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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Enlargement without any concessions – E-002188/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    21.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002188/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

    In light of the geopolitical situation, it is imperative to enlarge and strengthen the European Union. Given that several countries are seeking EU accession, this could well be done. However, no concessions should be made when it comes to fundamental European principles and values and implementing the reforms required for accession, nor in relation to respect for human rights and the fight against corruption.

    In view of the need for European integration, can the Commission answer the following:

    1. Does it intend to speed up accession procedures? If so, how?

    2. How can monitoring and harmonisation procedures relating to European law, standards and way of life be sped up?

    3. Is a specific strategy in place to help accession countries meet the convergence criteria so that they can adopt the euro in the future?

    Submitted: 21.10.2024

    Last updated: 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Resubmission of question E-001563/2024 of 28.8.2024 – in the absence of a full answer – E-002200/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    21.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002200/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Piotr Müller (ECR)

    In the absence of a full answer to my previous question (E-001563/2024[1]), which was answered on 10 October 2024, I would again like to ask the following questions:

    • 1.Question 1: ‘Did the Commission offer X or any other very large online platforms (VLOPs) any agreement on restricting political content in exchange for avoiding financial penalties? If so, what is the content of such agreements?’ – this question remains unanswered. The answer given refers, in general terms, to the scope of the Commission’s powers, but does not directly answer the question that was asked. Could the Commission respond again on this issue. Could it please clarify whether such agreements on the restriction of political content were in fact made and, if so, what those agreements contained. If not, please could it provide a firm denial.
    • 2.Question 2: ‘How does the Commission intend to put a stop to the push for preventive censorship under the pretext of combating harmful content, which could lead to a “digital totalitarianism” in which opinions that challenge dominant ideas are systematically silenced?’ – this question was dealt with in general terms rather than giving a direct answer. Please could the Commission set out what actual and specific action it will take or is taking to prevent the preventive censorship of uncomfortable political content.

    I am seeking more complete and more specific explanations in order to ensure clarity on this important issue.

    Submitted: 21.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001563_EN.html
    Last updated: 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on the passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair:

    “It is with great sadness that I learned today about the passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair.

    “An Anishinaabe and member of the Peguis First Nation, Mr. Sinclair dedicated his life to repairing and reshaping Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples. His Ojibway name, Mizanay Gheezhik, means ‘The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky’, and this beautifully reflected his vision for a brighter, stronger future for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

    “A lawyer by profession, Mr. Sinclair became the first Indigenous judge appointed in Manitoba and just the second in Canada. Among his many accomplishments, he will be remembered for his service as the Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), where he led efforts to address the lasting and painful impact of the residential school system on Indigenous communities.

    “After years of investigative efforts under Mr. Sinclair’s leadership, the TRC’s report, including its 94 Calls to Action, gave a voice to Survivors which will always be reflected in its pages and part of our country’s history. To this day, the report guides our collective journey toward a fairer, more equitable future with Indigenous Peoples. It would not have been possible without Mr. Sinclair’s critical work and guidance.

    “Over his life, Mr. Sinclair received honorary doctorates from 14 universities as well as numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross. In recognition of his public service, he was also appointed to the Senate.

    “Mr. Sinclair leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. With his passing, Canada has lost a giant – a brilliant legal mind, a champion of Indigenous rights, and a trusted leader on our journey of reconciliation. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my deepest condolences to his children Dené, Niigaan, Gazheek, Kizhay and Miskodagwaaginikwe, his friends, and his colleagues, as well as to Indigenous Peoples across Canada. He will be missed.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales: Launch of the 2024 Employee Share Ownership Plan

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales: Launch of the 2024
    Employee Share Ownership Plan

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) announces the launch of its 2024 employee share ownership plan, running from Monday 4 November to Friday 24 November 2024. This offer is available to Thales employees across 36 countries who are participants in the Group Savings Plan and have at least three months of seniority as of 24 November 24 2024, as well as to the company’s retirees. ​

    The plan offers a 20% discount on the Thales share price, along with a 50% matching contribution on personal investment up to a maximum of €500, funded by Thales. ​

    The objective of this plan is to strengthen the bond between Thales and its employees by providing them with the opportunity to become more closely associated with the Group’s goals, performance, and future successes.

    Terms of the 2024 Employee Share Ownership Plan

    This share offer is available to employees in France, South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Spain, the United States, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey who are eligible and participate in the Group Savings Plan. ​

    In the United Kingdom, Thales shares will be offered through a Share Incentive Plan (SIP).

    Offered Shares ​

    The Thales share offer to Group employees will be conducted through the transfer of existing treasury shares previously repurchased by Thales under a share buyback programme authorised by the shareholders’ general meeting in accordance with Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code. The transfer of shares to employees and retirees participating in the Group Savings Plan will be carried out under the provisions of Articles L. 3332-18 and following of the French Labour Code, except for the offer in the United Kingdom, where it will be conducted under an SIP. ​

    On 3 April 2024, the Board of Directors decided to implement this employee share ownership plan and delegated the necessary powers to the Chairman and CEO for its execution. In line with the Board’s decision, the offer will cover a maximum of 600,000 shares, with a cost cap of €31 million (including the discount and matching contributions in the employee share ownership plan and SIP matching contributions).

    The Chairman and CEO, by delegation from the Board of Directors, set the subscription period dates and acquisition price by decision on 28 October 2024. The acquisition price is set at 80% of the reference price. ​

    The reference price, noted by the Chairman and CEO on 28 October 2024, is the average of Thales’s opening share prices on the Euronext Paris market over the twenty (20) trading days preceding this date, amounting to €149.61. Accordingly, the acquisition price for employees is €119.69. For the offer in the United Kingdom, the acquisition price will be determined in accordance with the applicable SIP rules. ​

    The shares acquired by offer participants, being existing ordinary shares, are fully assimilated with the existing ordinary shares that make up Thales’s share capital. ​

