NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Preparing for Potential Ice Jam Flooding

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the week of March 9, 2025, as Flood Safety Awareness Week in New York State. The annual campaign, conducted in partnership with the National Weather Service, educates New Yorkers about flood dangers and how to prepare for any emergency involving flooding. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services works with local, state and federal partners year-round to address issues involving flooding, including recovering from past events, training first responders and preparing everyday New Yorkers to understand the risks and know what steps to take when there’s a flood.

    “New York is no stranger to extreme weather, and as we prepare for the potential for flood conditions starting today, it is important for New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take proper precaution to keep themselves and their families safe,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State is home to numerous bodies of water, including coastal areas, rivers, lakes and streams — and Flood Safety Awareness Week is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to understand the dangers of flooding and how to best prepare.”

    A widespread rain event today and tomorrow could cause localized flooding and elevated river flows, as well as increased potential for ice jams due to warm temperatures resulting in snowmelt and rainfall. Buffalo area creeks have the greatest risk for ice jams. Warm temperatures, snowmelt, ice on rivers and widespread rainfall could contribute to minor flooding throughout the State through tomorrow. Ice jam flooding is possible, especially on creeks and streams where blockages are reported and isolated minor river flooding is possible. Gusty winds are expected across western portions of the State with wind gusts between 40 and 45 mph through this afternoon. Flood Watches continue this afternoon into tomorrow for Western New York, the northern Finger Lakes, northern Central NY and the North Country’s Tug Hill Plateau with several locations seeing between a half inch to an inch of rain by Thursday morning.

    The risk of flooding across New York State and the rest of the country is increasing due to climate change. The warming atmosphere impacts the weather in several ways, including increased precipitation, tropical storms and hurricanes occurring with more frequency, and higher sea levels due to increasing ocean temperatures and melting of ice sheets. Across the United States, flooding causes billions of dollars in damage and is responsible for almost 100 deaths each year. Governor Hochul is joining DHSES and NWS in urging all New Yorkers to learn about the threats associated with flooding and know the actions they can take now to protect families, businesses and communities from flooding and other emergencies.

    Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “New Yorkers are no strangers to the devastating effects of flooding, but preparing in advance can help keep everyone safe. Build an emergency supply kit, develop a flood preparedness plan for your family and follow instructions from emergency officials.”

    The National Weather Service said, “In New York, flooding can happen any time of year. Thunderstorms, tropical storms and large winter storms can all produce enough rain to send streams over their banks. Rising rivers in the winter and spring can break up ice and lead to ice jam flooding. Everyone living along a stream or river should pay attention to weather and river forecasts and have a plan should rising water threaten their safety or livelihood.”

    Flooding can cause damage and injury with little warning, including power outages, disruptions to transportation and transit systems, building damage and catastrophic landslides. It is important for all New Yorkers to understand the severity of danger that flooding risks pose and what individuals and families can do to stay safe in a flooding emergency.

    Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bray encouraged individuals to sign-up for free emergency alerts such as weather warnings, road closures and other emergency information at https://alert.ny.gov/.

    Steps New Yorkers can take before and during a flood to stay safe:

    • Know your area’s type of flood risk — visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
    • Have a flood emergency plan in place for all members of your household including children and pets.
    • Check in with neighbors who may need assistance.
    • If you live in a flood-prone area, document your belongings and valuables. Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create digital, password-protected copies of important documents, pictures and other items.
    • Obtain flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding.
    • Monitor your local weather forecast and follow instructions from local officials.
    • If you live in an area that has evacuation zones, know your route and follow instructions from local officials.
    • Traveling during a flood can be extremely dangerous. One foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. Never walk, swim or drive through flood waters. If you have doubts, remember: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
    • Consider those with access and functional needs to determine if they are prepared for a flood emergency where they live and work.

    For more preparedness information and safety tips from DHSES, visit dhses.ny.gov/safety. The National Weather Service website also includes Flood Safety Tips and Spring Safety Resources.

    About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

    The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, find DHSES on Facebook, on X (formerly Twitter) or visit dhses.ny.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Canada initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding US tariff measures

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Canada initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding US tariff measures

    Canada claims the announced additional US ad valorem duties of 25 per cent on all non-energy goods and 10 per cent on energy goods originating in Canada are inconsistent with various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 as well as the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
    Further information is available in document WT/DS634/1
    What is a request for consultations?
    The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Reacts to Trump’s Joint Address to Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement in reaction to President Donald Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, in which he outlined his harmful agenda that would benefit already-wealthy billionaires at the expense of middle-class Americans:

    “Donald Trump promised he’d lower costs for middle-class Americans, but clearly that was a lie he sold to get elected. In reality, we’re continuing to watch Trump and Elon Musk take a chainsaw to programs and services that middle-class families rely on—the same families Trump swore he’d protect—all while doing nothing to address the rising cost of eggs and groceries. Since day one, Trump has already damaged lifelines like Head Start, gutted cancer research, fired more Veterans than any President in our nation’s history and is making our country less safe by surrendering to Putin while abandoning our democratic partners and allies. Make no mistake: Trump and Musk will continue to ram through cuts to health care and critical programs that middle-class Americans depend on so they can fund tax breaks for already-wealthy billionaires. They don’t care about making government work better for families, they only want to make government work better for themselves. If Republicans won’t stick up for the middle class, Democrats will.”

    As part of her ongoing efforts to push back against Trump’s illegal funding freeze that continues to inflict needless chaos, confusion and financial pain on Head Start programs and the middle-class families they serve throughout Illinois, Senator Duckworth invited Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, Executive Director of the Illinois Head Start Association, as her guest to Trump’s Joint Address to Congress.

    “Leaders like Lauri Morrison-Frichtl are on the frontlines of Trump’s needless chaos—which is continuing to cause irreversible damage and jeopardize Illinois Head Start’s ability to serve thousands of children and families,” said Duckworth. “I was proud to invite Lauri Morrison-Frichtl to the Joint Address to remind middle-class Americans and this Administration just how critical Head Start services are—not only for working parents trying to make ends meet, but also for the next generation of students. We cannot let Trump and Republicans tear down this lifeline for families in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires—full stop.”

    With over 37 years of experience with Head Start, Executive Director Morrison-Frichtl is a steadfast leader and advocate for the wellbeing of the thousands of children and families in our state who face the most significant barriers to achieving success in school and in life. Additionally, nearly 70% of Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start parents are in the workforce and rely on Head Start’s programs in order to go to their jobs—allowing them to support their families and contribute to our economy. An official portrait photo of Illinois Head Start Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl can be found on the Senator’s website.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Cohen Renew Push to Help Improve School Bus Safety and Protect Our Kids

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)— and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) reintroduced legislation to help keep our kids safe as they travel to and from school. The School Bus Safety Act of 2025 would implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to make school buses safer by ensuring there are seat belts at every seat and buses are equipped with safety measures like stability control and automatic braking systems. The bill would also create a grant program to help school districts modify school buses to meet these important safety modifications.

    “No parent should have to worry about the safety of their children when they get on a school bus—but school buses often lack seat belts and other basic safety equipment that every parent demands,” said Senator Duckworth. “Nothing is more important than protecting our children, which is why I’m proud to be reintroducing the School Bus Safety Act with Rep. Cohen to help prevent school bus accidents, make accidents less severe and implement other commonsense safety recommendations that will save lives.”

    “There is no more precious cargo than children entrusted by their parents for a bus ride to school,” said Rep. Cohen. “The commonsense measures recommended by the NTSB and called for in this legislation will save young lives. I am pleased to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Duckworth to make school buses across the country safer while helping financially strapped school districts modify their school bus fleets to meet the new specifications. We’ve seen too many deaths and serious injuries in school bus accidents in Tennessee and elsewhere, and it is past time we act to protect young lives.”

    The School Bus Safety Act would require the Department of Transportation issue rules requiring all school buses to include:

    • A 3-point safety belt, which includes a seat belt across a lap as well as a shoulder harness to help protect passengers by restraining them in case of a collision.
    • An Automatic Emergency Braking System, which helps prevent accidents and crashes by detecting objects or vehicles ahead of the bus and braking automatically.
    • An Event Data Recorder (EDR) that can record pre- and post-crash data, driver inputs, and restraint usage and when a collision does occur.
    • An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System that will use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to assist the driver remain in control of the vehicle.
    • A Fire Suppression System, which addresses engine fires.
    • A Firewall that prohibits hazardous quantities of gas or flame to pass through the firewall from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment.

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1,082 people have died in school transportation-related crashes between 2013 and 2022, which saw a total of 976 crashes.

    Full text of the legislation can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    Duckworth has long pushed for improving school bus safety, originally introducing this legislation in 2018 and again in 2023.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois State Association of Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 05, 2025

    {WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)  yesterday met with representatives from the Illinois State Association of Counties to discuss the impact of the Trump Administration’s funding freeze on Illinois.  During this meeting, Durbin and Duckworth heard directly from county leaders about affected transportation and infrastructure projects.  Last week, Durbin and Duckworth joined Illinois leaders to send a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding the release of the approximately $1.88 billion in funding being illegally withheld from Illinois taxpayers despite the funding being appropriated by Congress and the U.S. courts intervening with the freeze.

    The Senators and county leaders also spoke about House Republicans’ proposed $880 billion in Medicaid cuts to compensate for President Trump’s tax cut for billionaires.  If congressional Republicans pass these Medicaid cuts, 3.4 million Illinoisans on Medicaid, including nearly 1.5 million children, could lose access to critical health care. 

    “Whether it’s illegally freezing funds or backing a bill to gut Medicaid, Trump is hurting the same families he swore to protect by jeopardizing programs they rely on,” Duckworth said. “Worse yet, Republicans are planning to put Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on the chopping block in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.  I’m glad I had the chance to meet with the leaders of the Illinois State Association of Counties alongside Senator Durbin to discuss how Trump’s chaos is impacting communities across Illinois. We’ll keep pushing back and sticking up for families.”

    “The decisions made in the White House and on Capitol Hill have real impacts in Illinois.  The President’s decision to freeze promised federal funds to Illinois is jeopardizing critical transportation and infrastructure projects in Illinois, further harming our economy and threatening Illinoisans’ jobs.  Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are scheming to cut health care for 3.4 million Illinoisans on Medicaid to give tax breaks to billionaires,” Durbin said.  “Senator Duckworth and I heard directly from members of the Illinois State Association of Counties today about the impacts they’re seeing in their home counties.”

