PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2025.
Stephen Biviano Zapata, age 28, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Zapata was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 27, 2025.
This conviction stems from a traffic stop on March 27, 2024, in Lower Brule, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. Law enforcement was aware Zapata had an outstanding tribal arrest warrant. Upon his arrest officers searched Zapata’s person and vehicle locating three baggies containing methamphetamine, other drug paraphernalia, and an AR-style semi-automatic rifle with two magazines containing 48 rounds of ammunition. Zapata admitted to being a methamphetamine user and submitted a sample for urinalysis testing that was positive for methamphetamine. Zapata is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his drug use.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Zapata was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Israel De La Cruz San Juan, 29, and Candido De La Cruz San Juan, 34, both citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged in separate criminal complaints with illegal re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sasha Mascarenhas, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 27, 2025, Buffalo Border Patrol Station agents were conducting plain clothes surveillance, when they spotted an out-of-state work truck with construction equipment inside in Tonawanda, NY. It was determined that the registration on the truck had expired in September of 2024 and a traffic stop was conducted. Records checks determined that all three occupants, including Israel De La Cruz San Juan and Candido De La Cruz San Juan, were illegally present in the United States. Israel De La Cruz San Juan and Candido De La Cruz San Juan were taken into custody. Israel De La Cruz San Juan was previously removed from the United States in November 2017, and Candido De La Cruz San Juan was removed from the United States in May 2012, and July 2013.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroder, Jr. and were detained.
The complaint is a result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Juan Ramirez.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Henry Rogers, 65 of Barboursville, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 17, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Rogers on U.S. Route 19 in the Birch River area of Nicholas County. As part of his guilty plea, Rogers admitted that he possessed a controlled substance containing methamphetamine seized by officers during the traffic stop. Rogers further admitted that officers executed a search warrant of his vehicle following that seizure and found an additional quantity of methamphetamine and a .380-caliber pistol in the trunk.
Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-80.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Utah man with multiple violent crimes after he allegedly zip-tied, kidnapped, and assaulted two motorcyclists who were riding their bikes in Tooele County, Utah, when they unknowingly crossed onto the Skull Valley Indian Reservation.
Russell Allen, 50, of Tooele County, Utah, was charged by complaint on April 28, 2025.
According to court documents, on April 26, 2025, Allen and another person allegedly assaulted the victims and told them they were trespassing on Indian land. The victims were allegedly ordered to the ground facedown, zip-tied, kicked and threatened with a knife. Allen and the other person allegedly took the victims’ belongings, including their motorcycles, purportedly as an impound for trespassing. Law enforcement later recovered the motorcycles in a maintenance shed on Skull Valley Indian Reservation Road. However, a search warrant later showed that many of the stolen items (camera equipment, cash, gift cards, wallets, and cell phones) were not recovered. The victims were then transported in a truck traveling at an estimated 100 mph to a remote desert area. The victims were then released without any of their property and had to walk over 10 miles for help from the Dugway gate guards in a hike believed to have taken six or seven hours.
Allen is charged with kidnapping, assault, and theft while within Indian Country. His initial appearance on the indictment is May 7, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2025.
Stephen Biviano Zapata, age 28, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Zapata was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 27, 2025.
This conviction stems from a traffic stop on March 27, 2024, in Lower Brule, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. Law enforcement was aware Zapata had an outstanding tribal arrest warrant. Upon his arrest officers searched Zapata’s person and vehicle locating three baggies containing methamphetamine, other drug paraphernalia, and an AR-style semi-automatic rifle with two magazines containing 48 rounds of ammunition. Zapata admitted to being a methamphetamine user and submitted a sample for urinalysis testing that was positive for methamphetamine. Zapata is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his drug use.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Zapata was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 5, 2025.
James Ladeaux, Jr., 35, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ladeaux was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2025.
In July 2024, law enforcement observed Ladeaux driving a vehicle and failing to stop at a stop sign. When law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Ladeaux drove off at a high rate of speed and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit ended when a tire came off the vehicle Ladeaux was driving. Ladeaux fled on foot but was ultimately apprehended by law enforcement. Officers located a firearm and ammunition in Ladeaux’s vehicle. Ladeaux was previously convicted of a felony, making it unlawful for him to possess the firearm and ammunition.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Ladeaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
A man has been arrested as Oamaru Police investigate three serious, violent incidents in 24 hours.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge says members of the public have played a crucial role in the arrest, and while enquiries are ongoing, those involved are believed to be known to each other.
Two of the incidents involved individuals entering residential addresses. The first occurred on Queens Crescent at 11.45pm on Tuesday, where one person was assaulted. The second incident occurred at a Thames Highway address at 4am on Wednesday, where another person was assaulted.
Both victims were taken to hospital with moderate injuries.
At 4.20pm on Wednesday, Police were called to a serious assault at Centennial Park in Oamaru, where a woman was knocked unconscious. A white station wagon then drove at the offender, before ramming a black Subaru Legacy.
After the offender left in the Subaru, the victim got into the station wagon and the vehicle left the scene.
“The third incident occurred in a busy area, in the vicinity of a number of people, and with hockey games being played nearby,” Sergeant Woodbridge says.
“We would like to hear from anyone who was near the Centennial Park carpark, who saw or filmed the assault, or the vehicles leaving.”
Yesterday (7 May), Police arrested a 27-year-old Oamaru man in relation to the incidents.
He has been charged with breaching release conditions; four counts of assault with intent to injure; wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm; and two counts of burglary.
“Such serious violent incidents are always of concern, and we know this will be unsettling. I want to assure the Oamaru community that these were not random acts of violence, and we are doing everything we can to hold those responsible to account.
“We are still working to determine why this offending took place, and enquiries are ongoing to locate other people who may have been involved.
“Police want to thank the members of the public who have assisted us with information so far. We still need to hear from anyone who may have witnessed these events, or anyone who has information that can assist us.”