    Offer Conditions

    • Eligible Offer Participants: The offer is open to employees of the included companies who are part of the Group Savings Plan, regardless of their employment contract (permanent or fixed-term, full-time or part-time) and with a minimum of three months’ seniority. Retirees and early retirees from Thales’s French companies who joined the Group Savings Plan prior to their departure are also eligible, provided they have maintained holdings in the Group Savings Plan since retirement or early retirement. ​
    • Included Companies:
      • Thales, with share capital of €617 825 739, headquartered at 4 rue de la Verrerie, 92190 Meudon, France, and ​
      • Thales Group companies in which Thales holds, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the share capital, with headquarters in France, South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Spain, the United States, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, who are (or will be) participants in the Group Savings Plan.
    • Participation Methods: Shares will be acquired through employee mutual funds (FCPE) or directly, depending on the country, and via a Trust within the SIP framework. ​
    • Share Purchase Formula: Employees may acquire Thales shares through a classic subscription formula. Employees will receive a 50% matching contribution from their employer on their subscription amount, capped at a maximum contribution of €500. ​
    • Voting Rights: Voting rights attached to the shares will be exercised by the FCPE supervisory board in FCPE countries, and directly by employees in countries where shares are held directly.
    • Subscription Cap: Annual contributions by offer beneficiaries to the Group Savings Plan may not exceed a quarter of their gross annual salary, in accordance with Article L.3332-10 of the French Labour Code. ​
    • Share Retention Requirement: Employees participating in the offer must retain their corresponding FCPE shares or directly held shares for five years, except in cases of early release as defined by Article R. 3334-22 of the French Labour Code or local regulations. For shares acquired through the SIP in the United Kingdom, the retention conditions differ depending on the share type (partnership or matching shares).

    Indicative Operation Timeline ​

    • Subscription Period: From 4 November 2024 (inclusive) to 24 November 2024 (inclusive). ​
    • Offer Settlement Delivery: Scheduled for 17 December 2024. ​

    Listing ​

    Thales shares are listed on the Euronext Paris market (ISIN Code: FR0000121329).

    This press release has been prepared in accordance with the exemption from publication of a prospectus provided for in Article 1.4(i) of Prospectus Regulation 2017/1129.

    International Notice

    This release does not constitute a sales offer or a solicitation to acquire Thales shares. The Thales employee share offer will be conducted only in countries where such an offer has been registered or notified to the relevant local authorities and/or approved by a local authority prospectus, or where an exemption applies regarding the need for a prospectus or offer registration or notification. ​

    More generally, the offer will only take place in countries where all required registration procedures and notifications have been completed, and necessary authorisations obtained. For residents of Israel, the offer is conducted in accordance with the Information Document available on the website dedicated to the offer.

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity.

    It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

    The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

    Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whitehorse — RCMP investigate a vehicle entering open water on Lake Laberge

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Content warning this information may be distressing.

    Whitehorse RCMP received a report on January 25, 2025 at 1:06 am that a vehicle had submerged in Lake Laberge with occupants inside. Whitehorse RCMP, Whitehorse Fire Department, and Yukon Emergency Medical Services responded.

    A group of people using two separate vehicles were ice fishing on Lake Laberge. It was reported to police that one vehicle drove into open water with three occupants inside. The vehicle submerged and only two occupants were able to safely make it from the vehicle.

    Police continue to investigate this tragic event with the assistance of the Yukon Coroner’s Service.

    Whitehorse Detachment General Investigation Section recommends, if possible, to avoid Lake Laberge while investigators are on scene. This investigation will involve a complex and lengthy recovery operation that will likely span over several days and will involve assistance of the British Columbia RCMP Underwater Recovery Team.

    Our thoughts go out to the family, and those involved, at this most difficult time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s real estate tax cuts yield $1.6B in first month

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s new tax policies aimed at stabilizing the real estate market have resulted in 11.69 billion yuan (about $1.6 billion) in tax reductions and exemptions in their first month of implementation, according to data released Saturday by the State Taxation Administration.

    The tax measures, which took effect on Dec. 1, 2024, encompass three key areas: expanded deed tax benefit, second home purchase incentives and value-added tax exemption.

    The area threshold for homes eligible for the lower 1 percent deed tax rate has been increased from 90 to 140 square meters. This change accounted for 6.5 billion yuan in tax cuts and benefited over 1.4 million households.

    These households accounted for 89.4 percent of all families receiving deed tax breaks, a 14.4 percentage-point increase from before the policy implementation.

    Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen have offered deed tax benefits for second home purchases, resulting in 2.58 billion yuan in tax reductions. The policy affected 35,974 families across the four cities, with Shanghai seeing the largest impact at 940 million yuan in cuts for 15,572 households.

    For individuals transferring homes in the four cities that have been owned for at least two years, there is no longer a distinction between ordinary and non-ordinary residences, and value-added tax is uniformly exempted.

    This led to 2.61 billion yuan in new tax exemptions for previously non-ordinary residences, with the number of home transfers in these cities jumping 71 percent in December 2024 from the previous month.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Israeli authorities on Saturday released 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of the second phase of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

    Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, said the prisoners were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    Some prisoners were released into the West Bank from Ofer Prison while others bound for Gaza or deportation abroad were released from Negev Prison in southern Israel.

    Palestinian officials in the Ramallah Governorate also coordinated the release.

    According to eyewitnesses, the prisoners were transferred from the ICRC to a medical center in Ramallah, where the Palestinian security forces were stationed in preparation for the release.

    Among those released, 16 headed to Gaza. Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the prisoners entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing southeast of the strip.

    According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Authority, the 200 prisoners included 121 who had been serving life sentences and 79 others with long sentences.

    Egypt’s Al-Qahera News TV channel reported later in the day that some 70 Palestinian prisoners the Israeli authorities had released arrived in Egypt via the Rafah crossing. Türkiye, Tunisia, and Algeria have agreed to take in some prisoners while others will stay in Egypt.

    Following the release of the prisoners, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou said in a press statement that the Palestinians in Gaza are waiting for the Israeli army to “withdraw according to the terms of the agreement and for the displaced residents to begin returning to their lands and homes.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: DPRK conducts strategic cruise missile test

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a sea-to-surface strategic cruise missile test on Saturday under the supervision of its top leader to beef up its defense capabilities while its foreign ministry condemned the latest military provocations by the United States and South Korea, state media said Sunday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Greece wind power collaboration boosts renewable energy transition

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Four wind farms nestled in the mountains of northern Greece have become prominent landmarks in the area. These wind farms are part of the Thrace Wind Power Project, led by China Energy Guohua Investment Europe Renewable Energy S.A..

    Since commencing operations in 2019, the project has generated approximately 160 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying power to more than 30,000 households in Greece.

    Speaking ahead of the International Day of Clean Energy, the company’s deputy general manager, Wu Bate, told Xinhua that the Thrace Wind Power Project was launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between China and Greece under the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018.