      

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

    Counties represented at the meeting included:

    • Cook County
    • Kane County
    • Lake County
    • McHenry County
    • Peoria County
    • Stephenson County
    • Will County

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Moran Response to President Trump’s Address to Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:

    “In his address to Congress, President Trump outlined his plans to bolster the economy, strengthen national security and protect our southern border. The President has already reinstated commonsense border policies to make certain our border patrol agents have the tools and authority they need to apprehend illegal migrants, arrest drug traffickers and stop fentanyl from entering our country. Congress must work to pass legislation that provides the resources needed to sustain a secure border through permanent infrastructure, increased manpower and cutting-edge technology.

    “Kansans and Americans are facing many challenges, and addressing these challenges will require us to work together to find solutions and make certain all Americans can achieve the American Dream.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Plan, Prepare and Protect Your Pet Before, During and After an Emergency

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

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    Español
    They make us laugh. They are usually waiting for us when we get home from work and school. They give us unconditional love. They are often our best friends. And they depend on us for everything: food, water, healthcare. They are our pets and part of the family.
    Our pets also depend on us when emergency strikes. Are you ready with your pet preparedness plan?
    Your Pet Preparedness Plan — Prepare Ahead for Your Pet’s Needs
    When it comes to planning for emergencies, pet owners should consider their pets too. With some simple preparations now, you can make sure your pet will be protected, safe and healthy during and after any emergency. In the middle of a disaster, or when you know one is imminent, you may not have time to prepare for the specific needs of your pet. Now is the time for pet preparedness planning, and here are some tips.

    Stock at least a 1-week supply of food and fresh water on hand for your pet, as well as a 1-week supply of medication, if your pet takes medication.
    Include copies of your pet’s vaccination records and other medical records in your pet preparedness kit. Include information about your pet’s insurance policy, if you have one.
    Experts suggest that you also include photos of your pet to help others identify them in case you and your pet become separated.

    How to Weather Emergencies With your Pet and How to Evacuate Safely if Necessary
    If you experience an emergency like a hurricane or flood, bring your pet indoors as soon as local authorities say a storm is coming. Stay indoors, preferably in a room with few or no windows, until you know it’s safe. Take your pet preparedness kit and other disaster supplies with you if you move from room to room.
    If you need to evacuate your home, it is important to bring your pet with you. You can find out from your local emergency management agency which emergency shelters allow pets.
    If you cannot take your pet when you evacuate and must leave them in your home, put a Rescue Alert Sticker on your door to let people know there is a pet inside.
    Pet Preparedness for Large Pets and Smaller Pets, Like Fish
    Having larger and smaller pets during an emergency can pose additional challenges. While dogs and cats are relatively easy to transport and evacuate to a shelter, what do you do with your horse, or fish that are in an aquarium or pond?
    If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property, make sure they all have some form of identification. Map out primary and secondary evacuation routes in advance and identify the vehicles or trailers that would be needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. If you need to evacuate with larger animals, make sure that your emergency destination has food and water, as well as access to veterinary care and handling equipment. If you need to evacuate and cannot take your larger animals, you will need to decide how and where to move them to shelter or if it’s better to turn them outside.
    There are some basic guidelines for dealing with fish in aquariums or ponds during a power outage. Experts recommend you do not feed your fish during a power outage. Most fish can survive days or even weeks without food. During the winter, if you lose power, you can insulate your aquarium with something like a blanket or newspapers. An alternate power source, like a generator, can run the heater, pump, and filter. If you must move your fish, you can use a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag and fill the bag with one-third water and two-thirds air. Alternatively, you can use a bucket, tub, or large jar. It is important that you NOT release your pet fish into local waterways. Introducing non-native fish species is harmful to local waterways. If you cannot keep your fish because of an impending emergency, experts recommend taking them to a pet store.
    Helping Your Pet Adjust After an Emergency
    You and your pet have made it through the emergency, but your pet doesn’t seem normal and is displaying unexpected behaviors. Well-behaved pets may become aggressive or defensive after a major disruption in their lives, and it may take several weeks for them to return to normal. Keep an eye on your pet and give him or her plenty of time to rest; however, if your pet remains extremely anxious or has other behavioral or health problems afterward, contact your veterinarian.

    Find more about Pet Preparedness at the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine:
    Take Care of Your Pets Before Disaster Strikes
    Taking Care of Your Pets During Hurricanes and Floods
    Additional resources:
    Prepare Your Pets for Disasters: This page has tips for dogs and cats as well as tips for large animals, such as horses, goats and pigs.
    NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards: NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Turns Off 2 Voyager Science Instruments to Extend Mission

    Source: NASA

    The farthest-flung human-made objects will be able to take their science-gathering even farther, thanks to these energy-conserving measures.
    Mission engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California turned off the cosmic ray subsystem experiment aboard Voyager 1 on Feb. 25 and will shut off Voyager 2’s low-energy charged particle instrument on March 24. Three science instruments will continue to operate on each spacecraft. The moves are part of an ongoing effort to manage the gradually diminishing power supply of the twin probes.
    Launched in 1977, Voyagers 1 and 2 rely on a radioisotope power system that generates electricity from the heat of decaying plutonium. Both lose about 4 watts of power each year.
    “The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible,” said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at JPL. “But electrical power is running low. If we don’t turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission.”
    The two spacecraft carry identical sets of 10 science instruments. Some of the instruments, geared toward collecting data during planetary flybys, were turned off after both spacecraft completed their exploration of the solar system’s gas giants.
    The instruments that remained powered on well beyond the last planetary flyby were those the science team considered important for studying the solar system’s heliosphere, a protective bubble of solar wind and magnetic fields created by the Sun, and interstellar space, the region outside the heliosphere. Voyager 1 reached the edge of the heliosphere and the beginning of interstellar space in 2012; Voyager 2 reached the boundary in 2018. No other human-made spacecraft has operated in interstellar space.
    Last October, to conserve energy, the project turned off Voyager 2’s plasma science instrument, which measures the amount of plasma — electrically charged atoms — and the direction it is flowing. The instrument had collected only limited data in recent years due to its orientation relative to the direction that plasma flows in interstellar space. Voyager 1’s plasma science instrument had been turned off years ago because of degraded performance.
    Interstellar Science Legacy
    The cosmic ray subsystem that was shut down on Voyager 1 last week is a suite of three telescopes designed to study cosmic rays, including protons from the galaxy and the Sun, by measuring their energy and flux. Data from those telescopes helped the Voyager science team determine when and where Voyager 1 exited the heliosphere.
    Scheduled for deactivation later this month, Voyager 2’s low-energy charged particle instrument measures the various ions, electrons, and cosmic rays originating from our solar system and galaxy. The instrument consists of two subsystems: the low-energy particle telescope for broader energy measurements, and the low-energy magnetospheric particle analyzer for more focused magnetospheric studies.
    Both systems use a rotating platform so that the field of view is 360 degrees, and the platform is powered by a stepper motor that provides a 15.7-watt pulse every 192 seconds. The motor was tested to 500,000 steps — enough to guarantee continuous operation through the mission’s encounters with Saturn, which occurred in August 1980 for Voyager 2. By the time it is deactivated on Voyager 2, the motor will have completed more than 8.5 million steps.
    “The Voyager spacecraft have far surpassed their original mission to study the outer planets,” said Patrick Koehn, Voyager program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Every bit of additional data we have gathered since then is not only valuable bonus science for heliophysics, but also a testament to the exemplary engineering that has gone into the Voyagers — starting nearly 50 years ago and continuing to this day.”
    Addition Through Subtraction
    Mission engineers have taken steps to avoid turning off science instruments for as long as possible because the science data collected by the twin Voyager probes is unique. With these two instruments turned off, the Voyagers should have enough power to operate for about a year before the team needs to shut off another instrument on both spacecraft.
    In the meantime, Voyager 1 will continue to operate its magnetometer and plasma wave subsystem. The spacecraft’s low-energy charged particle instrument will operate through the remainder of 2025 but will be shut off next year.  
    Voyager 2 will continue to operate its magnetic field and plasma wave instruments for the foreseeable future. Its cosmic ray subsystem is scheduled to be shut off in 2026.
    With the implementation of this power conservation plan, engineers believe the two probes could have enough electricity to continue operating with at least one science instrument into the 2030s. But they are also mindful that the Voyagers have been weathering deep space for 47 years and that unforeseen challenges could shorten that timeline.
    Long Distance
    Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 remain the most distant human-made objects ever built. Voyager 1 is more than 15 billion miles (25 billion kilometers) away. Voyager 2 is over 13 billion miles (21 billion kilometers) from Earth.
    In fact, due to this distance, it takes over 23 hours to get a radio signal from Earth to Voyager 1, and 19½ hours to Voyager 2.
    “Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before,” said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL. “That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we’re pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible.”
    For more information about NASA’s Voyager missions, visit:https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager
    News Media Contacts
    DC Agle / Calla CofieldJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-653-6297 / 626-808-2469agle@jpl.nasa.gov / calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov
    2025-032

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Novel Recuperator Design for Cryogenic Fluid Management System

    Source: NASA

    Cryocoolers are essential systems in many space exploration missions to maintain propellants at cryogenic temperatures. Cryogenic recuperators are a key component of these cryocoolers and dictate the performance of the system. NASA is seeking to reduce the cost and increase the performance of cryogenic recuperators (also called Heat Exchangers) by utilizing Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies.
    Award: $7,000 in total prizes
    Open Date: March 5, 2025
    Close Date: May 2, 2025
    For more information, visit: https://grabcad.com/challenges/novel-recuperator-design-for-cryogenic-fluid-management-system

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Come Work for FEMA in Tennessee

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Come Work for FEMA in Tennessee

    Come Work for FEMA in Tennessee

    FEMA is hiring Tennessee residents to support the recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. Jobs are available in Knoxville, Kingsport and Nashville.Qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds and a desire to serve are needed immediately. These temporary positions start as 120-day appointments and may be extended based on the needs of the recovery mission. Benefits include sick leave and up to 11 paid holidays. FEMA is accepting applications for the following positions:Apply by Thursday, March 6:Logistics Specialist:  USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementVoluntary Agency Liaison Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementApply by Monday, March 10:Geospatial and Data Analytics Cell Manager: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementAll positions will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date or when 100 applications are received. More positions may be added later. To see all open announcements, visit USAJobs.gov, type “local hire” in the keywords section and “Tennessee” for location.For tips, including how to prepare your resume and navigate the website, visit USAJOBS Help Center – Application Process.Hiring locally helps build FEMA’s disaster recovery workforce. Many career FEMA employees began as local hires.All applicants must be U.S. citizens, 18 years of age or older, and possess a high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma, or higher depending on the job. Individuals will be required to pass a background investigation that includes fingerprinting and a credit check. Employees are also required to participate in direct deposit or electronic funds transfer for salary payment. If you are found qualified, you may be called for an interview.
    kwei.nwaogu
    Wed, 03/05/2025 – 15:53

