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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Home consents up in Otago in 2024, down in all other regions – Stats NZ media and information release: Building consents issued: December 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Home consents up in Otago in 2024, down in all other regions – 4 February 2025 – There were 33,600 new homes consented in Aotearoa New Zealand in the year ended December 2024, down 9.8 percent compared with the year ended December 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    “Otago was the only region with an increase in the number of new homes consented in 2024,” economic indicators spokesperson Michael Heslop said.

    The five regions with the highest number of new homes consented in the year ended December 2024 were:

    • Auckland with 13,939 (down 10 percent compared with the year ended December 2023)
    • Canterbury with 6,544 (down 6.0 percent)
    • Waikato with 2,755 (down 22 percent)
    • Otago with 2,338 (up 19 percent)
    • Wellington with 1,833 (down 24 percent).

    Files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

    Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed the announcement last month regarding a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas, which Qatar took a leading role in negotiating. He thanked the Amir for Qatar’s leadership in mediating this deal and for its efforts toward facilitating a path toward peace and stability in the region. The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to thank the Amir on behalf of Canada for Qatar’s critical work in negotiating for the safe release of Mr. David Lavery from Afghanistan.

    The leaders discussed areas of common interest and the strong bilateral relations between Canada and Qatar. They underscored the importance of working together to advance dialogue and peace across the Middle East, particularly considering the ongoing developments in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.

    Prime Minister Trudeau highlighted Canada’s latest efforts in the region, including the recently announced $50 million in humanitarian assistance for Syria. The leaders discussed the Amir’s visit to Syria last week and the urgent humanitarian and development work required, noting their shared support for an inclusive Syrian-led political governance structure.

    The leaders reflected on the excellent bilateral relationship between Canada and Qatar and agreed to remain in contact.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown, 11 state attorneys general warn federal employees about misleading buyout offer

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a coalition of 12 state attorneys general warning federal employees about President Donald Trump’s misleading “deferred resignation” program, which purports to offer federal employees pay through Sept. 30 if they resign by Feb. 6.

    “I urge federal employees from Washington state, or those working in our state, to contact their union if they are curious about this so-called buyout offer,” Brown said. “When I was a U.S. attorney, I saw firsthand the important and needed public services that federal employees provide. These shameless attacks on our federal workforce by a lawless president must stop.”

    On Jan. 28, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to millions of federal employees detailing a new deferred resignation program. Employees were told that if they accept the offer and resign, they would continue receiving all pay and benefits, and be exempt from in-person work requirements until Sept. 30. OPM sent another email to federal employees reiterating the offer and urging them to find “higher productivity” jobs outside of government. The OPM emails instructed employees that they have until Feb. 6 to decide to remain in their position or resign under the deferred resignation program, and warned that those who did not resign were not guaranteed to keep their jobs.

    Immediately following OPM’s email, unions representing federal employees warned their members against accepting the offer. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employees union, released information for its members warning them that employees who accepted the offer were not guaranteed its benefits. The National Federation of Federal Employees similarly warned its members against accepting the offer.

    Joining Brown in strongly recommending caution to federal employees are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Agencies Support Super Bowl LIX Security

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Continuing a 20+ Year Partnership, More Than 690 DHS Employees Work to Protect Estimated 73,000 Fans Attending the Big Game 

    WASHINGTON – Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to New Orleans this week to observe DHS security operations for Super Bowl LIX. More than 690 employees representing 12 DHS agencies are in New Orleans, providing air security resources; venue, cyber, and infrastructure security assessments; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives detection technologies; intelligence analysis and threat assessments; intellectual property enforcement; and real-time situational awareness reporting as part of a 20-year partnership with the National Football League and state and local law enforcement.

    “Around 100,000 people will be celebrating the Super Bowl in and around the Superdome in New Orleans this weekend,” said Secretary Noem. “We will give law enforcement every resource they need to ensure a safe event. Thank you to our partners, Governor Landry, Mayor Cantrell and the New Orleans Police Department. If you see something, say something!”

    “Since day one, we have stood steadfast in our mission: to protect what matters most,” said Eric DeLaune, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Special Agent in Charge and lead federal coordinator for Super Bowl LIX. “From securing critical infrastructure to providing real-time threat analysis, we are committed to safeguarding our communities. With over 690 DHS personnel deployed, we bring cutting-edge security resources and technologies to ensure every aspect of this event is protected.” 

    DHS has assessed this year’s Super Bowl as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. For more information, visit the SEAR Fact Sheet webpage. Although no specific, credible threats related to this year’s game have been identified, the U.S. remains in a heightened threat environment, as evidenced by the recent terror attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

    DHS security efforts for Super Bowl LIX include the following:

    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP): Air and Marine Operations (AMO) will enforce temporary flight restrictions around Caesars Superdome, providing “eye in the sky” intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flight operations in and around key venues, including the Superdome, airport, Bourbon Street and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Additionally, CBP will provide video surveillance capabilities and non-intrusive inspections by scanning the cargo entering the stadium for contraband such as narcotics, weapons, and explosives. CBP will also work to intercept counterfeit NFL merchandise such as NFL jerseys, championship rings, T-shirts, caps and all sorts of souvenirs and memorabilia, which are often used to fund criminal organizations.
    • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI): An HSI Special Response Team is standing by to provide interior stadium tactical support, and HSI’s special agents will support will also CBP, local law enforcement agencies, and other private partners in identifying an investigating any flea markets, retail outlets, street vendors and online marketplaces selling counterfeit goods during the week leading up to the Super Bowl to protect consumers, who are expected to spend over $16.5 billion nationwide. HSI will also oversee the coordination of DHS assets with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure essential public safety measures and resources are in the right place, at the right time. 
    • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): On Super Bowl Sunday, CISA will also deploy advisors and emergency communications coordinators to support local law enforcement, emergency responders, and private partners in New Orleans. Ahead of the event, the agency conducted physical and cybersecurity vulnerability assessments, planning exercises, and bomb safety workshops with state and local partners. 
    • Office of Intelligence &Analysis (I&A): I&A worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assess the threat landscape leading up to the Super Bowl, including sharing timely and actionable information and intelligence with their state and local partners.
    • Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD): CWMD provided surge support from its Mobile Detection Deployment Program and its BioWatch program in coordination with the City of New Orleans.
    • U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): USCG Pacific Strike Team is supporting the Mobile Detection Deployment Program to bolster DHS’s ability to detect and interdict chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and Canine Explosive Detection teams will support the safety and security of the event.
    • Transportation Security Administration (TSA): A TSA Supervisory Federal Air Marshal will staff the Fusion Watch Center during the event, and will use its National Deployment Force to increase the number of transportation security officers working at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to screen the increased number of departing passengers after the Super Bowl. TSA’s explosive detection canines and Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams will also work during Super Bowl week events at key venues.
    • Science & Technology Directorate (S&T): S&T will deploy easy-to assemble, expandable security barriers that can be installed quickly to provide critical asset protection and intrusion prevention.
    • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA will help keep fans safe by providing communication tools for state and local responders.
    • DHS Blue Campaign: This public awareness campaign is disseminating digital and out-of-home advertising in the New Orleans area to raise human trafficking awareness among visitors, local residents, and those working in industries, such as hotels, hospitality, and transportation, where frontline employees are more likely to be in a position to identify and report human trafficking. The campaign’s Blue Lightning Initiative is also partnering with Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to raise awareness and train staff to recognize and report human trafficking.