    As China’s first wind power investment in Greece, the project comprises four wind farms equipped with 34 turbines, with a total installed capacity of 78.2 megawatts.

    “The project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 150,000 tons annually and saves 53,000 tons of standard coal, equivalent to planting 360,000 trees,” Wu said. “It has played a pivotal role in supporting Greece’s energy transition.”

    In recent years, Greece has accelerated its shift toward renewable energy. According to the Greek government’s revised National Energy and Climate Plan, renewable energy is projected to account for 75 percent of electricity generation by 2030, increasing further to 95 percent by 2035. Data from the Hellenic Wind Energy Association shows that wind power contributed 23.5 percent of Greece’s total electricity generation in 2023.

    “The cooperation between Greece and China on renewable energy has been remarkable,” said Konstantinos Loukidis, the company’s development manager.

    “Developing renewable energy projects not only optimizes Greece’s energy mix and enhances energy independence, but also attracts investment, fosters innovation, creates jobs, and drives economic growth,” he added.

    Currently, Chinese companies are actively participating in investment and construction in Greece’s renewable energy sector.

    Wu Bate highlighted the significant potential for further cooperation between China and Greece in the renewable energy sector.

    “In the future, both sides will build upon this platform to deepen collaboration in areas such as wind power and photovoltaics, achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes while injecting powerful momentum into the global green transition,” the deputy general manager said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2nd phase of Hamas-Israel prisoner-hostage exchange deal completed: Red Cross

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced Saturday the completion of the second phase of a prisoner-hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, implemented under the initial terms of a ceasefire agreement.

    The second phase, including the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners and four Israeli hostages, was carried out after thorough coordination and review procedures conducted by the ICRC, a neutral intermediary that ensured the smooth and secure implementation of the exchange, it said.

    The Israeli hostages were transferred safely, with their well-being prioritized, whereas the Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli detention centers and transported to Gaza and the West Bank following ICRC’s interview with them, during which it verified their identities, evaluated their health conditions, and confirmed their readiness for travel, it said.

    The ICRC urged ongoing dialogue between the parties and their continuous humanitarian commitments, so as to create the necessary conditions for the safe execution of future operations.

    Earlier on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency said in a joint statement that four female Israeli soldier hostages held in Gaza were transferred to them and crossed the border into Israel.

    Meanwhile, Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, as well as Palestinian officials in the Ramallah Governorate said 200 Palestinian prisoners were handed over to ICRC.

    Some prisoners were released into the West Bank, some bound for Gaza, and some have arrived in Egypt via the Rafah crossing, according to Palestinian sources and Egyptian media reports.

    The first stage of the six-week ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19.

    The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was reached after 15 months of intense fighting, as a result of negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Dr Katrina Wruck awarded 2025 Young Australian of the Year

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    Congratulations to Dr Katrina Wruck from Queensland for being awarded the national 2025 Young Australian of the Year.

    Katrina has been recognised for research is giving back to remote communities. 

    Based on her research, Katrina has set up a profit-for-purpose business, Nguki Kula Green Labs, which is poised to transform the consumer goods sector by harnessing the power of green chemistry, while inspiring others to step into STEM.

    Katrina’s method of converting mining by-products to zeolite LTA – which can remove contaminants from water that cause hardness – will be commercialised. Her postdoctoral research examines how to break down dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ into benign ones. Altogether, Katrina’s work is a possible foundation for reducing global contamination.

    A proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman who has long advocated for First Nations knowledge, Katrina also participates in community engagement programs. She is frequently told by the students she speaks to that she’s the first Indigenous scientist they’ve met. Her work has been recognised with several awards and she is already well known in her field.

    What Katrina has accomplished in just a short time is remarkable.

    Her commitment, dedication and care for others demonstrates the best of what young Australians contribute to our communities.

    Katrina was chosen as this year’s Young Australian from an impressive field of state and territory recipients who are all paving the way to a brighter future:

    • Daniel Bartholomaeus, an artist and advocate for the neurodivergent community, from the Australian Capital Territory is a mentor with The With Friends Initiative, a social group for neurodivergent young people. Daniel uses art not only for self-expression but to bridge the gap between neurotypical and neurodiverse people.
    • Maddison O’Gradey-Lee from New South Wales co-founded the Orygen Global Youth Mental Health Fellowship in 2020. Maddison has created a global community that’s combating taboos around mental health and was the first person from Oceania to win the Dalai Lama Peace Fellowship.
    • Victoria’s Aishwarya Kansakar is a globally renowned AI and automation entrepreneur, who was raised amidst Nepal’s civil war and went on to teach herself computing. Today Aishwarya heads Syncrowin, building a world-first AI-powered automation system and is also Women 4 STEM’s chief operating officer, where she leads 300 volunteers, impacting 70 schools and 66,000 women’s STEM careers.
    • Amber Brock-Fabel from South Australia founded the South Australian Youth Forum in 2021 at just 17 years old, ensuring youth voices are heard by lawmakers and relevant organisations. Under Amber’s leadership, the Forum was recently represented at the United Nations Summit of the Future, the National Inquiry into Civics Education and the Australian Conference on Youth Health.
    • From the Northern Territory, Nilesh (Nil) Dilushan’s commitment to community service has led him to co-found two successful community initiatives: The Kindness Shake; and Rotaract Young Professionals Northern Territory. These organisations focus on upskilling young people, addressing literacy gaps and creating employment pathways, making a positive impact on their local communities.
    • Ariarne Titmus OAM from Tasmania has already achieved more in her sporting career than most could ever dream of. Ariarne has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and grit to improve her performance in the pool and is a role model for young swimmers who want to improve and test the boundaries of what is possible. Ariarne holds several world records and has won gold medals in both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics.
    • Through Elucidate Education, Western Australia’s Jack Anderson passionately pursues greater equity and educational access in Australia and beyond. Jack has led the publication of many textbooks for senior study and coordinates regular trips to remote areas of Western Australia, donating educational materials to the most socio-economically disadvantaged, rural and Indigenous students, empowering them for success. 

    Congratulations to Katrina, and to all the national nominees. You are a source of inspiration for all Australians.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins The Story With Martha MacCallum on Fox News to Discuss Democrats Delaying Trump’s Cabinet Confirmations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, yesterday joined The Story With Martha MacCallum on Fox News to discuss his strong support for Pete Hegseth, and Senate Democrats playing political games to delay President Donald Trump’s cabinet confirmations. 