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Did Your Contact Information Change? Let FEMA Know

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Did Your Contact Information Change? Let FEMA Know

    Did Your Contact Information Change? Let FEMA Know

    It is important for Georgians who applied for FEMA assistance to update their contact information. FEMA has not been able to reach many survivors due to disconnected numbers or numbers that have changed but were not updated. This could hamper eligible survivors from receiving additional assistance which could include housing options, additional funds, scheduling home inspections or referrals to agencies or organizations who may be able to provide help that FEMA cannot.You can update your information through your account at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA app for your smartphone, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is available daily, and assistance is available in most languages. You can also call the Georgia Call Center at 678-547-2861 Monday through Friday.
    jakia.randolph
    Wed, 03/05/2025 – 13:30

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 to Explore Deep Space Exercise, Health

    Source: NASA

    During NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station, which is scheduled to launch in March, select members of the four-person crew will participate in exercise and medical research aimed at keeping astronauts fit on future long-duration missions.
    Crew members living and working aboard the space station have access to a designated training area outfitted with a weight-lifting system, a stationary bike, and a specialized treadmill called T2. The space station is expansive enough for bulky exercise equipment that helps preserve the health and performance of astronauts in space and when they return to Earth.
    However, as NASA looks to explore beyond low Earth orbit, the agency anticipates future spacecraft will not have room for large exercise equipment, like treadmills. Since walking and running are essential parts of workouts aboard the space station, NASA does not fully understand how long-duration spaceflights without a treadmill will impact crews’ health and motor functions. Consequently, NASA researchers are adjusting astronauts’ training regimens, including eliminating the use of the treadmill in some cases, to study ways that maintain crews’ strength, fitness, bone health, and balance.
    In an ongoing study called Zero T2, expedition crews are divided into three groups with different workout regimens. One group continues exercising normally, using all the available equipment aboard the orbiting complex. A second group forgoes using the treadmill, relying solely on the other available equipment. While a third group will only exercise using a new, experimental, less bulky workout machine. NASA compares the groups’ health data collected before, during, and after flight to determine if the lack of treadmill use negatively impacts the crews’ fitness, muscle performance, and recovery after return to Earth.
    “A treadmill takes up a lot of mass, space, and energy. This is not great for missions to Mars where every kilogram counts,” explained NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, who participated in the same study while serving as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission in 2024. “The Zero T2 experiment is helping us figure out if we can go without a treadmill and still be healthy.”
    Results of the Zero T2 study will help researchers determine how treadmill-free workouts may affect crew health, which will, in turn, help NASA build realistic exercise protocols for future deep space missions. Additionally, this investigation could support design improvements for exercise devices used to prevent or treat bone, muscle, and cardiovascular health on Earth.
    Beyond the Zero T2 study, select NASA crew members will perform additional studies supported by the agency’s Human Research Program during their mission. Participating crew will conduct medical exams, provide biological samples, and document spaceflight-related injuries, among other tasks. 
    “Astronauts choose which studies to participate in based on their interests,” explained Cherie Oubre, a NASA scientist at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, who helps oversee human research studies carried out aboard the space station. “The experiments address important risks and gaps associated with human spaceflight.”
    One set of experiments, called CIPHER (Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research), will help researchers understand how multiple systems within the human body adjust to varying mission durations. CIPHER study members will complete vision assessments, cognitive tests, and MRI scans to help provide a clearer picture of how the entire body is affected by space.
    “The CIPHER experiment tracks changes in the eyes, bones, heart, muscles, immune system, and more,” Oubre said. “The investigation provides the most comprehensive overview of how long-duration spaceflight affects the entire human body ever conducted, helping us advance human expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere.”
    Some crew members also will contribute to a core set of measurements called Spaceflight Standard Measures. The measurements represent how the human body and mind adapt to space travel over time and serve as a basis for other spaceflight studies like CIPHER. Additionally, crew members may provide biological samples for Omics Archive, a separate study analyzing how the body reacts to long-duration spaceflight at the molecular level.
    In another study, select crew members will test a potential treatment for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, a condition associated with brain changes and swelling of the back of the eye. Researchers are unsure what causes the syndrome or why only certain astronauts develop it, but the shift of bodily fluids toward the head in weightlessness may play a role. Some scientists believe genetics related to how the body processes B vitamins may affect how astronauts respond to those fluid shifts. Participating crew will test whether a daily B vitamin supplement can ease or prevent the development of symptoms. They also will investigate if cuffs worn on astronauts’ thighs to keep fluids in the legs could be an effective intervention.
    Upon return, the select crew members will complete surveys that record any discomfort or injuries associated with landing, such as scrapes and bruises. Results of the surveys­­ ̶ when combined with data retrieved by sensors in the vehicle­­ ̶ will help researchers catalog these injuries and improve the design of spacecraft.
    Crew members began participating in the studies about a year before their mission, learning about the work and offering baseline health data. They will continue to provide data for the experiments for up to two years after returning home.
    ____
    NASA’s Human Research Program pursues the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, and the International Space Station, the program scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives NASA’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as human space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

    [embedded content]
    Astronauts aboard the International Space Station typically exercise for two hours each day. From running to cycling to weightlifting, learn how crew members complete fitness regimens in space and commit to staying healthy – even in microgravity (Credit: NASA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE BRINGS FOCUS TO CLIMATE ACTION, March 5, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE BRINGS FOCUS TO CLIMATE ACTION, March 5, 2025

    Posted on Mar 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

    STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE BRINGS FOCUS TO CLIMATE ACTION

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 5, 2025

    HONOLULU — The Sustainability Film Series: Student Film Showcase, an event highlighting action and engagement around climate change mitigation, takes place this Sunday, March 9, at the Doris Duke Theatre in Honolulu. Community members are invited to attend free of charge.

    The Sustainability Film Series, presented by the Hawaiʻi State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (CCMAC) in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, the Better Tomorrow Speaker Series and the Honolulu Museum of Art, showcases a selection of short films on climate action created by students from the School of Cinematic Arts at UH Mānoa.

    Following the screenings there will be a Q&A with the filmmakers, offering an opportunity for the community to engage with the creative minds behind the films.

    The series explores contemporary topics and aims to inspire public engagement on important social and environmental issues impacting Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region. Through thought-provoking films and a lively panel discussion, the event seeks to build connections among students and the broader community to support cooperative action toward lasting climate change solutions.

    Event details:

    • Date and Time: Sunday, March 9, 5:00 p.m.
    • Location: Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art
    • Admission: Free with registration
    • Register online at www.honolulumuseum.org/events

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    Flyer: attached

     

    Event Registration (direct link): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainability-film-series-student-film-showcase-tickets-1236615031849?aff=oddtdtcreator

    For more information, contact Bill Unruh, Climate Outreach Leader at: [email protected].

     

    Media Contact: 

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

    808-587-0396

    Email: Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: DBEDT REDUCES HAWAI‘I ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE TO 1.7 PERCENT FOR 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: DBEDT REDUCES HAWAI‘I ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE TO 1.7 PERCENT FOR 2025

    Posted on Mar 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI

     

    RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DIVISION

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    1. EUGENE TIAN

    CHIEF STATE ECONOMIST

     

    DBEDT REDUCES HAWAI‘I ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE TO 1.7 PERCENT FOR 2025

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 5, 2025

    The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released its first quarter 2025 Statistical and Economic Report today. In the report, DBEDT adjusted its economic growth projections for 2025 to 1.7 percent, lower than the 2.0 percent projected in the previous quarter. The downward adjustment was mainly due to the expected slowdown in tourism growth, higher projected consumer inflation and increasing policy uncertainty at the national and international levels. Economic growth is expected to reach 2.0 percent in 2026 and to continue steady growth to 1.8 percent in 2028. The labor market is expected to remain stable, with low unemployment.

     

    The resilience of Hawaiʻi’s economic growth in the next few years will rely on the strong performance of construction, real estate, health care, professional services, and the continued recovery of tourism.

    Economic Recovery Status

    As measured by real gross domestic product (GDP), Hawai‘i’s economy rebounded to exceed pre-pandemic (first three quarters of 2019) levels by 1.5 percent during the first three quarters of 2024. Hawai‘i’s overall economy was fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter of 2023. By comparison, the U.S. economy has been fully recovered since the first quarter of 2021. Hawaiʻi was the second-slowest state in terms of economic recovery from the 2019 COVID recession. The U.S. economy was 12.6 percent higher than the 2019 level for the same indicator during the same period.

    While tourism-related sectors (Accommodation, Transportation, Retail Trade, Recreation, and Food Services) have only recovered to 94.5 percent of pre-pandemic levels as of the third quarter of 2024, non-tourism sectors have shown firm growth. Compared to real GDP in the last quarter of 2019, the Information sector has grown by 35.1 percent; the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector by 25.0 percent; the Agricultural sector by 14.9 percent, and the Health Care and Social Assistance sector by 12.9 percent. The Wholesale Trade, Utilities, Accommodation and Food Services, and Other Services sectors are still below real GDP levels for the first three quarters of 2019.

    Compared to 2019, statewide non-agriculture annual average payroll jobs were still short by 20,900 jobs in 2024. However, Construction annual average payroll jobs were above 2019 levels by 4,000 jobs, Health Care and Social Assistance by 2,900, and Private Educational Services by 700. Job counts in all other sectors were still lower than the levels in 2019. Retail Trade lost the most jobs at 6,900, followed by Financial Activities at 3,200, and Accommodations at 3,000.

    During 2024, total visitor arrivals recovered 93.3 percent from the levels of 2019. Visitors from the U.S. increased by 6.7 percent, while international visitor recovery was 64.9 percent. The recovery rate of Japanese visitors was 45.7 percent and for Canadian visitors, the recovery rate was 80.2 percent.