You can update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 250507/6833.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
WASHINGTON – Deionta Person, 27, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 28 months in federal prison in connection with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the United States Park Police (USPP), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Person pleaded guilty on Jan. 15, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Person to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Sept. 5, 2021, USPP officers observed four individuals, including Person, exit a vehicle and walk towards an apartment complex located in the 2600 block of Douglass Place, SE. As the officers attempted to stop the quartet, Person ran away. At the back of the apartment building on the 2700 block of Douglass Place, Person discarded a black Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. USPP subsequently recovered this firearm.
On December 1, 2023, MPD officers observed Person seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked on the 2700 block of Douglas Place, SE. As MPD officers attempted to speak to Person, he fled on foot down the sidewalk and discarded a Glock 30 .45 caliber handgun modified with a machine gun conversion device, loaded with 25 rounds.
In June of 2018, Person was convicted of robbery in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and sentenced to 15 years in prison with 12 years suspended.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Song.
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Fayetteville man on Friday on one charge of bank robbery, three charges of armed bank robbery, and three charges of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Karim Brown, 32, engaged in a serial bank robbery spree that spanned a month from December 2021 to January 2022. The robberies occurred in Hope Mills, Angier, Fuquay-Varina, and Fayetteville. Karim Brown was the robber who entered each of the banks and brandished a firearm in three of them. Shiheem Brown, who pled guilty to one of the armed bank robberies and a charge of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on December 11, 2024.
Karim Brown began his spree by robbing the PNC Bank in Hope Mills. He entered the bank and demanded money from the teller, which totaled $4,674. On New Year’s Eve 2021, Shiheem Brown was captured on surveillance footage scouting the First Bank in Angier, before Karim Brown entered, brandished a firearm, and demanded cash. He got away with $4,611. Two weeks later, on January 14, 2022, Karim Brown robbed the PNC on Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, brandishing a firearm and getting away with $9,000. For the final act in their spree, Shiheem Brown was again captured on surveillance footage scouting the Fidelity Bank on Village Drive in Fayetteville. Karim Brown then entered the bank, brandished a firearm equipped with a laser sight, and demanded cash. During this robbery he passed a note to the teller indicating that he was willing to shoot her. A bank manager at Fidelity exited her office to see what the commotion was about, and Karim Brown pointed his firearm at her and ordered her to walk across the bank to the teller counter while the tellers placed $15,336 in a bag. Karim Brown then fled, but during the flight, Shiheem Brown took a selfie as he drove away, capturing himself driving and Karim Brown removing his disguise in the back seat. The selfie was taken approximately 7 minutes after the robbery (pictured below).
Police broke the case open when they were able to track the vehicle used in the Fuquay-Varina bobbery back to Shiheem and Karim Brown. Shiheem Brown was arrested at an apartment in Fayetteville by Fayetteville PD and the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force on January 27, 2022. During the arrest, Shiheem Brown threw a loaded firearm off the balcony of the apartment, which was recovered. The firearm matched the description of the firearm used in the robberies. Police also recovered $2,650 cash during Shiheem Brown’s arrest. Karim Brown was arrested at this residence the same day.
Karim Brown faces a mandatory minimum of 31 years’ imprisonment and a statutory maximum of life in prison when sentenced on a later date.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Hope Mills PD, Angier PD, Fuquay-Varina PD, Fayetteville PD and the United States Marshals Service helped investigate the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that on April 29, 2025, YOLANDA TILLMAN, (“TILLMAN”), age 42, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to 108 months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, over 500 grams of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. TILLMAN was also sentenced to four (4) years of supervised release after release from prison, as well as a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court records, beginning on a time unknown, but continuing until at least June 5, 2024, TILLMAN, and others, conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, cocaine throughout Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish, within the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting them to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications, and the use of multiple vehicles. TILLMAN helped further this drug-trafficking conspiracy by using her bank account to help other co-conspirators move money to other drug traffickers and drug couriers.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Over 96% of Credentials REAL ID Compliant Ahead of Federal Deadline
DENVER— As the federal REAL ID deadline takes effect, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are proud to announce that the state is more than ready, with 96% of all driver licenses and identification cards issued in Colorado being REAL ID-compliant — one of the highest rates in the country. Colorado has been a mandatory REAL ID state since 2013, meaning that 100% of those eligible for a REAL ID in Colorado have received a REAL ID-compliant credential at either their initial issuance or during the renewal process. All State IDs and Drivers licenses with stars in the corner are REAL ID certified.
“Colorado has led the way in ensuring our residents are REAL ID ready,” Governor Polis said. “Thanks to the leadership at the DMV and the commitment of Coloradans, we are proud to be fully prepared for this important national security milestone, and this success highlights our state’s proactive approach to modernization and public service.”
The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards and created more secure credentials for national security, fraud mitigation and identity theft purposes. Beginning today, May 7, 2025, TSA won’t accept non- REAL ID compliant credentials to board a flight. Individuals need either a REAL ID-compliant credential or another federally accepted form of identification, such as a passport, to board domestic flights, enter certain federal buildings, or access military bases.REAL ID credentials are marked with a star in the upper right corner to indicate compliance.
“Colorado DMV staff have worked diligently for over a decade to ensure a smooth transition to REAL ID,” DMV Senior Director Electra Bustle said. “We’re proud that Colorado is ahead of the curve, and we thank our customers for helping make this effort a success.”
For more information about REAL ID and how to check if your credential is REAL ID compliant, visit dmv.colorado.gov/real-id-and-colorado. For a complete list of TSA acceptable identifications, go to tsa.gov/id.
About the Colorado DMV
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is committed to promoting public safety, trust, and confidence by providing customer-focused driver license and motor vehicle services. With a vision to enhance the quality of life for all Coloradans, the DMV strives to deliver exemplary service, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for every customer. Visit DMV.Colorado.gov to learn more.
Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – May 07, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To kick off Older Americans Month, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar today announced the re-launch of the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families (TFAF). The Chairs of the Task Force are Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Doris Matsui (CA-07). The Co-Chairs are Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and the Vice Chairs are Reps. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John B. Larson (CT-01) and Mark Pocan (WI-02). The TFAF will deepen the Caucus’ commitment to protecting seniors’ hard-earned benefits against the Trump Administration’s threats to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.