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on Democrats’ politically-motivated delay of Trump’s cabinet confirmations: “We’re moving ahead in due course here. I think the biggest difficulty has been the Democrats that are using every procedural move they can, Martha, to try to slow this thing down. Right now, we’re scheduled to vote on Pete [Hegseth] tonight. From that point, we’ll move on to start the clock again for Kristi Noem. That’ll take another thirty hours of work, so Kristi won’t come up again until very early on Sunday morning. Then we’ll start the clock off on Scott Bessent [early Sunday morning]. And they’ll roll forward into Monday, vote on Scott, then go to Sean Duffy and just continue this process. The Democrats have used every procedural mechanism available to them to slow us down. And I’ll just remind you, Martha, we are far, far behind where we were in [former President Barack] Obama’s initial Administration. We’re behind where we were, frankly, with President Trump, his first term, and clearly, [former] President [Joe] Biden. I don’t think the Democrats got the message.”
    Hagerty on his strong support for Pete Hegseth: “Certainly, our members [of the Senate] are all entitled to vote as they’re going to. I’m certainly going to be supportive of Pete because I think if you watch the four-and-a-half-hour confirmation hearing, you’re going to see that Pete is very bright, very energetic, and very talented. He’s going to be able to inspire the troops, recruit and retain as he should. And I hope that all my colleagues will take a very hard look at that and vote in the affirmative tonight.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 5.1-magnitude quake hits Taiwan

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Tainan City of China’s Taiwan at 7:38 a.m. Sunday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
    The epicenter was monitored 23.17 degrees north latitude and 120.48 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, said a report issued by the CENC.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 32 civil servants handed punishments for fatal expressway collapse in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    South China’s Guangdong Province has held 32 civil servants and four organizations accountable for an expressway collapse that killed 52 people and injured 30 last year. The incident exposed serious failures in the construction, operation and maintenance of the affected road section.
    Following an investigation approved by the provincial Party committee, the provincial discipline inspection and supervision commission found that negligence and dereliction of duty had led to the disaster, according to a statement published on the commission’s website.
    Among those disciplined, Huang Chengzao, deputy director of the provincial department of transport, and Ren Meilong, former director of the provincial highway affairs center, have been formally reprimanded and are required to submit written reports acknowledging their mistakes and outlining corrective measures.
    The four organizations held accountable — the provincial department of transport, the provincial highway affairs center, Guangdong Transportation Group Co., Ltd. and the Meizhou municipal department of transport — have been ordered to submit written self-criticism reports.
    The deadly collapse occurred on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in the city of Meizhou on May 1, 2024. One side of the expressway caved in, causing 23 vehicles to roll down a slope.
    According to an investigation report unveiled earlier this week, the collapse was caused by prolonged, continuous rainfall combined with multiple other factors.
    The adverse factors that exacerbated the damage occurred in the early morning of the collapse and included rain, poor visibility and a higher-than-usual traffic volume. There were also issues in the construction, operation and maintenance of the road, which had a negative impact on the embankment’s disaster resilience, the report said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hainan commercial launch site to build new launch pads

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A commercial spacecraft launch site on China’s southern island province of Hainan on Saturday started constructing its second phase that will include two launch pads designed for liquid propellant rockets.
    The second phase will cover a total area of over 133 hectares on the coast of suburban Wenchang City, according to the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL), the launch site’s operator.
    In addition to the two launch pads and their supporting systems, such as a propellant fueling system and a gas supply system, the second phase will also include a commercial aerospace command and control center, a rocket assembly and testing building, and a tracking, telemetry and command station.
    According to HICAL, the second phase will enhance the comprehensive launch capabilities of the site, meet the growing demand for commercial space launches in China, and boost Hainan’s efforts to build an innovative industrial cluster for the commercial space sector.
    The Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site completed its first launch mission on Nov. 30, 2024.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sequels of popular franchises gear up for Spring Festival

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    As the Year of the Snake approaches, the festival film market is heating up with fierce competition, as six big-budget movies are set to premiere on Wednesday, the first day of the Chinese New Year.

    Widely regarded as a sign of the maturation of the domestic film industry, five of these titles are sequels to popular franchises, with Hong Kong director Tsui Hark’s martial arts tentpole Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants standing as the sole exception.

    The film, starring pop idol Xiao Zhan as Guo Jing, a skilled martial artist, saw its presale box-office revenue surpass 10 million yuan ($1.37 million) in just 40 minutes after online booking began at 9 am on Jan 19, propelling it to the top of the Spring Festival’s advance ticket revenue charts. It is also the first martial arts film to compete during the festival, the country’s most lucrative box-office season in recent years.

    Many industry insiders attribute its commercial success to the star power of Xiao, who is followed by millions of fans on the popular social platform Sina Weibo, as well as to the influence of the movie’s archetype.

    Adapted from seven chapters of one of the most renowned novels, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, by the late wuxia writer Jin Yong, pen name of Louis Cha Leung-yung (1924-2018), the tale recounts the adventures of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, the protagonist’s once-in-a-lifetime lover, in the martial arts world as they team up to fight and defend the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

    In addition to Legends of the Condor Heroes leading by a significant margin in presales, three other films have closely followed in presale revenue: the animated film Nezha 2, the suspense comedy Detective Chinatown 1900, and the mythological epic Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, occupying the second, third and fourth positions, respectively.

    Marking itself as a spinoff prequel to filmmaker Chen Sicheng’s Detective Chinatown franchise, the new film features actors Liu Haoran and Wang Baoqiang as an unlikely duo, following their mystery-solving adventures in San Francisco in 1900.

    As the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Nezha, Nezha 2 depicts the resurgence of the titular hero and his friend, Aobing, the prince from a dragon clan. The tale follows their journey as they overcome a series of difficulties while confronting an unprecedented crisis: The leader of the dragon clan releases thousands of sea monsters to threaten the existence of humankind.

    Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force picks up where the first movie left off, following Ji Fa, the brave son of a lord, as he returns to his hometown to lead a rebel army in fighting against the tyranny of Yin Shou, whose archetype is King Zhou, the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC).

    Interweaving mythology and history, the highlight of the film centers on battles among people, celestial beings and monsters. Director Wuershan revealed that a main challenge was representing the 12-meter-tall four sibling giants of the Mo family, powerful figures in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods), which serves as a major inspiration for the movie.