    Visitor arrivals to the island of Maui during 2024 were 76.6 percent of the level in 2019. Arrivals to O‘ahu were at 94.5 percent and arrivals to Hawai‘i Island were at 98.0 percent of the same period 2019 levels. Visitor arrivals to Kaua‘i were flat between the two periods.

    Construction Industry Continues Booming

     

    Statistics in the construction industry were great in 2024 and will have positive impacts on activities in 2025 and beyond. DBEDT estimates that construction activity in 2025 will be stronger than previously expected for several reasons:

    1. The value of all building permits approved in 2024 increased by 27.1 percent from 2023 and most of these projects will be under construction in 2025.
    2. The number of residential housing units authorized in 2024 increased by 78.1 percent as compared with 2023, and it was the highest in the past 17 years.
    3. Construction completed as measured by the state contracting tax base increased 20.3 percent during the first 10 months of 2024 from the same period in 2023. DBEDT estimated that total construction value in 2024 could be over $14 billion.
    4. Based on preliminary estimates, construction industry payroll jobs increased 9.2 percent in 2024 as compared with 2023.
    5. A significant number of government construction projects are either ongoing or in the pipeline to be started.
    6. More than 1,000 hotel units are either under construction or will start construction, with plans to open in 2025 and 2026.

     

     

    Home Sales and Prices Continue Increasing

     

    After declining 26 percent in 2023, Hawai‘i home sales as recorded at the Bureau of Conveyances increased 15.1 percent during 2024. Sales of single-family homes increased 14.3 percent and sales of condominium homes increased 15.9 percent. The average sale price of single-family homes was $1,093,445 during 2024, representing an 8.1 percent increase compared to 2023. The average sale price for condominium homes was $797,674, representing an increase of 5.7 percent from the year before.

     

     

    Tourism Industry Growth is Likely to Slow Down

     

    According to the airline schedules, total air seats to the state will decrease by 1.1 percent during the first 10 months of 2025. The decrease is mainly due to the decrease in flights from international locations, especially from Japan. The number of air seats on international flights is expected to decrease by 5.5 percent during the first 10 months of 2025 as compared with the same period in 2024. Air seats will decrease 5.5 percent from Japan, decrease 5.1 percent from Canada, and decline 3.2 percent from the Other Asia market, but will increase 1.7 percent from the Oceania market (Australia and New Zealand).

    The number of scheduled air seats from the continental U.S. is flat during the first 10 months of 2025, an increase of a mere of 0.1 percent. While air seats from the U.S. East will increase 2.7 percent, seats will decrease by 0.2 percent from the U.S. West market. Part of the decrease in the air seats from the U.S. West market is the result of flight consolidations between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines after their merger.

     

     

    Labor Market Remains Stable

     

    In 2024, the unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point from the previous year’s 3.0 percent, to reach 2.9 percent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hawai‘i was among the 17 U.S. states without statistically significant unemployment rate changes from December 2023 to December 2024 (seasonally adjusted). Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate was the 10th lowest in the U.S. during 2024.

    In the fourth quarter of 2024, Hawai‘i’s non-agricultural wage and salary jobs averaged 645,800 jobs, an increase of 10,400 jobs or 1.6 percent from the same quarter of 2023.  In 2024, average non-agricultural wage and salary jobs increased 0.9 percent or 5,500 jobs from the previous year. The job increase in the fourth quarter of 2024 was due to job increases in both the private sector and the government sector. In that quarter, the private sector added about 8,600 non-agricultural jobs compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The number of jobs increased the most in Construction, which added 3,400 jobs or 8.9%, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance, which added 2,100 jobs or 2.8 percent, Food Services and Drinking Places, which added 1,900 jobs or 2.9 percent, Professional and Business Services, which added 1,400 jobs or 2.0 percent, and Accommodations, which added 700 jobs or 1.8 percent in the quarter.

    The average number of weekly initial unemployment claims was 1,090 during 2024, lower than the weekly average experienced in 2019 at 1,200. All counties have seen decreased and stable unemployment claims, but the average weekly unemployment claims for Maui County numbered 204 during 2024, 42 percent higher than the 2019 level of 144.

    DBEDT expects that the labor market conditions will remain stable and that the unemployment rate will improve slightly in 2025.

    Consumer Inflation Remains High

    Honolulu consumer inflation, as measured by the Honolulu Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U), was 4.4 percent in 2024, 1.4 percentage points higher than the state’s inflation rate in 2023. This measurement was 1.5 percentage points above the 2.9 percent U.S. inflation rate.

    In 2024, Honolulu consumer inflation was mainly driven up by Housing which increased 7.1 percent compared to 2023, and Food and Beverages (3.8 percent). Housing normally accounts for 50 percent of Honolulu consumer inflation.

    In January 2025, the Honolulu consumer inflation rate was at 4.1 percent, still higher than the U.S. consumer inflation at 3.0 percent. Honolulu consumer inflation in January 2025 was mainly in transportation (+6.8 percent), housing (+4.4 percent), and food and beverages (+4.4 percent).

    National and International Economic Conditions

    U.S. real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter a year ago, according to the latest estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Real GDP increased 2.8 percent in 2024 from the 2023 annual level.

    Policy uncertainty with respect to the imposition of tariffs and potential trade wars have negatively impacted the U.S. and global outlook for growth and inflation.

    According to the most recent (February 2025) economic projections by the top 50 economic forecasting organizations published in Blue Chip Economic Indicators, U.S. economic growth is expected to be 2.2 percent in 2025 and 2.0 percent in 2026.

    In February 2025, compared to January 2025, the Blue Chip International Consensus Forecasts for economic growth have been revised downward for 2025 in Canada and for the European countries. It was revised upward (0.1 percentage point) for Japan. The projected Japanese exchange rate was maintained at around 148.1 yen per dollar in 2025.

    The Federal Reserve kept its fed funds rate (FFR) target unchanged at its January 28-29 FOMC meeting. The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rates twice last year, reducing the Federal Funds rate by 75 basis points to a range of 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent. The market expectations of the future number and magnitude of cuts by the Federal Reserve have been reduced in recent surveys. Inflation expectations have also been revised upward.

    Forecasting Results

     

    In the newly released report, DBEDT predicts that the economic growth rate for Hawai‘i, as measured by the year-over-year percentage change in real GDP, to slow down to 1.7 percent in 2025, reflecting policy uncertainty at the national and international levels. Economic growth is expected to reach 2.0 percent in 2026 and will show steady growth to around 1.8 percent in 2028.

     

    Visitor arrivals are projected to increase by 1.0 percent in 2025 and will grow at a stable pace of around 2 percent each year between 2026 and 2028. Full recovery in arrivals will not happen until 2028 when 10.4 million visitors will come to the state. Visitor spending is projected to be $21.3 billion in 2025 and is expected to increase to $23.7 billion by 2028.

     

    Non-agriculture payroll jobs are expected to grow by 1.2 percent in 2025, with growth of 1.1 percent, 1.0 percent and 0.9 percent in 2026, 2027, and 2028, respectively. A full recovery of non-agriculture payroll jobs is expected to occur in 2027, when the total will reach 658,800 jobs, surpassing the 2019 total of 658,600.

     

    The state unemployment rate is expected to be 2.9 percent in 2025 and will improve to 2.7 percent in 2026, and 2.6 percent in 2027 and 2028. Personal income is expected to grow at 4.9 percent in 2025, 4.8 percent in 2026, 4.6 percent in 2027 and 4.5 percent in 2028.

     

    As measured by the Honolulu Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers, inflation is expected to be at 3.9 percent in 2025, which is higher than the projected U.S. consumer inflation rate of 2.7 percent for the same year. Hawai‘i consumer inflation is expected to decrease to 2.9 percent by 2028.

     

    Hawai‘i’s population is expected to increase by 0.2 percent each year for 2025 and 2026 and at 0.3 percent each year for 2027 and 2028.

     

     

    Statement of DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka

    While the domestic and international economic outlook has become more uncertain, we expect Hawai‘i’s economy to demonstrate resiliency. In addition to firm performance in the construction industry, we will continue to see growth in other industries including professional services and healthcare. We expect that the tourism industry will continue to recover in the next few years, even if at a slower pace than previously anticipated.

     

    With the income tax reform and the increase in the supply of affordable housing, we expect that living in our state will be more affordable and support our state’s workforce formation and retention.

     

    The full report is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/qser/.

     

    # # #

     

    Media Contacts:

    Dr. Eugene Tian

    Research and Economic Analysis Division

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
    Phone: 808-586-2470
    Email:     [email protected]

     

    Laci Goshi

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Cell: 808-518-5480

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Statement Ahead of President Trump’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement ahead of President Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress:
    “No matter what President Trump says, boasts, or promises tonight, the past six weeks have made the President’s priorities painfully clear. At a time when American families are struggling to keep up with high costs, the President has endorsed a budget that would end Medicaid as we know it and increase costs on Americans in order to pay for more tax breaks for corporate special interests and billionaires. I remain ready to work with the President and my Republican colleagues to lower costs. But the President has shown that his focus instead is on making families pay more for home heating oil, cutting veterans services, and appeasing brutal dictators like Vladimir Putin. It is long past time for this Administration to get serious and get to work on bringing down prices, bringing the country together, and delivering for the American people.”
    Senator Hassan’s guest of honor for the President’s address this year is Cheri Bryer of Lebanon. Eleven years ago, Cheri was battling addiction and other mental health challenges. Thankfully, Cheri was eligible for Medicaid, which allowed her to access residential addiction treatment and enter recovery. Because of the care that Cheri got through Medicaid, she was able to return to work and now gets her health insurance coverage through her employer. Today, Cheri works as a senior perinatal peer support educator and coordinator in the Maternal Health Innovations grant on Dartmouth Health’s Population Health team. The budget proposal from President Trump and Congressional Republicans, which guts Medicaid to pay for tax giveaways for corporate special interests and billionaires, threatens the care for 180,000 Granite Staters – care that helped Cheri enter recovery and re-enter the workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Warner on Move to Cease Intelligence Sharing with Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
    “The Trump administration has followed its recent ill-advised and weak decision to cut off military assistance to Ukraine by now also callously shutting off intelligence sharing with the hard-pressed Ukrainians as they continue to defend their country against the ongoing military onslaught of Vladimir Putin’s army. Instead of standing up to Putin, President Trump has given away American power to Russia – from voting at the UN with Russia and North Korea and against all of our allies, to directly negotiating with Russia at the highest levels while excluding Ukraine, to refusing to condemn Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship while unjustly calling the democratically elected Ukrainian president a ‘dictator’ and ejecting him from the White House. And, all the while, Putin has not let up on his illegal assault against Ukraine. Allied intelligence support has been crucial to enable Ukraine to defend itself from the first days of the conflict in February 2022, to unmask Russian invasion plans and intentions, and to save countless innocent lives. Let me be clear: Cutting off intelligence support to our Ukrainian partners will cost lives.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Warner on President Trump’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:
    “Tonight, President Trump touted policies that are raising prices for Americans, draining our federal workforce, illegally threatening government programs and benefits, and terrorizing the immigrant communities that have shaped Virginia. The president bragged about his reckless plan to isolate America from its allies, turn our back on long-kept partnerships, raise taxes on hardworking families, and reverse historic advancements in U.S. innovation and competition. Our country can – and should – do better. I will continue doing everything I can to fight for Virginians.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Introduced Resolution Recognizing National Social And Emotional Learning Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 05, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution designating the week of March 3, 2025, as National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week.  SEL is centered on developing the self-awareness, ability to manage emotions, and interpersonal skills necessary for school, the workplace, and life.  Research shows that SEL promotes student academic outcomes, self-efficacy, and positive mental health, especially for students who have experienced trauma, by helping them cope and thrive.  A 2024 study found that 84 percent of employers say job candidates must demonstrate social and emotional skills—with the majority of employers stating that these types of skills were the most important. 