“The Trump Administration is dismantling the Social Security Administration and putting the benefits that our seniors rely on in jeopardy,” said Chairman Aguilar. “House Democrats are going to stand up for older Americans and their families and I’m proud to re-launch the Task Force on Aging and Families, led by two committed public servants in Jan Schakowsky and Doris Matsui. An essential part of the American Dream is ensuring a better life for the generation that comes after us while also honoring the sacrifices of our parents and grandparents who paved the way for our success. House Democrats will always defend and strengthen this central promise of our way of life.”
“Older Americans have spent their lives working to raise families, pay their taxes, protect our country, and build our communities. How are Republicans thanking them? By threatening to take away hard-earned benefits like Medicaid and Social Security. Older Americans deserve to retire with dignity and respect, and deserve high quality health care and financial security,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “For my entire career, I have fought for older Americans and working families, that is why I am proud to continue to serve as one of the Chairs of the Task Force on Aging and Families. Instead of cutting Medicaid, we must expand it. Instead of attacking Social Security, we must protect and strengthen it. Instead of punishing the hungry, we must support them. Democrats stand ready to protect older Americans and ensure that they have all the resources they need in retirement.”
“Since we founded the Task Force on Aging and Families in 2010, it has been a critical vehicle to ensure that Democrats are responding to the concerns of older Americans—and as Republicans attack programs like Social Security, Medicaid and SNAP more fervently than ever, the Task Force couldn’t be more vital,” said Rep. Matsui. “After years of hard work and paying into Social Security, older Americans deserve a dignified retirement—but Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to take those hard-earned benefits away and give tax breaks to billionaires instead. House Republicans want to cut $880 billion from Medicaid—which means many seniors could lose their health care and pay more for prescription drugs that they need to live. As these attacks on older Americans come swift and strong, our Task Force is fighting tooth and nail to stop them. We are spearheading the actions to permanently protect these programs.”
“After a lifetime of hard work, seniors deserve to retire with financial security, proper medical and long-term care, and a quality of life that allows them to continue to live independently and with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “This isn’t just important for seniors, it’s important for families and caregivers who balance a lot to take care of aging family members. The number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, and the work of this task force to ensure we are doing right by America’s seniors is more important than ever.”
“Our seniors’ Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits are under attack,” said Rep. Larson. “Elon Musk and Donald Trump are gutting these essential programs with the support of Congressional Republicans to pay for another round of tax breaks for themselves and their billionaire friends. As Vice Chair of the Task Force on Aging and Families, I will stand united with Democrats against these attacks on our nation’s seniors, so we can protect access to health care for everyone and continue to fight to not just protect Social Security from cuts, but expand it for all beneficiaries for the first time in more than 50 years.”
“Older Americans have spent a lifetime working to be able to retire with dignity,” said Rep. Pocan. “Yet today’s extreme MAGA Republicans are dead set on cutting their earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. I’m honored to be a Vice Chair on this vital task force to fight back against these attacks on America’s seniors.”
“Our elders have spent their lives building our communities, and they deserve to age with dignity, security, and humanity. Now, as Trump, Musk, and Republicans threaten to gut Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential programs our seniors earned and deserve, we cannot and will not stand by,” said Rep. Pressley. “I am proud to continue my service on the Task Force on Aging and Families and look forward to working with my colleagues to not only safeguard these hard-earned benefits, but also advance an affirmative agenda that centers our seniors – like lowering the cost of prescription drugs, investing in affordable housing, expanding home and community-based services, and more.”
“Trump, Musk and Republicans’ continued attacks on vital lifelines like Social Security and Medicare are creating chaos and uncertainty for the millions of seniors already struggling to pay for their prescription drugs, affordable and safe housing, and nutritious food,” said Rep. Doggett. “I’m pleased to once again join my colleagues in pushing back against cruel threats that are endangering these hard-earned benefits that Americans pay into every working day of their lives with the promise of dignity and security in retirement and times of disability.”
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hazel Hall, Emeritus Professor in the School of Computing, Engineering, and Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University
From street parties to flypasts, the myriad events of VE Day – which this year commemorates the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe – take place against the backdrop of grand wartime narratives. These include accounts of military strategy, major battles and political decisions made by global leaders. Central to the day are the few remaining second world war veterans and the memory of those who lost their lives in the conflict between 1939 and 1945.
While military and political history may dominate the retelling of VE Day, the research of my colleagues at Napier and myself has focused on a wartime commentary written by a young woman called Lorna Lloyd from Malvern, Worcestershire, between 1939 and 1941.
Thursday December 12 1940
It was a very bad night last night with guns firing endlessly and heavy bombs dropping in the (not so) distance. Cheltenham seems to have got it, and Birmingham. We hardly slept at all, for though the All Clear went at 1.40am, a new alert sounded at 4.00am, and the All Clear did not go until 20 to eight.
Through our study we found that bringing the voices of ordinary people from the second world war directly into the present can forge strong emotional connections to the past, giving people a real appreciation of what it was like to live through the war in Britain. This material also prompts consideration of parallels between past and current hostilities.
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Fearing a German invasion in May 1940, 26-year-old Lloyd wrote in her diary: “I shall bury this diary so deep that one day, in a saner world, someone may find it and know that the last legions of civilisation meant not dominion but good.”
Whether or not today’s world is saner, our research with 12 interviewees familiar with two digitised versions of Lloyd’s wartime diary revealed that excerpts had a stronger emotional impact when packaged as audio in a podcast series than they did presented online as text and images.
Using news reports from the time including broadcast excerpts from the BBC, Lloyd’s words composed at her middle-class home in the Midlands highlight that war is a very human experience that affects everyone.
Her commentary offers insight into the devastating reach of the conflict on those far from the frontlines, with reflections that demonstrate the psychological toll of war and its impact on everyday life.
December 31 1940
London vanishes gradually. Now a slice is shorn away as on Sunday night, now inchmeal buildings are levelled and gaps torn in its ancient fabric. With each, something dies that was hallowed by generations of hope and endeavour, quiet monuments of ordinary strivings vanish into piles of rubble.
They also shed light on the roots of post-war social transformation, from the formation of the National Health Service to the cautious outlook of the so-called “silent generation” who grew up amid rationing and uncertainty. In a time when peace can no longer be taken for granted, these personal perspectives reinforce the importance of diplomacy, and the need to avoid conflict in the future.
June 3 1940
There are times when I feel endlessly old, and worn out, and others when I feel hopelessly young, and completely unable to combat life, or to hope for any future. I know somehow, despite the frantic entry of May 15th, that we shall win in the end, but my spirit quails at the task of building up again what has been broken down. It took 22 years to arrive even in this country at anything like normality after the last war. When things have settled down again shall I be old?
Although we anticipated that our participants would find the experience particularly affecting since they knew Lloyd was played in the podcast episodes by her 25-year-old great-great niece, an unexpected finding was that the emotional reaction was greater when the audience members recognised parallels between Lloyd’s reports of the early months of the war and the current war in Ukraine.
They were struck by the echoes of Lloyd’s commentary on 1940s wartime Europe in present-day Ukraine. One interviewee said: “It’s so much harder [to listen]… because we are in a similar situation … If you changed the words slightly, it could [be] contemporary … If we made Germany Russia, and made Finland Ukraine … We are dealing with [accommodating displaced people] today.”
This finding shows that examining history in this accessible way can lead to identifying parallels with the present. An advantage that we have today – and which was denied to Lorna Lloyd and her contemporaries – is that we have an example from history to warn us about the dangers of the current political climate in Europe.
The political and economic pressures at the time in Weimar Germany paved the way for the rise of the Nazi party. And now, with the rise of the right wing in Europe and across the world once more, it is more important than ever to learn from the past.
As so few living memories of the second world war remain today, VE Day gives us a chance to consider how we keep such “hidden” histories alive. Our research shows that digital storytelling such as podcasts give fresh resonance to archive material in an uncertain world. And it makes clear the enduring value of encouraging interaction with historical records to make sense of today’s wider social and political turbulence.
The research cited here was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council through the Creative Informatics programme. Hazel Hall acknowledges the contributions of her colleagues Bruce Ryan, Marianne Wilson, and Iain McGregor to this article.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Released During National Small Business Week, New Report Finds That Small Businesses Are Facing Price Hikes And Layoffs As A Result of Trump’s Tariffs
WASHINGTON, DC – During National Small Business Week, Senator Rosen released the following statement following the release of a new report highlighting the ways in which President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs and tariff uncertainty are harming small businesses across the country. In April, Senator Rosen highlighted the story of a Reno-based small business being hurt by Trump’s tariffs and demanded that the Trump Administration reverse course on its reckless trade policy.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy, and Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are forcing entrepreneurs in our state and across the nation to make difficult decisions,” said Senator Rosen. “This report makes it clear that President Trump’s trade policies are hurting our small businesses by raising costs and pushing them to lay workers off. I’m going to continue pushing to repeal these misguided tariffs.”
Read the full report from the Joint Economic Committee here.
Key points from the report:
New Committee analysis of data released on May 2 shows that employment at small businesses with fewer than 10 employees declined by 3 percent – 366,400 jobs – since President Trump took office.
Price hikes: Recent survey data found that 30 percent of small business owners indicated in March that they plan to increase prices – the highest amount reported over the last year.
The net percentage of small business owners expecting better business conditions declined for the third consecutive month in March – from 37 percent to 21 percent. This represents the largest monthly decline since December 2020.
Small businesses in the manufacturing, construction, trucking, and restaurant industries are being hit especially hard by tariffs and tariff uncertainty.
Five of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts recently reported weakening manufacturing activity – in large part due to trade pressures.
As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, the wartime diaries of a University of Aberdeen student have revealed insights into how everyday life continued – as well as the rather unusual duties undertaken by undergraduates during the Blitz.
Mary Newlands, who graduated in 1942 with a degree in English, history, geology and geography, faithfully completed the green covered student’s diary issued to each University entrant for the 1939-40 academic year – a habit she continued throughout her studies.
She kept these her whole life and they were passed on to her granddaughter Ruth Mellis, who works as a Project Manager at the University, when she died in 2017.
Mary, who was born on a farm in Speymouth, gained a place at University after demonstrating her academic abilities at Milne’s Institute in Fochabers where she was a clever and studious pupil, and was dux of the school several times gaining prizes in English, history, mathematics, Latin, French and German.
She applied her meticulous nature to her student diary making small, neat notes alongside the timetabling information, useful telephone numbers and details for the student’s representative council.
Mary recorded her social engagements, essay deadlines and debating society commitments together with glimpses of how life continued as normal in the early months of the war, including that on February 23, 1940, there was to be a campfire.
The only indications of the significant societal changes contained in her small notes are at the end where she writes that ‘countries have to make tremendous sacrifices’ and lists addresses for a NAAFI and RAF bases.
But by the 1940-41 session, as well as the colour of the diary switching to blue, the impact of war becomes more visible in her jottings.
Mary’s academic year gets underway in 1940 with Dance at Udny Green, a Halloween party and Harvest Thanksgiving and in December ‘a big family party at Aunt Mary’s’.
But by January 1941 she notes on a visit home ‘military clearing the roads’ and then the following day (Sunday Jan 26) ‘military back again, almost landed in a troop train’.
Her notes on visits to the flicks and social events become interspersed with increased mentions of the war.
On Thursday January 30 her classes are disrupted by an air raid warning in the morning and by February she has noted friends and classmates dispatched to various places.
By the middle of February the frequency of reports on air raids and spending nights in the shelter increase together with references to putting on gas masks and she notes trying to finish essays following air raids. On Monday March 7, 1941, her Geography exam is interrupted by sirens and the need to evacuate.
Against this backdrop, Mary takes on a role in addition to her studies volunteering as a fire warden for the city and on Sunday May 4 she describes for the first time her rather unique vantage point – on the roof of Marischal College.
Throughout this period she describes juggling work and University with fire watching and by Wednesday 18 June says she is ‘falling asleep periodically’.
The records for air strikes on Aberdeen show why the fire watching duties taken on by many University students were so vital.
Aberdeen suffered the greatest number of air raids in Scotland during the Second World War, with some of the most significant hits close to the University.
Loch Street, close to Marischal College where Mary stood guard on the roof, was struck in February 1941, destroying McBride’s Bar and 89 Loch Street.
Then on July 3 high Explosive Bombs were dropped on Marischal Street, Regent Quay, Pontoon Dock No.2 off Albert Quay, Clyde Street & the Lime Company Buildings on Blaikie’s Quay.
Activity was also clustered close to King’s College with several attacks on the area around Clifton and Hilton Road.
In 1942 this moves closer again with an air attack that began on Saturday April 25 damaging buildings at the junction of Summerfield Terrace & King Street.
Mary graduated in the midst of bombing campaigns focused on the city and when Aberdeenfaced its darkest day on April 21, 1943, had begun her teaching training.
In the space of just 44 minutes, 127 bombs fell, damaging or destroying more than 12,000 homes and killing 98 civilians and 27 soldiers.
The ‘Aberdeen Blitz’ had a significant impact on the streets surrounding King’s College including Regent Walk and King Street where nine high-explosive bombs fell. At 519 King Street the corner of the block was demolished by bombing. On Bedford Road a row of houses was destroyed killing an entire family.
But as Mary’s diaries show, life and studies had to continue. In 1943 she successfully completed her teacher training and she returned to Moray to begin her teaching career at Clackmarras public school, teaching across the region at both primary and secondary level over the next four decades.
She never forgot her time on the roof of Marischal College as granddaughter Ruth explains.
“Gran was very proud of being a graduate of Aberdeen University and shared the story of her fire marshal duties with many. She made lifelong friends during her studies and spoke of her adventures on the roof of Marischal College and the many ladders involved! She was very matter of fact about this time and that everyone had to do their bit during the war.
“I had no idea she’d kept such detailed diaries of her time at University and they’re fascinating to read and get a glimpse of what it would have been like. She was such a strong lady who was full of fun and she just got on with things which is very much shown in her diaries, she would love that her memories are being shared.”
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex
India has launched military strikes against a number of sites in Pakistan and Pakistan’s side of the disputed region of Kashmir, reportedly killing 26 people and injuring dozens more. India claimed the attacks were on terrorist infrastructure, but Pakistan denied this, and said these were civilians.
India says another ten people on the Indian side of the Kashmir region have been killed by shelling from Pakistan in the same period.
The exchange comes two weeks after a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 26 people. The group Resistance Front (TRF), which India argues is a proxy for the Pakistani-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
India claimed that Pakistan had indirectly supported the terrorist attack, but Pakistan vehemently denies this.
The escalating conflict between two of the world’s major military powers has the potential to destablise Asia and beyond. Already, many countries around the world, including the UK, France and Russia, have made public their concerns about what happens next.
Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.
How do India and Pakistan’s militaries compare?
India is ranked as one of the world’s top five military nations by Military Watch magazine and Pakistan is ranked ninth. Both countries have nuclear weapons.
Overall, India is considered to have the military edge with a bigger and more modern military force, while Pakistan has a smaller and more agile force that has been primarily focused on defensive and covert activities.
While neither country has used nuclear weapons in a conflict, there are always concerns that this norm may be broken. Both countries are nuclear powers with India holding 180 nuclear warheads, and Pakistan possessing about 170.
Though India has a “no first use” policy, which it claims means the country would never use nuclear weapons first, there have been signs it is reconsidering this policy since 2019.
Pakistan has never declared a no first use policy and argues that tactical nuclear weapons are important to countering India’s larger conventional forces.
Details of Indian air strikes.
The concern is that even if a small nuclear exchange were to take place between the two countries, it could kill up to 20 million people in a matter of days.
Why are the countries fighting over Kashmir?
Kashmir has been a source of tension and conflict even before India and Pakistan gained independence from the British empire in 1947. Originally the Muslim-majority Kashmir was free to accede to either India or Pakistan.
While the local ruler (maharaja), Hari Singh, originally wanted Kashmir to be independent, he eventually sided with India, leading to a conflict in 1947. This resulted in a UN-mediated ceasefire in 1949 and agreement that Kashmir would be controlled partly by Pakistan and partly by India, splitl along what’s known as the Line of Surveillance (or Line of Control).
As Kashmir is rich in minerals such as borax, sapphire, graphite, marble, gypsum and lithium, the region is strategically important. It is also culturally and historically important to both Pakistan and India.
Due to the region’s significance and disagreement over sovereignty, multiple conflicts have taken place over Kashmir, with wars erupting in 1965 and 1999. Tensions were renewed in 2016, after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in Uri, on the Indian side of Kashmir. India responded by launching “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control, targeting alleged militant bases.
Then in 2019, a bombing in Pulwama (again part of the Indian-administered Kashmir) that killed more than 40 Indian paramilitary personnel led to Indian airstrikes in Balakot which borders Kashmir. This was the first action inside Pakistan since the Indian-Pakistani conflict in 1971 and again led to retaliatory raids from Pakistan and a brief aerial conflict.
These past conflicts never intensified further in part because India applied a massive diplomatic pressure campaign on the US, the UK and Pakistan, warning against escalation, while Pakistan showed a willingness to back down. Both sides as nuclear powers (India gained nuclear weapons in 1974 and Pakistan in 1998) had an understanding that escalating to full-scale war would be incredibly risky.
What will happen next?
The question is whether or not cooler heads will prevail this time. The strikes by India, part of Operation Sinhoor, were met with mass approval across many political lines in India, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party voicing their support for the operation.
This helps Modi gain more backing, at a time when his popularity has been falling. Modi and the BJP suffered a shocking result in the 2024 election, losing 63 seats out of 543 seats and falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament).
Under Modi, India has been rapidly becoming more autocratic, another source of concern as such countries are more likely to take risks when it comes to conflict. As power becomes increasingly personalised and dissent is repressed, would-be autocrats may be more likely to take on bold moves to garner more public and elite support.
Pakistan may also have reason to respond with more force to India’s recent attack than in the past. Pakistan’s powerful military has often stoked fears of a conflict with India to justify its enormous military budget. Regardless of the outcome, it needs a success to sell to its domestic audience.
Pakistan has been de facto led by its military for decades, which also makes it more likely to engage in conflict. In spite of intervals of civilian rule, the military has always held a lot of power, and in contrast to India (where there is a wider role for a civilian minister of defence), the Pakistani military has more influence over nuclear and security policy.
Both military regimes and multi-party autocracies may see conflict as a way of gaining legitimacy, particularly if both regimes think their political support is unravelling.
This most recent escalation is also significant because it is the first time in the Kashmir conflict that India has struck at Punjab, considered the heart of Pakistan. Pakistan will face internal pressure to respond, settle the score and restore deterrence.
Both sides have been resolute in not losing an inch of territory. The question is how quickly diplomatic pressure can work. Neither India nor Pakistan are engaged in security dialogue, and there is no bilateral crisis management mechanisms in place.
Further complicating matters is that the US’s role as a crisis manager in south Asia has diminished. Under Donald Trump, Washington cannot be counted on. This all makes deescalating this conflict much more difficult.
Natasha Lindstaedt 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.
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland, sitting by designation from the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, has sentenced Jamal Dixon (23, Ruskin) to nine years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Dixon pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024. The court also ordered Dixon to forfeit the firearm.
According to court documents, on April 4, 2024, deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance at a location in Tampa to locate and arrest Dixon on an outstanding warrant. Dixon exited a residence, placed a backpack in a vehicle, then ran from deputies when they approached the vehicle. While fleeing, Dixon dropped a Glock pistol with an extended magazine. After finding Dixon hiding underneath another vehicle parked in a nearby driveway, deputies retrieved and searched the backpack and found over 450 grams of marijuana, digital scales, and a large quantity of plastic baggies. The pistol had been reported stolen and the magazine recovered from the firearm had the capacity to store up to 22 rounds of ammunition.
Dixon, having previously been convicted of felony offenses for discharging a firearm in public and for possession of controlled substances with intent to sell or deliver, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
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.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)
As tensions rise between India and Pakistan, I feel compelled to speak; Not only as a Member of Congress, but as a man who has walked the streets of both nations, embraced their people, and listened to their hopes and fears firsthand.
I had the honor of visiting both India and Pakistan on congressional and humanitarian missions. In Delhi, I met with educators, students, and faith leaders who are working tirelessly to bridge divides and build a future of innovation and inclusion. In Islamabad, I sat with mothers who shared stories of generational pain, but also expressed dreams of peace for their children. What struck me most on both sides of the border was the shared humanity; the deep desire for dignity, stability, and progress.
These are not abstract foreign policy issues to me. The Indian and Pakistani communities in Chicago are part of my extended family. I have broken bread in their homes, celebrated their holidays, attended weddings and funerals. These are people who carry dual loves — for their countries of origin and for the American dream they are building here. They are watching these developments with heavy hearts, and so am I.
My father, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., always said that peace is not just the absence of war but the presence of justice. He traveled the world to help mediate conflict, whether in the Middle East, Central America, or apartheid South Africa. His mission lives on in my work today: to seek understanding over escalation and diplomacy over destruction.
It is imperative that both India and Pakistan step back from the brink. Nuclear-armed neighbors cannot afford the cost of war. Not in lives, not in global stability, and not in the futures of their youth. I urge both governments to recommit to dialogue, mutual respect, and a long-term vision for peace in South Asia.
I will continue to advocate for peace, justice, and the human dignity of all people. Let us rise above the cycles of history and choose a path forward — together.
Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson U.S. Representative, Illinois’s 1st Congressional District
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in McCracken County to assist small businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring April 2.
Beginning Wednesday, May 7, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the BRC to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The BRC’s hours of operation are listed below.
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
McCracken County
McCracken County Rescue Vehicle Building Entrance
3700 Coleman Road
Paducah, KY 42001
Opening: Wednesday, May 7, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
“SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.750% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 26, 2026.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) — China appreciates the Spanish government’s strong focus on developing relations with China and its consistent promotion of practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday.
The Chinese diplomat made this statement at a regular briefing, commenting at the request of one of the journalists on the recently published Spanish Foreign Policy Strategy for 2025-2028, which, in particular, emphasizes the need to deepen Spanish-Chinese relations of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Recalling Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s recent visit to China, Lin Jian said the two countries jointly issued an action plan to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership and proposed building a comprehensive strategic partnership with greater strategic determination and greater development vigor.
The official representative indicated that, in addition to this, the parties signed a package of documents on cooperation in the areas of economics, trade, education, science and technology, and also achieved important results in cooperation in such areas of the new energy sector as electric vehicles and traction batteries.
China hopes to work with Spain to further deepen open cooperation, especially in areas such as green development, artificial intelligence and digital economy, to improve the well-being of the peoples of both countries and give further impetus to China-EU relations, Lin Jian concluded. –0–
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced for drug trafficking and possessing firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Michael Roman Black, 32, of Bessemer, Alabama, to 212 months in prison. In January, Black pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, between July 2021 and September 2022, Black committed crimes on three separate occasions:
On July 22, 2021, a Bessemer police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Black after discovering it had a switched tag. As the officer approached the vehicle, Black opened the door. The officer observed several syringes lying in the driver’s side door pocket. After Black exited the vehicle pursuant to the officer’s orders, the officer searched the vehicle and recovered syringes, two vacuum sealed bags containing 892.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 60 rounds of Blackout .300 caliber ammunition. Officers searched Black’s person and recovered $8,254 in cash and a plastic bag containing 12 hydrocodone pills.
On December 22, 2021, Black sold 435 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer.
On September 7, 2022, an FBI Task Force Officer and FBI agents went to arrest him at a residence in Bessemer, Alabama. During the arrest, agents observed drug paraphernalia, cocaine, rifles, a handgun, and marijuana in plain view. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, FBI agents and the Bessemer Police Department Special Operations Unit recovered cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a Blackout .300 caliber rifle loaded with 100 rounds of ammunition, an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 (assault style) rifle loaded with 100 rounds of ammunition, four magazines that fit the AM-15 rifle, two loaded Glock 9mm pistols, an unloaded Glock 9mm pistol, ammunition, various magazines, and cash totaling $8,438. At the time of the search warrant, Black was a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, along with the Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Devontay Brian Johnson, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2022, Johnson sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked along Wilson Place in Huntington. During the transaction, Johnson held what appeared to be a semiautomatic rifle.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-24.
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Volunteers will hand out about 2 million St. George ribbons to visitors of Rosneft filling stations across Russia on May 8 and 9 as part of a large-scale campaign dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In 20 regions, customers of flagship stations will receive not only ribbons, but also commemorative badges.
Rosneft actively participates in patriotic events that promote civic responsibility and preserve cultural heritage. The company holds hundreds of events throughout Russia that are designed to pass on to the younger generation the historical memory of the immortal feat of our people who liberated the world from fascism.
The Company’s employees traditionally take part in the “St. George’s Ribbon” campaign. This year, the symbol of memory and gratitude to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War has already been received by employees of all Rosneft enterprises and their family members, as well as veterans and schoolchildren. Ribbons were distributed, among other things, as part of various campaigns and events, such as “Victory Vernissage”, “Memory Garden”, “Victory Awards”, “Victory Dictation”, “Victory Marathon”, during excursions to military glory museums and motor rallies.
Also in the coming days, visitors to Rosneft filling stations will be able to listen to songs from the war years – in a unique performance by the Sretensky Monastery Choir: congratulatory video cards with a QR code for listening to pieces from the new music program “Dedicated to the Great Victory” are shown on the screens near the cash registers. This joint project of the Choir and Rosneft is designed to preserve the memory of the heroic events of the Great Patriotic War.
The program includes the best songs from the war years, including: “Katyusha”, “Svyatnaya Voina”, “Ot Heroy Bygone Times”, “Dorogi”, “Proshanie Slavyanki”, “Smuglyanka”, “Nam Nadla Odno Pobedy” and many others. The production is based on real stories about the fates of heroes who walked the miles of war from Moscow to Berlin. These stories are harmoniously intertwined with great music and poetry of wartime and connect historical memory with the life of a modern person. The tour program includes concerts in 24 cities in the regions where Rosneft operates, and will end on July 3 with a concert in Sochi.
During the Victory Day celebrations, a field kitchen will also be set up on the territory of a number of Rosneft gas stations, themed photo zones will be organized, an exhibition of civilian vehicles from the 1940s will be held, and artists will perform songs from the war years.
Reference:
The retail network of NK Rosneft is the largest in the Russian Federation in terms of geographic coverage and number of stations. It covers 62 regions of Russia and includes about 3,000 stations.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft May 7, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
NOGALES, Ariz. — At an interagency press event flanked by a large display of seized weapons, senior area leadership from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona announced significant achievement in the interdiction of weapons and ammunition, investigation and prosecution of weapons traffickers.
“Weapon smuggling is not just a serious crime — it fuels violence on both sides of the border and severely undermines our nations laws,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge for ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Ray Rede. “Only through close coordination with partnered law enforcement agencies sharing intelligence, can we all work together to dismantle the networks behind weapons trafficking to keep our communities safe.”
“Our frontline CBP officers and agents continue to serve as the tip of the spear and their dedicated efforts through a series of operations such as Desert Lightning contributed to the successful interdiction of a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition this year,” said CBP Director, Field Operations Guadalupe Ramirez, Tucson Field Office. “The designation of the major Mexico drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations will ensure long, terrorism-enhanced sentences for those arrested and convicted pursuant to these interdiction efforts.”
“The partnerships witnessed today show that we are unified to end firearms trafficking and the growing threat posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber, Phoenix Field Division. “Stolen and straw purchased firearms pose a substantial threat to public safety and law enforcement. ATF will continue to track down firearms traffickers and hold them accountable.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready to support our law enforcement partners and prosecute weapons trafficking cases, especially those that support Foreign Terrorist Organizations engaged in violent activity throughout Mexico and other countries,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine, District of Arizona. “These efforts are already underway. Our goal is to stop this illegal activity and dismantle the organizations that the trafficking supports.”
Firearm seizures, along with other notable enforcement actions, investigations and prosecutions were announced at a press event held in Nogales, Ariz. with ICE HSI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede, SAC Arizona, CBP Director, Field Operations Guadalupe Ramirez, Tucson Field Office, ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber, Phoenix Field Division, U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine as they flanked a table of seized weapons, grenades and ammunition.
CBP conducted a series of outbound operations targeting southbound vehicular, pedestrian and commercial traffic at land border ports along the Southwest Border utilizing not only the skills and experience of CBP officers but technology, to include currency sniffing canines and nonintrusive imaging system technology. CBP officers also enlisted the support of Border Patrol agents, state and local law enforcement officers to serve as a force multiplier to augment these operations.
Such examinations have successfully stopped child abduction, interdicted criminals fleeing prosecution, interdicted illegal contraband such as controlled substances, precursor drugs, and arms, and uncovered myriad other violations involving currency reporting requirements, stolen vehicles, trade, and immigration.
CBP in collaboration with our federal and international partners during these outbound enforcement operations identified new targets and trafficking trends, concealment methods, and encouraged robust information and intelligence sharing to drive both U.S. and Mexican enforcement operations on the SWB.
In addition, this cadre representing the agencies who interdict, investigate and prosecute outbound weapons smuggling attempts emphasized that the consequences for such smuggling activity have been greatly enhanced due to a recent designation by President Trump of major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. These enhancements will result in lengthier prison sentences for those convicted of these crimes.
On Jan. 20, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14157, entitled Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Foreign Terrorists under the laws of the U.S., including the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 USC 1101 et seq. and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 USC 1701 et seq under which certain international cartels will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State announced the designation of Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha, Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel de Golfo, and Cárteles Unidos as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
HSI continues supporting outbound operations working hand in glove with CBP and partner agencies in efforts to secure both sides of the border.
See recorded streaming video of the southbound weapons press event. Also, please see b-roll and still photography from southbound weapons event in Nogales.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW DELHI, May 7 (Xinhua) — At least three civilians were killed and several others injured on Wednesday in clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the International Border and Line of Control dividing Kashmir, officials said.
On the night of 6-7 May 2025, the Pakistan Army resorted to indiscriminate firing, including shelling, from positions across the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Three innocent civilians were killed as a result of the indiscriminate firing and shelling, the Indian side said in a statement. “The Indian Army is responding proportionately,” the document added.
Three civilians were reportedly killed in Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Wednesday marked the 13th consecutive day that ceasefire violations were recorded along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Early on Wednesday, Indian forces struck nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. –0–
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
BECKLEY, W.Va. – After a one-day trial, a federal jury convicted Alfred Leslie Pittman, 36, of Harper Heights, on Monday, May 5, 2025, of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at trial proved that on April 26, 2023, Pittman was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Beckley Police Department officers in Beckley. During the traffic stop, officers found that Pittman possessed a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol with an extended magazine in the vehicle.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Pittman knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for robbery in the first degree in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 2, 2015.
Pittman is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
“The defendant knew he had been convicted of a felony, robbery in the first degree, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. He is now being held accountable for his criminal conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department for their investigative work in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Joshua Hanks and our trial team did an excellent job in this case and I commend them for securing the guilty verdict.”
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the jury trial.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-169.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says a report on the collapse of the George building conducted by the Council for the Built Environment and its body, the Engineering Council of South Africa, is expected to be completed by the end of May.
This, as Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the building collapse which claimed the lives of 34 people and seriously injured a further 28.
Macpherson said government’s responsibility now was to fix what is broken and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“That is why I have insisted that transparency guides our work, and that those who fail in their duties, whether public servants or professionals, must face the consequences,” the Minister said.
Last month an independent forensic investigation into the building collapse in the Western Cape revealed systemic failures at multiple levels.
The report cited widespread non-compliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and project personnel as key causes of the incident.
The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane, revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety (OHS) protocols.
Speaking at the one-year commemoration at the George Town Hall collapse on Tuesday, Macpherson said all role-players should work together to achieve justice for the victims and their families.
“We remember every life lost. We mourn every dream of a future life that was cut short that day. We honour and thank our brave men and women, as well as canines in the South African Police Service, who worked day and night to lead the rescue and recovery effort at that site,” Macpherson said.
He thanked Captain Johan de Lange and his team of investigators for building a strong legal case in search of justice for the victims.
“We honour the brave men and women from our emergency services who worked tirelessly for 11 days in an attempt to save those trapped under the rubble.
“They are heroes who worked through the most difficult circumstances, day and night, to rescue survivors. We feel the pain of families whose fathers did not come home to read their daughters and sons bedtime stories, or to kiss their wives goodnight.
“We are weighed down by the lifelong wait until we see them again in heaven. And we recognise every survivor who carries the physical and emotional scars of that day. This tragedy should never have happened.”
He said the pain, trauma, and human tragedy that occurred called on all to work together. – SAnews.gov.za
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
ALPHA GROUP INTERNATIONAL PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
06 MAY 2025
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
0.2p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
1,502,500
3.5460
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
1,502,500
3.5460
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.2p ORDINARY
SALE
5,000
2890p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
07 MAY 2025
Contact name:
MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:
01253 376539
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
Data source: FracFocus Note: To calculate the number of wells completed per location, we grouped wells within a 50-foot radius into single locations. We then identified wells completed by their completion start and end dates, counting concurrent completions when their completion periods overlapped.
We estimate that the average number of wells completed simultaneously at the same location in the Lower 48 states has more than doubled, increasing from 1.5 wells in December 2014 to more than 3.0 wells in June 2024. By completing multiple wells at once rather than sequentially, operators can accelerate their production timeline and reduce their cost per well. The increasing number of simultaneous completions reflects significant technological advances in hydraulic fracturing operations, particularly in equipment capabilities and operational strategies.
Using data from FracFocus to estimate simultaneous completions, we defined wells that were drilled within a 50-foot radius to be at a single location. FracFocus reports the well completion date for each of these wells, and we calculated the average number of completions per month. By grouping the wells together by location, we derived the number of wells completed on the same day at the same location across the Lower 48 states.
Simultaneous completions allow operators to reduce the time from post-drilling to production, lower overall completion costs per well, and increase operational efficiency through shared resources and equipment. Although the number of active locations has decreased since 2014, the number of wells has increased, likely because of simultaneous completions. Our analysis of FracFocus data suggests that simultaneous completions have increased since 2017, with operators now routinely completing multiple wells at a time on a single location. Although operators recognized the potential benefits of completing multiple wells at once prior to 2017, the practice initially faced technical barriers, such as the need for more hydraulic horsepower at the location to fracture multiple wells simultaneously.
Data source: FracFocus Note: We define locations as clusters of wells within a 50-foot radius. A single location may contain one or multiple wells.
The adoption of electric frac fleets, which provide better power management, has played a crucial role in the increase in simultaneous completions. Traditional operations relied entirely on diesel-powered pumps requiring constant fuel delivery by truck, but modern electric fleets use generators that can utilize field gas or compressed natural gas and electricity from the grid, if available.
The transition from diesel-powered to electric frac fleets has streamlined operations by reducing costs and minimizing transportation logistics by utilizing locally available fuel sources. Additionally, improvements in equipment monitoring, optimization, and automation have helped operators manage the complexity of simultaneous completions.
The trend toward more simultaneously completed wells continues to evolve as operators refine their simultaneous completion strategies. Although not all operators choose to perform simultaneous completions, the technology enabling these operations has become increasingly common across major shale basins. The penetration of electric frac fleets, advanced control systems, and improved process deployment suggests that simultaneous completions could continue to increase further.
Principal contributors: Faouzi Aloulou, Merek Roman, Jozef Lieskovsky
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
GLOBALDATA PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
06 MAY 2025
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
0.01p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
11,085,810
1.3745
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
11,085,810
1.3745
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
0.01p ORDINARY
SALE
3,260
187.25p
0.01p ORDINARY
SALE
1,750
191.88p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
07 MAY 2025
Contact name:
MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:
01253 376539
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