    The other two are the military-themed Operation Hadal, a follow-up to Operation Red Sea (2018), and the animated film Boonie Bears: Future Reborn, the 11th installment of the Boonie Bears franchise.

    Chen Jin, an analyst of Beacon, Alibaba Pictures’ real-time information tracker, says the movies competing for this year’s Spring Festival showcase a diverse range of themes and genres, and all are adorned with special-effects scenes. He analyzes that the holiday will serve as a barometer for the entire year’s film market, leading the Chinese film industry toward a better recovery this year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Peter Hegseth Confirmation as Secretary of Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. Senate voted 50-50 on the nomination of Peter Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense, and Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of the nomination, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
    “Pete Hegseth is now the Secretary of Defense.  This is who President Trump hand-picked and 50 Republicans fully supported, knowing full well of his past misconduct.  Now he is assuming one of the most consequential jobs in the world, and I fervently hope he is up to the task and will be a responsible, effective leader at the Pentagon. 
    “I opposed his nomination, but respect the outcome of his confirmation.  Still, I am going to watch him like a hawk, as I have with previous Secretaries from both parties.  I will point out where we disagree.  I will demand accountability. 
    “My top priority has always been national security, and partisanship has no place in that mission.  I will always pick up the phone for Mr. Hegseth and seek opportunities to work with the Secretary to strengthen and support our military.
    “I hope Secretary Hegseth comports himself with the wisdom, composure, and character that this awesome responsibility demands.  Our military men and women and, indeed, the American people, deserve nothing less from the Secretary of Defense.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall on Newsmax: President Trump’s Compassionate, Hands-on Work with Hurricane Helene Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Newsmax to discuss President Trump’s visit to North Carolina to meet with victims of Hurricane Helene. Due to the Biden Administration’s botched response by FEMA, victims of the hurricane are still struggling to rebuild three months later and have received little assistance from the federal government. 
    Senator Marshall discussed President Trump as a compassionate leader and emphasized the difference between his and President Biden’s response to the hurricane. He additionally shared his support for President Trump’s proposition to disband FEMA to cut away red tape for disaster relief. 

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview. 
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:
    On President Trump visiting victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina: 
    “What a big contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Here you have a President that’s hands-on, and, like you said, you’re seeing the compassionate side of Donald Trump, and not only his compassionate side, but he’s going to hold people accountable.”
    “Has it been three months, I think, since that hurricane? And still people there without proper housing and water as well. So this is the Donald Trump that I know –  you’re not going to see it on the legacy media, but he’s one of the most compassionate people I have ever met in my life.”
    On President Trump potentially disbanding FEMA following its failure to help victims of Hurricane Helene: 
    “Certainly this is what a businessman would do – when you have a situation, a business that’s just upside down, it’s not going to work, and all the king’s men will not be able to put this back together. So oftentimes we would just start over.”
    “I do think we could take all that money and somehow just pour it into the local levels… certainly the federal government has failed us. Let’s start over. I’m ready to consider anything at this time.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Report Finds UCLA Failed to Protect Jewish Students

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    Report finds that UCLA allowed the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, in violation of Civil Rights Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Michelle Steel released the following statement on the Education and Workforce Committee’s new report finding rampant antisemitism on America’s college campuses, including at UCLA. The full report can be found here.

    “Our findings are a stunning indictment of UCLA and other universities’ failure to protect the civil rights of Jewish students. As a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee responsible for this report, I have worked to hold UCLA’s leadership, as well as the leaders of other universities, accountable for their failure to stand up to pro-Hamas mobs and take antisemitism concerns seriously. The consequences of such inaction have been severe, as Jewish students faced harassment and campus safety was put at risk. All students on our campuses deserve a safe learning environment free of discrimination, and I will continue to press UCLA for answers.”

    The report issued the below findings related to UCLA’s actions, especially related to a violent outbreak stemming from demonstrations on April 30, 2024.

    • UCLA allowed the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
    • UCLA leadership could have ended the antisemitic encampment within minutes of its formation but chose to “hold off” instead, failing to act before the encampment reached a critical mass.
    • UCLA was aware of the formation of antisemitic checkpoints but failed to remove them or protect Jewish students, in violation of the University’s Title VI obligations.
    • UCLA’s failure to enforce policy and the law led to the violent conditions of the April 30 protest and required hundreds of law enforcement officers to disband the encampment.
    • UCLA failed to issue any suspensions or probations against students for conduct related to antisemitic protests, disruptions, and harassment.       
    • Of the 96 students arrested at the encampment, 92 signed resolution agreements that let them off the hook without consequences.
    • No UCLA students were disciplined for blocking Jewish students from accessing public areas of UCLA’s campus.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio Announces $50,000 in Federal Funding for Harmar Police Department Cruiser

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

    HARMAR TOWNSHIP, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined local law enforcement to celebrate the $50,000 that he secured for a new cruiser and dash camera system for the Harmar Township Police Department. He also toured to see the new cruiser.

    “To best protect and serve the people of Harmar Township, the Police Department needs reliable, high-quality vehicles and equipment,” said CongressmanDeluzio. “I’m proud to bring home $50,000 in federal funding to build up the fleet of police vehicles here in Harmar Township, so that they have the tools to keep our community safe.” 

    The award announced today funds the Township’s purchase of a new police cruiser. Because of the several major highways that pass through Harmar Township, the area has a large number of visitors. The new police cruiser, as well as the updated camera system, will help the Police Department better collect and record evidence, as well as maintain public trust in law enforcement.  

    This federal investment comes from Community Project Funding that Congressman Deluzio secured in the government funding package, with fifteen projects totaling more than $15 million for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. Three of those projects, including this one for Harmar Township, specifically focus on police departments, bringing a total of more than $1.26 million in funds for cops in the region. Photos from the event are available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio, Scanlon, Dean Urge White House to Boost Competition, Lower Costs By Fighting Monopolies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Pennsylvania Congressmembers Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) sent a letter to President Joe Biden commending the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic work to rein in price gouging corporations. In the letter, they also urge the administration to expand on their efforts to increase competition across the American economy and thus reduce costs for hardworking American families.

    The letter highlights the fact that under the leadership of appointees like Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, the Biden-Harris Administration has won victory after victory in their battle to lower costs for American families. From banning non-compete clauses in employment contracts, preventing companies from closing anti-competitive mergers, or prosecuting price-fixing executives and corporations, leaders at the FTC, DOJ, and CFPB have done more to fight corporate power than any administration in more than seventy years.