    “In 2025, kids are weighed down by significant stress at home, in their communities, and in school settings.  We are facing nothing short of a national youth mental health crisis.  It’s critical that we focus on social and emotional learning to help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” Durbin said.  “Teachers must have the tools to help students develop resiliency and life skills.  I’m introducing this resolution to designate this week as National Social and Emotional Learning Week and raise awareness around the need to support students’ social and emotional well-being.”

    The National Social and Emotional Learning Weekresolution would:

    • Recognize the role that social and emotional learning plays in promoting academic achievement, mental and behavioral health, and future career success for students;
    • Express support for expanding access to social and emotional learning for students and teachers;
    • Encourage the identification of opportunities among federal agencies to advance social and emotional learning to support the academic success and overall well-being of students, educators, and their communities; and
    • Recognize March 3 through March 7, 2025, as National SEL Week.

    The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

    Durbin has long been a champion for SEL and an advocate for improving services for youth mental health and mentorship.  Durbin has worked across the aisle to introduce the RISE from Trauma Act, which would dramatically increase funding for community-based efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma, and expand training and workforce development efforts to support health care, education, social services, first responders, and community leaders to foster resilience and deliver services to heal the impact of trauma.

    Durbin is also the author of the Mentoring to Succeed Act.  The legislation would provide competitive grants to school-based mentoring programs that train mentors in SEL and help at-risk students develop life skills.

    Full text of the resolution is available here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific Concludes with the unanimous adoption of Jaipur Declaration by member countries

    Source: Government of India (2)

    12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific Concludes with the unanimous adoption of Jaipur Declaration by member countries

    India’s proposal to float a multi stakeholder global alliance Cities Coalition for Circularity ( C-3) as a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing.

    The Forum saw the physical participation of 24 Asia Pacific member countries and nearly 200 international delegates

    Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 7:55PM by PIB Delhi

    The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific concluded today with the unanimous adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’ by the member countries.

    A guidance document has been prepared to suggest indicative strategies to countries as per national policies, circumstances and capabilities.

    As part of the Jaipur declaration, a collaborative knowledge platform as a global alliance C-3 ( Cities Coalition for Circularity ) has also been agreed upon.

    Jaipur Declaration speaks about different waste streams and circular economy goals for each of them. It speaks about the resource efficiency and sustainable material consumption. The declaration also covers informal sectors, gender issue and labour issues.

    It also provides for means of implementation, partnerships, technology transfer, funding mechanism and research and development.

    In his closing remarks, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal said that Jaipur Declaration’ that has been adopted today is a testament to this shared commitment. I am glad this decadal declaration will be associated with the name of ‘Jaipur’ and even though it is non-binding, it will guide our country and all member nations of the Asia Pacific towards a circular transition.

    He also said that  based on our principle of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, India will take the lead in formation of the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) and  invited all UN member countries to join this coalition.

    Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs , Shri Tokhan Sahu said that  the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum for Asia and the Pacific has been a historic moment.

    He added “Over the past days, we have engaged in crucial discussions and deliberations on environmental conservation, sustainable resource utilization, and waste management to build a better future.”

    He also said that in today’s era, the concept of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and the circular economy is not just an option but a necessity.

    Prof. Amit Kapoor, Chair, Institute for Competitiveness, University of Stanford, delivered a special address on implementing circularity of solid and liquid waste for the largest human congregation at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, India. He shared key preliminary findings of an in-depth study that explores sustainable waste management solutions for the event, focusing on innovative approaches, scalability, and best practices to ensure environmental sustainability while managing millions of pilgrims.

    Click here for findings

    About the event

    The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific was organized from 3rd to 5thMarch 2025 at Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur.The theme of the Forum is  “Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.

    Participation in the event

    The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific witnessed high-level participation, with the Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal inaugurating the event alongside ministers from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.

    The forum saw the physical participation of 24 Asia-Pacific member countries, with ministers from Japan, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Maldives attending in person. Nearly 200 international delegates, including government officials, experts, and private sector representatives, joined the discussions. From India, 800 delegates from 33 States & UTs, 15-line ministries, private sector, and technical institutions took part. The event had representation from 75 cities (9 international and 66 Indian cities).

    The forum featured 120 speakers contributing to 29 plenary sessions, 10 thematic sessions, 6 country breakout sessions, and 7 side events. To ensure broader participation, a virtual platform was also created for stakeholders across India and internationally.

    On the Inaugural day the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific featured key announcements and initiatives aligned with India’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles.

    The Hon’ble Prime Minister’s message, presented during the inaugural session, emphasized India’s Pro Planet People (P-3) approach. To advance this vision, the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) was proposed as an Indian-led multi-stakeholder, multi-nation alliance to facilitate knowledge sharing, city-to-city collaboration, and private-sector partnerships through a digital platform.

    A major milestone was the rollout of CITIIS 2.0, a Union Cabinet-approved program under which ₹1,800 crores worth of agreements were signed for integrated waste management and climate action in 18 cities across 14 states.

    The forum also marked the inauguration of the ‘India Pavilion’ and the ‘3R Trade and Technology Exhibition’, showcasing India’s achievements in the 3R and circular economy space. The exhibition provided a platform for over 40 Indian and Japanese businesses and startups to present innovative solutions.

    Engaging sessions such as the ‘Mayors’ Dialogue’ and ‘Case Clinic’ fostered deeper collaboration, while NGOs and self-help groups showcased waste-to-wealth initiatives, promoting sustainability-driven entrepreneurship and community engagement.

    On the second day of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific witnessed a significant announcement with India declaring its candidacy to host the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026, following São Paulo, Brazil, in 2025. The announcement was made during a special session attended by Hon’ble Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, and the Hon’ble Minister from Andhra Pradesh. The forum also hosted plenary sessions, country breakout sessions, and side events, including discussions on India’s pathways to a circular economy, highlighting efforts in waste management and sustainability.

    Key outcomes included the launch of several initiatives such as the SBM Waste to Wealth PMS Portal, IFC Document Reference Guide, and India’s Circular Sutra, a compendium of 126 best practices compiled by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). Additionally, a study on best practices in solid waste management in million-plus cities, prepared by CEEW, was released. A crucial MoU was signed between CSIR and MoHUA to advance scientific research and innovation in circular economy solutions. Delegates also participated in technical field visits to solid and liquid waste management facilities and key heritage sites in Jaipur, gaining firsthand insights into sustainable urban practices.

    ****

    SK

    (Release ID: 2108605) Visitor Counter : 45

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Bhupender Yadav addresses Inaugural Session at World Sustainable Development Summit, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Bhupender Yadav addresses Inaugural Session at World Sustainable Development Summit, 2025

    The Global South is driving the climate agenda, and the world now looks to India as a leader, says Union Minister Sh. Bhupender Yadav

    Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 7:22PM by PIB Delhi

    “The Global South is driving the climate agenda, and the world now looks to India as a leader. In 2020 alone, India slashed its GHG emissions by 7.93%—a testament to its commitment to climate action,” said Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sh. Bhupender Yadav in his inaugural address today at the World Sustainable Development Summit 2025. The summit was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with the theme “Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions.” Prime Minister of Guyana, HE Brigadier Mark Phillip and HE Ms. Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil were present on this occasion.

    Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Sh. Yadav underscored the critical role of the Global South in the fight against climate change, calling for increased collaboration, ambition, and action at the international level. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to global sustainability under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who has spearheaded transformative global initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

    Union Minister reiterated the need to confront the issue of speciesism, which, like racism, prioritizes human interests over the well-being of other species and ecosystems. He emphasized that true sustainability can only be achieved when all forms of life are considered equally important and when environmental policies account for the protection and restoration of wildlife and biodiversity.

    Sh. Yadav observed India’s role as a global climate leader, committed to ensuring that climate action remains inclusive, ambitious, and collaborative. He emphasized that the Global South, including India, is essential in shaping climate discourse, as it faces the brunt of climate change impacts while also offering solutions rooted in sustainable development practices. He called on developed countries to honour their financial and technological commitments, especially in fulfilling their obligations under the Paris Agreement. He also underscored the need for enhanced international cooperation in strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ensuring they address both the challenges and opportunities of climate action.

    Union Minister Sh. Yadav addressed the pressing need for increased climate adaptation finance. He referenced the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report, which highlights the urgent need to scale up adaptation efforts to cope with rising climate impacts. He called for more robust financial support for adaptation, ensuring that the most vulnerable regions are able to implement solutions that build resilience and safeguard livelihoods.

    Union Minister Sh. Bhupender Yadav outlined India’s long-term vision to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. He highlighted India’s progress, including the 36% reduction in emission intensity of GDP between 2005 and 2020 compared to the 45% target for 2030, and the Union Budget of 2025’s emphasis on energy security, expanding clean energy capacity, and fostering domestic manufacturing of green technologies. He emphasized that the fight against climate change cannot be fragmented. He emphasized on the importance of integrating climate action with the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called for strong global partnerships to address interconnected challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The Minister called for reforms in global governance, urging the international community to place equity and justice at the heart of climate negotiations.