    DHS reminds the public that “If You See Something, Say Something®” is more than a slogan. It is a call to action to report suspicious terrorism-related activity. Follow DHS’s security efforts on X: @DHSgov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bocana Resources Corp. Announces Grant of Stock Options

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bocana Resources Corp. (TSXV: BOCA) (Frankfurt: VC1) (the “Company“) announces that it granted 1,800,000 stock options to directors and officers, with each stock option entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for $0.10 on the following terms:

    Expiry date Vesting date Number of
    stock options
    January 30, 2030 January 30, 2025 1,200,000
    March 31, 2030 March 31, 2025 150,000
    June 30, 2030 June 30, 2025 150,000
    September 30, 2030 September 30, 2025 150,000
    December 31, 2030 December 31, 2025 150,000
        1,800,000
     

    About Bocana Resources Corp.

    Bocana is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in South America. Bocana, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Huiracocha International Service SRL, holds a 100% working interest in the mineral properties known as the Escala area concessions located at the Department of Potosi, Sud Lipez Province, Bolivia as awarded by Comibol.

    Contact Information
    For more information on Bocana, visit: https://bocanaresources.com.

    For more information or interview requests, please contact:
    Timothy J. Turner – Chief Executive Officer
    info@bocanaresources.com

    This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Angel Moms Send POWERFUL Message to President Trump: ‘Thank You for Listening to My Cry’

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    “President Trump, thank you. Thank you for listening to my cry. I’m so encouraged about these next four years.” –Patty Morin (Mother of Rachel Morin)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyNuXrHNR6E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy reintroduces bill to keep administrative state in check, ensure agency regulation oversight

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Bureaucratic Limitation and Overreach Control (BLOCK) Act to establish guardrails for executive agencies’ major rulemaking.
    The bill would lower the economic impact requirements of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) for major rules from $100 million to $50 million per year. Rules that the Comptroller General predicts meet or exceed the threshold would require a joint resolution of approval by Congress before the they could go into effect. 
    “Bureaucratic rulemaking has run rampant and is burdening Americans with too many costly regulations. My BLOCK Act would make sure that Congress keeps the administrative state in check,” said Kennedy. 
    The BLOCK Act would permit a major rule to go into effect if the president determined that it is necessary for national security or disaster response but would still require congressional approval within 15 session days. The rule would become invalid if a joint resolution of approval had not passed within the timeframe.
    Six months after the bill becomes law, every federal agency would have to submit 20% of the major rules that it currently had in effect to Congress for approval. Following that six-month period, those agencies would have to submit another 20% of their major rules for congressional approval annually. Within five years of the bill’s enactment, Congress would have had the opportunity to approve or disapprove all major rules that were in effect when the BLOCK Act became law.
    The BLOCK Act would allow minor rules, which include those that the Comptroller General predicts would have an economic impact of less than $50 million, to go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register. Congress would still have the authority to pass a joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA to reverse minor rules that an agency had published.
    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Finance Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Medicare Patients’ Access to Cancer Detection Technologies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Finance Committee member Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), with Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Finance Committee member Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), reintroduced the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act that would ensure Medicare beneficiaries’ access to cutting-edge tests capable of detecting multiple types of cancer before symptoms appear.  Bipartisan companion legislation (H.R. 842) was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

    “Breakthroughs in early cancer detection can drive more effective treatments and higher survival rates,” said Crapo.  “By providing a Medicare coverage pathway for multi-cancer early detection screening tests, this bipartisan bill would ensure seniors can receive lifesaving preventive care, a crucial step in combating the chronic disease epidemic.  With strong support from patients and families across the country, I look forward to advancing this legislation across the finish line and to President Trump’s desk.”

    “I know from personal experience that early cancer detection can make all the difference,” said Bennet.  “This bipartisan legislation will help save lives by ensuring Medicare beneficiaries across the country have access to the latest, breakthrough screening technologies.”

    “It should go without question that if we have the opportunity to implement more life-saving technology for diseases like cancer, we should do it,” said Scott.  “I am glad to join my colleagues on this important legislation to expand Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection tests to save more lives.”

    “The first step to beating cancer is by detecting it sooner than later,” said Wyden.  “This bipartisan bill will help more seniors in Medicare get preventive screening that enables a wider range of treatment options when cancer is detected early.  I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis on any effort to promote cancer treatment and prevention, including the use of the most up-to-date technologies in the Medicare program.”  

    The MCED would:

    • Establish a coverage pathway under Medicare for certain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MCED tests, which can screen for dozens of cancer types, many of which currently lack an effective screening option;
    • Authorize the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Medicare coverage for FDA-approved MCED screening tests, enabling beneficiaries to access these technologies, which currently lack a viable coverage pathway under the program;
    • Maintain CMS authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests; and
    • State that new diagnostic technologies will supplement existing screenings and will not impact existing coverage and cost-sharing.

    The MCED also has the support of leading healthcare organizations across the United States.  Find quotes from the organizations here.

    Bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Graham Statement on Committee Advancing Vought’s Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement after the committee voted to advance Russ Vought’s nomination to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget to the floor.  
    “I was very pleased that Russ Vought was reported out of the Budget Committee unanimously by those in attendance — all Republicans. 
    “My Democratic colleagues decided to boycott, which is their right. The markup was short and pleasant. They were missed… Sort of.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marking World Cancer Day

    Source: New Zealand Government

    World Cancer Day is an opportunity to recognise those who are impacted by cancer and highlight initiatives that are delivering better and faster access to cancer care, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.Speaking to patients and staff at the Bay of Plenty Cancer Centre in Tauranga today, Mr Brown acknowledged the thousands of New Zealanders and families whose lives are touched by cancer each year. “Ensuring New Zealanders have faster access to cancer care is a priority for the Government, which is why it is one of our five key health targets.“It is encouraging to see a gradual improvement in our efforts to provide faster cancer treatment, with more patients receiving their first treatment within 31 days in the first financial quarter than in the previous quarter and more cancer treatments available. “Continuing to deliver initiatives that address wait times for cancer treatment so that 90 per cent of patients receive cancer management within 31 days to treat is something I am committed to.”Mr Seymour, who has responsibility for Pharmac, says improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand has been a focus of this Government.“Since our $604 million uplift, Pharmac has made decisions to fund 19 cancer treatments. In the first year of funding for each medicine, Pharmac anticipates that over 1,400 Kiwis will access the treatments they need that were not available last year, making a real difference in Kiwis lives,” Mr Seymour says.“I am pleased to see Pharmac show what it is capable of when given the support it needs.”“This unprecedented and transformative investment in cancer medicines is fundamental to delivering better outcomes for those fighting cancer.”The Government has also:  

    increased breast screening eligibility for 70 – 74-year-olds
    provided an extra $18 million per year to help people who are required to travel for treatments
    funded PET scanning accessibility for prostate cancer
    invested in a new radiotherapy machine at Whangārei Hospital, which means 520 Northlanders each year will no longer have to travel to Auckland for treatment 
    invested in radiology services in Hawke’s Bay, which will result in a doubling in CT scan capacity that will be able to deliver a further 6,000 – 10,000 scans per year, a new MRI scanner, and a new LINAC machine that will mean 500 people per year will no longer have to travel for treatment 
    expanded cancer infusion services in Whanganui for up to 10 patients a day 

    “These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to delivering better outcomes for those with cancer, I know there’s still a lot more work to do,” Mr Brown says.“As Minister of Health, I am focused on ensuring better access to more cancer medicines, better cancer management driven by our faster cancer treatment target, and earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes.”Echoing these comments, Mr Seymour says that decisions to expand access to cancer medicines reflects the Government’s commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centred approach.“We want to build a world-class health system, and that requires world-class medicines,” Mr Seymour says.“This is all made possible due to the Government’s record $16.88 billion investment in health, ensuring we can deliver timely, quality access to care for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Missouri Private Nonprofits Affected by November Storms and Tornadoes

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Missouri of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes, straight‑line winds and flooding that occurred Nov. 3-9, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas, Washington and Wright.

    Under this disaster declaration, PNPs that provide services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans. Eligible PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. 

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster. 

    Interest rates can be as low 3.625%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    PNPs are also eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any physical property damage. 

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 3. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oregon Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Wildfires

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Oregon of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by wildfires that occurred July 10-Aug.23, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler.

    Under this disaster declaration, PNPs that provide services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans. Eligible PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster.  

    Interest rates can be as low 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    PNPs are also eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any physical property damage. 

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible. 

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 3. to return economic injury applications is Oct. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Nebraska Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Nebraska of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, straight‑line winds and tornadoes that occurred April 25-27, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Boone, Douglas, Greeley, Howard, Sherman and Washington.

    Under this declaration, PNPs that provide services of a governmental nature and suffered financial losses related to the disaster are eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    Interest rates can be as low as 3.25% with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 3.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Arkansas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by May Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Arkansas of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 24-27, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Craighead, Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Izard, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Newton, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone and Washington in Arkansas as well as the counties of Barry, Dunklin, Howell, McDonald, Oregon, Ozark, Ripley and Taney in Missouri and Adair and Delaware counties in Oklahoma.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 3.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy, University of Guelph

    U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to pause his planned tariffs on Canada and Mexico for at least 30 days following talks with the leaders of both countries. Previously, a senior Canadian governmental official had said Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods was expected to come into effect on Feb. 4.

    If implemented, this tariff will have significant economic consequences on both sides of the border, as the U.S. and Canada share one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world.

    A key concern is the highly integrated supply chains between the two countries. Many goods cross the border multiple times as intermediate inputs before becoming final products. Imposing tariffs at any point in this supply chain will raise production costs and increase prices for a wide range of goods traded between the U.S. and Canada.

    For Canada, the tariffs on Canadian products will significantly affect Canada’s competitiveness in the U.S. market by driving up prices. Such tariffs could pose serious challenges for various sectors in Canada, given the country’s heavy reliance on the U.S. economy.

    Effects on different sectors

    The impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian prices is likely to differ across sectors and products, depending on their reliance on the U.S. market.

    Sectors with a higher dependence on U.S. trade are likely to experience more severe disruptions. If the tariffs make certain products uncompetitive, Canadian producers may struggle to secure alternative markets in the short term.

    Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy will experience varying degrees of impact. Energy products and motor vehicles, which represent Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., are expected to be among the most adversely affected.

    In the agricultural and forestry sector, wood and paper products, along with cereals, are among Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., with the U.S. accounting for 86 to 96 per cent of these exports, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution.

    In the energy and mineral sector, crude oil is Canada’s top export, reaching US$143 billion in 2023, with 90 per cent destined for the U.S. Given its critical role as Canada’s largest export across all sectors, it is not surprising that Trump has noted crude oil would be subject to a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

    Canada’s dependence on U.S. trade

    When examining the impact on different products, it’s not only the value of trade that matters, but also the share of trade. The share of trade indicates how reliant Canada is on the U.S. compared to other markets.

    A high trade share with the U.S. suggests a product is particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions, as Canada depends heavily on the U.S. market for that product. Conversely, a lower share indicates that Canada has diversified suppliers, which reduces its dependence on the U.S.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat could shake North American trade relations and upend agri-food trade

    For instance, in 2023, Canada’s top exports to the U.S. included vehicles and parts, nuclear machinery and plastics, according to data from the World Integrated Trade Solution. The U.S. accounted for 93 per cent of vehicle and parts exports, 82 per cent of nuclear machinery exports, and 91 per cent of plastics exports.

    This data highlights Canada’s extreme dependence on the U.S. market, making these industries within the manufacturing sector highly susceptible to the tariff. This could harm jobs in the manufacturing sector, which is vital to employment in Canada, providing jobs for over 1.8 million people.

    Canada’s reliance on the U.S. is also evident in imports. In 2023, vehicle imports totalled US$92 billion, with the U.S. accounting for 58 per cent of that amount.

    The dependence is also evident in the agri-food and forestry sector, where Canada heavily relies on U.S. imports. This suggests that retaliatory tariffs on agricultural goods from the U.S. could have a substantial impact on food prices in Canada.

    Retaliatory tariffs and inflationary pressures

    Canada has announced it’s imposing $155 billion of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports in response. This could contribute to inflationary pressures within Canada.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says this includes immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods as of Tuesday, followed by further tariffs on $125 billion worth of American products in 21 days’ time to “allow Canadian companies and supply chains to seek to find alternatives.”

    This will include tariffs on “everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” and also on major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics.

    Given Canada’s significant dependence on U.S. imports, the retaliatory tariffs will raise the cost of American goods entering the country, further driving up consumer prices and exacerbating inflation.

    In its latest policy rate announcement, the Bank of Canada warned of the severe economic consequences of Trump’s tariffs, highlighting their potential to reverse the current downward trend in inflation.

    What should Canada do now?

    Canada must extend its economic diplomacy efforts beyond the Trump administration, engaging with the U.S. Congress and Senate to advocate for the reconsideration of tariffs on Canadian goods. The Canadian government should persist in leveraging this channel to push for a reversal of the tariffs. This kind of broader negotiation remains the most effective approach to mitigating trade tensions and ensuring stable economic relations with the U.S.

    At the same time, Canada must reduce dependence on the U.S. market by adopting a comprehensive export diversification strategy. While the U.S. remains a convenient and accessible trade partner, expanding into emerging and developing markets would help mitigate risks and create more stable long-term trade opportunities.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tariff threat is a sign that Canada should be diversifying beyond the U.S.

    One effective way to achieve export diversification is by expanding free trade agreements (FTAs) with emerging and developing economies. Currently, Canada has 15 FTAs covering about 51 countries, but there is room for expansion. However, signing FTAs alone is insufficient; Canada must ensure these agreements translate into tangible trade growth with partner countries.

    International politics is increasingly shaping global trade, making it imperative for Canada to proactively manage diplomatic and trade relations. In recent years, tensions have emerged with key partners such as China, India and Saudi Arabia. These countries could all become potential markets for Canadian products. Given that China is Canada’s second-largest export destination, there is significant potential to expand trade ties.

    Additionally, countries like the United Arab Emirates present promising markets, particularly for agricultural products, as the UAE imports about 90 per cent of its food.

    Boosting innovation and productivity

    Canada stands at a critical juncture in its trade relationship with the U.S. While diplomatic efforts remain essential to averting harmful tariffs, they cannot be the country’s only line of defence.

    Boosting productivity is one of the most effective ways for Canada to improve its competitiveness in global markets. Canadian producers should prioritize innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and maintain a competitive edge, particularly as they seek to expand beyond the U.S.

    In response to potential U.S. tariffs, the Canadian government should implement a bailout strategy to provide short-term relief and mitigate revenue losses to firms that will be mostly affected. Additionally, Canada should leverage its embassies and consulates worldwide to promote exports and help affected firms identify and access new market opportunities.

    By doing this, Canada can position itself as a more self-reliant and competitive player in the global economy — one less vulnerable to shifting U.S. policies.

    Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor receives funding from the OMAFRA and the USDA. He is affiliated with the Centre for Trade Analysis and Development (CeTAD Africa).

    Naduni Uduwe Welage and Promesse Essolema do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries – https://theconversation.com/u-s-tariff-threat-how-it-will-impact-different-products-and-industries-248824

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Drache, Professor Emeritus, Department of Politics, York University, Canada

    United States President Donald Trump has agreed to delay punishing tariffs on all exports from Canada and Mexico, which resulted in a threat of retaliatory tariffs from Canada.

    Nonetheless, Canada’s closest ally is all but tearing up the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal negotiated only seven years ago. The rationale behind what the Wall Street Journal editorial board has called “the dumbest trade war in history” isn’t even clear.

    The pessimistic view is that if Canada doesn’t give Trump everything he wants, he will bulldoze the country with more tariffs, sanctions on banks, enhanced border inspections and even a travel ban — everything he recently threatened to do to Colombia.

    Canada’s political class is scrambling because the U.S. has long been a cultural sibling and an economic partner. But now it is toxic, threatening and untrustworthy. Will Canada sign another trade deal with Trump in office? The chances recede the longer the tariffs remain in place.

    Iron-fisted

    It’s never been more clear that Trump is obsessive, seldom a bluffer and always iron-fisted. He seems to have planned and executed this tariff bomb to cause maximum pain and chaos. Now he says the European Union is next on his list.

    Trump is counting on his new majorities in U.S. Congress to ram through his radical right populist agenda, forcing other countries to play a role in his melodrama.

    In response to Trump’s charge that the U.S. subsidizes Canadian trade, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper pointed out that half of America’s imported oil comes from Canada, and its price is significantly discounted due to a lack of pipeline capacity. “It’s actually Canada that subsidizes the United States in this regard,” Harper said.

    Nevertheless, Trump’s preferred foreign policy tactic is to hit first with economic sanctions and negotiate later. With his near total grip on U.S. government, he can now achieve all his aims through tariffs.



    Read more:
    U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    The imperial presidency

    Trump’s vision for his imperial presidency is organized around an old idea: the revenue tariff. Before income taxes, border tariffs were the primary source of income for government. But back then, government did a lot less.

    For example, America’s 19th-century navy of wooden sailing ships was purchased with tariffs. But it would be impossible to fund modern-day health care, student loans and $13 billion aircraft carriers with tariff revenues.

    A recent study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics shows the math doesn’t add up. Tariffs are levied on imported goods and are worth about US$3 trillion. American income tax is levied on incomes and are worth more than US$20 trillion. Government would have to be much smaller, and tariffs would have to be so high they would choke American trade, for tariffs to make economic sense.

    And yet Trump has a broad mandate. In the summer of 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. United States that presidents require a broadly defined “presumptive immunity from prosecution for … official acts.”

    This decision has given Trump the legal clout to force the entire federal government to answer to the president himself.



    Read more:
    US Supreme Court immunity ruling ideal for a president who doesn’t care about democracy

    War against democracy

    Trump is using his vast new mandate to wage multiple wars simultaneously. These wars against the guardrails of liberal democracy require the punishment of his enemies inside his own party.



    Read more:
    Canada should be preparing for the end of American democracy

    Republicans who have voted against Trump legislation during his first term faced high-profile challenges in the primaries as he funded their opponents. Today, the war is waged against those who are insufficiently loyal, including the highest ranks of the Coast Guard and the FBI.

    The war against the administrative state involves the mass firing of independent inspectors, federal lawyers and thousands of civil servants to be replaced by foot soldiers personally loyal to the leader.

    The Trump administration has sent out “deferred resignation” notices that invite the entire civil service to resign. This is the tactic Trump’s key adviser, Elon Musk, implemented at X, and it suggests a wave of firings will soon begin.

    Nonsensical trade war

    The trade war against Canada and Mexico is peculiar because neither country has expressed any willingness to abolish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is among the achievements of Trump’s first administration.

    Nevertheless, the paranoid Trump seems to be convinced that he got a raw deal in 2018, and so he wants to scrap the whole treaty and negotiate something tougher that brings more jobs home.

    In 2024, the cars that were ranked most “American” in terms of their content and final assembly were made by Tesla, Honda and Volkswagen. By comparison, the best-selling the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck ranked No. 43 on the list. What Trump considers American and non-American isn’t clear, even to voters.

    A new Bank of Canada forecast predicts that American tariffs may reduce Canadian GDP by six per cent. The federal government is planning an enormous bailout package to compensate for widespread job losses like the one offered to businesses and individuals during the pandemic.

    Unsurprisingly, Trump divides Canada’s leadership. Alberta and Saskatchewan have publicly criticized the Team Canada approach. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith refused to sign the joint federal/provincial statement and played to her secessionist base.



    Read more:
    Why Alberta’s Danielle Smith is rejecting the Team Canada approach to Trump’s tariff threats

    Even so, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney recognizes the peril, arguing that Alberta needs to “be prepared to retaliate … we can’t be wusses about this; we have to have a spine.”

    What’s next?

    Canada is an export-led economy based on natural resources. Its strength lies not in refusing to buy California wine or Florida orange juice. Its main sources of leverage are oil and gas, potash and uranium, rare earth minerals, timber products and hydroelectric power. But of all these, oil, uranium, and hydro-electric power are Canada’s biggest guns.

    It’s not yet clear how effective the Canadian government’s strategy will be. Previous rounds of retaliation after the steel and aluminum tariffs in Trump’s first term did not drive him to the negotiating table. It’s also unclear what the CEOs of Canada’s branch-plant multinational corporations will do when their loyalties are divided between Trump and Canada.

    Furthermore, it’s anyone’s guess how much the dissent of western Canadian premiers has hurt Canada’s case with Trump. Certainly, his preferred tactic is to divide and conquer.

    Finally, it’s unclear if Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Captain Canada” approach will earn the respect or disdain of Republicans — although, ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the American political class thinks because Trump and his inner circle are calling all the shots.

    In practical terms, there is little Canada can do to address the false accusations that it’s complicit in the illicit drug trade and in migrants crossing the border into the U.S. Facts don’t matter to Trump. He will eventually come up with a demand, and if Canada doesn’t give in, he will ramp up the economic pain.

    Welcome to the post-liberal world order.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-threats-show-the-brute-power-of-an-imperial-presidency-247524

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Durbin Announce Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today announced the establishment, leadership and membership of Senate Judiciary Subcommittees for the 119th Congress.

    “The Senate Judiciary Committee’s broad jurisdiction tasks us with important responsibilities, such as safeguarding Americans and our border, empowering consumers, pursuing justice against criminal offenders, vetting nominees to the federal judiciary and upholding the founding principles of our Constitution,” Grassley said. “Our work impacts nearly every aspect of Americans’ daily life. We have a strong roster of committee members, and I look forward to delivering for the American people this Congress.”

    “The Senate Judiciary Committee is arguably the workhorse of Senate committees. The list of historic hearings held before it is long and filled with memorable testimony,” Durbin said. “These are consequential times, but we have a talented group of Democratic members, and I look forward to them leading the national debate on the critical issues we face.”

    Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights

    Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chair             Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)                       Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)                       Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

    Sen. Kate Britt (R-Ala.)                           Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)

    Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.)                    Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)

    Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)

    Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration

    Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chair    Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)               Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

    Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)                        Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)                      Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

    Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)                    Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)

    Sen. Kate Britt (R-Ala.)                          Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

    Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.)

    Subcommittee on the Constitution

    Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo), Chair        Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member

    Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)                  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

    Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)                         Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)

    Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)                        Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

    Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)                      Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)                     Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)         

    Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism

    Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Chair       Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)              Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

    Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)                  Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

    Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)                       Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)         Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

    Sen. Kate Britt (R-Ala.)

    Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights

    Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair          Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)               Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

    Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)                         Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)                      Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)                    Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)

    Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)

    Subcommittee on Intellectual Property

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chair         Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)                          Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)          Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

    Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)                      Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)

    Sen. Kate Britt (R-Ala.)                           Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)

    Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.)

    Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)                 Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

    Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)                    Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

    Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)                       Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)                      Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)

    Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.)

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Honors Stephen Woodfin of Harvest as February “Veteran of the Month”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring Navy Second Class Officer Stephen Woodfin as the February “Veteran of the Month.”

    Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and his complete remarks can be found here.

    “America’s military is the greatest in the world because of men and women who take pride in their role to keep us safe. No one demonstrates this better than Petty Officer First Class Stephen Woodfin of Harvest, Alabama.

    After being drafted into the Navy in 1968, Stephen found himself far from his small-town Alabama farm at basic training in Nashville and San Diego. He describes this journey from the farm to the Navy as ‘a country boy in hog heaven.’ After basic training, he was shipped out to the South Pacific to serve his country for the next four years in the Vietnam War. Like many Vietnam veterans, Stephen saw firsthand the horrors of war.

    Yet, Stephen is still proud to say he served in the military and says his time in combat led him to meet some of the finest people he ever met. Shortly before returning home in 1972, Stephen met his wife, whom he describes as the best thing that ever happened to him. After their return back to the states, Stephen took on several different roles—including husband, father, postal serviceman, teacher, and many more.”

    Senator Tuberville recognizes a different Alabama veteran each month for their service and contribution to their community. Constituents can nominate an Alabama veteran and submit their information to Senator Tuberville’s office for consideration by emailing press_office@tuberville.senate.gov. 

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: American Heart Month, 2025

    Source: The White House

    Every day, untold numbers of our friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers are affected by the devastating affliction of heart disease.  As the Nation’s leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease has stolen infinite lives, crushed countless families, and imposed unimaginable heartbreak upon Americans of every walk of life.  This American Heart Month, we mourn and pray for those we have lost and recommit ourselves to ending the deadly plight of heart disease once and for all.

    Thanks to advancements in medicine, science, and technology, our Nation has made tremendous strides in combatting heart disease — and the American people are now better equipped than ever before to receive lifesaving treatments, respond to medical complications, and modify behavior and habits to ensure they can lead long and healthy lives.  

    But even one soul lost to heart disease is a tragedy beyond comprehension.  To that end, my Administration will work diligently to save lives, lower healthcare costs, and foster a stronger, safer, and healthier future for every citizen.  For as long as I am President, I will always be an unwavering advocate for improving the health of every American.

    The first step in confronting the cardiac disease crisis is taking concrete action to lower the odds of diagnosis — and encouraging those in our lives to take all necessary measures to root out unhealthy habits.  Research has consistently shown that risk factors contributing to heart disease include obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol use, and smoking.  Making small adjustments to our health and routines can yield extraordinary and even life-saving results.  My Administration is also steadfastly committed to cracking down on Big Pharma and ending the chronic disease epidemic.  And we will fulfill our pledge to investigate what has caused the decades-long increase in health problems and childhood diseases — including obesity, autoimmune disorders, infertility, and autism.  As Americans, we owe it to ourselves and our families to take care of our bodies — and to cherish God’s gift of life for as long and as vigorously as we can.

    As we enter into this American Heart Month, let us seek to improve our health, lengthen our lives, and nurture a culture, a government, and a Nation that upholds the dignity of life and protects the human heart.

    In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved on December 30, 1963, as amended (36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 2025 as American Heart Month, and I invite all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025.  I also invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join my Administration in recognizing and restating our pledge to fighting heart disease in all its forms.

         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.
     

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pocket art guide updated with 10 new artworks showcasing toi Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau

    Source: Auckland Council

    The vibrant cityscape of Tāmaki Makaurau has seen a rise in the presence of Māori design and art in its urban environment in recent years, a result of the ongoing efforts by the Auckland Council group to ensure the stories and identity of mana whenua are visibly reflected and felt in the city centre.  

    This exciting shift is being celebrated through the unveiling of ten new artworks on the pages of ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’ the Auckland Art Walk guide, which brings Māori culture and history to life in the city’s public spaces for Aucklanders and tourists to explore. 

    For the online walking guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, visit ArtNow.  

    “This growing collection of Māori art serves as a reminder of the rich cultural history that underpins our city,” says Councillor Kerrin Leoni. 

    “I encourage Aucklanders and visitors to explore these meaningful creative expressions in the city’s urban landscape and to reflect on the importance of te ao Māori in shaping modern Tāmaki Makaurau.” 

    Here are 10 of the new must-see toi Māori (Māori artworks) in Auckland’s city centre, recently added to ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’: 

    Waimaraha, Myers Park, Auckland – photo David St George.

    1. Waimahara, 2024 – A Captivating Display of Light and Sound

    Waimahara, an extraordinary interactive new Māori artwork in Myers Park, springs to life with mesmerising light and sound displays in response to special waiata. 

    If you sing a special waiata into a sensor, the artwork listens and responds, accompanying you with an awe-inspiring display of light and sound. 

    Commissioned by Auckland Council, this unique creation by artist Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Manu), technology experts IION, and skilled composers features two original waiata for the project.  

    To visit Waimahara and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Kōmititanga, Queen Street, Auckland.

    2. Te Kōmititanga, 2020 – The Merging of Waters and People

    Located in the city’s largest public square, Te Kōmititanga, meaning ‘to mix’ or ‘to merge’ was gifted by local hapū Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as a powerful symbol of the convergence of people and waters. Situated where the Waitematā Harbour and Te Waihorotiu (The Waihorotiu Stream) once met, this bustling public space boasts 137,000 basalt pavers woven in a harakeke (flax) mat pattern, entwining pedestrians by train, bus, and ferry into the cultural and environmental heritage of the area. 

    To visit Te Kōmititanga and other art works close by, click here. 

    Te Wharekura, Quay Street, Auckland.

    3. Te Wharekura, 2023 – A Treasure Box of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

    The 108-year-old heritage kiosk next to the Tāmaki Makaurau downtown ferry terminal has been repurposed into a cultural and marine education space to create a new destination on the increasingly beautiful waterfront.  

    Te Wharekura (house of learning) is a waka huia (treasure box) for local hapū, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, offering a fusion of physical and digital taonga toi (artworks) and a rich collection of mana whenua histories and culture. Visitors can explore the environmental challenges of the Waitematā through interactive displays and engage with hapū members onsite who guide the learning experience. 

    To visit Te Wharekura and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Tōangaroa, Tangihua Street to Tapora Lane, Auckland.

    4. Te Tōangaroa Mural Collection, 2021-2024 – Telling Stories of Place

    This captivating mural collection celebrates the deep connection of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to te taiao (the environment) of Tāmaki and depicts the importance of welcoming different cultures and diversity. Each of the six powerful murals are imbued with symbolism—from the dragging and mooring of ancestral waka, to the star constellations and tohu (signs) of te taiao in guiding the kaiurungi (steerer) on the waka journey into the future, to resilient wildlife like the kawau bird—reminding all who view it of the unwavering whakapapa (genealogy) and wairua (spirit) from the Māori ancestors to their descendants today.  

    To visit Te Tōangaroa Mural Collection and other art works close by, click here 

    5. Te Nukuao, 2020 – A Shelter of Both Passage and Pause

    Located in Wynyard Quarter, Te Nukuao (shelter), draws inspiration from the last remaining customary Māori sail, Te Rā, to reference the journeys, waka and people from past and present connected to this area. This award-winning shading structure, which recalls the double-hulled waka hourua, serves as both a cultural marker of the mana (authority) of tangata whenua over Tāmaki Makaurau, and as a shelter of welcome for all.  

    Designed by artist Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki), this artwork connects Aucklanders to the city’s rich ancestral maritime history.  

    To visit Te Nukuao and other art works close by, click here.  

    Papatūānuku, Halsey Street & Tīramarama Way, Auckland.

    6. Papatūānuku, 2021 – Celebrating the Earth Mother

    Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), a vibrant contemporary-art glass installation, reflects the ever-changing colours of the seasons as guided by the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). The glass poi of the artwork represents spiritual messengers, while the vibrant wall colour reflects the energy of Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) and the ahikāroa (long-burning fires) of artist Mei Hill’s hapū, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, in extending manaakitanga (generosity) to all people in Tāmaki Makaurau. The work celebrates the natural world while honouring the whakapapa of mana whenua. 

    To visit Papatūanuku and other art works close by, click here.  

    Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai, Wellesley Street West & Sale Street, Auckland.

    7. Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai, 2021 – A Tribute to Māui and the Waters

    Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai (remembering our waters) is a homage to the stream that once flowed through this site before the colonial settlement of Auckland. This 6.4-metre carved pou (post) commemorates the Māori demigod Māui, whose stories are central to Māori narratives.  

    The sculpture, featuring three key tales of Māui, not only serves as a pou recognising wai as taonga (treasure), the source of life, and vital for our collective wellbeing, but also as a focal point for pōhiri (ceremonial welcomes) and other official theatre events, reflecting Māori cosmology, language and history in the public realm. 

    To visit Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai (remembering our waters) and other art works close by, click here 

    Whakaako Kia Whakaora, Corner Gundry Street & Karangahape Road, Auckland.

    8. Whakaako Kia Whakaora / Educate to Liberate, 2021 – Honouring the Polynesian Panthers

    This mural honours the historical significance of the Polynesian Panthers in Auckland. With powerful references to social justice, it connects the local struggle for equality with the broader movement for civil rights, reflecting on the ongoing fight for Māori and Pacific rights and freedoms alike.  

    The Polynesian Panthers were formed in Auckland in June 1971, moulded in the shape of the Black Panthers, in response to the marginalisation and discrimination experienced by the Pacific community.  

    To visit Whakaako Kia Whakaora / Educate to Liberate, and other art works close by, click here.

    Tūrama Kaitiaki, Aotea Square, Auckland.

    9. Tūrama, Kaitiaki, 2022 – Celebrating Light, Guardians and Matariki

    Tūrama (light), the hugely popular series of six large-scale illuminated art installations lights up Queen Street to celebrate Matariki (the Māori new year).  

    Tūrama explores the role of kaitiaki (guardians) in protecting the environment. Representing the guardian figure Horotiu, this 9-metre-high artwork reminds all of us to look after the Waihorotiu valley and river, now buried under Queen Street, whose domain Horotiu protects. 

    Tūrama was created by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu), Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta), Phil Wihongi (Ngāti Hine) and Angus Muir Design. 

    To visit Tūrama (light), and other art works close by, click here .

    Te Mata Topaki, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland.

    10. Te Mata Topaki, 2020 – A Sculptural Pier Connecting People to Waitematā

    Te Mata Topaki (to hover over the headland) is a striking, award-winning 30-meter sculptural pier designed by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) that juts out into the Waitematā Harbour. Inspired by the taurapa (stern of a waka) lying on its side, mata – both obsidian and a tip or headland; and topaki – to hover like a bird, this lookout connects both key destinations and people to the water.  

    To visit Te Mata Topaki and other art works close by, click here.

    ‘Te Paparahi Toi Māori’ provides a walking-guide to over 80 sites of public art, architectural design, and historical sites across Tāmaki Makaurau helping to ensure that tangata whenua (local people) see themselves and their culture in the modern landscape. 

    For the online walking guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, visit ArtNow.

    To get a physical guide of Te Paparahi Toi Māori, email barbara.holloway@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or visit any of the sites listed below: 

    • Auckland Art Gallery, Wellesley Street East

    • Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne Street

    • Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place

    • Auckland Council office foyer, 135 Albert Street

    • Te Wharekura, 117 Quay Street

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Most Aucklanders continue to rate their quality of life highly

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland’s topline results for the 2024 Rangahau te Korou o te Ora / Quality of Life Survey have been released, showing 75 per cent of Aucklanders rate their overall quality of life positively.

    The survey, which is undertaken every two years, is a collaborative local government research project that collects data on a range of current and topical issues relevant to residents’ wellbeing in urban New Zealand.

    Auckland’s Policy and Planning Committee chair, Councillor Richard Hills says he is pleased to see from the latest survey results that most Aucklanders have a strong sense of connection and support in their daily lives.

    “The results show in part, that the work council does with Auckland communities makes a difference and can help people to thrive. These results are helpful in shaping how we plan for the future to improve economic, social and environmental outcomes,” Cr Hills says.  
     
    “Although the results show there is always more work to do, it is fantastic to see that 72 per cent of Aucklanders think their local area is a great place to live. Auckland is a wonderful place, and we can be proud of where we call home.”

    Although reports of quality of life remain relatively high, there has been a decrease since 2022, when 82 per cent of Auckland respondents rated their quality of life positively.

    When asked to rate their quality of life compared with one year prior, 25 per cent said it had increased and 30 per cent said it had decreased.

    Reasons for a decline in perceptions of quality of life were largely driven by economic pressures, says Alison Reid, Team Manager, Social and Economic Research and Evaluation.

    “Of those Aucklanders who said their quality of life had decreased, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) said this was due to reduced financial wellbeing,” she says.

    Other findings reflected economic pressures on Aucklanders. Almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed disagreed that their housing costs were affordable, one in five (22 per cent) said they did not have enough money to meet their everyday needs, and more than a third (37 per cent) said they often worried about their own or their family’s financial circumstances.

    Crime is another key concern raised in the survey, with many Auckland respondents rating theft and burglary (67 per cent), dangerous driving (64 per cent) and vandalism (58 per cent) as problems in their local area in the previous 12 months.  

    It’s not all bad news though, says Alison. “One in four Aucklanders said their quality of life had increased in the last year. Of that group nearly a third (32 per cent) reported that this was related to their health care and wellbeing. Improved financial wellbeing (26 per cent), lifestyle (23 per cent) and work-related factors (23 per cent) also featured.”

    Sixty-eight per cent of Auckland respondents rated both their physical and mental health positively. Most feel they have people in their lives they can call on if they need practical or emotional support (86 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively).

    Most Aucklanders (72 per cent) also agreed that their local area is a great place to live, and more than half (57 per cent) agreed that they are happy with the way their local area looks and feels.

    The results will be used by the council to help plan for the future and to monitor economic, social and environmental outcomes, such as outlined in the Auckland Plan 2050 and Ngā Hapori Momoho, our Thriving Communities Strategy.

    Read the full Topline Report on the Quality of Life website. 

    About the survey 

    • The Quality of Life survey is a collaborative local government research project. Several councils participated in this year’s survey including Auckland Council, Hamilton, Tauranga,  Porirua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin City Councils, as well as Waikato Regional Council.  

    Most Auckland respondents feel they have people in their lives they can call on if they need practical or emotional support.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, Virginia, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.

    “The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”

    “This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”

    “When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”

    “Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, Virginia; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.

    The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.

    The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County, Virginia. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.

    Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.

    The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.

    On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.

    The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Norwood, Colorado Man Convicted Of Threatening Law Enforcement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Bryan Cornwell, 41, formerly of Norwood, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The jury found Cornwell not guilty of a third count of the same charge.

    According to the facts established at trial, from late August through later October 2023, Cornwell knowingly sent over 80 emails containing graphic and threatening messages to a law enforcement official. The messages included threats to kill and seriously injure the official, such as repeated statements that “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU.” At the time that Cornwell sent the threatening messages, he was pending sentencing on a prior case where he admitted to threatening to blow up the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.

    Cornwell will be sentenced on April 2, 2025, in Durango, Colorado.

    United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial. The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Graves handled the prosecution.

    Case Number: 24-cr-00047-GPG-JMC

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Visa Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcus Taslim, 70, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to visa fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, Taslim brought Person 1 to the United States from Indonesia in December 2018 to provide caregiving services for his mother, but he obtained a nonimmigrant visa for Person 1 through lies and false statements. Taslim secured this visa by falsely representing to a consular officer that Person 1’s length of stay in the United States would only be one month, that she would be paid minimum and overtime wages under the laws of the State of California, that she would be paid bi-weekly and in full, and that he had paid Person 1’s one-month salary in advance.

    Taslim knew these statements to the consular officer were not true. For example, although Taslim paid Person 1 what looked like one month of salary in advance, as soon as the consular officer received proof of that payment, Taslim ordered Person 1 to withdraw that money and give it back to Taslim, which she did. Then, once in the United States, Person 1 worked for Taslim for about six months. She typically worked seven days a week, beginning work as early as 5 or 6 a.m. and ending at about 8 or 9 p.m. Taslim paid Person 1 far less than minimum wage, did not pay her bi-weekly and in full, and also confiscated her passport so she could not run away. Person 1 was only able to leave in June 2019, following intercession from the Folsom Police Department.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service’s San Francisco Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.

    Taslim is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Taslim faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Willimantic Man Who Stole 38 Guns from Newington Store Pleads Guilty

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KWITZPATRICK DUFFANY, 37, formerly of Willimantic, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to firearm and drug offenses stemming from his theft of 38 firearms from a Newington gun store in 2023.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2023, during non-business hours, Duffany entered Hoffman’s Gun Store in Newington by climbing onto the balcony over the main entrance, cutting into the siding with a knife, and dropping down from the ceiling.  Surveillance footage showed Duffany walking through the store and filling duffel bags with 38 guns.  He then exited the store through the same hole.  After stealing the guns, Duffany and two other individuals traveled to Hartford where Duffany traded several of the stolen guns for cash and drugs.  In the following days, Duffany sold most of the remaining guns in exchange for cash and narcotics, or he provided guns to other individuals to sell.

    Duffany was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Ashford in the early morning of June 1, 2023.  Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed Duffany hiding a satchel in a soda display case shortly before his arrest.  Investigators recovered the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and drugs inside the bag.  The gun had been stolen from Hoffman’s Gun Store.

    Duffany pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a licensee, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 28.

    Duffany has been detained since his arrest.

    This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Willimantic Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Contractor Convicted Of Sexual Assault Of Co-Worker At Palo Alto VA Hospital

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JOSE – A federal jury convicted a Palo Alto man for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse by fear, and making false statements to a federal agent during an investigation.  The jury reached its verdict late in the evening on Jan. 31, 2025, following a three-week trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila.

    Onofre Salas-Lozano, 42, worked as a night supervisor for the janitorial services contractor that cleaned the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital.  According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Salas-Lozano isolated and trapped the victim in a patient exam room at the hospital late at night on July 2, 2021, and forced her to engage in sexual activity.  The victim suffered traumatic tissue injury during the assault, and DNA analysis confirmed the presence of Salas-Lozano’s sperm in the victim’s underwear.  At the time of the incident, Salas-Lozano was the victim’s direct supervisor.  

    The jury also found that Salas-Lozano lied to a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) special agent during a subsequent investigative interview when he denied having sexual intercourse with the victim on July 2, 2021, or at any other time.  At trial, the defendant testified and claimed to have had consensual sex with the victim at some other time and denied making a false statement.  

    “Salas-Lozano used his position as a supervisor to sexually assault a fellow employee.  Federal law enforcement will do all it can to secure justice for any victim of sexual assault,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.  “This jury verdict ensures that the Salas-Lozano will now face severe consequences for his despicable acts.”

    “The verdict sends a clear message that the VA OIG remains dedicated to holding those who commit an act of violence at a VA facility accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful for the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek justice for the victim.”

    Salas-Lozano is scheduled to appear in court today to set a date for sentencing.  He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison on each count of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse by fear, and a maximum penalty of eight years in prison on the count of materially false statement in a federal investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Harris and Christoffer Lee are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery, Susan Kreider, Sahib Kaur, Mimi Lam, and Fernanda Gonzalez. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by VA OIG, with significant assistance from the VA Police Service. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Indict Two Individuals in Human Trafficking Case Involving Minor Victims Following APD Investigation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two individuals are facing federal human trafficking charges for allegedly forcing two minor girls, ages 14 and 15, into prostitution.

    The indictment alleges that from December 29, 2024, to January 3, 2025, Roderick Bill Norseweather, 25, and Tajahnae Johnson, 21, knowingly recruited two minors for commercial sex acts, using force, threats, fraud, and coercion.

    Norseweather and Johnson are accused of transporting the minors, both under 18 years old, across state lines with the intent that they engage in prostitution. Specifically, they are charged with two counts each of sex trafficking of minors and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity.

    Norseweather and Johnson will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Norseweather and Johnson each face no less than 15 years and up to life in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Group Indicted for Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property Conspiracy

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEATHONY BLOCKER, age 38, JAMES BLOCKER, age 37, JOVAN COLLINS, age 34 (“COLLINS”), LORENZO TAYLOR, age 39 (“TAYLOR”), NEMIRAH DAVIDSON, age 38 (“DAVIDSON”), and PATRICK GARLAND, age 39 (“GARLAND”), residents of California, were charged on January 30, 2025 in a two-count indictment for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods,  in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

    According to the indictment, DEANTHONY BLOCKER, JAMES BLOCKER, COLLINS, TAYLOR, DAVIDSON, and GARLAND conspired to transport thousands of cartons of cigarettes interstate, that were stolen from warehousing facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana. The group cut through fences surrounding the facilities, using bolt cutters and crowbars to access the cigarette cartons.

    If convicted of Count 1, the defendants  face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  As to Count 2, the defendants face up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

    U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,  Firearms, and Explosives, the  Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office, the Knightdale Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Rockmart Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Fort Stockton Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder

    Source: United States Attorneys General 2

    Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, Virginia, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.

    “The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”

    “This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”

    “When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”

    “Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, Virginia; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.

    The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.

    The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County, Virginia. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.

    Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.

    The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.

    On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.

    The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: dLocal to Report Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DLocal Limited (NASDAQ: DLO, “dLocal” or the “Company”), a technology-first payments platform enabling global enterprise merchants to connect with billions of consumers in emerging markets, intends to release financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024 on February 27, 2025 after market close.

    The Company will host a conference call and video webcast on February 27, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

    Please click here to pre-register for the conference call and obtain your dial in number and passcode. The live conference call can be also accessed via audio webcast at the investor relations section of the Company’s website, at https://investor.dlocal.com/. An archive of the webcast will be available for one year following the conclusion of the conference call.

    About dLocal

    dLocal powers local payments in emerging markets connecting global enterprise merchants with billions of emerging market consumers across APAC, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Through the “One dLocal” concept (one direct API, one platform, and one contract), global companies can accept payments, send pay-outs and settle funds globally without the need to manage separate pay-in and pay-out processors, set up numerous local entities, and integrate multiple acquirers and payment methods in each market.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements convey dLocal’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements regarding dLocal involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause dLocal’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are described in the “Risk Factors,” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections of dLocal’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required by law, dLocal undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date hereof.

    Investor Relations Contact:

    investor@dlocal.com

    Media Contact:

    marketing@dlocal.com

    The MIL Network –