    However, as the Representatives note in the letter, there is still more work to do. They write in the letter, “We ask that you continue this critical and necessary work to hold accountable corporations that use their massive size and financial resources to take advantage of consumers and small businesses by price gouging on everything from groceries to gas to prescriptions, all to pad their bottom lines and enrich their shareholders.”

    The full letter is available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: November 1st, 2024 Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Urge Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office to Address Concerns with the Compensation Process, Help New Mexicans Get the Relief & Compensation Needed to Recover

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) sent a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and the FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office to address concerns from New Mexicans about the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office. 

    Created by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act in 2022 – legislation championed and passed by N.M. Congressional Democrats – the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is responsible for processing New Mexicans’ claims that arose from the wildfire. Since the devastating wildfire, the N.M. Delegation has secured a total of $3.95 billion in federal funding for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire recovery.

    “The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in New Mexico. The fire and subsequent flooding displaced thousands of our constituents for months, wiped away generations of history, and uprooted families from their communities. And yet, over two years later, many New Mexicans continue to wait for the relief and compensation they are owed by the federal government,” the lawmakers wrote to Jay Mitchell, FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office, and Michael Plostock, FEMA Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. 

    “After a significant delay in getting the Claims Office fully staffed and operational, and after further delays in dispersing funds, improvements to the Claims Office’s processes and best practices are still sorely needed. While we are encouraged by recent changes within the Claims Office, we have continued to hear concerns from our constituents about their experience with the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office,” the lawmakers continued. 

    “The Claims Office must process claims faster, communicate with claimants on a regular and consistent basis, and pay fair compensation. We also ask that processes and formulas reflect unique aspects of New Mexico such as adobe, historic structures, and subsistence living where large cache of food are kept in freezers,” the lawmakers further continued.

    To address these concerns and ensure that victims of the fire have all the information and tools they need to get compensation from the Claims Office, the lawmakers requested that Directors Mitchell and Plostock answer the following questions:

    1. How is the Claims Office working to more consistently communicate with claimants through proactive communication and responding to claimant inquiries in a timely manner?

    2. How is the Claims Office working to speed up the review of total loss claims in a way that ensures these claimants receive full compensation for culturally and structurally unique buildings, such as adobe?

    3. How many claimants have total home losses? Of those, how many have been compensated to date (broken down between partial and full compensation)? And of those who lost homes, how many of those are living in a new home or are in the building process?

    4. What steps is the Claims Office taking to ensure that claimants who do not possess traditional mortgage documentation or property deeds receive compensation quickly?

    5. What are the policies and processes in place to ensure that claimants can retain their assigned navigator if they so choose?

    6. When using standard rate calculators and tools from the insurance industry, how is the Claims Office working to make changes and updates to maximize the amount of compensation claimants are awarded?

    7. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the amount of tax documentation required from claimants, rather than add to it, particularly in total loss, complex, and small business claims? 

    8. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in food loss payments? If changes to Claims Office compensation policy are needed, is the Claims Office committed to updating policy such that claimants are not paid less than they would have previously received, and is the Claims Office committed to updating previously closed claims with the adjusted increased compensation? 

    9. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in hourly labor rate reimbursement for repairs?

    10. How is the Claims Office working to help claimants understand the review decisions by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)? Does the Claims Office include the SME reports with annotated decisions in Letter of Determination? 

    11. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the number of separate assessments claimants are required to have on the same property?

    12. When will the erosion estimate process be finalized?

    13. How is the Claims Office working to ensure that business loss claimants can receive updates and work on their claims from any office location?

    The text of the letter is here.

    In September, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández secured an extension to the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office to December 20, 2024.

    Last year, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation that would extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: November 1st, 2024 Heinrich, Hoeven: Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating November 2 as National Bison Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) announced that the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution they led to designate November 2, 2024, as National Bison Day.

    “Bison represent resiliency and are an enduring symbol of American strength. They have been a critical part of our culture for generations — in New Mexico, across the West, and especially in Indian Country,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan resolution with Senator Hoeven to recognize our national mammal and raise awareness for the ongoing efforts to conserve this unique species.”

    “National Bison Day is an opportunity to commemorate our national mammal and the unique role that bison have played in America,” said Hoeven. “We are fortunate to have the bison as our emblem of the pioneering spirit exemplified by Americans throughout our history.”

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    Heinrich and Hoeven introduced their bipartisan National Bison Legacy Act in 2015, and the legislation was signed into law in 2016. The National Bison Legacy Act recognized the bison’s significance in American history and designated it as the United States’ national mammal.

    Heinrich and Hoeven are the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Iowa Bridges Will Benefit from $44 Million Grassley-Backed Federal Investment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced Iowa will receive $44,640,000 to replace eight bridges across seven counties, including Cedar Rapids’ Arc of Justice bridge. The U.S. Department of Transportation will administer the resources through its Bridge Investment Program, which was established in the Grassley-backed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

    “Iowans consistently raise concerns about the safety of our bridges, and rightfully so – our bridges need upgrades. That’s one of the reasons I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law,” Grassley said. “These grants will improve commuter safety and flood resilience, and strengthen our regional supply chain to help get Iowa products to market.”

    Award Details:

    Washington County will receive $38,640,000 to remove and replace seven bridges in Washington, Hamilton, Buchanan, Jones, Cedar and Monroe counties. 

    The City of Cedar Rapids will receive $6,000,000 to replace the 86-year-old Arc of Justice bridge with a new, cable-stayed design. This will help raise the bridge above potential flood waters and improve hydraulic flow, reducing the height of Cedar Rapids’ upstream floodwall.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley and Ernst Advocate for Election Integrity, Demand USCIS Respond to Iowa’s Data Request on Potential Non-Citizen Voters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are calling on United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately respond to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s request for information regarding the citizenship status of 2,176 registered Iowa voters who self-identified as non-citizens. USCIS’ Des Moines Field Office has already completed a review of the 2,176 names at issue, yet USCIS headquarters refuses to make the information available to state officials.

    “Time is of the essence, as voting in Iowa has been underway since October 16 and Iowa election law requires absentee ballots be separated from their carrier envelopes on Monday, November 4,” Grassley and Ernst noted in their letter to USCIS. “We expect a response to this letter and for the information to be released to Iowa’s Secretary of State by end of day Friday, November 1. If that doesn’t happen, you will be playing into the very serious concerns of Iowans that the Biden-Harris administration is not following federal law and not taking reasonable measures to ensure only citizens are voting in our federal elections.”