    Union Minister Sh. Yadav also praised the leadership of TERI in uniting the Global South on climate action and reiterated the need for multi-sectoral partnerships to accelerate progress toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.

    The summit was attended by Sh. Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, subject experts and diginitaries.

    ***

    Gaurav Sharma

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Democrats are on the side of working people

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – March 04, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar and New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider for a press conference highlighting House Democrats’ unity against the Republican Budget that cuts Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. 

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. Pleased to be joined with my colleague Ted Lieu, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, as well as Greg Casar, the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Chair of the New Democratic Coalition, Brad Schneider.

    Last week, House Democrats from every corner of our Caucus voted against the House Republican Budget, which cut Medicaid $880 billion to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. We want to make health care more affordable and more available to the American people. This is in stark contrast to Republicans who voted to kick children off their health care and to put seniors at risk.

    As President Trump prepares for tonight’s speech, it’s clear that Democrats are on the side of working people, while Republicans are only looking out for their billionaire friends. Trump and Republicans have broken their promise to lower costs on day one, which was his commitment, to focus on tax giveaways for corporations and billionaires who don’t need any more help. In fact, Trump’s reckless tariffs, just announced last night, will raise prices on gas, produce at grocery stores, beer, lumber to build homes, crude oil and parts that make cars.

    As families struggle to make ends meet, Democrats are united against Trump and Elon Musk dismantling the services that families rely on, while steering more taxpayer dollars to themselves and their billionaire friends. They’re dismantling the VA health care and laying off thousands of veterans, as Trump stands with Putin and risks our national security. Tonight, we expect the President to put on a master class in dishonesty. We expect the President will focus not on everyday Americans, but on his friends and his ego. No matter what he says, he cannot change the damage he’s done already and the fact that his agenda is going to raise prices for everyday Americans. 

    Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. Honored to be here with Representatives Greg Casar and Brad Schneider. I want to tell you about a meeting I had today with Vote Vets. They brought in a number of veterans who were fired, and I want to tell you a story about one of them. Her name is Eileen. She is an Air Force veteran. She then went to work for FEMA. She’s in a rural part of Alabama. She was one of the first to volunteer with FEMA to deploy to Hurricane Helene. On President’s Day, she got an email firing her with no notice, and she couldn’t even go back to her office. They sent her UPS boxes saying, ‘You put your government cell phone and laptop in this box and you ship it back to us.’ A few days later, she had to go out to a field where her supervisor from FEMA had to walk out and give her her box from her items at her office. She has two kids, four and 10. She now has no job. 

    This is not how we should treat veterans, not how we should treat federal employees, not how we should treat any American. And this is what Donald Trump did to her. And he’s done that to a large number of federal employees. And if you look at the federal workforce, about one in four are veterans. This is not how they should be treated, and most of these actions are simply brazenly illegal. We have a number of court cases being filed. We’re winning a number of those cases. Others are going to go into litigation, and I call on the Administration to stop illegally firing our veterans and other federal employees. 

    I also now want to touch on the subject of tariffs. You’ve seen with the indiscriminate tariffs that the President has both imposed and threatened to impose, that not only is the stock market tanking, but also inflation is up, consumer sentiment is down, and the Atlanta Fed has now predicted that we’re going to contract this quarter in terms of GDP. That is shocking, and that is all because of actions of one person, the President, who is massively harming our economy. 

    And then, I’d like to conclude now on Ukraine. I don’t know why Donald Trump is scared of Putin. He clearly is. He acts like he’s scared of Putin. And right now, with his pause in funding to Ukraine, I just want to let Ukrainians know to please hang in there. The President of the United States cannot extend that pause because it would be illegal. Congress, on a bipartisan basis, appropriated that funding to Ukraine. Ukraine is going to get that funding. And with that, I’d like to introduce our amazing Representative from Austin, Texas, Greg Casar. He has done a fantastic job as leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

    REP. CASAR: Thank you so much Vice Chair Lieu and Chairman Aguilar. I also want to thank New Dems Chairman Brad Schneider, who I’m proud to call a partner in the fight to protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the American people.

    Tonight, millions of Americans will tune in to watch the President address a Joint Session of Congress. I do not know what Trump will say, but I can guarantee you that he is going to lie to the American people and not tell the truth about what MAGA Republicans in Congress want to do to you right now. So let me say it clearly, whatever political games that Donald Trump plays tonight, whatever lies he tells and whatever show he puts on, people watching at home should know that Trump and House Republicans want to steal your health care, steal your taxpayer money and hand it over to their billionaire buddies and to their donors.

    In Congress, Republicans are advancing a budget that would end Medicaid as we know it. And Elon Musk is trying to cut your Medicare and your Social Security. Social Security that seniors earned throughout their lifetime is what Elon Musk just recently called a ‘Ponzi scheme.’ I’ll say it again. Elon Musk just called Social Security, ‘the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.’ That’s right, a guy that makes $8 million per day from federal government contracts thinks that seniors getting $65 a day from Social Security is a ‘Ponzi scheme.’ Their plan is plain and simple: guys like Elon Musk get richer and you get screwed. 

    But here’s the good news, Democrats are united and fighting back to protect your Social Security, your Medicare and your Medicaid. New Democrats, Congressional Progressive Caucus Democrats, the two biggest ideological caucuses here in the Congress, have put out a joint letter that includes 100% of our members from our two Coalitions saying we will not vote to cut your Medicare, your Medicaid and your Social Security. Over 200 House Democrats showed just in a matter of days that we are united with the American people in this fight. So while we may not all agree on every single issue, we are saying with one voice, hands off Medicare, hands off Medicaid and hands off of Americans’ Social Security.

    So now the question becomes: will any three House Republicans grow a backbone? Will any three House Republicans do the right thing and act like U.S. Representatives instead of like Trump employees, and join us? Because if three Congressional House Republicans join together with Democrats to do the right thing, there will be no Social Security cuts. We can prevent cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and to Social Security. But if House Republicans choose instead unanimously to come after Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare, then they will own the terrible consequences for working people.

    Thank you so much. And now I’d like to hand this over to my partner, the Chairman of the New Democratic Coalition, Brad Schneider.

    REP. SCHNEIDER: Thank you Chair Casar, Chairman Aguilar, Vice Chair Lieu. It’s good to be standing here with you in one common voice. 

    Before I read my prepared remarks and talk about our joint letter, I want to touch on what Vice Chair Lieu talked about, veterans. I have the privilege of representing Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois. Every single sailor, recruit, who enlists in the Navy shows up in North Chicago for 10 weeks of basic training. I’ve had the privilege of attending those graduations. I see those 17-, 18-, and 19-year-old young people, men and women, who say, ‘I want to serve my country. I want to put on the uniform of the United States, go to places I do not know, do things I have no idea if I’ll be able to do, to protect the American people and the American way of life.’ Many of those people serve two years, four years. Many serve 20 years or more. All of them, committed and dedicated to bettering our country. And many of them, when they finish their service, are not done serving our country. They go to work with the federal government. 

    They’re dedicated federal workers who are serving their nation in their local communities, many here in Washington. They’re the people who work in Social Security, the Forest Rangers in our national parks, the folks who provide care at VA hospitals, and they are the ones who are getting the letters from Elon Musk and DOGE in the middle of the night saying, ‘Your service is no longer desired and we no longer value your performance.’ 

    This is wrong, and this is weakening our country, and this is why we are standing before you united to say it has to stop. I’m very proud that the CPC, Congressional Progressive Caucus, New Democrat Coalition, others have come together. We’ve made a very strong statement. I’m proud to lead 110 members of the New Democrat Coalition in joining in that statement, saying, ‘We cannot allow dangerous cuts to programs that Americans have actually paid for out of their hard earned dollars.’ Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. 

    The headline is and should be, House Democrats are united, in deep contrast to what we’re seeing from our Republican colleagues. While the Democrats are focused on lowering costs, Republicans are pushing a budget that will result in cuts to health care and benefits that have been earned by hard working Americans. While Democrats are focused on making our community safe, Musk and DOGE are firing thousands of employees who help keep planes in the sky, prevent diseases like bird flu and measles from spreading and serve our veterans after they complete their service to our nation. 

    Democrats are working tirelessly to bring down prices of everyday products, while President Trump, just today, levied 25% taxes on the American consumer that will raise costs for groceries, for cars and trucks, gasoline, new construction for houses and many other everyday products. Meanwhile, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are doing everything they can to give a free ride to oligarchs like Elon Musk and his wealthy billionaire friends, and they’re putting the burden for all of this on our seniors, our children, our first responders, on people who educate our children, build our houses, work on the factory floor, who take care of our communities and tend to us when we are sick. It is these hard working people who are in the crosshairs of the Republicans’ actions. 

    One of these people is my guest tonight. Adam Mulvey is a 20-year Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He’s one of 6,000 of these veterans we’ve talked about who was fired between February 13th and 24th. He works, or worked, at Lovell Federal Health Care Center. James A. Lovell Center is the only hospital in our country that serves both veterans and active military and every one of those recruits I just mentioned. His job was to help provide emergency management services, planning and preparing in the case of a tornado or another emergency or even an active shooter. He served 35,000 veterans in our area, tens of thousands of active duty sailors and other military members and the 40- to 50,000 people each year who go through Naval Station Great Lakes. 

    We all believe government should be efficient, but Trump and Musk are taking a sledgehammer to Americans’ lives and our livelihoods. And I am proud to stand with all of my colleagues here today saying it has to stop. Thank you, and I am proud to yield back to Chairman Aguilar. 

    Video of the full press conference can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bomber Task Force mission ‘ONYX CROSS’ strengthens readiness and lethality

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany   –  

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe integrated with air forces from Romania, Croatia, and Bulgaria for ONYX CROSS, a Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission over Eastern and Southern Europe on March 3. 

    A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses operating out of RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom partnered with Romanian F-16 Vipers, Croatian Rafales, and Bulgarian MiG-29s to execute aerial maneuvers and refine combat tactics.  

    “BTF missions serve as an assurance and deterrence initiative – they aim to provide a strategic element to NATO’s collective defense,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Aaron Gurley, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa BTF planner. 

    The complexity of missions like ONYX CROSS demands agility from all participants, requiring seamless coordination and adaptability across air forces.

