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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Winter driving conditions expected on south Vancouver Island

    Drivers on Vancouver Island should expect icy roads overnight with quickly changing conditions that include snow and rain continuing through the remainder of this week.

    Bare and wet roads may quickly freeze with temperature drops creating the risk of icy conditions. Roads can freeze overnight as temperatures drop below zero. Vehicles stopped at intersections or in queues can melt ice, which then re-freezes as the engine cools down.

    The Province’s highway maintenance crews are working hard to manage these conditions by applying sand and brine to improve traction.

    During freeze/thaw conditions, drivers are urged to use caution, avoid travel in bad weather, if possible and expect delays.

    If you must travel, plan extra time for your journey, expect delays and ensure your vehicle is equipped with supplies, including food, water, blankets and whatever you need for pets. Winter tires are required on higher-elevation areas like the Malahat and Highway 4 to Tofino.

    For real-time road conditions, check the forecast and visit: https://www.drivebc

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Public lecture: Global famine after nuclear war – Vic

    Source: Victoria University of Wellington – Te Herenga Waka

    US climate scientist Professor Alan Robock will deliver a public lecture on 10 February 2025 about the environmental and human impacts of a nuclear winter.

    Professor Robock is a distinguished professor of climate science in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and an expert in climate change, geoengineering, and the climatic effects of nuclear war. (ref. https://people.envsci.rutgers.edu/robock/ )

    The lecture will explore the devastating effects of nuclear conflict, and propose policy changes that could reduce the risk of nuclear war and lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons.

    Lecture details

    5.30–7 pm, Monday 10 February

    Lecture Theatre 2

    Rutherford House

    33 Bunny Street

    Pipitea, Wellington.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash: Inglewood

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Inglewood this morning.

    The crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle was reported just after 8am.

    Sadly, the pedestrian died at the scene.

    The road has since reopened.

    Inquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Mile Plains — UPDATE: Missing person found safe

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The 22-year-old woman who was reported missing this past Saturday from Three Mile Plains has been found safe.

    The RCMP thanks Nova Scotians for assisting with missing persons files through social media shares and offering tips.

    File #: 2025-135395

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: White Supremacist Leader Found Guilty of Conspiring to Destroy Regional Power Grid

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – After a six-day trial, a federal jury found Brandon Russell, 29, a resident of Orlando, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility.

    Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office announced the jury’s verdict.

    “Hate-fueled violence has no place in a civilized society. Brandon Russell went well beyond his First Amendment rights, orchestrating a terrorist plot that would have harmed thousands of innocent people,” Barron said.  “It won’t always be popular, but this office will do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason.”  

    “Brandon Russell, a self-proclaimed National Socialist, conspired to ‘lay waste to the city of Baltimore’ through violence and destruction of critical infrastructure. Today’s verdict reinforces there is no tolerance for those who seek to harm our communities and use violence to further hate-filled beliefs,” DelBagno said. “I am proud of the tremendous work by FBI Baltimore’s Joint Terrorism Task Force which led this investigation. The FBI remains diligent in protecting Marylanders from national security and public safety threats every single day in conjunction with our dedicated law enforcement and private sector partners.”

    According to evidence presented at trial, from at least November 2022 to February 3, 2023, Russell conspired to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure, specifically transformers located within electrical substations, in furtherance of Russell’s racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist beliefs. Russell posted links to open-source maps of infrastructure, which included the locations of electrical substations, and he described how a small number of attacks on substations could cause a “cascading failure.” Russell also discussed maximizing the impact of the planned attack by hitting multiple substations at one time.

    Russell recruited a Maryland-based woman, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, to carry out the attacks in Baltimore and elsewhere. They planned to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. The intended monetary loss associated with the planned attacks would have exceeded $75 million. Clendaniel identified five substations to target, and Russell attempted to secure a weapon for Clendaniel. Clendaniel stated that if they hit a number of substations all in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city,” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” She further added, “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.”

    Russell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility. Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar will determine the sentence after accounting for the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. On September 25, 2024, U.S. District Judge Bredar sentenced Clendaniel, to 18 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring with Russell to damage or destroy an energy facility in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1366(a), and a concurrent sentence of 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 3 years of supervised release, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

    U.S. Attorney Barron commended the Baltimore FBI Field Office for its outstanding work in the investigation and praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Tampa, Washington, and New York Field Offices of the FBI for their valuable assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked the prosecution team for their hard work and diligence in the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. To report a Maryland-based hate crime, contact the FBI Baltimore field office at (410) 265-8080 or www.tips.fbi.gov.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – ABC Tropical North

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    ROB KIDD [HOST]: One of the big challenges that parents in regional and rural areas can face is what to do when kids start to look at tertiary studies. Traditionally, kids have had to leave home and head to the city, and that’s not always something that they really want to do or even have to do. But a new study hub will allow students to complete higher ed studies and stay in their hometowns. Funding has been announced for Regional University Study Hubs in Clermont and Moranbah, with hopes that they could actually be open by mid-year. Federal Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm, here with the ABC’s Jenae Madden.

    ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: What these hubs do is create an environment for people to thrive and learn. The staff who are appointed to run these centres come with good experience, so they’ve often got a degree themselves. They might be from a teaching background, or they might be from a community background, and they provide great mentorship to those students who are coming in. You’ve got to remember that a lot of the people studying at these centres are often first in family, so they don’t have an experience of studying at a higher education institution. So, that can be quite daunting. So, to have that support and give people the confidence, but also someone to turn to when you need help, these centres provide a remarkable service to those communities and those people who are studying for the first time. 
    They often have some meeting rooms where you can go and be by yourself and do your online tutorials, do that in private. Then they have some bigger areas where you can study by yourself, but in an environment where there’s other people who are dedicated and studying at the same time. And then you’ll often have people who are there as part of the workforce, who are there to answer questions or provide support and give people that encouragement they need or answer a question when they need it as well. So, they often operate outside of normal day hours. So, if you are working during the day or you’ve got caregiving responsibilities during the day and you need a quiet space at night, quite often they’re open later into the evening as well. They’re in the centre of town, so they’re easily accessible and they’re providing that service for people to go and study and have that opportunity to do that locally.

    JENAE MADDEN [JOURNALIST]: The stats say that half of young people across the country have tertiary education. Meanwhile, those in Clermont and Moranbah, that’s only at 16 per cent. Can you talk to us a little bit about this gap?

    CHISHOLM: There is no doubt there’s a gap between those living in rural and remote locations versus those in the cities when it comes to tertiary study. And it can be the remoteness, it can be the cost, it can be the thought of having to move away from home to study. All those things, I imagine, are factors. By having these centres, it means that you don’t have to move away. One of the other tasks that they do is they get out amongst the local high schools and communities and let people know that this service now exists, so that people who might be in Year 11 or 12 or maybe didn’t pursue study straight after school, they can go, alright, this is here in my local community, I can stay, live at home, enjoy that support, but study. And as I mentioned, the exciting thing from what I’ve seen is that a lot of the people who are studying at these centres are studying in the health field, are studying in the education field, and they’re exactly the type of workers that we need in these communities. These centres are making a significant contribution already across the country, and I’m confident that these two in Clermont and Moranbah will also do that.

    MADDEN: I guess there’s a focus on these study hubs, but are there opportunities for jobs in the region later on?

    CHISHOLM: Absolutely and the best examples of the centres that I’ve seen have a good link with local industry, and I’d expect that to be the case here, given the nature of Moranbah and Clermont and what the work is happening there, whether it be in mining or whether it be in renewable energy. There’s a wealth of opportunities, and I’d be very confident that these centres, once established, will have a really good industry linkage. We’ll also have that when it comes to local high schools, so that we can see those younger people identifying that, yes, I can stay and study locally, and there’s a range of jobs that I can go into as a result. That’s the perfect example of why these things will be significant contribution.

    MADDEN: The Clermont and Moranbah study hubs, they were announced in May. I’m wondering if there’s something new, like, has there been additional money given to this? I think it was 2 million initially.

    CHISHOLM: So, that was a State Government commitment to building the infrastructure and the State Government announcing they would help build new facilities out of their mining fund that they had. Our announcement today is that we’ll support them to establish themselves and give them some operational funds to employ those coordinators.

    MADDEN: Okay and what are the figures there?

    CHISHOLM: It’ll be negotiated between the Federal Government and the proponents. But for instance, it’s normally in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it can also include some money if they do need additional money for infrastructure. But that’s worked through with the proponents and the Federal Government.

    MADDEN: So, is there a baseline that’s being committed to or something like that?

    CHISHOLM: Well, it’s basically support to establish them, and then those negotiations will happen between the Education Department and the proponents.

    KIDD: Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm there speaking with Jenae Madden.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: GigaCloud Technology Inc Donates More than $1 Million in Furniture to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to Aid Wildfire Victims

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EL MONTE, Calif., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GigaCloud Technology Inc (Nasdaq: GCT) (“GigaCloud” or the “Company”), a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise, today announced it is donating more than $1 million in home furnishings to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to support the ReBUILD LA™ Wildfire Recovery campaign. The donation will directly benefit families who have lost their homes, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort.

    “Los Angeles is our home, and when people in our community lose their homes in disasters like wildfires, it impacts all of us,” said Larry Wu, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to help families rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort. Through our donation of over $1 million worth of furniture to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles, we aim to provide essential home furnishings and restore a sense of normalcy for those who have lost so much. GigaCloud stands with our community—as neighbors and as a company that cares.”

    GigaCloud’s donation includes nearly 90 SKUs totaling over 5,000 items, featuring a diverse range of indoor living furniture such as beds, mattresses, sofas, and chairs. The contribution also includes a significant number of ottomans and dressers, ensuring a wide variety of pieces to enhance functionality.

    Recognizing that mattresses were among the most urgently needed items and that they were not in stock at the time, the Company took action by reaching out to Restonic—a leading mattress supplier and recently onboarded GigaCloud B2B Marketplace seller—to purchase $150,000 worth of mattresses specifically for donation.

    “When GigaCloud reached out to us about the urgent need for mattresses among those impacted by the wildfire, their dedication to truly helping the community was evident,” said Laurie Tokarz, President of Restonic. “Instead of simply donating what was available, they made it a priority to source exactly what families needed most. At Restonic, providing comfort and support is at the heart of what we do, and we are honored to partner with GigaCloud and Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to help families rebuild their homes and lives.”

    GigaCloud’s deep ties to the Los Angeles community extend beyond this initiative. Under the leadership of Wu, who was recognized as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Greater Los Angeles Award winner by Ernst & Young LLP in 2024, the Company has consistently supported local causes, including ongoing donations to City of Hope and other community initiatives.

    The ReBUILD LA™ Wildfire Recovery campaign was created to support uninsured, underinsured, and low-income families impacted by wildfires. The campaign focuses on providing assistance with rebuilding and relocation to ensure families have safe and stable housing. Additionally, it offers essential home furnishings and supplies to help create new living spaces, as well as temporary rental and mortgage assistance for families whose homes are uninhabitable.

    “We are incredibly grateful to GigaCloud Technology for their generosity and shared commitment to rebuilding lives and restoring hope,” said Erin Rank, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles. “Their donation will provide families with essential home furnishings as they begin anew after the devastation of wildfires.”

    About GigaCloud Technology Inc

    GigaCloud Technology Inc is a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise. The Company’s B2B ecommerce platform, the “GigaCloud Marketplace,” integrates everything from discovery, payments and logistics tools into one easy-to-use platform. The Company’s global marketplace seamlessly connects manufacturers, primarily in Asia, with resellers, primarily in the U.S., Asia and Europe, to execute cross-border transactions with confidence, speed and efficiency. GigaCloud offers a comprehensive solution that transports products from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the end customer’s doorstep, all at one fixed price. The Company first launched its marketplace in January 2019 by focusing on the global furniture market and has since expanded into additional categories, including home appliances and fitness equipment. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.gigacloudtech.com/.

    About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

    Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) transforms neighborhoods throughout greater Los Angeles by bringing the community together to build affordable homes, provide critical home repairs and help families rebuild after natural disasters. Habitat LA strengthens families through helping them access affordable loans, housing counseling and down-payment assistance. For more information about Habitat LA visit https://www.habitatla.org/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GigaCloud Technology Inc
    Investor Relations
    ir@gigacloudtech.com

    PondelWilkinson, Inc.
    Laurie Berman (Investors) – lberman@pondel.com
    George Medici (Media) – gmedici@pondel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Votes to Confirm Chris Wright for Energy Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Chris Wright to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE):

    “Chris Wright understands the need to unleash American energy and bring down costs. He also recognizes the critical role that West Virginia will have in restoring our nation’s energy dominance – something we discussed during our recent meeting. I was proud to vote to confirm Mr. Wright to lead the Department of Energy, and I look forward to working with him and the Trump administration to cut red tape and advance solutions that will strengthen our energy sector and provide vital jobs,” Senator Capito said.

    Senator Capito previously met with Wright in January to discuss his nomination and learn more about his vision to lead the department.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep

    Source: The White House

    For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.

    Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:

    The list literally goes on and on — and it has all been happening for decades.

    Under President Trump, the waste, fraud, and abuse ENDS NOW.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: A Plan for Establishing a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund

    Source: The White House

         By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the long-term financial health and international leadership of the United States, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Policy and Purpose.  It is the policy of the United States to maximize the stewardship of our national wealth for the sole benefit of American citizens.  To this end, it is in the interest of the American people that the Federal Government establish a sovereign wealth fund to promote fiscal sustainability, lessen the burden of taxes on American families and small businesses, establish economic security for future generations, and promote United States economic and strategic leadership internationally. 

    Sec. 2.  Sovereign Wealth Fund.  The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, in close coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, shall develop a plan for the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund consistent with section 1 of this order.  The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit this plan to the President within 90 days of the date of this order.  Such plan shall include recommendations for funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structure, and a governance model.  The plan shall also include an evaluation of the legal considerations for establishing and managing such a fund, including any need for legislation. 

    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump is Delivering on His Commitment to Protect our Kids

    Source: The White House

    Last week, President Donald J. Trump took executive action to protect American children from irreversible chemical and surgical mutilation.

    It’s already having its intended effect — preventing children from being maimed and sterilized by adults perpetuating a radical, false claim that they can somehow change a child’s sex. Hospitals around the country are taking action to downsize or eliminate their so-called “gender-affirming care” programs:

    • NEW YORK: NYU Langone Health has started canceling appointments for so-called “gender-affirming care” involving minors. They canceled appointments for “two 12-year-olds who had been scheduled to receive implants that dispense puberty-blocking medication.”
    • COLORADO: Denver Health announced it would stop performing sex change surgeries on minor children, while UCHealth said it is ending so-called “gender-affirming care” for all minors.
    • VIRGINIA: VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond have “suspended” providing transgender-related medication and surgeries for minors, while UVA Health has “suspended” all transgender-related services for minors.
    • WASHINGTON, D.C.: Children’s National Hospital has “paused” prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, while Northwest Washington Hospital has done the same.
    • ILLINOIS: Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is “reviewing” their transgender-related services for minors.
    • PENNSYLVANIA: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is “closely reviewing” the transgender-related services they provide for minors.

    President Trump will always protect American children.

    Promises made, promises kept – again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border

    Source: The White House

         By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

         Section 1.  Background. On February 1, 2025, I determined that the failure of Canada to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept drug trafficking organizations, other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  To address that threat, I invoked my authority under section 1702(a)(1)(B) of IEEPA to impose ad valorem tariffs on articles that are products of Canada.

         Sec. 2.  Immediate Steps.  Pursuant to section 3 of my Executive Order of February 1, 2025, titled “Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Northern Border” (“the Executive Order of February 1, 2025”), I have determined that the Government of Canada has taken immediate steps designed to alleviate the illegal migration and illicit drug crisis through cooperative actions.  Further time is needed, however, to assess whether these steps constitute sufficient action to alleviate the crisis and resolve the unusual and extraordinary threat beyond our northern border.

         Sec. 3.  Pause.  (a)  In recognition of the steps taken by the Government of Canada, and in order to assess whether the threat described in section 1 of this order has abated, the additional 25 percent ad valorem rates of duty, and 10 percent ad valorem rates of duty as to energy products, shall be paused and will not take effect until March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time.  Accordingly, section 2(a), section 2(b), section 2(e), and section 2(f) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, are amended by striking the term “February 4, 2025,” where it appears in those sections and inserting in lieu thereof the term “March 4, 2025.”  The exceptions set forth in section 2(a) and section 2(b) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, related to covered goods loaded onto a vessel at a port of entry or in transit on the final mode of transport prior to entry into the United States are, hereby, withdrawn.
    (b)  During this pause, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security shall continue to assess the situation at our northern border, as provided in section 3 of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025.
    (c)  If the illegal migration and illicit drug crises worsen, and if the Government of Canada fails to take sufficient steps to alleviate these crises, the President shall take necessary steps to address the situation, including by immediate implementation of the tariffs described in the Executive Order of February 1, 2025.

         Sec. 4.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

         Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Career and Technical Education Month, 2025

    Source: The White House

    Hardworking Americans are the backbone of our great Nation.  Our workforce is the best in the world, and my Administration is dedicated to giving our students and workers the tools they need to succeed in a time where emerging technologies are advancing at an unprecedented pace.  During Career and Technical Education Month, we reaffirm our belief in excellence by putting America first and investing in the best training and retraining opportunities that will result in a stronger workforce and a booming economy.

         Under my leadership, America will once again champion a culture where hard work is rewarded and equip our people with real skills for real careers that our communities are in desperate need to fill.  During my first term, I proudly signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which provided millions of students with excellent vocational opportunities.  And we saw unparalleled growth and economic development, empowering students and workers to undertake new high-wage careers, especially in science, technology, and engineering.  We will make technology work for Americans, not Americans for technology.

         America is well-positioned at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship, and our history of ingenuity and grit is unrivaled.  Over the next 4 years, we will rebuild our economy, raise wages, and strengthen families.  My Administration will invest in the next generation and expand access to high-quality career and technical education for all Americans.  We will unleash the enormous potential of the American people and provide students and workers with the necessary skills training to ensure that our Nation dominates the 21st century.

         This February, we celebrate our incredible workers who are making America bigger, better, and more beautiful than ever before.  By offering more alternatives to higher education, we will train college-aged kids in relevant skills for the 21st century economy.  We will put America first, invest in our people, and lead the world into a new golden age.

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    third day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ice isn’t nice: Use caution during freezing weather

    Drivers are advised that temperature fluctuations over the remainder of the week across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley can lead to icy road conditions.

    Wet roads can be fine during warmer daytime temperatures, but as temperatures drop below freezing, they can become icy. As well, the warm engines of vehicles stopped at intersections or in queues can melt ice or snow, which subsequently re-freezes.

    The Province’s highway maintenance contractors are out in challenging conditions and are applying brine, salt and sand to break up sections of compact snow and ice to restore traction. Tow trucks are also strategically deployed along major routes to help keep traffic moving.

    During these freeze/thaw conditions, drivers are reminded to use caution, equip your vehicle with snow tires, avoid travel in poor weather conditions when possible, and prepare for possible delays.

    While highway maintenance crews work to improve road conditions and reduce hazards for drivers, drivers are asked to leave space for these vehicles and move over safely when they see a vehicle with an amber light approaching. Drivers are also reminded that it’s unsafe to pass a snowplow on the right.

    For up-to-date information about road conditions, travellers should continue to monitor the forecast and visit: https://www.drivebc.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai on the U.S. tariff delay

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

    “Today’s announcement that the United States is delaying the implementation of tariffs on Canadian goods by at least one month is a step in the right direction.

    “I was also pleased to hear the long-overdue news that our two countries will be working together to combat the flow of illegal drugs across the border in both directions. All of us know someone who has been impacted by the substance use health emergency; many of our families have been impacted directly. Hopefully this joint action will mean fewer lives are lost due to toxic drug use here in the Yukon.

    “While today’s news was positive, it does not resolve the uncertainty facing Yukon workers, businesses and communities. Here in the Yukon, our economy depends on fair and predictable trade with American partners. These tariffs – if and when they come into effect – threaten jobs, increase costs for families and disrupt supply chains that have benefited both sides of the border, for decades.

    “The Government of Yukon will pause our retaliatory measures and we will continue to work during this period to ensure we’re ready to respond if needed in the future.

    “Yukon businesses and communities cannot plan for the future under the constant uncertainty of potential trade barriers. The U.S. must recognize that Canada is not just their neighbour – we are their closest ally and their most trusted economic partner.

    “I will continue to work with the Prime Minister and fellow Premiers to protect Canadians and to advocate for policies that defend our economy and our way of life.

    “At the same time, we must take this as a wake-up call to strengthen our own economy by prioritizing purchases that are made locally or in Canada. Our government is committed to working with business leaders, First Nations partners and northern communities to ensure more of the goods and services we rely on are sourced right here in Canada.

    “I encourage all Yukoners to keep supporting local businesses and prioritize buying Canadian-made products whenever possible.

    “Now more than ever, we need long-term stability in our trading relationship with the U.S. and a strong, self-reliant Canadian economy that puts our workers and industries first.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Children’s Commissioner welcomes national review of healthcare for trans and gender diverse children

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    The National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has welcomed the Federal Health Minister’s announcement of a national review of healthcare for trans and gender diverse children. 

    Announced by Health Minister Mark Butler on Friday, the review will be led by the National Health and Medical Research Council and will examine aspects of children’s gender-affirming care, including the use of puberty blockers.

    Commissioner Anne Hollonds said: ‘In order to safeguard the best interests of children, it’s important that the healthcare we provide for children is based on the highest possible standards, and that these standards are regularly and rigorously evaluated.

    ‘This national review will provide national guidelines to ensure consistency in evidence-based healthcare and hopefully will lead to longitudinal research.

    “It’s also important that young people across our country have equitable access to healthcare. Currently it’s a postcode lottery and there are too many communities where children and their families cannot access comprehensive medical services, including mental health care and specialist clinical services for trans and gender diverse children.

    “I welcome this review and the opportunity it provides to ensure a consistent approach across all states and territories for the delivery of healthcare services for young people who are trans and gender diverse.  

    “Importantly, this national review will also help to put the focus on the needs of children, not the politics, and make the wellbeing of Australia’s children a national priority.

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or +61 457 281 897 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ACP Statement on Confirmation of Chris Wright as U.S. Secretary of Energy

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: ACP Statement on Confirmation of Chris Wright as U.S. Secretary of Energy

    WASHINGTON, February 3, 2025 –The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released the following statement from Jason Grumet, ACP CEO following the U.S. Senate confirmation of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy:
    “The American Clean Power Association congratulates Chris Wright on taking the helm at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). We look forward to partnering to advance DOE’s essential role in driving innovation, ensuring energy security, and advancing clean energy solutions. ACP is committed to working with Secretary Wright to address and meet our nation’s rapidly growing electricity demand.”
    ###

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins NewsNation: President Trump Showcases the Art of the Deal with Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation to discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China to combat the deadly fentanyl and border crisis our nation is facing. Within days of the announcement, President Trump’s America First foreign policy was vindicated once again as leaders from Mexico and Canada came to the negotiating table and promised to take care of their side of the border and do their part to alleviate the crises they’ve allowed to unfold at the detriment of American citizens. 

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview. 
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include: 
    On President Trump getting Mexico, Canada to step up to plate and take care of their side of border:
    “This is the art of the deal. This is who Donald Trump is. I just want to emphasize that this is a drug war and not a trade war. Every day we lose about 200 Americans from fentanyl poisoning. We lose more Americans every year from fentanyl poisoning than we did during the entire Vietnam War. So to President Trump, this is very serious. It’s good to see Mexico and Canada both step up to the plate and say, we’re going to be responsible for our side of the border.” 
    “I want to emphasize one more thing is that a lot of these fentanyl precursors are now being made in laboratories in Canada, so Mr. Trudeau needs to be smashing those laboratories up as well. So a great day for President Trump. A huge victory for America.” 
    On President Trump’s successful record using tariffs to put America First:
    “We saw less than 2% inflation when President Trump implemented these tariffs as well. We saw his trade agreements work as well. What would help Americans is to lower the interest rates and lower the price of gasoline. That’s going to lead to lower prices of groceries. That’s how we take relief on the inflation. I want Americans to realize that we have a trillion-dollar trade deficit overall, a trillion dollars, almost a trillion dollars…”
    “When Joe Biden’s policies kicked in, his trade deficits with Mexico grew from, I think, 80 billion to 130 with Canada, they went from 20 to 60 billion as well. And we saw that the trade these tariffs worked so well on China that Joe Biden kept them. And even his own Secretary of Treasury, Janet Yellen said that we need to keep them to protect jobs. So number one, this is about national security. Number two, this is also going to bring jobs back to America as well, which is a good thing. So I think there’s some real good logic behind what President Trump is doing.”
    On President Trump ensuring American farmers are taken care of:
    “I have confidence in President Trump. 90% of rural Americans voted for President Trump. Every time I see him, he asks me how my farmers are doing. And when we had this discussion a couple weeks ago, he reminded me that during the situation described, he took part of that tariff money on China and gave $28 billion to farmers, so he’s going to do everything he can to make sure farmers are taken care of. The number one thing he could do for farmers right now is lower interest rates. That’s what’s killing the American farmer right now are interest rates. We can do 45Z which is something when the biofuels industry, there’s so many more things that President Trump can and will do for the American farmer. You can’t look at these things just a little isolation. Farmers are first and foremost, they’re farmers…If this is a price we have to pay to make our families safe, then so be it. But I have faith that President Trump is going to work through all of this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall to HHS Nominee RFK Jr. in Senate HELP Hearing: America’s Farmers and Ranchers Fit Into MAHA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. questioned President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in his Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee confirmation hearing. 
    In the hearing, Senator Marshall asked RFK Jr. to share who he was fighting for and his top priorities as President Trump’s HHS Secretary. RFK Jr. described America’s dire chronic disease epidemic and emphasized the national security concerns related to our nation’s poor health. He shared how combating chronic disease and creating positive, long-term health outcomes for all Americans is necessary to secure America’s future for generations to come.  
    Growing up in 4H working on farms and having represented farmers as a litigatory, RFK Jr. shared his compassion for America’s food producers, and how America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement – stating that MAHA will not succeed without the help of America’s food producers. 

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full line of questioning.
    Highlights from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Senate HELP Hearing Responses to Senator Marshall’s questions include: 
    RFK Jr. on combatting America’s chronic disease epidemic: 
    “When I was a 10-year-old boy and my uncle was in the White House, chronic disease among American children was 2% – today it’s 66%. The cost of chronic disease to our country when my uncle was president was zero. There were not even treatments for chronic disease at that time.”
    “The cost [of chronic disease] is $4.45 trillion and is bankrupting our country. 77% of American kids can’t qualify for military service. 38% of teens, according to NIH’s last report, which was three weeks ago, 38% are diabetic or pre-diabetic.”
    “The ship is sinking and nobody’s paying attention to it…We have 252 million Americans who are suffering from chronic disease, and none of them [Democrats] mentioned diabetes, didn’t mention heart disease, they didn’t mention cancers yesterday. We need to refocus if we’re going to save our country. This is existential. Our country is not going to be destroyed because we got the marginal tax rate wrong – is going to be destroyed if we get this issue wrong. And I am in a unique position to be able to stop this epidemic. 
    RFK Jr. on the importance of America’s farmers and ranchers to the MAHA movement:
    “MAHA will not succeed without the cooperation and partnership of agricultural producers, of farmers and ranchers across this country. I was a 4H kid. I grew up working on ranches, and I’ve worked for years representing farmers in various forms of litigation.”
    “Thomas Jefferson said that American democracy is rooted in 10s of 1000s of independent freeholds owned by farmers. We are losing farmers today, and we can’t afford to lose a single farmer. And on my watch, I do not want to lose a single farmer.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Votes to Confirm Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.03.25

    Senator Worked to Advance Wright through ENR Committee, Secure Support for Confirmation

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Hoeven helped introduce Wright during his nomination hearing and worked to advance his nomination through the committee and full Senate. The senator secured commitments from Wright during his confirmation process to advance key priorities for North Dakota. Among other efforts, Hoeven stressed the need to support the development of new technologies like carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), including Project Tundra. Such innovations will empower the U.S. to produce more energy from all of its abundant resources, including its vast coal, oil and gas reserves, while improving environmental stewardship.

              “Chris Wright is another great addition to the Trump administration, bringing a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to the job of Energy Secretary,” said Hoeven. “He knows what it takes to develop new technologies and make them commercially-viable. In North Dakota, we’ve seen firsthand his success in the private sector with the growth in the Bakken. We look forward to working with him in his new role to build upon that record of innovation and unleash America’s energy potential, including through North Dakota’s leadership in CCUS technologies.”

    Securing North Dakota’s Leadership in CCUS

    Hoeven has worked over the past 15 years to advance North Dakota’s leadership in cracking the code on CCUS technologies to enable the next generation of clean, coal-fired electric power and ensure continued access to this reliable, affordable and abundant energy source. Among other priorities, his efforts have included:

    • Putting in place the legal, tax and regulatory requirements to advance CCUS.
    • Making North Dakota the first state to be granted regulatory primacy for Class VI wells, to ensure CO2 is safely and securely stored below the surface.
    • Securing a demonstration grant from the Department of Energy to advance Project Tundra, enabling the coal-fired Milton R. Young power plant to capture and store 4 million metric tons of CO2 per year.
    • Advancing Basin’s Dakota Gasification synfuels plant, the largest coal-based carbon capture project in the world, which is currently in operation and captures up to 2.25 million metric tons of CO2 per year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: Brooke Rollins Unanimously Approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee, Advances to Full Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.03.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Agriculture, was approved unanimously by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

    “Brooke Rollins is an excellent choice to lead the Department of Agriculture. She received unanimous support from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and now the next stop is the Senate floor,” said Hoeven. “With her background growing up on a ranch and her commitment to support our producers, Brooke will be a great partner on behalf of our farmers and ranchers.”

    During Rollins’ hearing before the Agriculture Committee, Hoeven outlined a broad range of efforts to strengthen U.S. agriculture and secured commitments from Rollins to work with him on:

    • Passing a strong farm bill that makes needed investments in the farm safety net, among other producer priorities.
    • Implementing and quickly delivering the $33.5 billion in disaster assistance that he worked to secure for producers in the year-end funding legislation.
      • The assistance package addresses losses from both natural disasters and challenging markets and has funding specifically set aside for livestock losses due to wildfire.
    • Ensuring access for agriculture producers to U.S. Forest Service lands in North Dakota, including for grazing on the national grasslands.
    • Improving access to foreign markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
    • Visiting North Dakota to learn firsthand about precision agriculture efforts in the state, including the partnership between Grand Farm, North Dakota State University and the Agricultural Research Service.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: We’ve heard you.

    Source: ACT Party

    The Government has been getting it in both ears over new climate commitments it’s made under the Paris Agreement.

    James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern signed us up to impossible targets. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is trying to make them workable.

    As ACT’s Agriculture and Rural Communities spokesman, I’m writing to say: We’ve heard you.

    As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, New Zealand is required to sign up to increasingly ambitious emissions targets. That’s what has led to the Climate Change Minister’s latest commitment.

    However, ACT has heard serious concern over the economic impact of the Government’s commitment, including costs likely to be lumped on farmers.

    Yesterday, the Herald interviewed David Seymour about the Paris Agreement:

    We know New Zealand farmers are the most efficient in the world, and it does not make sense to reduce New Zealand food production only to see other less efficient farmers overseas picking up the slack.

    In short, ACT is listening, and we encourage you to pass on your concerns to the Climate Change Minister and your local MP.

    Meanwhile, ACT’s Ministers in the Government are delivering common sense, affordable policy in key areas that affect farmers such as replacing the handbrake that is the RMA, simplifying freshwater farm plans, and stopping the implementation of last Government’s attack on property rights with their directive on Significant Natural Areas. I’ve also lodged a member’s bill in Parliament’s ballot to stop councils from considering local emissions when granting resource consents.

    ACT is determined not to sacrifice farmers and growers at the altar of the climate gods. There is more work to be done to return to common sense, and I hope we’ll have your support.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Otaika homicide: Man charged as Police seek sightings of vehicle of interest

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A man has been charged with murder over a Maungatapere teenager’s death in Otaika last week.

    Several search warrants have been carried out over recent days in the homicide investigation into the death of 18-year-old Kyle Jenkins.

    Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, of Whangārei CIB, says a person of interest was being spoken to as of late yesterday.

    Enquiries have culminated in a 20-year-old man being charged in the early hours of the morning.

    “This man been charged with Kyle’s murder and will be appearing in the Whangārei District Court today,” he says.

    “This is a significant development in our investigation which has progressed rapidly in recent days, along with information that has been coming from public appeals.”

    Kyle’s family has been advised of an arrest being made.

    “Our thoughts are with his family, as they continue to grieve the loss of a son and prepare for his funeral today,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.

    • POLICE SEEK SIGHTINGS OF VEHICLE

    The investigation team is seeking sightings of a vehicle of interest in the homicide investigation.

    That vehicle is a red Daihatsu. It has since been recovered by Police through the course of the investigation.

    It is distinctive, with faded red panels on the front driver’s side of the vehicle.

    Police are revising the window of interest to investigators.

    “We need to hear from anyone who saw this vehicle in the Otaika Valley Road and Mangakahia Road areas on Tuesday 28 January, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.

    “If you have dashcam footage, or can assist with the movements of this vehicle, please contact us.”

    The public should expect to see Police deployed back into the area later today.

    It will have been a week since Kyle was allegedly murdered.

    “Police will be conducting checkpoints in the Otaika Valley Road area tonight, as well as an area canvass as part of our appeal,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.

    An online portal has been set up for any footage or photographs to be uploaded.

    Please go to https://distant.nc3.govt.nz

    Anyone with further information should call Police on 105 and reference the file number 250129/0335.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police appeal for information in relation to missing person, Thomas Basire

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd, Hutt Valley Area Investigations Manager:

    Police are appealing for the publics assistance to identify an associate of a Hutt Valley man, missing for over two months.

    28-year-old Tom Basire, was last seen wearing the clothing pictured, walking towards Petone on the stop bank near the Ewen Bridge on Railway Ave, 24 November 2024

    Police have been told that Tom would occasionally visit an associate that lives in Petone.  No other details of this associate are known, and Police are asking for the public’s help to identify this person.

    Last week, Police’s Search and Rescue Team oversaw a search of the Hutt River and riverbank. Police can now advise, no items of interest were located in this search, however, footage which was taken during the search continues to be analysed.

    Police have previously advised that it is out of character for Tom to not be in contact with his family, especially missing seeing his family on his birthday in December.

    Both Police and Tom’s family have serious concerns for his wellbeing and would like to see him return safely

    If you have any information on Tom’s whereabouts or the identity an associate of his from the Petone area, please update us online now or call 105, quoting reference number 241213/6143.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “It’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.”

    Murray: “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to sound the alarm over Elon Musk and his team at the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” being granted access to the federal government’s central payments system, which handles $6 trillion and the vast majority of all federal disbursements each year. Musk and his associates were granted access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems the same weekend they threatened their way into the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and seized Office of Personnel Management (OPM) computer systems. New reporting indicates they are now forcing their way into Small Business Administration (SBA) systems, as well. 

    Murray and her colleagues outlined the threat of Musk and the administration abusing the Treasury’s payment system to illegally block funding and payments, the danger of allowing Musk access to Americans’ most sensitive personal data, and how this administration’s historic corruption and illegal funding freezes are putting our country’s economy and national security in jeopardy. 

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Well we’re two weeks in, and it’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.

    “In particular, we learned that Elon Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s most sensitive payment system handling six trillion dollars every year and managing nearly all federal disbursements. It’s a system that contains extremely sensitive personal and commercial information, and I’ve been hearing from people across my state who are truly alarmed about what Musk and his associates having access to this system could mean for their data—and for funding that they count on. 

    “Let’s not mince words here. An unelected, unaccountable billionaire—with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China, and an indiscreet axe to grind against perceived enemies—is hijacking our nation’s most sensitive financial data system and its checkbook so that he can illegally block funds to our constituents, based on the slightest whim or wildest conspiracy. Funds—mind you—that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis. 

    “Some Republicans are trying to suggest that Musk only has ‘viewing access’ to Treasury’s highly sensitive payment system as if that’s acceptable either. But why on earth should we believe that—particularly when he is saying the exact opposite loudly and repeatedly for everyone to see? 

    “What funds will Elon target next—life-saving medical research? Housing assistance? Food banks? We already know he is falsely attacking faith-based organizations that help people—and promising to cut off funds based off conspiracy theories.

    “The world’s richest man has vowed to cut off funding that helps the least among us. Think about that. And next—think about how many dollars he himself makes from government contracts. And the Trump Administration is handing the keys of the Treasury over to him? It does not get more blatantly corrupt than that. 

    “And let me underscore just how dangerous this is—because now that Trump has handed over Treasury’s checkbook, what if Elon decides he doesn’t like how Ford is getting federal funds to build an EV battery plant, what’s next? All Elon has to do is say ‘oh, they’re woke,’ and he can convince Trump to illegally cut off those funds.

    “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.

    “Now, make no mistake: Trump and Musk have absolutely zero legal authority to hold up any federal payments that are law, but that has not stopped them so far.

    “This country is still reeling from the chaos of last week’s blanket spending freeze and Trump’s illegal executive orders to withhold funds are still not yet revoked. Trump and Musk have yet to find a law they think applies to them.

    “That is not how things work in this country. We have a democracy. We have checks and we have balances—where the President is accountable to Congress, where we pass the laws, and he implements them.

    “But some of my colleagues across the aisle seem to be forgetting that our democracy does not work by magic. We have to do our part to hold the President accountable. Our job is not to say ‘yes’ to everything any President does—no matter how lawless or harmful. 

    “Democrats are pushing back with the tools that we have. We will speak out, we will press this administration, we will open investigations, and we will demand accountability. The one tool we do not have is the majority in this Congress. 

    “So that means our Republican colleagues have to say ‘enough.’ We need them to join us. We need them to stand up to the corruption and lawlessness and stand up for the people they represent.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Join Senators in Bipartisan Push to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Reinstating Expanded Global Gag Rule, Targeting Reproductive Health Care

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and other colleagues in reintroducing their Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act, bipartisan legislation to permanently repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule or “Mexico City Policy,” which bans U.S. federal funding for foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that use their own, non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services or information about abortion. Recently, the Trump administration reinstated its expanded Global Gag Rule, after the Biden administration had rescinded the policy in 2021.

    The Global Gag Rule forces clinics to choose between providing limited reproductive health services while accepting U.S. foreign aid, or providing inclusive family planning and reproductive health care while forgoing U.S. aid. It means organizations that receive U.S. international aid for other reasons—such as HIV prevention, maternal health, or fighting diseases like malaria—cannot educate their communities on pregnancy options, including safe abortion care, or their funding will be pulled.

    In addition to reinstating the harmful Global Gag Rule, President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to freeze all U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days. Notably, in response to widespread public backlash, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on January 28th a waiver for “life-saving humanitarian assistance”—but the waiver explicitly excludes lifesaving family planning programs. If these programs remain shut down for the full 90-day review period, 11.7 million women and girls will be denied birth control, resulting in 4.2 million unintended pregnancies, and 8,340 will die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk are now illegally attempting to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides critical humanitarian aid overseas that supports U.S. national security interests.

    “When we invest in a safer and healthier world, that pays dividends for America. Make no mistake: the Global Gag Rule prevents NGOs from using their own resources to provide lifesaving reproductive health services, and it forces organizations to make impossible choices that restrict access to care for some of the most desperate people across the globe—that’s why I’m glad to once again join my colleagues in introducing legislation to repeal this dangerous policy,” said Senator Murray.“It is unsurprising, but extremely telling, that some of the very first moves of Donald Trump’s second administration prioritize attacking reproductive health care and targeting vulnerable women and girls around the world.”

    “The Trump administration is stripping U.S. funding from international aid groups that even just discuss abortion with their patients. Congress must permanently repeal the global gag rule — these organizations provide essential health care and save lives,” said Senator Cantwell.

    Senators Murray and Cantwell have long supported the Global HER Act and pushed to repeal the Global Gag Rule, including speaking out forcefully against the expanded Global Gag Rule Donald Trump issued at the beginning of his first administration.  

    Among other things, the Global HER Act:

    • Ensures that eligible foreign NGOs can continue to operate U.S.-supported health programs abroad, particularly those that provide legal health services to women — including counseling, referral and legal abortion services — with their own, non-U.S. funds;
    • Guarantees that foreign NGOs will not be forced to sacrifice their right to free speech in order to participate in U.S.-supported programs abroad; and
    • Expands access to health programs for women around the world to improve health and development outcomes for entire families, communities and developing countries.

    Full text of the Global HER Act is available HERE.

    In addition to Senators Murray, Cantwell, Shaheen, and Murkowski, the Global HER Act is also cosponsored by Senators Merkley (D-OR), Warnock (D-GA), Durbin (D-IL), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Welch (D-VT), Murphy (D-CT), Reed (D-RI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Hirono (D-HI), Bennet (D-CO), Whitehouse (D-RI), Kaine (D-VA), Rosen (D-NV), Schatz (D-HI), Hickenlooper (D-CO), King (I-ME), Padilla (D-CA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Booker (D-NJ), Baldwin (D-WI), Coons (D-DE), Ossoff (D-GA), Sanders (I-VT), Warren (D-MA), Slotkin (D-MI), Duckworth (D-IL), Wyden (D-OR), Smith (D-MN), Kelly (D-AZ), Markey (D-MA), Lujan (D-NM), Alsobrooks (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), Hassan (D-NH), Gillibrand (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Schiff (D-CA), Schumer (D-NY) and Gallego (D-AZ). Companion version is being led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Lois Frankel (D, FL-22).

    The Global HER Act is endorsed by 58 organizations representing global health, women’s reproductive rights, women’s equality, civil rights and other relevant advocacy constituencies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Releases Statement on President Trump’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after President Trump signed a new executive order creating a sovereign wealth fund.
    “Let’s use it to save Social Security!” said Dr. Cassidy. “I have been advocating for years to create a new fund—separate from the Social Security Trust Fund—that invests in the growth of the American economy. President Trump’s new sovereign wealth fund is an excellent step in that direction. We must keep the trust of the American people. Americans don’t want this being used on just anything. Social Security is a dedicated process that can free money for other priorities and preserve seniors’ benefits.”
    Background
    Cassidy led a bipartisan working group to preserve and protect Social Security. In 2023, he released the inaugural Bill on the Hill video where he asked Capitol Hill visitors from across the country their thoughts on the looming benefit cuts to Social Security and presented his “Big Idea.”
    In December, Cassidy successfully demanded a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, leading to the bill being signed into law. In July and again in December, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to repeal WEP and GPO as part of his “Big Idea.”
    Last March, Cassidy grilled U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on President Biden’s plan to address Social Security, to which Secretary Yellen admitted “the president doesn’t have a plan,” to save Social Security.
    Cassidy has discussed the “Big Idea” at a public forum with AARP on the future of Social Security, outlined his Social Security plan in a fireside chat with the Bipartisan Policy Committee, and authored op-eds in the Washington Examiner in July, the Wall Street Journal in March, and State Affairs and Washington Post in May. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Blasts Dangerous & Unprecedented Move by Trump Admin. That Puts U.S. Economy and National Security At Risk and Jeopardizes Americans’ Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Treasury, sounded the alarm that the Trump Administration is putting the U.S. economy and national security at risk; needlessly turning Americans’ sensitive personal information over to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also owns the social media platform known as X (formerly Twitter); and creating a pathway for the Trump Administration to potentially block payments to any individual or entity perceived as a political opponent of President Donald Trump.

    Reed is seeking answers from new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following reports that he granted access to a highly sensitive Treasury Department payment system to personnel affiliated with Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taskforce. 

    In a letter, Reed urged Bessent: “To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.”

    The U.S. Treasury’s federal payment system, which is maintained by non-political civil servants, disperses trillions of dollars each year, such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government.  No previous Treasury Secretary has ever allowed Treasury’s payment system and the goldmine of sensitive personal data it processes to be accessed by a partisan task force.  Trump loyalists could use this information to illegally manipulate or operationally shut down individual U.S. government payments to any disfavored entity or perceived opposition of the President’s.

    “Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments,” Reed wrote.

    The previous person in charge of Treasury’s payment system, the Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury, who served in that position since 2014 — and who President Donald Trump named as acting Treasury Secretary while Mr. Bessent went through the nominations process — was put on paid administrative leave and then resigned after refusing to do what Bessent did: spark an unprecedented payment system crisis by turning over the keys to America’s payment system to an unelected billionaire with significant foreign business ties and his partisan cronies and potentially empowering DOGE to go after President Trump’s perceived enemies.

    Reed warned that Secretary Bessent’s departure from long-standing Treasury procedure could endanger the nation’s financial well-being and harm ordinary citizens.  Granting Elon Musk’s team the single most comprehensive dataset on virtually every American with no checks, transparency, or accountability is extremely dangerous and unprecedented. 

    “It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest,” Reed wrote.

    Reed urged Treasury to take four key steps immediately, including:

    •           Revoking the access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not been property vetted;

    •           Appointing a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refusing to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Taking steps to protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals who were granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    Reed also demanded written responses to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Full text of the letter follows:

    February 3, 2025

    The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary

    U.S. Department of the Treasury

    1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

    Washington, DC 20220

    Dear Secretary Bessent:

    On Friday, January 31, you provided full access to the federal government’s payment systems to surrogates of Elon Musk and representatives of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which operates under the de-facto control of Mr. Musk, a private citizen. To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.

    The Treasury Department through the Bureau of the Fiscal Service executes payments on behalf of agencies across the federal government. Last year, Treasury distributed $5.4 trillion in payments for the American public, including Social Security benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government. Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments.

    It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest.

    You should immediately reverse the actions that you took on January 31:

    •           Revoke access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not undergone full background investigations and have not been property vetted;

    •           Appoint a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refuse to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals to whom you have granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    In addition, because you have already have given individuals operating at the behest of Mr. Musk access to U.S. government payment systems, please provide written answers to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Finally, please keep in mind that all executive branch agencies must proactively alert the Appropriations and other appropriate House and Senate Committees when apportionments are not made in required time periods, are approved only with conditions, or may hinder the prudent obligation of apportionments or the execution of a program, project, or activity. Agencies are also required to report all violations of the Impoundment Control Act to Congress. Finally, agencies may not prohibit or prevent any federal employee from having direct communication with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of Congress. All federal employees must be free to communicate directly with Congress, whether Congress has requested that communication or not.

    Thank your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Swiftly Implement New Law Increasing Social Security Benefits for Public Service Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    CRANSTON, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse along with Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today joined with union officials to call on the Trump administration to swiftly implement a new law that increases Social Security benefits for public service employees.  The event took place at National Education Association Rhode Island’s headquarters.

    “Thousands of hardworking Rhode Islanders who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities deserve the reassurance that they won’t be short-changed on their Social Security benefits. That’s why I worked for years with my colleagues to pass this legislation and ensure that millions of teachers, postal workers, firefighters, police officers, and other dedicated civil servants get the benefits they have earned,” said Reed.  “I’m glad we were able to finally deliver this correction and it is imperative that the Trump Administration acts urgently to implement this law.  We will be watching closely.  I’m committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security to ensure all Americans are able to retire with the dignity and financial security they have earned.”

    “We worked for years to pass this law to finally increase Social Security benefits for retired teachers, police officers, and firefighters across Rhode Island,” said Whitehouse, a founding member of the Expand Social Security Caucus and a longtime cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act.  “This change will strengthen the middle class, and we are going to keep after the Trump administration to swiftly implement it.  I will continue doing everything in my power to protect and expand the benefits seniors have earned over a lifetime of hard work.”

    “For too long, public servants—teachers, firefighters, and police officers—have been unfairly shortchanged on the Social Security benefits they have rightfully earned,” said Magaziner. “With the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, we’ve corrected this injustice and delivered long-overdue relief to thousands of Rhode Islanders.”

    “The Social Security Fairness Act is a critical new law that expands earned benefits for Rhode Islanders for the first time in over 20 years,” said Amo. “It fixes an oversight where public employees — including teachers, firefighters, and police officers — paid into Social Security but received far less than what they planned for in retirement. I promised to work to get it across the finish line upon arriving in the House. I proudly signed a discharge petition that forced House Republicans to bring the Social Security Fairness Act to the floor — and I was thrilled to vote yes when it passed the House in November last year.”

    All four members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act, which President Biden signed into law in January. 

    The Social Security Fairness Act eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision, which reduced Social Security benefits for retired or disabled workers if they also receive pensions from public sector jobs that are not covered by Social Security.

    The bill also eliminated the Government Pension Offset, which reduced Social Security spousal benefits for retired public servants who receive pensions from employment that was not covered by Social Security.

    More than 8,600 Rhode Islanders who receive government pensions but also contributed to Social Security through private-sector employment stand to benefit from the legislation.

    “This hard-fought, long-awaited legislation exemplifies government working for the people by correcting a provision that unfairly penalized workers for their public service,” said National Education Association Rhode Island President Val Lawson. “The Social Security Fairness Act will significantly improve the lives of our educators and education support professionals.”

    “The labor movement has been organizing for this victory for decades.  It shows that we will never give up, no matter how long it takes,” said Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “Thank you to the entire Congressional Delegation for their support for Rhode Island public services workers.”

    Today, we stand united in this victory, honoring the countless hours of advocacy, resilience, and unwavering determination it took to repeal the WEP/GPO legislation. This journey has been long, but together, we’ve fought for fairness and justice for every worker who dedicated their life to public service. Our success is a testament to the strength of solidarity and the belief that when we stand together, we can change the course of history,” said Maribeth Calabro, President of the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. “We are grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation, to ensuring that members have these benefits.”

    “On behalf of the national Repeal WEP/GPO Task Force committee, and as one of the three founding committee members along with John Pernorio, RI ARA and Roger Boudreau, RIAFT-R, I extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our RI federal House of Representatives members and Senators for their sponsorships and continued support to achieve passage of the Social Security Fairness Act,” said Rose Marie Cipriano, President of the RI Association of Retired Principals. “After forty-two years penalizing public service workers, predominantly educators, fairness was achieved January 5, 2025, when former President Biden signed HR 82 into law.  Over three million retirees will no longer have to endure a sixty percent reduction to their owed Social Security benefits.  Our RI Congressional delegation’s commitment and respect for all public service workers will forever be acknowledged.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New York Times: Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter on Monday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding answers for why the so-called Department of Government Efficiency was granted access to the federal payments system, giving Elon Musk and his team a powerful tool that could be used to track and potentially limit government spending.

    The letter is a sign of mounting outrage among Democrats over the unorthodox efforts that the Trump administration and Mr. Musk are preparing to take control of how congressionally approved funds are spent. The questions come after a career civil servant named David Lebryk abruptly resigned on Friday after requests to grant Mr. Musk’s lieutenants access to Treasury’s payment system.

    “It is extraordinarily dangerous to meddle with the critical systems that process trillions of dollars of transactions each year, are essential to preventing a default on federal debt, and ensure that tens of millions of Americans receive their Social Security checks, tax refunds and Medicare benefits,” wrote Ms. Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Alan Rappeport
    Source: New York Times

    MIL OSI USA News –