    Read the Iowa senators’ full letter HERE and below.

    Ms. Ur M. Jaddou

    Director

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

    20 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th Floor

    Washington, DC 20529

    Director Jaddou:

    It’s come to our attention that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instructed USCIS’ Des Moines, Iowa field office to withhold information regarding citizenship of voter roll data requested by Iowa’s Secretary of State Paul Pate. The USCIS Iowa office has already manually reviewed every name that was provided to them. They have looked up and determined if the resident has naturalized or is a non-citizen. This data has been compiled since Monday, October 28. There is no excuse for withholding this information from the Secretary of State’s office when non-citizens are ineligible to vote in federal elections in accordance with longstanding federal law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 611).

    Time is of the essence, as voting in Iowa has been underway since October 16 and Iowa election law requires absentee ballots be separated from their carrier envelopes on Monday, November 4. We expect a response to this letter and for the information to be released to Iowa’s Secretary of State by end of day Friday, November 1. If that doesn’t happen, you will be playing into the very serious concerns of Iowans that the Biden-Harris administration is not following federal law and not taking reasonable measures to ensure only citizens are voting in our federal elections.

    Let us be very clear, all votes lawfully cast ought to be counted. The Secretary of State has outlined how measures and safeguards would be in place to ensure this fundamental right is preserved. It’s imperative for the federal government to provide this critical information to ensure Iowa can uphold this commitment to our citizens.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cardin Lead Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Longtime adoption advocate Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today urged President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. Reps. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) are co-leading the bipartisan effort, which garnered a total of 103 bicameral signatories, in the House of Representatives.

    “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote, noting approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States. 

    “The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.” 

    Grassley and his colleagues also acknowledged the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, per a State Department notice last week. They called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too.

    Read the full letter HERE. Cosigners include Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

    Background:

    The PRC terminated its intercountry adoption program on August 28, 2024. Shortly after, Grassley wrote the State Department and the Chinese Ambassador for information. He emphasized the uncertainty the PRC’s announcement cast on Chinese children and American parents, including parents in Iowa. Some families have been stuck in the final stages of the adoption process for years.

    When China suspended its intercountry adoption program following the COVID-19 pandemic, despite opening its borders for business and other activities, Grassley shined light on the inconsistency. He pushed for stalled adoptions to resume, so children and families could finally unite.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Shaheen and Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Meta to Stop Peddling Illicit Drugs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) are calling on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove and prevent illicit drugs advertisements from Facebook and Instagram.  

    “The United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic, with more than 100,000 Americans dying from overdoses last year, and an alarming amount of these drugs are sold online. It is crucial that everyone work to ensure these illegal drugs are found and taken off the streets. Therefore, we call on Meta to improve its human and automated advertising review and content moderation to address these failures that are placing lives at risk,” the senators wrote. 

    Per a recent Wall Street Journal report, Meta ran and collected revenue from hundreds of advertisements marketing illicit drugs, including opioids, ecstasy and cocaine. 

    “When presented with these disturbing findings, Meta took down some advertisements off its platforms. However, Meta’s refusal to prevent illicit drug advertisements, while accepting advertisement payments that are harming families and in clear violation of Meta’s policies, is particularly alarming,” they continued. 

    The lawmakers are urging Zuckerberg to support their bipartisan Cooper Davis Act– requiring social media companies report illicit drug activities on their platforms. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill in July. 

    Read the full letter HERE. 

    Grassley’s Related Work:

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Announces Cedar Rapids Veterans History Project Event

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – In honor of Veterans Day, the office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with students from Kirkwood Community College, will host its eighth annual Veterans History Project event to chronicle firsthand accounts of Iowa veterans. 

    “The past informs the present and shapes the future. That’s why the Veterans History Project is so valuable – it preserves our service members’ stories for future generations to learn about their experiences and the sacrifices they made for our great nation,” Grassley said. “I want to offer my deepest gratitude to all the veterans in Iowa for their selflessness, and many thanks to those participating in this year’s event.”

    Event details follow:

    WHAT: Veterans History Project

    WHEN: Friday, November 8, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT

    WHERE: Veterans Memorial Building, 51 1st Avenue Bridge, Cedar Rapids

    While the event will run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT, local media is encouraged to attend from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT. Members of the media who wish to attend must RSVP directly to Hannah_Akey@grassley.senate.gov. 

    ***Grassley participated in a question-and-answer (Q&A) session for Iowans about the Veterans History Project. The Q&A is for publication***

    Q&A: Veterans History Project

    With U.S Senator Chuck Grassley

    Q: What is the Veterans History Project?

    A: Approved unanimously by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project came about through a grassroots effort to preserve the oral histories of America’s brave service men and women. The Library of Congress serves as the permanent repository for recorded veterans’ interviews submitted from local communities across the United States. The project honors those who have served in uniform and helps ensure future generations understand military service and the realities of war. In addition to audio and video recordings, the mission to preserve the memories and memorabilia from America’s veterans also includes letters, diaries, artwork and photographs. In 2016, Congress expanded the collection to include oral histories from family members memorializing loved ones who died as a result of their military service during war. To date, the collection includes firsthand narratives of U.S. military veterans from World War I through present day. The stories of more than 100,000 veterans are now part of the collection. 

    As a history enthusiast and U.S. Senator, I wanted to help preserve the stories of Iowa’s brave heroes who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2018, my office launched an annual event to interview hometown heroes for the Veterans History Project. Typically held the Friday before Veterans Day, my office invites local veterans to share their stories in a 30- to 60-minute interview. To date, my office has submitted 83 interviews from Iowa veterans at events held across the state, including those recorded at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in Johnston (2018); the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown (2019); the Veterans Post in Waverly (2020); 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City (2021); the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo (2022); and, the Rock Island Arsenal Museum (2023). It is my honor to provide a platform for Iowa veterans and their loved ones, so that their stories aren’t lost to history. Listening to the voices of veterans sharing first-hand accounts of their military service and experiences during wartime is powerful testimony.

    Q: Where will your office hold interviews this year for the Veterans History Project?