    The mission began with B-52s integrating with F-16s for a standoff weapons simulation, practicing an advanced missile release while staying outside an adversary’s threat range. The bombers then executed a simulated bomb drop on pre-planned targets, integrating with Bulgaria for a dynamic targeting objective as MiG-29s provided close-air support. 

    “The B-52 integrates seamlessly with Allied and partner forces through combined operations like ONYX CROSS,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jacob “Crash” Carlson, 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron pilot. “We refine tactics, communication, and operational coordination. Using secure networks, we share real-time data, ensuring close integration for strategic deterrence, close-air support, and precision strike missions.” 

    Since arriving at RAF Fairford, the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron has flown seven missions, working with Allied and partner forces across multiple theaters. 

    “Operating alongside partners has very much shaped my approach by emphasizing clear communication, adaptability to different frameworks, and leveraging coalition strengths to achieve mission success,” Carlson said. “These experiences have refined how we plan for contingencies, execute complex operations, and assess mission outcomes, ensuring we can operate as one unified force when called upon.” 

    By integrating airpower across nations, missions like ONYX CROSS enhance NATO’s ability to operate as a cohesive force, reinforcing collective defense and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region. 

    For more information, please contact the USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs office at usafepao.pao@us.af.mil.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian Man Extradited to the United States to Face Computer Intrusion and Theft Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly conspired to use stolen taxpayer information to file over 1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking millions of dollars in tax refunds

    BOSTON – A Nigerian national living in Mexico has been extradited to the United States for his role in a scheme to break into Massachusetts tax preparation firms’ computer networks and to file fraudulent tax returns.

    Matthew A. Akande, 36, was arrested in October 2024 at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States on March 5, 2025. He appeared in federal court in Boston today. Akande was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 with one count of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud and to commit theft of government money and money laundering; one count of wire fraud; four counts of unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud; 13 counts of theft of government money; and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.

    Co-conspirator, Kehinde H. Oyetunji, 33, a Nigerian national living in North Dakota, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud and to commit theft of government money and money laundering. Oyetunji’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.

    Between in or about June 2016 and June 2021, Akande, Oyetunji and others are alleged to have worked together to steal money from the United States government using taxpayers’ personally identifiable information (PII) to file fraudulent tax returns in the taxpayers’ names. In addition, between in or about February 2020, the scheme involved stealing taxpayers’ PII from Massachusetts tax preparation firms via phishing attacks and computer intrusions.

    To carry out the scheme, Akande is alleged to have caused fraudulent phishing emails to be sent to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms. The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms’ services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT. Akande allegedly used the RAT malware to obtain the PII and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms’ clients, which Akande then used to cause fraudulent tax returns to be filed seeking refunds. The tax returns directed that the fraudulent tax refunds be deposited in bank accounts allegedly opened by Oyetunji and others. Once the refunds were issued, Oyetunji and others withdrew the stolen money in cash in the United States and then transferred a portion to third parties in Mexico, allegedly at Akande’s direction, while keeping a portion for themselves. In total, Akande and his coconspirators are alleged to have filed more than 1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years. They are alleged to have successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds.

    Federal authorities encourage all businesses that suspect they have been the target and/or victim of a cyberattack to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Taxpayers and tax preparation firms that suspect they have been the target and/or victim of a phishing attack can also forward phishing email(s) to phishing@irs.gov.

    The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with authorities in the United Kingdom to secure the extradition of Akande. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Consumer resistance is rising in the age of Trump. History shows how boycotts can be effective

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato

    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    Boycotts are back. With people worried about everything from labour practices and human rights to tariffs and equal opportunity initiatives, collective consumer resistance has been rising globally.

    Right now, there are several month-long boycotts of Target underway in the United States due to the company abandoning its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programme. Longer boycotts of specific corporations, beginning with Amazon, are scheduled for March and April.

    Last week, the non-partisan, grassroots People’s Union USA organised a “national economic blackout” by urging consumers to avoid buying anything beyond essentials. The inaugural event was, in part, spurred by anger at government cuts being made in the US by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, with organisers saying:

    Our strength lies in economic power. If corporations control politicians through money, then we control corporations by withholding ours. Targeted boycotts, economic blackouts, and financial pressure will make them listen.

    More widely, the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestiture, and Sanction (BDS) campaign against Israeli goods and companies has been operating for years now. And anti-American boycotts are underway in Canada as increased tariffs take effect .

    As these campaigns gain momentum, some consumers will question how effective boycotts are at changing corporate behaviour. But there is a long history of ordinary citizens successfully “voting with their wallets”, even before the term “boycott” was coined.

    Origins of the boycott

    In 1792, a British campaign to stop buying sugar produced by enslaved Africans in the West Indies began. This originated in the American colonies with Quakers rejecting sugar in the 1750s. They viewed enslaved Africans as stolen people, and therefore slave products as stolen goods.

    In Britain, the abolitionist movement appealed to women as household managers to give up slave products and sign a petition to end slavery. The power of this ethical consumerism gave women, not yet allowed to vote, a voice to parliament and a tangible way to participate in the cause.

    The word “boycott” itself originated during the 1880 Irish Land Wars, and referred to the resistance to English land agent and former army officer Captain Charles Boycott. Tenants of the absentee landlord he represented complained he “treated his cattle better than he did us”.

    Protests outside the gates of Captain Boycott’s residence during the Land League boycott in Ireland in 1880.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    After Boycott imposed fines and employed police to attempt evictions, the Irish Land League responded with a campaign to ostracise him. Crowds intimidated workers so his crops would not be harvested, local shops refused to sell to him, and the post boy was threatened to stop deliveries.

    The parish priest, Father John O’Malley, adopted the term “boycott” for this collective action because he thought the County Mayo locals wouldn’t remember the word “ostracise”. Boycott was forced to flee Ireland, and the new term spread across the country.

    Some 75 years later, across the Atlantic, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman, as required by Alabama’s racial segregation laws. In 1955, the Montgomery Improvement Association organised a 13-month long boycott of the city’s buses, led by Martin Luther King Jr.

    African-Americans, who made up 75% of passengers, refused to ride the buses. In 1956, the US Supreme Court ruled segregated public buses were unconstitutional.

    American civil rights activist Rosa Parks sparked the 381 day Montgomery bus boycott, part of the wider civil rights movement in the US.
    Underwood Archives/Getty Images

    Can boycotts work in the 21st century?

    Boycotts are not the exclusive province of progressive activists. Across the political spectrum, the rejection of brands because of corporate behaviour has had moments of significant traction.

    In 2023, beer company Bud Light collaborated with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney as a brand ambassador. A backlash from conservative consumers saw the boycott cost parent company Anheuser-Busch Inbev an estimated US$1 billion.

    Bud Light also lost is status as the best-selling beer in the US to Mexican import Modelo. The brand then tried to back away from its marketing strategy, which only alienated the LGBTQIA+ community.

    Broad campaigns, such as the historical ones mentioned here, can be successful. But specifically targeted boycotts tend to be more effective in attracting media attention and sustaining momentum in the modern consumer age.

    This is especially true if consumers have a wide range of alternative goods or outlets that make it easier to avoid a brand or retailer.

    The most recent economic data show US consumer confidence is faltering, with its biggest drop since the summer of 2021. Inflation and the potential impact of a trade war are dampening retail sentiment.

    This fragile economic environment may amplify the effects of boycotts, if not in terms of profit, then in terms of brand reputation. As messaging becomes more common in the news and on social media, the current consumer boycotts in the US will be a test of how effective the strategy still is.

    Garritt C. Van Dyk has received funding from the Getty Research Institute.

    – ref. Consumer resistance is rising in the age of Trump. History shows how boycotts can be effective – https://theconversation.com/consumer-resistance-is-rising-in-the-age-of-trump-history-shows-how-boycotts-can-be-effective-251448

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Mullin Previews President Trump’s Joint Address with Laura Ingraham

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
    “Promises made, promises kept, is what the President has been doing.”
    Washington, D.C. – Tuesday night, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined Fox News’s Laura Ingraham on-set of The Ingraham Angle to preview President Trump’s Joint Address before Congress. The senator stressed the importance of using the president’s peace through strength message to end the war in Ukraine, echoed the need for Elbridge Colby to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and pointed out the lack of leadership in the Democratic Party.

    Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
    On why Zelensky should have thanked President Trump:
    “Well, he messed up, and fortunately, it’s going to work out in our favor, especially with the mineral deal. Zelensky bit the hand that was trying to feed him, and when the President was ready to make a deal. Zelensky, unfortunately slapped the hand down, and now he’s going to he’s going to be negotiating from a point of weakness…
    “The President is right. Let’s make a mineral deal. Let’s negotiate peace and stop the killing. Promises made, promises kept, is what the President has been doing.”
    On the only reason for Elbridge Colby’s opposition is because of President Trump:
    “Bridge did a phenomenal job as he was sitting there, he showed that he was very capable of articulating the message that need to be said, but he also had a strong grasp on the issues. Anyone that’s going to oppose him is doing it just because of their hatred for President Trump. That’s it. You can’t get anybody more qualified than Bridge Colby, it doesn’t happen…”
    On the absence of leadership on the Left:
    “That’s why you’re having all these messages they try to resonate. Hillary Clinton, that didn’t work. Joe Biden was not cognitively there. Harris couldn’t lead herself out of a paper bag. And now you have a bunch of people, a bunch of Democrats, audition for 2028 and for some reason…”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 03.05.2025 Cruz Resolution Overturning IRS Rule on Cryptocurrency Passes By Overwhelming Bipartisan Majority

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the United State Senate passed a resolution authored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to overturn a Biden administration midnight rule imposing regulations on software developers of decentralized financial (DeFi) technology. The resolution passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, 70-28.
    The rule defined those developers as “brokers,” even though they did not touch any of the cryptocurrency being exchanged. The resolution is the first crypto-related measure to pass the Senate this Congress, and will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.
    Upon passage, Sen. Cruz said, “Last night’s vote was a victory for American innovation. In a midnight move, the Biden administration attempted to undermine American privacy and impose burdensome regulations on digital currency. Yesterday, an overwhelming bipartisan majority voted in support of my legislation to rescind this harmful regulation. I urge the House to pass this legislation expeditiously.”
    The resolution was co-sponsored by Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Utah), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.). Rep. Carey introduced the joint resolution in the House of Representatives.
    Read the joint resolution here.
    Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith said yesterday, “Today’s a bright day for DeFi – and all of crypto – in the United States. An incredible showing of bipartisan support passed Senator Ted Cruz’s Congressional Review Act resolution to roll back the DeFi-killing broker rule out of the Senate. It’s a hopeful sign that shows there is true bipartisan agreement in Washington that the American crypto industry deserves the freedom to grow and innovate here in the United States.”
    BACKGROUND
    The Internal Revenue Service rule that would be repealed by Sen. Cruz’s resolution in Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales. The rule was finalized on December 30, 2024.
    Sen. Cruz’s resolution was endorsed by:
    The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, Cedar Innovation Foundation, Uniswap, Paradigm, Cryptocurrency Council for Innovation, DCG, Stand With Crypto, Coin Center, Texas Blockchain Association, Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas, Pennsylvania Blockchain Coalition, Ohio Blockchain Council, North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, South Carolina Blockchain, Virginia Blockchain Council, and California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition. The Club for Growth issued a “key vote” urging lawmakers to vote for the resolution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The US energy market has its troubles, though it may not be a ‘national emergency’

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Seth Blumsack, Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and International Affairs, Penn State

    This Montana refinery processes crude oil imported from Canada. AP Photo/Matthew Brown

    President Donald Trump’s declaration of a “national energy emergency” on his first day in office – and which he reiterated during his address to Congress on March 4, 2025 – might have seemed to echo other national emergencies, like those presidents declared in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    But there has never before been a national energy emergency. During the energy crises of the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter declared local or regional energy emergencies in a handful of states. These actions suspended some environmental regulations, such as air-pollution limits for coal-fired power plants, for very short periods to make sure those states’ residents had enough electricity.

    When a president declares a national emergency, he claims significant powers under the National Emergencies Act, which allow him to take steps to solve the emergency. In this situation, Trump might seek to override environmental regulations, order utility companies to buy power from particular power plants, or invoke the Defense Production Act to secure materials needed for power plant construction.

    A natural gas well pad in Washington County, Pa., is one of many sites around the nation where fracking has boosted U.S. energy production.
    Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images

    Six weeks into his presidency, Trump had not taken any action to address this emergency, though during his speech to Congress he said he wants to increase drilling and build a new natural gas pipeline in Alaska. And Trump’s discussion of energy policy has not directly referred to the consumer price hikes expected as a result of the 10% tariffs he imposed on Canadian oil, gas and electricity starting on March 4, 2025.

    Critics of the president’s declaration have described it as a “giveaway” to the fossil fuel industry in the form of looser regulations and measures to make it easier to drill for oil on government-owned land. In fact, the executive order’s definition of “energy” excludes energy generated from wind and solar, as well as efforts to conserve energy – all of which were major parts of the Biden administration’s energy strategy.

    As someone who has studied energy markets for decades, I have seen several events that might qualify as energy-related emergencies, such as meltdowns at nuclear power plants around the world, shortages of electricity and natural gas, and massive power blackouts.

    But over the past 15 years, the United States has become a global energy superpower even without any emergency declarations. The advent of hydraulic fracturing unleashed a wave of oil and gas production, even as U.S. energy demand barely budged. In a time of such energy abundance, there is no clear emergency on the scale of the energy crises of the 1970s. But there are some causes for concern.

    Big increases in domestic production

    One goal Trump’s declaration sets out is to increase what the executive order calls the nation’s “energy security.” Usually that phrase refers to an ability to operate using energy produced within the U.S. rather than overseas – particularly from countries that have long-standing conflicts or disagreements with the United States.

    Based on raw numbers, however, the U.S. is already quite energy secure. In 2023, the nation produced nearly 13 million barrels of oil per day, which is more than any country has ever produced in the history of the oil business. Since 2015, when a federal ban on oil exports was lifted, the U.S. has been increasing the amount of oil it exports every year. And for the past several years, the U.S. has been the world’s leading exporter of gasoline, sending 10% of its total annual production to other countries.

    Since the start of the shale-fracking boom in the mid-2000s, U.S. production of natural gas has also been increasing. The country’s natural gas exports have also risen over the past 10 years, though they have been limited by the number of ports that can handle liquefied natural gas cargo.

    Still a net importer of oil

    The U.S. produces plenty of oil to meet its demands, but not the kinds of oil that American refineries are designed to process into useful fuels.

    Therefore, despite the increases in domestic production, the U.S. is still a net importer of crude oil. In 2023, the U.S. imported almost twice as much oil as it exported.

    And U.S. refineries’ output of gasoline and heating oil depends on imported oil. Most oil refineries in the U.S. are quite old and were engineered to process so-called “heavy” crude oil produced in countries such as Canada, which is historically the United States’ biggest source of imported oil.

    Most of the recent increase in U.S. oil production comes from hydraulic fracturing of shale and is so-called “light” crude oil. Refining light crude would require new refineries or a major reengineering of existing refineries, with new equipment, expanded capacity or both.

    Making those changes would be very expensive. So refinery owners are hesitant to make these kinds of investments because there is a risk that the investments won’t pay off. Because U.S. refineries produce so much gasoline and have limited capacity, the U.S. also continues to import some refined petroleum fuels such as jet fuel.

    A liquefied natural gas tanker ship moves toward Cameron Pass near Cameron, La.
    Washington Post via Getty Images

    A fragile power grid

    Concern over the nation’s aging electric power grid is another focus of Trump’s energy emergency declaration. Experts have been issuing warnings for years. A 2024 study on the national transmission grid commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy has concluded the U.S. needs to double the size of the grid in the next couple of decades.

    For the first time in nearly half a century, the U.S. is facing the prospect of rapidly increasing electricity demand. The demand for power has always gone up and down a bit with population and the health of the economy, but this time is different. Growth in electricity demand is now driven by the construction of massive data centers and by electrification of cars and heating and cooling systems. The Department of Energy reports that data center electricity use in particular has tripled in the past 10 years and could easily double in the next few years. At that rate, data centers could account for over 10% of all electricity demand in the country before 2030.

    The U.S. supply of power generation in many regions is not ready for this surge in demand. Many power plants – particularly the older ones and those that burn coal – have shut down in the past several years, driven by a combination of economic pressures and environmental regulations. Building new power plants in many parts of the U.S. has become bogged down in regulatory red tape, public opposition and economic uncertainty. The North American Electric Reliability Corp., which develops standards for grid reliability, has placed over half of U.S. states at some level of risk for not having enough power generation to meet anticipated future demand.

    A study has found that the nation’s electricity grid is expected to need significant investment to handle rising demand.
    Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

    Will declaring an emergency help?

    Under Trump’s energy emergency declaration, the administration seems likely to take actions that will make it easier to drill for more oil and gas. And the federal government may also make it easier to build power plants that run on coal, natural gas and possibly nuclear fuel.

    But expanded fracking, in and of itself, will probably not address any energy security issues in the U.S., unless there are major investments in refineries to handle the increased oil production. Reducing the barriers to building power plants addresses a much more pressing problem, but the country would still need to expand the transmission grid itself, which does not get as much attention in the president’s declaration.

    Time will tell whether the energy emergency declaration will be used to solve real problems in the nation’s energy supplies, or whether it will be used to further bolster oil and gas producers that have already made the U.S. a global energy powerhouse.

    Seth Blumsack receives funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Heising Simons Foundation.

    – ref. The US energy market has its troubles, though it may not be a ‘national emergency’ – https://theconversation.com/the-us-energy-market-has-its-troubles-though-it-may-not-be-a-national-emergency-249336

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG’s office sues collections agency for failing to advise consumers about medical debt protections

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — The Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed suit against Renton Collections, Inc., for failing to disclose to consumers that they are legally entitled to information about their medical debt. The company sent more than 400,000 such collection notices to Washingtonians since 2019.

    Medical debt can add up in unexpected and complex ways, which is why lawmakers have strengthened protections for Washington consumers burdened with medical debt. The Legislature amended the state Collection Agency Act in 2019 to require companies like Renton Collections give notice to people receiving collections letters about their right to request key information about the debt.

    But from the date the law took effect through at least Dec. 1, 2024, Renton Collections failed to include these key disclosures in their notices. Their illegal debt collection practices netted more than $35 million from consumers while the agency made more than $7 million in commissions.

    “Medical debt often stems from life’s unexpected events and can spiral households into bankruptcy,” said Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown. “Our laws require collection agencies to respect people’s dignity by providing information about what they’re being asked to pay – but Renton Collections ignored this.”

    The lawsuit alleges that the agency’s actions violate the Collection Agency Act as well as the state Consumer Protection Act.

    The case, filed in King County Superior Court, seeks to prevent Renton Collections from any further violations of the law and to require the agency pay restitution to consumers for the total amount collected, plus interest.

    The lawsuit also requests the court prohibit the business and other entities entitled to recover debt from these accounts from seeking more than the amount of the original claim. Consumers who received these illegal letters would not be subject to any interest, attorney fees or other costs the businesses may charge in any future collection attempts.

    The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation, as well as fees and costs for the Attorney General’s Office.

    The Consumer Protection Division is funded through money recovered from businesses who have violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and similar laws, not by taxpayers. Specifically, a portion of Consumer Protection recoveries go into the Attorney General’s Civil Justice Operating Fund, which supports the Consumer Protection, Antitrust, Wing Luke Civil Rights, and Environmental Protection divisions. It also directly funds the Medicaid Fraud Control and the Complex Litigation divisions.

    -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 Video: Deportation Enforcement | CBP

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) participates and assists with enforcement of illegal alien and criminal deportation operations.

    Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/CBPgov
    Facebook ➤ https://facebook.com/CBPgov
    Twitter ➤ https://twitter.com/CBP
    Official Website ➤ https://www.cbp.gov

    #cbp
    #deportation
    #borderpatrol
    #lawenforcement

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GS5usMinZU

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  • MIL-OSI Video: What is a NASA Spinoff? We Asked a NASA Expert

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Did you know that NASA technology is all around you? From the camera in your phone to lifesaving medical devices — and so much more — innovations developed for space often come back to improve life on Earth.

    Through NASA spinoffs, space technology fuels advancements in healthcare, transportation, agriculture and more. Our expert explains how NASA is part of your everyday life!

    Watch now and explore more at https://spinoff.nasa.gov.

    Producers: Scott Bednar, Pedro Cota, Jessica Wilde
    Editor: Pedro Cota

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VYdarvP3yc

    MIL OSI Video –