correlated with overall muscle strength and lean body mass across a person’s lifespan.

    Moreover, the stronger a person’s grip is, the more independent they will be in their daily life as they get older. This means they’ll be able to perform normal daily activities without assistance, such as rising from a chair and moving around the house.

    A substantial body of evidence also shows low grip strength is not only linked with greater susceptibility of a wide range of chronic diseases – including cancer and cardiovascular disease – but greater risk of early death due to these chronic disease, as well.

    Researchers have also observed links between low grip strength and greater risk of depression, anxiety and diabetes, to name a few.

    There’s also a significant association between grip strength and a person’s lifespan. In this study, people who died before the age of 79 were 2.5 times less likely than those who lived to be 100 to be in the top 33% for grip strength when they were middle aged.

    Grip strength is actually a proxy measure of overall muscle strength.
    Microgen/ Shutterstock

    However, in a 12-year prospective study published in 2022, the authors reported that baseline hand grip strength was the same in participants that died between the beginning and end of the study as in those who survived. But walking speed, speed of standing up from a chair and leg press strength were all worse in the people that died than in t that survived. This tells us is that there are better predictors of longevity than grip strength – such as total body muscle mass and leg strength.

    So why is it that such a simple measure can tell us about the risk of so many diseases, and ultimately death? The answer is that grip strength is a proxy measure of total muscle strength and size. This means that grip strength alone is not a cause of early mortality or disease, but is correlated with a cause of early mortality or disease (such as low muscle mass or muscle strength of the legs).

    Muscle mass is crucial for overall health. It plays an integral role in our metabolism. For example, muscle helps regulate blood sugar by removing glucose from circulation. This may explain why muscle mass protects against developing diabetes.

    Muscle also releases chemicals called myokines, which act upon other tissues and organs in the body – such as fat, our bones, the gut, liver and even our skin and brain. These myokines generally appear to have a protective effect on all of these tissues. This suggests muscle provides more than just the power we need to move our bodies.

    Improving your grip strength

    Unless you’re a rock climber or otherwise need a strong grip, there’s not much point working specifically on improving your grip strength. Although grip strength is linked with longevity and disease, this is because grip strength is an estimate of total body strength.

    As such, if you want to improve your health and strength, you should focus on training your leg strength. Leg strength is particularly important for health and fitness as it permits movement and helps you continue doing tasks independently in your daily life. Research also shows a correlation between leg strength and a person’s risk of chronic disease and their longevity.

    You can also add in other movements such as deadlifts, press-ups and pull-ups to build strength in your core, back and arms.

    Grip strength values serve as a very cheap and easy measure of a person’s overall health. It’s a cost-effective tool for measuring health but there are better ways to improve health with exercise.

    Lawrence Hayes has received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Chief Scientist Office (CSO), the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, and the Physiological Society.

    – ref. What the strength of your grip can tell you about your overall health – https://theconversation.com/what-the-strength-of-your-grip-can-tell-you-about-your-overall-health-256271

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Disaster authoritarianism: how autocratic regimes deal with earthquakes

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nimesh Dhungana, Lecturer in Disasters and Global Health, Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, University of Manchester

    An earthquake that struck south-east Asia in late March is thought to have killed more than 3,000 people in Myanmar, a country ruled by a military junta that has blocked humanitarian aid and continued waging war on quake-ravaged rebel territory.

    I am interested in how authoritarian regimes handle disasters and whether they disrupt or reinforce the ruling elite’s agenda. My research has led me to Tibet, which has endured Chinese occupation since 1951 and suffered a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in early January 2025.

    Beijing controls the access of independent media and international observers in Tibet. What we know about the disaster’s impact is largely based on initial reporting by the Chinese media, which has claimed the loss of 126 lives and damage to roads and communication networks.

    Tibetan sources have, however, contended that there has been much greater destruction, including to a number of monasteries and nunneries across the region.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Following the earthquake, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, ordered “all-out search and rescue efforts” and pledged a rapid recovery. The constrained political environment has meant that Chinese relief agencies and the Chinese state-run media have controlled the narrative, praising Beijing’s capacity for “speed and compassion” in mobilising rescue efforts while using the disaster to highlight China’s record of “good governance and putting people and their lives first”.

    These accounts not only fail to report on the civic responses to disaster, such as mutual aid networks organised by Tibetans both locally and internationally, but they tend to overlook the immediate concerns of the affected communities.

    Survivors and activists using social media to challenge Chinese media narratives of purported success in rescue and relief efforts have faced censorship and outright hostility from the Chinese authorities. A previous study, looking at the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, found that communities that were considered a challenge to Chinese authority had their demands for relief suppressed.

    Firefighters shift rubble in Shigatse on January 7 2025.
    China News Service, CC BY-SA

    The earthquake has sparked further concerns among Tibetans that Chinese authorities will use the disaster to tighten their grip on the region.

    The situation is reminiscent of the April 2010 earthquake that struck Tibet’s Yushu region, claiming more than 2,600 lives and causing significant disruption to local life. The earthquake enabled China to push its vision of modernity and development in Tibet amid allegations of corruption in relief distribution and forced relocations.

    The aftermath revealed a divergence between the Chinese interpretation of recovery and what many Tibetans saw as essential for preserving and promoting their unique cultural identity.

    In their study of the Zimbabwean state’s response to tropical cyclone Idai in 2019, anthropologist Denboy Kudejira described this phenomenon as “disaster authoritarianism”: when an authoritarian regime exploits a disaster to reassert its power. Akin to China’s model, the Zimbabwean government restricted the involvement of non-state groups in longer-term recovery efforts.

    The relative lack of attention journalists and politicians abroad pay to Tibet makes this problem more acute. For instance, the wildfires in Los Angeles erupted at the same time as the earthquake, but garnered greater and more sustained media attention that mounted scrutiny on responsible agencies. By contrast, the Tibet earthquake quickly faded from the news.

    ‘Confrontational politics emerging’

    For Tibetans, challenging disaster authoritarianism is part of a delicate political struggle. Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, called the disaster “a natural phenomenon and not the result of human activities”, while urging Tibetans not to be “angry with the Chinese”. This appears to reflect his long-held wisdom that antagonising Chinese authorities will invite further hardship for communities enduring political marginalisation.

    Others are more sceptical. Some people inside Tibet have questioned the official number of casualties reported by Beijing and pushed Chinese authorities to clarify the scale of the tragedy.

    There are signs of more confrontational politics emerging. The International Campaign for Tibet, which lobbies for self-determination for Tibetans, has labelled the disaster “the silent earthquake” and accused Chinese authorities of censoring the true nature of suffering.

    Another rights group, the Tibetan Rights Collective, has highlighted China’s interventions in Tibet that have made the region more geologically unstable, including the building of hydropower dams and roads. Recent research shows that China’s push to build infrastructure in the region has increased the risk of disasters, such as floods and landslides, for downstream communities in south Asia.

    Research a colleague and I conducted during the pandemic showed that community groups can compensate for gaps in state-led disaster responses, and alert where help is needed. But this depends on public participation and grassroots organising that, in authoritarian contexts such as Tibet and Myanmar, is heavily restricted.

    The climate crisis is increasing the risk of disasters at the same time as there is widespread fear of increasing authoritarianism globally. We should all worry about how these two trends might interact.

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

    – ref. Disaster authoritarianism: how autocratic regimes deal with earthquakes – https://theconversation.com/disaster-authoritarianism-how-autocratic-regimes-deal-with-earthquakes-248188

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Do we see colour the same way? What scientists can learn from artists

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sasha Rakovich, Senior Lecturer in Physics, King’s College London

    TSViPhoto/Shutterstock

    As many people sit at the wheel of their car, they are certain they know what colour is. It’s the red traffic light in front of them, the garish yellow hatchback in the next lane, or the green verge banking to their right.

    Colour, as many people understand it, is the property of a thing. That light is green. The sky is blue. But scientifically, that’s not quite true. No one can experience the exact same colour as you do. Colour is a perceptual experience created by our brains.

    It’s the interaction between a material, light and the mind. The way a material absorbs and scatters light affects what reaches our eyes. And colour needs to be processed by the brain.

    The shape of objects and the context in which you encounter them can also shape the way you perceive colour. If you’ve ever picked a paint colour that looked perfect in the shop but turned into something entirely difference once on your walls, you’ve already encountered this phenomenon.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    This notion of colour as experience was recently shown in a study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who used lasers to manipulate participants’ eyes into seeing a new colour – a blue-green they call olo.

    To achieve this, the scientists used lasers to activate specific photoreceptor cells in the retina that detect green wavelengths of light, called M cones. We also have S and L cones, types of photoreceptors that detect short blue, and longer red wavelengths of light respectively. Everyone has slight variations in the number and sensitivity of these cones, so we each experience colour a little differently.

    Outside the lab, the reflected light that comes into our eyes illuminates large areas of the retina, which stimulates multiple cone types. The wavelengths perceived by the M and L cones overlap by over 85%. This means that under natural conditions, the two are always activated together, but in varying degrees.

    By targeting just the M cones, the scientists at Berkeley have in essence created a pure colour. Olo doesn’t have context or material conditions. It will look the same to different people.

    But this isn’t the only example which shows the place of the brain in colour perception.

    The most common type of red-green colour blindness, deuteranomaly, occurs when the M and L cones overlap more than they should. This reduces people’s ability to distinguish between colours in that range, without affecting sharpness or brightness.

    Language may play a role in colour perception, influencing how easily or accurately we discriminate between colours, especially when languages differ in how they categorise or label colour distinctions. This highlights the gulf between an objective property and the processing of the brain.

    The difference between the subjective experience of colour and the fixed, physical means of producing it means that most artists’ search for “pure” paint will fail. British artist Stuart Semple recently claimed he’d recreated olo in paint form. He called the paint yolo. But when people look at it, M and L cones will be activated at the same time. A “pure” paint is still impossible.

    Semple’s Black 3.0, along with other ultra-black materials, is marketed as a “pure” black paint. It absorbs nearly all light, using a high concentration of light-absorbing pigments and a matte binder to minimise reflections. But instead of offering a pure colour, it removes colour altogether – delivering a universal experience of “black” by eliminating visual stimulus.

    Colour is never static.
    gkkhjn/Shutterstock

    In truth, artists have known colour is a matter of perception for quite some time. The modernist artist Mark Rothko was notoriously meticulous about how his work was displayed. Rothko insisted that his work be hung low, with as little white wall visible as possible, in dim light.

    He was shaping the experience of colour his work presented to the onlooker by controlling brightness, contrast and the surroundings. Rothko, like the scientists at Berkeley, recognised that colour is an interaction between material, light and observer. It is not just about manipulating what we don’t see, but about engineering what we do.

    I have been running a public engagement programme, Transcending the Invisible, which brings together scientists and artists to explore scientific ideas through art. What I’ve been struck by most is that scientists and artists

    – ref. Do we see colour the same way? What scientists can learn from artists – https://theconversation.com/do-we-see-colour-the-same-way-what-scientists-can-learn-from-artists-256142

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Victim of fatal stabbing in Brent named

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a 26-year-old man in Brent have named the victim.

    Ali Faris Muhammad, who lived in Harrow, sadly died following an altercation in the early hours on Sunday, 18 May.

    At 03:31hrs, police were called to reports of the incident in Kingsbury Road, NW9.

    Ali was taken to hospital with a stab wound. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died.

    His next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers. A murder investigation is under way.

    Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo, who is leading the investigation, said:

    “Our thoughts are with Ali’s family and loved ones. They have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

    “Our team of detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to his tragic death. We urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could assist us, to come forward as soon as possible.

    “We understand this incident may cause concern within the Kingsbury community, and we’re grateful for their continued patience and co-operation as we carry out our investigation.”

    Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference: 1052/18May. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Or please visit the Major Incident Police Portal (MIPP) – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X74-PO1

    The crime scene remains in place. No arrests have been made at this stage.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Kansas City Man in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy

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

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

    Thomas D. Clegg, 42, was found guilty by a jury of participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

    Clegg and others conspired from Aug. 19, 2021, to June 13, 2022, to murder a victim identified as “J.C.” and his family members for payment in cash and marijuana.

    The conspiracy included two occasions when Clegg shot J.C. On Aug. 19, 2021, Clegg shot J.C. in the leg and back in the parking lot of Ugly Joe’s bar in Kansas City, Mo.  On May 25, 2022, Clegg shot J.C. in the back in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 4010 Sterling Avenue, Kansas City, Mo.  The businesses in and near the strip mall included an accounting firm, daycare, and fitness center.  One witness had just picked two of her children up from the daycare when her vehicle was struck by the gunfire.  One of her windows was shot out, but no one in her vehicle was injured.

    Investigators seized Clegg’s cell phone when he was arrested. Investigators also obtained search warrants for Clegg’s cell phone.  Text messages between Clegg and co-conspirators indicated that Clegg was hired to murder J.C.

    Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for approximately two and a half hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, May 12.

    Clegg pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm utilized in the May 2022 shooting on Tuesday, May 6.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Clegg has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, as well as prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, trafficking in drugs, voluntary manslaughter, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, assault, armed criminal action, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Under federal statutes, Clegg is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh A. Ragner and Heather Siegele.  It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call for banking sector to ensure financial systems are inclusive

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called on the banking sector to be intentional in designing financial systems that assist the underserved and empower the marginalised.

    Addressing the Group of Twenty (G20) Breakfast-Round Table on the Empowerment of Women and Disability Inclusion in the Banking Sector, the Minister emphasised that financial inclusion is not a luxury but it is a right that is a critical enabler of economic independence, dignity, and equality.

    “Yet, across the world and particularly here in South Africa, too many women remain excluded from basic financial services without bank accounts, denied access to credit and disconnected from investment opportunities.

    “This exclusion is even more pronounced for women living with disabilities, rural women, young women and women in the informal employment,” Chikunga said on Monday in Johannesburg.

    The breakfast meeting was aimed at engaging the banking sector in investing in the work of the Empowerment of Women Working Group and the G20 Disability Inclusion Initiatives.

    The Minister encouraged the banking sector to reimagine financial systems by ensuring they serve women entrepreneurs, especially those leading micro and small enterprises; create demand-driven financial products tailored to women’s lived realities and incentivise financial institutions to become more inclusive through policy and innovation.

    Furthermore, Chikunga suggested that the banking sector invest in digital literacy, infrastructure and access to technology for women and persons with disabilities as well as integrate inclusion into the very architecture of economic planning.

    “We must also look at the role of care infrastructure not as a social cost but as an economic multiplier. Investment in the care economy is investment in jobs, community wellbeing and women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce.

    “Together, we must not only reimagine, but also actively innovate alternative pathways to building an economy that is dynamic, resilient, and inclusive enough to truly leave no one behind.

    “Together, let’s explore practical strategies, share success stories, break barriers, challenge stereotypes and fast track the development of financing models that unlock the full economic potential of women and persons with disabilities. Together, lets create a banking environment where everyone can thrive,” she said.

    The Minister explained that G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) has committed to advancing three urgent priorities that include the care economy, financial inclusion for and of women, and gender-based violence and femicide.

    “As part of this working group, we have developed several empowerment programmes as legacy projects that we wish to partner with private sector partners beyond South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

    “To this end, we have conceptualised and designed a series of Transformative Emerging Industrialists Accelerator Programs and intend to rally all relevant stakeholders, particularly SOEs, private sector companies and industry associations behind their implementation,” the Minister said.

    These programs will target emerging women industrialists in key sectors, including energy security, the maritime, defence and aerospace industries, platform economies and agriculture, among others.

    Participating emerging industrialists will work alongside experienced industry associations, receiving support from ideation through to product development, financing, market access, and commercialisation pathways.

    “To advance disability inclusion, we have also developed an investment case for the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Nerve Centre, a legacy project of South Africa’s Chairship of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group.

    “This centre will serve as a cornerstone for advancing disability rights and inclusion in the region, aligning with both South Africa’s constitutional imperatives and international commitments,” the Minister said.

    The centre will focus on the following priorities:

    • Research on mainstreaming the mights of persons with disabilities, particularly in the areas of financial inclusion, care economy, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and conducive working conditions.
    • Establishing a national disability data observatory.
    • Strengthening data collection and reporting systems across public and private sectors.
    • Developing early childhood disability screening protocols.
    • Enhancing institutional capacity through strengthened disability focal points.
    • Leveraging AI for disability inclusion.
    • Supporting special schools across South Africa to train teachers, address the digital divide, and improve educational outcomes for learners with disabilities.
    • Developing a model disability inclusive classroom and school for South Africa.

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Withdrawal of SA soldiers in DRC proceeding according to plan

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, May 19, 2025

    The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has assured the public that the withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) is currently underway and proceeding according to plan.

    This comes after a media report claimed that the South African soldiers were stranded in Goma as the buses that were meant to transport the group had not arrived.

    In a statement on Sunday, the SANDF said the logistical arrangements for the withdrawal remain under the full coordination and control of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

    “We further assure the public that all SANDF members deployed as part of this mission are safe, adequately supplied for and continue to receive their daily meals and essentials. No member is stranded or without support.

    “It is unfortunate that the City Press article published on Sunday, 18 May 2025 was released without soliciting comment from the SANDF, despite the significance and sensitivity of the matter. 

    “The SANDF appeals to members of the public and the media to exercise discernment and patience during this sensitive withdrawal phase. Inaccurate or speculative reporting may cause unnecessary concern and mislead the nation,” the SANDF said.

    The SANDF emphasised that it remains committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates as the withdrawal progresses.

    Earlier this month, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga said the withdrawal of the SANDF from the eastern DRC marked a new chapter in regional peacekeeping efforts.

    READ | New chapter as SANDF withdraws from DRC

    “This withdrawal is a structured process designed to ensure safe return of both our troops and equipment. All our logistical support will continue during this phase,” the Minister said at a media briefing at the time. –SAnews.gov.za

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Musician Manqoba Ntombela shot outside his Heidelberg home

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, May 19, 2025

    Founder of the iconic music group Woza Afrika, Manqoba Ntombela, has been shot dead outside his Ratanda home in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

    According to the Ratanda South African Police Service (SAPS), Ntombela was shot multiple times while sitting in his car outside his house on Friday evening.

    Ntombela, known for the hit song “Istokvela”, was also a businessman, educator and community leader. 

    At the time of his death, he was actively involved in the Mazibuye Kasi Spaza Shops initiative, empowering local business owners.

    The motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage and police are investigating the matter. 

    Police have encouraged members of the community who may have information about the murder case to contact the Ratanda police station on 016 343 7014 or 079 692 4853. – SAnews.gov.za

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    May 20, 2025
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