    A: On Friday, Nov. 8, my office will host our eighth annual Veterans History Project in Cedar Rapids. I’m pleased to have students from Kirkwood Community College joining us this year to help facilitate the recordings and provide technical support. Interviews will take place at the Veterans Memorial Building, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at 51 1st Ave. Bridge, in Cedar Rapids. Iowans interested in participating should contact my office in Cedar Rapids, (319) 363-6832 to schedule their interview. 

    According to the U.S. Census, veterans make up 6.5 percent of Iowa’s population; the Department of Veterans Affairs calculates 193,861 Iowans are among approximately 18 million living veterans in the United States today. Of wartime veterans, Iowa is home to 3,716 World War II veterans; 16,246 from the Korean conflict; 64,900 during Vietnam era; and 65,926 from the Gulf War. Census Bureau data show a shrinking share of U.S. adults are veterans, from about 18 percent of the population in 1980 to six percent in 2022. As fewer people have a direct connection to an active duty service member, or serve in uniform themselves, it’s important to preserve the stories of those who have served in the Armed Forces to ensure their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation is honored and remembered for generations to come. God bless our veterans and service members currently serving who have answered the call to protect and defend our cherished blessings of freedom.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Petitpas Taylor to announce supports for Veterans and their families

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, will make an announcement about support for Veterans and their families through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund (VFWF) at an event hosted by Sistema New Brunswick in Moncton.

    Moncton, NB – The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, will make an announcement about support for Veterans and their families through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund (VFWF) at an event hosted by Sistema New Brunswick in Moncton.

    Minister Petitpas Taylor and other event participants will be available to media following the event.

    Date: Monday, November 4, 2024
    Time: 11:00 a.m. AST

    Media who wish to participate and obtain additional event details are asked to register by contacting media@veterans.gc.ca with the name(s) of their attendee(s) and media outlet by 10:00 a.m. AST on Monday, November 4.

    If you anticipate any accessibility barriers, please let us know and we will work with you to enable your participation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin Join National Child Advocates in Thanking the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for Taking an Important Step to Protecting the Federal Benefits of Foster Youth

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC:  November 1, 2024 – Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) welcome the opportunity provided by the joint Request for Information (RFI) on the use and conservation of federal benefits for foster youth, as well as other ways federal agencies may play an appropriate role supporting broader Federal, State, and local efforts to improve the outcomes of foster youth who receive federal benefits, published today by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

    In December 2022, Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin urged the Biden Administration to use its executive branch authority to limit the state practice of using the assets and benefits of foster youth to reimburse state costs of care until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. Although Congress will need to act to permanently stop this practice all together, SSA and HHS have statutory and regulatory authority to stop or at least limit this practice now. 

    In August 2023, the Biden Administration encouraged reform efforts and reminded states and tribal child welfare agencies of their responsibility to foster youth when serving as a Social Security Representative Payee for foster youth via a joint letter issued by SSA and ACF.  Further, SSA has taken multiple additional steps to educate its staff and child welfare agencies about the responsibilities of an agency Representative Payee, and ACF has hosted webinars focused on state and local efforts to conserve the federal benefits of foster youth.   

    Importantly, states can stop this practice without any action by the federal government, and many are working to do so.  Four states and jurisdictions (Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) have enacted comprehensive reform, and an additional six states or jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York City) have adopted substantial reforms to protect some of the assets and benefits of orphaned and disabled foster youth.  Nine more (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington) have adopted more limited reform ranging from legislation, executive order, resolution, agency policy, state trust, or litigation. Unfortunately, the majority of states still choose to bolster their own financial security rather than help the orphaned and disabled youth, often without the youth, their attorneys, or other caring adults knowing. 

    Today, SSA and the Children’s Bureau took a critical step to better protect foster youth.  The Request for Information from youth, families, and stakeholders on how the use and conservation of federal benefits could improve outcomes for foster youth will serve as the foundation for agency reform – giving the agencies important perspectives on what actions are possible and how to implement those actions to best improve child well-being.  

    “I thank Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley and Administration on Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston for taking the important step of collecting information from youth, families, and stakeholders about how Federal, State, and local governments can use and conserve the federal benefits of foster youth to improve their well-being,” said Rep. Davis.  “I proudly lead legislation to protect the benefits and assets of foster youth by stopping states from taking the youths’ funds.  This new request for information serves as a foundation for future agency action.  I am proud to have partnered with Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to urge executive branch action to help states stop this practice until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. My home state of Illinois is a national leader in this area, and I greatly appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration’s multiple steps to encourage states to protect foster youth.”

    “Foster youth should be able to keep their social security benefits and not be stolen from them by their state,” said Rep. Bacon. “In 2020, Nebraska received over $2.6 million in social security benefits from youth in care. That is their money and being a foster youth is hard enough without the expectation that they pay for the care they received when they were placed into the care of the state due to no fault of their own. The Executive Branch must take action to address this problem.” 

    “States have a duty to care for vulnerable foster children, yet many smash their piggy banks and seize their Social Security benefits to reimburse the costs of their care,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am grateful to Commissioner O’Malley, the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for heeding our calls and taking a closer look to ensure federal benefits are best serving all children and young people in foster care. I have been working to solve this problem since my time in the Maryland State Senate, and today I’m proud to stand with Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Don Bacon to applaud this further step by the Biden-Harris administration to protect foster kids across America.”

    “Foster youth deserve a fair chance to benefit from their benefits. Now that a majority of states have initiated or taken action to protect foster youth assets, this RFI paves the way for meaningful rules that will help beneficiaries in care thrive. We are grateful for the leadership of SSA and Commissioner O’Malley and look forward to collaborating with SSA and ACF on behalf of impacted youth.” Amy C. Harfeld, JD, National Policy Director, Children’s Advocacy Institute

    “Child welfare agencies have long been taking Social Security benefits from foster children who are disabled or have deceased parents, leaving the children penniless. I applaud the leadership of the Social Security Administration—and the efforts of Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin—in this important step towards better protecting foster youth’s resources for their struggle against the odds as they leave foster care.” Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore and author of The Poverty Industry

    “Listen to courageous foster youth like Marissa Pike, Katrina White, Ian Marks, Justin Kasieta,  and Anthony Jackson. The Center for the Rights of Abused Children remains focused on stopping states from taking foster youth’s federal benefits and delivering comprehensive reform in a child-centric way. We appreciate federal policymakers engaging on this issue, and we encourage governors and state legislators to take action today.”  J. Kendall Seal, Vice President of Policy, Center for the Rights of Abused Children.

    A copy of the letter by Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –