NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Seizes 9 DDoS-for-Hire Webpages as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ and ‘Stresser’ DDoS Services

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of nine internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services. Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau simultaneously announced the arrests of four administrators of such services, investigations which were assisted by U.S. authorities. Several of the arrested administrators operated websites seized pursuant to previous operations by the Central District of California. 

    Federal law enforcement continues to seize websites that allow paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet.

    Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections. 

    The websites targeted in this operation were used for hundreds of thousands of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that purportedly could be used for network testing, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years more than 11 defendants have been charged in Los Angeles and Anchorage for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 75 domains associated with such services have been seized.

    “Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”

    “DDoS for hire criminal booter services impact internet services for victims in every corner of the United States, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to pursue cybercrime services like booter providers. We remain committed to bolstering our collaborative partnerships in the U.S. and abroad to address threats to critical internet infrastructure and services.”

    “The enforcement actions launched today, made possible by enduring partnerships between law enforcement and private industry, represents continued pressure on DDoS-for-hire services and the cybercriminals and hacktivists who use them.” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “This success demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS to relentlessly pursue those who target our warfighters and their information systems.”

    In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, DCIS, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.

    In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet.

    For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.

    The seizures announced today were performed by DCIS’s Cyber-West Resident Agency.

    These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska; The Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS); FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices; HSI’s Columbus field office; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others.

    Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Flashpoint, Google, PayPal, The University of Cambridge, and Unit 221B.

    Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are handling this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Two in the Western District of Oklahoma

    OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. 

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “Those who prey upon children leave a horrific trail of lives damaged and futures destroyed,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.  “My office is proud to join with our partners at the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country to prioritize the safety of children and bringing justice to those who seek to harm them.”

    “Operation Restore Justice is not just about upholding the rule of law – it’s about standing up as a society for the safety of children and showing predators that we will not allow them to rob kids of their innocence,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The FBI is proud to collaborate with our law enforcement partners every single day to ensure anyone involved in criminal behavior against a child is brought to justice.”

    Defendants in the Western District of Oklahoma have been charged as follows:

    • COLT TRAVIS GLADDING, SR., 41, of Coyle, Oklahoma, has been charged by Complaint with sexual exploitation of a child and possession of material containing child pornography. According to the Complaint, on July 15, 2024, officers with the Troy Police Department (TPD) in Troy, New Hampshire, received a report regarding the sexual abuse of a minor. The minor reported that between the ages of 14 and 16, she lived in Coyle, Oklahoma, where she was sexually abused by Gladding several times over two years. Gladding also coerced the victim to send him photos that were sexual in nature. If found guilty, Gladding faces not less than 15 years and up to 50 years in federal prison, and fines of up to $500,000.
    • DALTON CUNNINGHAM, 31, of Alva, Oklahoma, has been charged by Complaint with possession of and/or access with intent to view child pornography. According to the Complaint, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant for Cunningham’s phone and found videos and images of child sexual abuse material, including files depicting prepubescent children. If found guilty, Cunningham faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    *The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that the defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice:

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Four in the Southern District of Indiana

    May 7, 2025 – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “Children are the foundation of our communities. It is not their burden to protect themselves; it is our absolute responsibility as adults to shield them from the egregious predators charged today,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the exceptional and tireless work of our law enforcement partners and AUSAs Tiffany Preston, Carolyn Haney, Samantha Spiro, and Jeremy Kemper, who are doing their part to execute Operation Restore Justice.” 

    “Behind every arrest during Operation Restore Justice was a child who was being exploited – who was suffering in silence,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans. “These crimes are both heartbreaking and deeply disturbing and the FBI remains committed to identifying and investigating these cases and ensuring those who responsible for such heinous acts are held accountable. Our hope is that these children now have a chance to heal and to rebuild their lives in safety, free from fear and surrounded by the care and support they need.”

    In the Southern District of Indiana, the following four individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes:

    Defendant Name(s) Offense(s) Charge
    Raymond Robert Lapensee, Jr., 33, of Evansville Possession of Sexually Explicit Material Involving Minors (3 Counts)
    James Dean Collett, Jr, 29, of New Albany

    Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Attempt (4 Counts)

    Possession of Child Pornography (2 Counts)
    Eric Lee Dicken, 35, of Columbus Possession of Child Pornography

    Beau R. Thornburgh, 45, of Lebanon

    *Convicted sex offender

    		 Possession of Child Pornography

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, this effort and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including in the District of Utah

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.  

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “When it comes to child sex abuse, Utah is no exception to the rest of the country and there is no shortage of work for our prosecutors or law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. “No matter the age or demographic, any child can become a victim and keeping our children safe is a top priority in the District of Utah.”

    “If your child has access to the internet, he or she is likely to encounter a predator looking to entice or harm them,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force combines the resources and expertise of our law enforcement partners to safeguard society’s most vulnerable.”

    As part of this operation, FBI Salt Lake City field office investigations led to federal arrests and indictments against:

    1.    Gustavo Uroza-Rodriguez, charged on April 23, 2025, with attempted coercion and enticement, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. 
    2.    Melissa Goodrich, charged on April 23, 2025, with trafficking of a minor.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. 

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources: 

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children
    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Two in the Western District of Arkansas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT SMITH – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children. The FBI is relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us.”

    “Our top priority in Western Arkansas is making our communities safer and better,” said the United States Attorney for Western Arkansas, David Clay Fowlkes.  “This crucial mission begins with protecting those who cannot protect themselves, particularly children residing in Western Arkansas. This operation, and many others like it, are vital to helping us accomplish this important mission by concentrating our efforts on prosecuting those who engage in child abuse.  Furthermore, this operation serves as a significant demonstration of our collaborative partnerships with federal, local, and state law enforcement officers who share our unwavering commitment to pursuing these important cases.”

    “This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “FBI Little Rock will continue to prioritize these investigations, seek justice for victims and hold predators accountable for their actions.”

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Four in the Western District of Missouri

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    In the Western District of Missouri four individuals, Clinton Gray, 47, Joplin, Mo., Andrew Charles Nicholls, 38, Columbia, Mo., and Trevor Scott Teegarden, 34, Liberty, Mo., along with one additional defendant were arrested last week in separate cases. Charges include attempted production of child pornography, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and receipt and possession of child pornography. All charging documents have been unsealed following their arrests last week.

    These Western District of Missouri cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner, and Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. They were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Kansas City Child Exploitation Task Force, Boone County Sheriff’s Cyber Crime Task Force, Joplin, Missouri, Police Department, Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Arrests 205 Alleged Child Sex Abuse Offenders in Five Day Nationwide Crackdown

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    In an unprecedented nationwide operation to protect our children and mark April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the FBI announces Operation Restore Justice, a five-day, sweeping FBI initiative to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators across the country in coordination with all 55 of our FBI field offices.

    FBI Cleveland Field arrested 11 people as part of this operation. Since the start of 2025, the division identified and arrested 28 individuals for violent crimes against children and in 2024, identified and arrested 37 individuals. 

    “Preying on children, the most vulnerable members of our community, is appalling. These arrests highlight the importance of strong partnerships and unwavering collaboration with members of our federal, state, and local agencies,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “The FBI and our partners are fully committed to protecting children from abuse while ensuring those who exploit or harm them are identified and investigated, and their networks of nefarious activity are dismantled.”  

    Last week alone, the FBI arrested 205 subjects and rescued 115 children across the country during the surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice. The subjects arrested in this operation included those in positions of public trust–law enforcement, members of the military and teachers. Others are your neighbors, proving criminal activity can be found even in the most familiar places. They’re accused of various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking.

    But our work didn’t just happen last week. Throughout the entire month of April, the FBI along with our state and local law enforcement partners, additionally arrested more than 190 perpetrators on charges related to crimes against children. With nearly 400 arrests in one month, these actions are the direct result of the FBI’s continued efforts to track down and stop sexual predators before they can harm more victims.

    While the number of arrests is significant, the details of the cases underscore the disturbing nature of the crimes. In Minneapolis, MN, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for producing sexual abuse material of a young child while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal immigrant from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former MPD Police Officer previously convicted for sex trafficking was again arrested for doing the same thing. He’s accused of trafficking additional young victims while on supervised release. In Louisville, KY, two teachers were charged in separate incidents after alleged misconduct with students involving inappropriate communication and behavior. 

    In some cases, it was the vigilance of parents and community outreach efforts that played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. In one case, a California man was arrested eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, NY. In another case, a tip from the victim’s parents led to a man accused of coercing a minor into sending inappropriate images over social media.

    This operation was the result of a dedicated and targeted effort, reflecting countless hours of work by hundreds of special agents, intel analysts and other FBI personnel. It further emphasizes the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Bureau works relentlessly to investigate these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prevention, community education and the FBI’s never-ending pursuit of criminals who exploit our children.

    The FBI proactively identifies individuals involved in child sexual exploitation and the production of child sexual abuse material through our far-reaching, nationwide network of personnel and law enforcement partners. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program provides a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capacity to counter all threats of abuse against children. This capacity leverages partnerships within the FBI’s 89 Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) across the country. Additionally, the FBI has Intelligence Analysts assigned to address the VCAC threat, both at Headquarters and the field. The FBI also leads a Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force, which includes nearly 100 International Task Force Officers representing over 60 countries to expand our ability to address the threat worldwide. 

    The FBI also partners with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. In further partnership and collaboration with NCMEC, the FBI launched the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) in 2004 to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. To date, ECAP has identified 36 individuals. 

    For more information about the crimes investigated by the FBI as well as the variety of resources we provide to protect and keep children safe, please visit:  

    As always, the FBI urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspect crime against a child to 911 and local law enforcement immediately, as well as the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), online at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting your local FBI field office.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Microgrids Could Enhance Grid Resilience

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Researcher’s Personal Experience Inspires His Passion To Improve Local Grid Resilience

    Rory McIlmoil shares his insights into how microgrids could bolster grid resilience in times of high stress.

    This installment of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Tell Me Something Grid series features Rory McIlmoil, a researcher in NREL’s Grid Planning and Analysis Center. McIlmoil shares how microgrids could unlock greater grid resilience in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene.

    “Energy resilience” is a very broad term. It can mean anything from the ability to recover from significant outages to strengthening areas that may be vulnerable to impacts from weather-related disasters.

    With electricity demand projected to soar over the next five to 10 years, I am both excited and proud to be researching grid resilience. Right now, from a resilience perspective, one of the biggest questions we are trying to answer is, “How do we get power to where it is needed the most, when it is needed the most?” A key part of this research is figuring out how to maximize emergency service provisions in the event of natural disasters.

    During my time at NREL, I have been involved in a broad range of energy-related topics, but local energy resilience has always been very important to me. While it is just one piece of the bigger resilience picture, I think being able to give people access to reliable, affordable power, particularly in emergencies, is critical for communities as they begin to recover from a disaster.

    Grid Resilience in My Community

    I have lived in the mountains of western North Carolina for about 10 years. When Hurricane Helene hit last September, tens of thousands of people were without power and water for days—as much as nearly two weeks for me and the surrounding community. In my neighborhood, we are all on water wells, so when the power goes out, we also lose water. Those are two significant impacts that can have major consequences, especially for retired and medically vulnerable residents.

    An aerial image shows the extensive flooding in Western North Carolina during and after Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Photo from Adobe Stock

    Hurricane Helene did not just knock down trees and take out the local distribution networks; it isolated a lot of people because the severe flooding wiped out public and private bridges and destroyed roads, especially in the more rural and mountainous areas like those around Boone and Asheville.

    As a volunteer firefighter, I helped respond in the days after the storm, and our fire station served as a resource hub for essential supplies and aid. The station was partially powered by a single diesel generator and offered satellite internet for department staff and residents to use as needed. A microgrid could have played a pivotal role in helping reestablish power more quickly and completely, avoid the long-term outage, and ensure continued access to essential services like water for impacted residents.

    The U.S. Department of Energy defines a microgrid as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. Microgrids can operate in either grid-connected or in island mode, including entirely off-grid applications. They can run off of distributed generation sources or battery energy storage systems.

    In the event of an outage, microgrids can provide power to a specific building like a fire station for an extended period. Multiple buildings and facilities can also be interconnected into a single microgrid called an “area microgrid” so when power in that area goes out, grid operators switch power over to the microgrid to keep the lights on. In this way, multiple locations that provide critical services during a widespread outage—such as fire, medical, food and housing—can all be served by the same microgrid if they are located on the same distribution feeder, for instance.

    Growing Interest in Microgrids

    Companies, military bases, universities, and other institutions partner with utilities to develop microgrids that meet their specific energy goals. For example, one fire station in North Carolina worked with Duke Energy to create a microgrid at the nearby substation. The microgrid is capable of powering not only the fire station but other facilities as well.

    Microgrids can also provide bigger benefits to the grid. They enable distributed energy resources to be utilized during outages. They also reduce strain on the grid when there is high demand or spikes in demand that could lead to outages.

    I think many utilities are looking at microgrids as an option to help stabilize the local grid, defer future investments, and support the distribution and transmission levels of the grid. Utilities could potentially reap several benefits from incorporating microgrids into their planning. Microgrids can help manage energy use and demand more efficiently at different times, making the overall grid more resilient and adaptable.

    Recently, I gave a presentation on microgrids to my county’s fire association, which led to interest from multiple departments still reeling from the experience of Hurricane Helene. That interest has since expanded into multiple counties and individual projects with several partners. Now, I am supporting a coalition of regional and local stakeholders and working to help them secure funding so they can develop different types of microgrids—both stationary and mobile—to power critical services like fire departments, emergency medical service stations, and community centers during future disasters.

    The work I’m doing with this regional coalition, along with other power system analysis work at NREL, can be an incredible resource to inform decision makers at the state and federal levels—and future work could help them better understand how microgrids can fit into regulatory processes. I am excited for the potential that microgrids have in supporting local resilience and grid stability, while also reducing future costs for utilities and customers.

    Read more from NREL’s Tell Me Something Grid series, and sign up for NREL’s energy analysis newsletter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NREL Partners With Chilkat Indian Village To Improve Housing in Klukwan, Alaska

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    The majority of housing in Klukwan consists of modular units imported from the Lower 48 in the 1970s, not well-suited to the extremes of Alaska. Photo by Molly Rettig, NREL

    A team of National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers and Tribal staff gathered around the wood stove in Charlie Spud’s home, trying to figure out why it was not drawing air.

    “Every time I turn on the bath fan, the stove backdrafts,” said Spud, 61, who built the home 13 years ago with his wife Joanne.

    “That’s not good—it can bring carbon monoxide into the home,” said Jack Hébert, a senior research advisor at NREL’s Alaska Campus and a long-time Alaska homebuilder.

    The cozy, cedar-sided home overlooks the wide, braided Chilkat River and the massive snowcapped peaks straddling the Alaska-Canada border, where the Tlingit people have lived for thousands of years. Long before Alaska was a state, or the nearby fishing town of Haines appeared, this was a gathering spot for the Chilkat Tlingits (known as the Jilkáat Kwáan) who traveled to these shores by canoe to trade and share feasts of the region’s bounty.

    During a housing assessment, Charlie Spud (left) and Jack Hébert (center) troubleshoot why Spud’s stove is backdrafting. Photo by Molly Rettig, NREL

    A colorful wood carving on the living room wall honored the eagle—or Ch’áak’—clan that Joanne descends from. Like many in Klukwan, Alaska, Charlie and Joanne still spend a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and picking berries that grow in the lush Chilkat Valley.

    After investigating the stove and crawling around the attic with an infrared camera, the team discovered a lot of air leaking around the stovepipe into the attic, then escaping outside. It was due to stack effect, Hébert said, which occurs when heat rises within a building due to temperature differences between indoors and outdoors.

    “So much air is leaking around the pipe that it’s overpowering the fire’s ability to get oxygen. So, the fire has to pull air from inside the stack, which can bring dangerous gases into the home,” Hébert said.  

    He emphasized the importance of introducing outside combustion air into the area near the stove and made a note on the survey: Seal ceiling penetration around pipe to reduce stack effect.

    ‘Housing and Jobs: You Can’t Build a Community Without Either’

    This is one of many problems Klukwan is tackling as part of a $1 million award through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. Since 1999, HUD has invested in hundreds of communities across the United States to make low-income households safer, healthier, and more affordable. Over the past decade, NREL has assisted 15 Alaska communities to implement these programs, including Buckland, Gakona, and—currently—Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services, helping direct a total of $16 million toward reducing in-home hazards.

    The goal of these programs is not only to improve housing but also to build a workforce that benefits local economies.

    “This project is about housing and jobs. You can’t build a community without either,” said Shawna Hotch, Tribal liaison for the Tribe, who oversees a variety of initiatives related to housing, energy, health, and more.

    Shawna Hotch is the Tribal liaison for the Chilkat Indian Village, NREL’s partner on the Healthy Homes project. Photo from Shawna Hotch

    Housing has long been a priority for the small Southeast Alaska community of 81 people. While the village has been around for thousands of years, most of its current housing was built in the 1970s and consists of modular units imported from the Lower 48 states. Today they are dilapidated, leaky, and expensive to heat. Housing surveys conducted in 2023, also in partnership with NREL, revealed high rates of mold, indoor air quality problems, and overcrowding and led the Tribe to pass a resolution declaring a housing emergency.

    New housing is critical to the community’s growth, yet high costs have inhibited construction. Many Tribal members share homes with multiple generations, move out of the community, or add mobile homes onto their permanent structures for more space.

    Charlie Spud’s daughter, Karlie, left the state four years ago when she had her first child because she could not find housing in Klukwan. Last year, when her brother moved out of their childhood home, Karlie came back to the village. Now she lives there with her daughter and works at the clinic across the street. 

    “In Klukwan, it’s really bad. If someone in your family passes away, that’s about the only way you can get a house. Some people buy mobile homes or kits from Canada, but there’s nothing affordable that will also keep you warm and comfortable,” Karlie said.

    NREL Researcher Chan Charoonsophonsak (right) documents housing conditions with Chilkat Indian Village staff. Photo by Molly Rettig, NREL

    In light of that shortage, they are fixing up what they have. Hotch enlisted NREL’s building and energy experts to perform building assessments and guide the retrofits to ensure they deliver long-term health and economic benefits to residents.

    “I love working with NREL. I’m not an energy expert—I work on so many different initiatives related to geohazards, health, and land protections that it’s very valuable to me to be able to trust these Alaskan experts,” Hotch said.

    Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center in Klukwan, Alaska, sits on the banks of the Chilkat River. Photo by Molly Rettig, NREL

    NREL Surveys Inform Retrofit Work To Make Warmer, Safer Housing

    In March, the assessment team made up of NREL building experts, Tribal staff, and private contractors visited 11 homes, interviewing residents, testing for lead paint and radon, and inspecting foundations, walls, windows, and appliances. The cold, wet climate of Southeast Alaska can be hard on homes, and many showed signs of moisture and mold. Other residents complained about cold floors, leaky roofs, or broken outlets.

    Charlene Katzeek lives in a double-wide trailer on a raised foundation overlooking the Chilkat Mountains. At age 75, she likes listening to audiobooks while she drinks coffee and plays cards. Her daughter, Deanna, the village public safety officer in Klukwan, often stops by to visit and help with housework, since Charlene is losing her eyesight. While the home is in pretty good shape, Charlene is on a fixed income and wants to reduce energy use.

    “There’s a big hole under the window. When my husband was alive, he would ask me to go outside and he could wave to me through the trim,” Charlene said, chuckling.

    Shawna Hotch visits the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center in Klukwan. Photo from Shawna Hotch

    The assessment team found additional cold spots in the house that could be sealed and suggested upgrades to improve indoor air quality, such as removing old carpet and increasing ventilation.

    “In a cold climate, we build very tight homes and spend so much of our time inside in the winter,” NREL’s Hébert said. “Bringing fresh air into the home keeps everyone healthy and can really address our exceptionally high rates of respiratory illness in Alaska.”

    The housing assessment team included (left to right) Tim Ewing with Chilkat Indian Village, Chan Charoonsophonsak (NREL), Trevor Luedke (Steller Inspections), Jack Hebert (NREL), and Charlie Spud (Chilkat Indian Village). Photo by Molly Rettig, NREL

    After finishing the assessments, the team started poring over the data to make a plan for each house. Retrofit work is expected to begin this summer, as fishing, road construction, and other seasonal jobs take off.

    Just like those efforts, this project will strengthen the economy and make Klukwan a healthier, more vibrant place to live.

    Learn more about research at NREL’s Alaska Campus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Proposition 123 Land Banking Funds to Support New Housing Options Coloradans can Afford Across the State

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) announced 21 recipients of voter-approved Proposition 123 Land Banking funds. This funding is intended to support Colorado communities as they acquire and preserve land for an estimated 1,892 home ownership and multi-family rental apartments, including plans in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Fruita, Montrose, and Pagosa Springs.

    “These funds are an important first step to create 1,892 homes people can afford across the state, helping more Coloradans live where they want to live — close to their jobs, schools, and the places they love.” said Gov. Jared Polis. 

    Among the recipients, the Boulder Housing Coalition plans to acquire and convert an historic Denver mansion into affordable housing supporting households with incomes 30 – 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). A Montrose project by Community Options Inc. plans to serve neurodiverse households with incomes 40 – 60% of AMI. And the proposed Bradley Ridge Apartments in Colorado Springs will include an early childhood education center and serve households earning at or below 60% AMI. 

    “A strong economy includes good-paying jobs and housing for every income level. The recipients announced today will introduce new home ownership and rental opportunities in communities across the state, meeting a wide variety of needs, including those transitioning out of homelessness, neurodiverse families, and childcare opportunities. We are excited to support strong economies across the state,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director. 

    Availability of land is considered one of the most significant barriers to affordable housing development. The Land Banking program provides grants to local and tribal governments and forgivable loans to nonprofits with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing to support the acquisition and preservation of land for affordable for-sale and rental housing development. 

    “The funds awarded through the Land Banking program are an investment in a stronger Colorado, supporting communities in securing the land they need to respond to local housing needs. These efforts lay the foundation for greater housing stability and economic prosperity,” said Thomas Bryan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CHFA.

    A total of $47,994,762 will be awarded to 21 recipients, who will be required to complete statutory milestones over the coming years including achieving proper zoning, finalizing development plans, and securing development funding and permits. The Area Median Incomes (AMIs) proposed by the recipients range from 20% AMI for those transitioning out of homelessness up to 100% AMI for homeownership. The awardees include: 

    • Boulder Housing Coalition: 19 rental units for the 1350 N Logan, Denver, $430,000 Broomfield Housing Alliance: 72 rental units for the 11795 Colmans Way,
    • Broomfield, $3,500,000
    • Commerce City Housing Authority: 120 rental and homeownership units for The Foundry, Commerce City, $4,750,000
    • Commun Denver: 173 rental and homeownership units for the Loretto Commons, Denver, $2,500,000
    • Community Options Inc.: 50 rental units for the TBD Hilltop Apartments, Montrose, $1,250,000
    • Elevation Community Land Trust II: 44 homeownership units for the Miners Haus, Golden, $1,400,000
    • Fairview Housing Partners Ltd: 144 rental units for the Flats at Sand Creek, Colorado Springs, $4,050,000
    • Foothills Regional Housing: 220 rental units for the Ridge Road, Wheat Ridge, $2,100,000
    • GES Coalition, Inc.: 60 rental and homeownership units for the Brighton Blvd-GESC, Denver, $3,571,429
    • Habitat for Humanity Fort Collins: eight homeownership units for the Bloom Cottages, Fort Collins, $600,000
    • Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Inc.: 40 homeownership units for the Calvary Flats Affordable Homes, Golden, $1,200,000
    • Habitat for Humanity St Vrain: 35 homeownership units for the Habitat 15th and Terry Street Neighborhood, Longmont, $1,558,333 Metro Caring: 139 rental units for the Metro Caring Affordable Housing, Denver, $3,485,000 Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation: 11 rental and homeownership units for the Affordable Housing Phase 4, Bonita Dr., Pagosa Springs, $200,000 Pikes Peak Real Estate Foundation: 336 rental units for the Bradley Ridge Apartments, Colorado Springs, $4,850,000 The City of Fruita: 100 rental and homeownership units for The Fruita Commons, Fruita, $1,500,000
    • The Inn Between of Longmont: 40 rental units for the 1886 Hover, Longmont, $1,750,000 The NHP Foundation: 158 rental units for the Liora, Denver, $3,850,000
    • Thistle Community Housing: 48 rental and homeownership units for the Fairways Phase II, Boulder, $2,600,000
    • Urban Land Conservancy II: 66 rental units for the Liberty House, Denver, $2,450,000
    • West Colfax Lampstand: 9 homeownership units for the Flats at Harlan, Lakewood, $400,000 

    Applications were evaluated according to priorities outlined in statute, including high-density housing, mixed-income housing, and environmental sustainability. The selection process also considered accessibility to transit and walkable access to community services, readiness to proceed, financial feasibility, geographic distribution, and total number of units proposed, all priorities outlined by the Governor’s Executive Order to address Colorado’s housing supply. 

    The Land Banking program is part of the Affordable Housing Financing Fund, established by Proposition 123, managed by OEDIT and administered by CHFA. Ongoing updates are available by signing up to receive newsletter updates. 

    About the Colorado Affordable Housing Financing Fund 

    Passed by voters in November 2022, Proposition 123 established the State Affordable Housing Fund to advance the development and preservation of affordable housing in Colorado. The measure directs 40% of those funds to the Colorado Affordable Housing Support Fund administered by the state Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and 60% of funds to the Colorado Affordable Housing Financing Fund managed by OEDIT. OEDIT selected Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to serve as the Affordable Housing Financing Fund third-party administrator. The Affordable Housing Financing Fund consists of three programs: Land Banking, Equity and Concessionary Debt. 

    About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    About Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) 

    For more than 50 years, CHFA has strengthened Colorado by investing in affordable housing and community development. CHFA invests in affordable homeownership, the development and preservation of affordable rental housing, helps small- and medium-sized businesses access capital, offers technical assistance and financial support to strengthen local communities, and supports mission-aligned nonprofits through philanthropic investment. CHFA is not a state agency. CHFA is a self-sustaining public enterprise. For more information about CHFA, please visit chfainfo.com or call 1.800.877.chfa (2432).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colorado is REAL ID Ready

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Over 96% of Credentials REAL ID Compliant Ahead of Federal Deadline 

    DENVER— As the federal REAL ID deadline takes effect, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are proud to announce that the state is more than ready, with 96% of all driver licenses and identification cards issued in Colorado being REAL ID-compliant — one of the highest rates in the country. Colorado has been a mandatory REAL ID state since 2013, meaning that 100% of those eligible for a REAL ID in Colorado have received a REAL ID-compliant credential at either their initial issuance or during the renewal process. All State IDs and Drivers licenses with stars in the corner are REAL ID certified.

    “Colorado has led the way in ensuring our residents are REAL ID ready,” Governor Polis said. “Thanks to the leadership at the DMV and the commitment of Coloradans, we are proud to be fully prepared for this important national security milestone, and this success highlights our state’s proactive approach to modernization and public service.” 

    The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards and created more secure credentials for national security, fraud mitigation and identity theft purposes. Beginning today, May 7, 2025, TSA won’t accept non- REAL ID compliant credentials to board a flight. Individuals need either a REAL ID-compliant credential or another federally accepted form of identification, such as a passport, to board domestic flights, enter certain federal buildings, or access military bases.REAL ID credentials are marked with a star in the upper right corner to indicate compliance. 

    “Colorado DMV staff have worked diligently for over a decade to ensure a smooth transition to REAL ID,” DMV Senior Director Electra Bustle said. “We’re proud that Colorado is ahead of the curve, and we thank our customers for helping make this effort a success.” 

    For more information about REAL ID and how to check if your credential is REAL ID compliant, visit dmv.colorado.gov/real-id-and-colorado. For a complete list of TSA acceptable identifications, go to tsa.gov/id. 

    About the Colorado DMV 

    The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is committed to promoting public safety, trust, and confidence by providing customer-focused driver license and motor vehicle services. With a vision to enhance the quality of life for all Coloradans, the DMV strives to deliver exemplary service, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for every customer. Visit DMV.Colorado.gov to learn more. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown

    Source: US State of California

    Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. 

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, NY.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, this effort and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Stefanik Exposes Scourge of Antisemitism at Haverford College During Committee on Education & Workforce Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

    ICYMI: Stefanik Exposes Scourge of Antisemitism at Haverford College During Committee on Education & Workforce Hearing | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump’s plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won’t have a happy ending

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jean Chalaby, Professor of Sociology, City St George’s, University of London

    Bill Chizek/Shutterstock

    With its tariffs policies, the administration of US president Donald Trump aims to correct the country’s persistent goods trade deficit. The president has argued that the US has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered” by other countries. Trump feels it is now America’s “turn to prosper” – and he has the film and TV industries in his sights with threats of 100% tariffs on foreign films.

    Economists cite multiple reasons why tariffs are bad for economies, from stunting growth to adding inflationary pressure. But there is a more fundamental problem, which is notable in the case of the film and TV industries. While trade data reflects a country’s overall performance, it says nothing about the nature and ownership of the traded goods.

    Indeed, the cross-border activities and foreign investments of US-based multinationals widen the US trade deficit. Global trade flows in film and TV are a good example.

    In terms of the origin of a movie, it is determined by factors including the nationality of those in key creative roles, financing, filming location and the culture reflected in the theme and story. The US has long been the world’s largest exporter of films and TV, dominating global media flows for much of the 20th century.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Join The Conversation for free today.

    In the 1970s, the country exported seven times as much film and TV programming as that of its nearest competitor (the UK). Three decades later, the US was still exporting 4.5 times the amount of content it imported – US$12.6 billion (£9.4 billion) versus US$2.8 billion.

    US exports have increased, reaching US$24.7 billion in 2023, and Hollywood remains the world’s largest movie exporter. However, the US balance of trade in the sector has shifted dramatically. While US exports grew by 95.4% between 2006 and 2023, US imports increased by 898%.

    The trade in film and TV programming achieved balance in 2019, and my research shows that since then, the US has imported more films and TV shows than it exported. The deficit was narrowing in 2023 but imports remained 12.1% higher than exports (US$27.7 billion versus US$24.3 billion).

    This deficit deserves an explanation. Are Asian and European producers suddenly flooding the US with films and TV shows? Has the American public developed an insatiable appetite for Nordic noir or K-drama? The reality is that US-based media conglomerates like Disney, Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery have changed strategy. They have moved away from their previous focus on exports to direct-to-consumer international distribution.

    What does this mean? Well, instead of licensing content to foreign broadcasters and cinemas (which they still do, but to a lesser extent), they retail their content internationally, using their own global streaming services.

    The US entertainment paradox

    Maintaining these large content libraries explains the shift of the US trade balance. US-based streamers export less because they now retain more of their content for exclusive distribution on their own streaming platforms. And they import more because they acquire foreign content in greater quantities than ever before.

    For example, Stranger Things is produced by Netflix in the US. As such, it does not show up in export figures. Squid Game, on the other hand, is a Korean export and shows up in US import data.

    Moreover, Walt Disney has decided to retain the exclusive rights to its franchises, forgoing licensing sales. In 2020, the company licensed 59% of its scripted series to third parties, 18% in 2021, and only 2% in 2022.

    All the US streaming giants license and commission foreign content. Netflix in particular has spent more on international content than US programming since 2024 (US$7.9 billion versus US$7.5 billion). Hence the creation of a paradox: US trade data in audiovisual services reveals a trade deficit, yet the US-based entertainment industry has never been so dominant globally.

    There are similar patterns in industries in which US-based multinationals are located at the apex of transnational supply chains. The jeans that Levi Strauss imports from Bangladesh, the trainers that Nike imports from Vietnam, and the car components Ford imports from Brazil all show up in US trade statistics. But these goods are, essentially, American-owned assets.

    About 70% of trade involves global value chains (GVC), as raw materials and components cross borders multiple times before being assembled into a final product.

    In today’s global economy, the complexity of most products requires companies to cooperate along transnational production networks. As businesses and countries specialise in specific tasks, GVCs are the most efficient way of producing goods and services. The streaming industry simply mirrors these wider patterns.

    Mindful of the US trade deficit in films and TV programmes, Trump announced the plans for 100% tariffs on all films produced outside the US. However, his attempt to “make Hollywood great again” is misguided.

    While Hollywood has new rivals to contend with, notably South Korea, it remains the world’s largest film and TV exporter. Following a short period of decline in the late 2010s, US exports have continued to grow to reach a record US$24.3 billion.

    For Trump, the vexing issue is that the US imports more films and TV programmes than its exports. But that is due to US-based platforms’ foreign content hoarding. Adolescence and Squid Game have indeed contributed to extending the gap between US imports and exports, but they are US-owned assets that have earned Netflix hundreds of millions of dollars in subscription fees. (Squid Game’s impact value for Netflix was estimated at US$891 million in 2021.)

    Squid Game is an import, but it’s a giant money-spinner for US streamer Netflix.

    And American content on US-based streaming giants does not show up in trade data. The whole world is watching Black Mirror and Ransom Canyon, but these series have never been exported. Rather, they are on a global platform (Netflix). US-based media conglomerates have never been so dominant in the global media market.

    In short, trade data does not tell the whole story. If implemented, these tariffs will certainly have far-reaching consequences for the film and TV industry. But they are unlikely to make anyone more prosperous.

    Jean Chalaby does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why Trump’s plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won’t have a happy ending – https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-plans-for-tariffs-on-foreign-films-probably-wont-have-a-happy-ending-256004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Accreditation Updates for May 2025

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: Accreditation Updates for May 2025

    IADC welcomes these 4 newly-accredited training providers who have satisfactorily completed the approval process:

    DIT

    • ARABIAN MACHINERY AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPANY – Al Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia 
    • Kuwait Drilling Company – Kuwait, Ahmadi, Kuwait 

    RigPass

    • Capstar Drilling, Inc. – Casper, Wyoming, US
    • Cazen Servicios y Suministros Integrales – Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Farmers Back President Trump’s Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    American farmers are behind President Donald J. Trump and his relentless push to restore fairness in global trade and secure new markets for homegrown producers.
    According to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer:
    70% of farmers expect the President Trump’s tariffs to strengthen the agricultural economy in the long-term.
    Farmer sentiment improved in April, marked by rises in current and future expectations.
    The Farm Capital Investment Index rose to its highest reading since May 2021.
    “This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments, nearly double the percentage of respondents who said it was a good time to invest when surveyed from May through October of last year.”

    The Farm Financial Performance Index “marked the fourth month in a row that the index was above 100, indicating that producers expect financial performance this year to equal or slightly exceed the year-ago level.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Victory Day for World War II, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    A PROCLAMATION
    Today, our Nation proudly commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Allied Powers’ triumph over national socialism and fascism, and the end of World War II in Europe — one of the most epic victories for forces of freedom in the history of the world.  On this Victory Day for World War II, we celebrate the unmatched might, strength, and power of the American Armed Forces, and we commit to protecting our sacred birthright of liberty against all threats, foreign and domestic.In the wake of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States righteously entered the fray of what would become the apex of the eternal battle between good and evil.  After nearly 4 years of the darkest and bloodiest chapters ever recorded in human history, more than 250,000 Americans lost their lives in the fight against the Nazi regime.  Today and every day, we pay tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their Nation, their liberty, and the survival of Western civilization.  Without the sacrifice of our American soldiers, this war would not have been won, and our world today would look drastically different.May 8, 1945 marks the Allies’ acceptance of Germany’s unconditional surrender — the beginning of the end of years of long, gruesome, and brutal warfare.  The millions of souls senselessly lost serve as a reminder of why we must pursue peace through strength.  I remain steadfastly devoted to stopping the years of endless foreign wars and preventing the further loss of lives.  As I stated during my Inaugural Address, we will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars we end — and my proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker.As we commemorate Victory Day for World War II, we offer our unending thanks to every patriot from the Greatest Generation who left behind his home and family to fight for our freedom in distant lands.  We honor the memories of all those who perished.  Above all, we renew our commitment to keeping America and the entire world safe, secure, prosperous, and free.NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2025, as a day in celebration of Victory Day for World War II.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty‑five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar Announces Task Force on Aging and Families as Trump Administration Threatens Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – May 07, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – To kick off Older Americans Month, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar today announced the re-launch of the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families (TFAF). The Chairs of the Task Force are Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Doris Matsui (CA-07). The Co-Chairs are Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and the Vice Chairs are Reps. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John B. Larson (CT-01) and Mark Pocan (WI-02). The TFAF will deepen the Caucus’ commitment to protecting seniors’ hard-earned benefits against the Trump Administration’s threats to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. 

    “The Trump Administration is dismantling the Social Security Administration and putting the benefits that our seniors rely on in jeopardy,” said Chairman Aguilar. “House Democrats are going to stand up for older Americans and their families and I’m proud to re-launch the Task Force on Aging and Families, led by two committed public servants in Jan Schakowsky and Doris Matsui. An essential part of the American Dream is ensuring a better life for the generation that comes after us while also honoring the sacrifices of our parents and grandparents who paved the way for our success. House Democrats will always defend and strengthen this central promise of our way of life.”   

    “Older Americans have spent their lives working to raise families, pay their taxes, protect our country, and build our communities. How are Republicans thanking them? By threatening to take away hard-earned benefits like Medicaid and Social Security. Older Americans deserve to retire with dignity and respect, and deserve high quality health care and financial security,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “For my entire career, I have fought for older Americans and working families, that is why I am proud to continue to serve as one of the Chairs of the Task Force on Aging and Families. Instead of cutting Medicaid, we must expand it. Instead of attacking Social Security, we must protect and strengthen it. Instead of punishing the hungry, we must support them. Democrats stand ready to protect older Americans and ensure that they have all the resources they need in retirement.”

    “Since we founded the Task Force on Aging and Families in 2010, it has been a critical vehicle to ensure that Democrats are responding to the concerns of older Americans—and as Republicans attack programs like Social Security, Medicaid and SNAP more fervently than ever, the Task Force couldn’t be more vital,” said Rep. Matsui. “After years of hard work and paying into Social Security, older Americans deserve a dignified retirement—but Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to take those hard-earned benefits away and give tax breaks to billionaires instead. House Republicans want to cut $880 billion from Medicaid—which means many seniors could lose their health care and pay more for prescription drugs that they need to live. As these attacks on older Americans come swift and strong, our Task Force is fighting tooth and nail to stop them. We are spearheading the actions to permanently protect these programs.”

    “After a lifetime of hard work, seniors deserve to retire with financial security, proper medical and long-term care, and a quality of life that allows them to continue to live independently and with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “This isn’t just important for seniors, it’s important for families and caregivers who balance a lot to take care of aging family members. The number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, and the work of this task force to ensure we are doing right by America’s seniors is more important than ever.”

    “Our seniors’ Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits are under attack,” said Rep. Larson. “Elon Musk and Donald Trump are gutting these essential programs with the support of Congressional Republicans to pay for another round of tax breaks for themselves and their billionaire friends. As Vice Chair of the Task Force on Aging and Families, I will stand united with Democrats against these attacks on our nation’s seniors, so we can protect access to health care for everyone and continue to fight to not just protect Social Security from cuts, but expand it for all beneficiaries for the first time in more than 50 years.”

    “Older Americans have spent a lifetime working to be able to retire with dignity,” said Rep. Pocan. “Yet today’s extreme MAGA Republicans are dead set on cutting their earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. I’m honored to be a Vice Chair on this vital task force to fight back against these attacks on America’s seniors.”

    “Our elders have spent their lives building our communities, and they deserve to age with dignity, security, and humanity. Now, as Trump, Musk, and Republicans threaten to gut Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential programs our seniors earned and deserve, we cannot and will not stand by,” said Rep. Pressley. “I am proud to continue my service on the Task Force on Aging and Families and look forward to working with my colleagues to not only safeguard these hard-earned benefits, but also advance an affirmative agenda that centers our seniors – like lowering the cost of prescription drugs, investing in affordable housing, expanding home and community-based services, and more.”

    “Trump, Musk and Republicans’ continued attacks on vital lifelines like Social Security and Medicare are creating chaos and uncertainty for the millions of seniors already struggling to pay for their prescription drugs, affordable and safe housing, and nutritious food,” said Rep. Doggett. “I’m pleased to once again join my colleagues in pushing back against cruel threats that are endangering these hard-earned benefits that Americans pay into every working day of their lives with the promise of dignity and security in retirement and times of disability.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard offloads $5.4 million in seized cocaine following drug-smuggling vessel interdiction off Puerto Rico

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    05/07/2025 12:30 PM EDT

    The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier offloaded approximately 725 pounds of seized cocaine worth an estimated $5.4 million to Coast Guard Investigative Service and Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agents custody in San Juan, Wednesday. The interdiction is the result of multi-agency efforts in support of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crew transferred custody of five suspected smugglers apprehended in this case, Dominican Republic nationals, to the Dominican Republic Navy off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Saturday.  “This was an excellent case that would not have been possible without the support provided by Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch,” said Lt. John M. Groen, Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier commanding officer. “Their flight remained on scene for several hours and communicated flawlessly with the pursuit team. I am so incredibly proud of the entire Joseph Napier crew’s outstanding performance. The interdiction highlights Sector San Juan and the Seventh Coast Guard District’s unwavering commitment to combat drug trafficking organizations and secure America’s maritime borders.”

    For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Expand Access to SNAP, Repeal Republicans’ Punitive Eligibility Rules

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) this week introduced the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, legislation to help more Americans access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont. The Senators’ legislation would lift Republicans’ punitive three-month time limit on SNAP eligibility to allow able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits for longer than three months even if they are unable to find work. The bill would also repeal additional eligibility criteria that imposes the three-month rule on adults up to age 54 over a three-year period. 
    “Trump’s disastrous economic policies have boxed Vermonters into a financial corner, forcing folks to choose between feeding their families or paying their bills. It’s an impossible choice, and it’s unacceptable that folks across the country have to make that call every day,” said Senator Welch. “Our bill makes it easier for Vermonters to get critical nutrition support and put food on the table when times are tough. This is an essential step, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to make SNAP more accessible for folks who need it.” 
    “Restoring access to SNAP for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) from ages 50-54 is critical,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Time and again it has been shown that increasing work requirements does not improve economic security, but in fact takes away food from our most vulnerable populations. Congress should be fighting to empower our citizens to achieve economic self-sufficiency instead of forcing people to go hungry.” 
    Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents between 18 to 49 years old are prohibited from receiving more than three months of SNAP benefits during a three-year period if they do not report at least 30 hours of work per week. These punitive requirements disproportionately impact women and people of color—roughly half of all low-income able-bodied adults without dependents—and are often counterproductive given SNAP’s proven effectiveness in improving economic stability, food security, and wellbeing for participants. Research also indicates that time limits for low-income beneficiaries do not lead to a meaningful increase in employment and decrease participation in SNAP, removing a crucial safety net for low-income participants who often have little to no safety net outside of SNAP benefits. 
    In addition to Senators Welch and Gillibrand, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 is cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 
    The Improving Access to Nutrition Act is supported by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). 
    Learn more about the Improving Access to Nutrition Act. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Unveils Alpha, A Mobile Hub for Early Signals and Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, has officially launched Bitget Wallet Alpha, a mobile-native discovery engine that enables users to capture trading opportunities with speed, simplicity, and security. Bitget Wallet Alpha helps users identify high-potential tokens early and act instantly, transforming onchain alpha discovery into a one-click trading experience directly within the wallet.

    Built for retail onchain trader, Bitget Wallet Alpha removes the complexity of scattered dashboards and disjointed analytics tools. Instead, it delivers a unified alpha hub where users can scan real-time token alerts, assess potential gain multipliers, and execute cross-chain swaps with a single tap. The new release includes standout features such as max gain tracking, 5-minute buy spike indicators, and a curated Hot Picks leaderboard powered by wallet and network data. The product is fully integrated into Bitget Wallet’s multi-chain infrastructure, enabling seamless trading across over 130 blockchains.

    Bitget Wallet Alpha is designed to give users an edge in volatile and fast-moving token markets, especially in early-stage sectors. It surfaces trading signals based on key indicators such as notification volume, alert timing, token market cap, and short-term buy momentum. Users can instantly assess a token’s health with built-in security checks and jump into trades using stablecoins like USDT and USDC or native assets like ETH and SOL. The integration of real-time alerts with one-click execution eliminates the delays typical of web-based dashboards or third-party trading tools, empowering users to respond to market shifts the moment they occur.

    The Alpha experience reflects Bitget Wallet’s broader vision to create a wallet that is more than just a storage tool—it’s a trading cockpit for the next generation of onchain users. With a mobile-first interface, direct Super DEX integration, and a clear focus on simplicity and execution, Bitget Wallet Alpha stands apart from traditional research-heavy tools. Where competitors offer fragmented insights or require users to switch between apps, Bitget Wallet Alpha enables discovery, evaluation, and action, all in one place—tailored for both speed and accessibility.

    “Our mission is to make alpha discovery accessible to everyone—whether you’re a casual meme trader or serious degen hunting the next big thing,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “With Bitget Wallet Alpha, users no longer have to choose between complexity and performance. They can catch trends, assess risk, and trade—all within seconds, directly in their wallet. This is a major step toward building the ultimate wallet for the onchain era.”

    For more information, visit Bitget Wallet blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 60 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ba0b2bd-181d-4b69-9924-16bb76c79310

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump’s new global order

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock

    The term that perhaps best describes the international impact of the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term is “disruption”. His tariff policy, his abolition of USAID, his questioning of the transatlantic alliance, and his attempted rapprochement with Russia have neither destroyed the liberal international order nor established anything new in its place.

    But the prospects of liberal internationalism under Trump are vanishingly small. And Trumpism, in the guise of an America-first foreign policy, is likely to outlast Trump’s second term.

    That the US is no longer the standard bearer of the liberal international order has been clear for some time. Trump and his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, appear to see themselves as dominant players in a new multi-polar world order. But it is not clear that a grand bargain between them is possible – or that it would endure.

    Europe is particularly vulnerable to these changes in the international order. Having been able to rely for the past eight decades on an iron-clad American security guarantee, European countries chronically under-invested in their defence capabilities, especially since the end of the cold war.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Defence spending as a proportion of GDP may have increased over the past decade but remains lacklustre. And investment into an independent European defence industrial base faces many hurdles.

    These deficiencies predated Trump’s return to the White House. Addressing them will only be possible in a time frame beyond his second term. With no dependable partners left among the world’s great powers, Europe’s predicament – unenviable as it may be for the moment – nonetheless offers an opportunity for the continent to begin to stand on its own feet.

    Early signs of a more independent Europe are promising. In March, the European commission released a white paper on defence which anticipates defence investment of €800 billion (£680 billion) over the next four years.

    The bulk of this will rely on the activation of the so-called “national escape clause”. This allows EU member states to escape penalties if they exceed the normal deficit ceiling of 3% GDP.

    Once activated for the purpose of defence spending, they can now take on additional debt of up to 1.5% of their GDP. By the end of April, 12 EU member states had already requested that the national escape clause be activated, with several more expected to follow.

    Defence is clearly the most urgent problem for Europe. But it isn’t the only aspect to consider when it comes to achieving greater strategic autonomy, something that the European Union has grappled with for more than a decade. In other areas, such as trade and energy, the starting point is a very different one.

    Regarding energy independence, the EU has achieved a remarkable and quick pivot away from Russia. It has just released a final plan to stop all remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027.

    On trade, Donald Trump’s America-first tariff policy has done significant damage to the global system. This has, in turn, created opportunities for the EU, as one of the world’s largest trading blocs, including greater cooperation with China, already one of its largest trading partners.

    Complex relationships

    China and the EU clearly share an interest in preserving a global trade regime from which both have benefited. But their economic interests cannot be separated easily from their geopolitical interests. So far, China has sent very mixed signals to Europe.

    Beijing has, for example, proposed to lift sanctions against some members of the European parliament who have been critical of China in a show of goodwill. But China’s support for Russia continues as well, most recently with Xi’s commitment to visit Moscow for the victory day parade on May 9.

    Standing with Moscow may benefit Beijing in its rivalry with the US by solidifying the no-limits partnership that Xi and Putin announced on the eve of Russia’s full-sale invasion in February 2022. But it does little to win the EU over as a partner in defence of the open international order that Trump is trying his best to shutter.

    On the contrary, in reaffirming China’s commitment to its partnership with Russia, Xi may well have lost whatever chances there were for a European realignment with China.

    The complexities of the EU-China and EU-US relationships – a curious mix of rapidly shifting interests – reflects the EU’s position as the natural centre of gravity of what is left of the west. This is evident in the rapid evolution of the “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine, which brings together 30 countries from across the EU and Nato under French and British leadership.

    Beyond Europe, Trump’s tariff policy has given plans for a strategic partnership between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) a new lease of life. The CPTPP is a group of 11 Indo-Pacific countries and the UK, which joined last December. It is one of the world’s largest free trade areas, accounting for approximately 15% of global GDP.

    Even without US and Chinese membership, a partnership between the EU and the CPTPP would wield significant power in the global economic system and could play a future role in shielding its members from an intensifying US-China trade war.

    Limited alternatives

    None of the steps taken by the EU and its partners on the continent and elsewhere require the breakdown in the transatlantic relationship that the Trump administration appears keen to engineer. But speeches by both the US vice president, J.D. Vance, and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, were clear that America’s relationship with Europe is changing.

    Washington, under its current leadership, increasingly leans towards the political forces in Europe that are opposed to the values on which the continent has been orientated since 1945. This leaves Europe few options but to seek more independence from the US.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Join The Conversation for free today.

    A more independent Europe is unlikely to become a global superpower on par with the US or China. But it will be better able to hold its own in a geopolitical environment that is less based on rules and more on power.

    The EU currently enjoys historically high approval ratings among its citizens – who also support more unity and a more active role for the EU in protecting them from global security risks.

    It’s increasingly clear that EU leaders and their partners have a unique opportunity – and an obligation – to carve out a more secure and independent space in a hostile global environment.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump’s new global order – https://theconversation.com/europe-is-moving-to-reposition-itself-in-donald-trumps-new-global-order-255344

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate change: A third of 5-year-olds will be spared unprecedented lifetime exposure to dangerous heat if world meets 1.5°C temperature goal – Save the Children

    Source: Save the Children

    BRUSSELS, 7 May 2025 – Almost a third of today’s five-year-olds – about 38 million children – will be spared a lifetime’s “unprecedented” exposure to extreme heat if the world meets the 1.5°C warming target by 2100, Save the Children said. 
    Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, research released by Save the Children and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) found that under current climate commitments – which will likely see a global temperature rise of 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels – about 100 million of the estimated 120 million children born in 2020, or 83%, will face “unprecedented” lifetime exposure to extreme heat. 
    However, if the world limits warming to the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target, this would reduce the number of five-year-olds impacted to 62 million – a difference of 38 million – highlighting the urgency to protect children through rapidly phasing out the use and subsidy of fossil fuels. Dangerous heat is deadly for children, taking an immense toll on their physical and mental health, disrupting access to food and clean water and forcing schools to close . 
    Researchers defined an “unprecedented” life as an exposure to climate extremes that someone would have less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of experiencing during their life in a world without human-induced climate change. The research, published in the report Born into the Climate Crisis 2. An Unprecedented Life: Protecting Children’s Rights in a Changing Climate also found that meeting the 1.5°C target would protect millions of children born in 2020 from the severest impacts of other climate related disasters such as crop failures, floods, tropical cyclones, droughts and wildfires.
    The report found that, for children born in 2020, if global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C rather than reaching 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels:
    • About 38 million would be spared from facing unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves;
    • About 8 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to crop failures;
    • About 5 million would be spared from unprecedented lifetime exposure to river floods;
    • About 5 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to tropical cyclones;
    • About 2 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to droughts;
    • About 1.5 million children would be spared unprecedented lifetime exposure to wildfires.
    Climate extremes – which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change – are increasingly harming children, forcing them from their homes, putting food out of reach, damaging schools and increasing risks like child marriage as they are forced out of education and into poverty and food shortages.
    Denise-, 16, and her family were forced from their home in Brazil when the country’s worst floods in 80 years devastated their community last year. Their home, including Denise’s bedroom, was severely damaged, and she was out of school for nearly two months. 
    She said: “It really affected me mentally, and academically too. Catching up on all my grades to pass secondary school was really tough, especially at a state school. It massively impacted my schoolwork. My grades dropped significantly after the floods.” 
    Children impacted by inequality and discrimination and those in lower-and middle-income countries, are often worst affected . Meanwhile they have fewer resources to cope with climate shocks and are already at far greater risk from vector and waterborne diseases, hunger, and malnutrition, and their homes are often more vulnerable to increased risks from floods, cyclones and other extreme weather events.  
    Haruka, 16, whose poem is featured in the report, is from Vanuatu, which recently experienced three of the most severe types of cyclone in just a year.  
    She said: “Cyclones are scary. For me, they continue to destroy my home, every year – we don’t even bother trying to fix the ceiling anymore. “The past few years, I’ve seen ceaseless destruction and constant rebuilding. This seemingly never-ending cycle has become our reality, and most people aren’t even aware that it’s not just nature doing its thing, but it’s us bearing the brunt of a crisis that we did not cause.”  
    As well as comparing conditions under 1.5°C and 2.7°C scenarios, the report also examines a scenario in which global temperatures rise to 3.5°C by 2100, which will lead to about 92% of children born in 2020 – about 111 million children [5] – living with unprecedented heatwave exposure over their lifetime. While we need a rapid phase-out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels to stick to the 1.5°C target, we must not lose sight of solutions, Save the Children said. 
    The report highlights initiatives like increased climate finance, child-centred and locally led adaptation and increasing the participation of children in shaping climate action. 
    Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said: “Across the world, children are forced to bear the brunt of a crisis they are not responsible for. Dangerous heat that puts their health and learning at risk; cyclones that batter their homes and schools; creeping droughts that shrivel up crops and shrink what’s on their plates. “Amid this daily drumbeat of disasters, children plead with us not to switch off. This new research shows there is still hope, but only if we act urgently and ambitiously to rapidly limit warming temperatures to 1.5°C , and truly put children front and centre of our response to climate change at every level.”  
    As the world’s leading independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in about 110 countries, tackling climate across everything we do. 
    Save the Children supports children and their communities globally in preventing, preparing for, adapting to, and recovering from climate disasters and gradual climate change. We have set up floating schools, rebuilt destroyed homes and provided cash grants to families hit by disasters. We also work to influence governments and other key stakeholders on climate policies, including at the UNFCCC COP summits, giving children a platform for their voices to be heard. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Arizona, multiagency case sends Nigerian national to prison for international fraud scheme that defrauded elderly US victims

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    TUCSON, Ariz., – A Nigerian national was sentenced April 25 to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.

    “It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life, and then are duped out of it all,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behavior – we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”

    According to court documents, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ogbata and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ogbata and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ogbata admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

    “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”

    “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges of the USPIS Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI and USPIS to protect our citizens from these scams.”

    Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian, and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. Visit the Consumer Protection Branch to learn more about the agency and its enforcement efforts. File elder fraud complaints with the FTC or call 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, multiagency case dismantles active identity of theft mill, organized retail scheme spanning 7 California counties

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES – Felony charges were filed April 24, against three people involved in a suspected identity theft mill, where stolen identities were used in an organized retail crime scheme. This investigation began with a referral from a Signet Jeweler’s Corporate Fraud Investigator and led by the California Department of Justice with collaboration from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Santa Maria Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and Westminster Police department.

    “These arrests are the result of excellent collaboration between HSI, private industry, state and local law enforcement partners,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orange County Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bracken. “HSI will work tirelessly with our partners in California to ensure that those who commit fraud will be held accountable.”

    The scheme involved suspects applying for store credit cards using stolen identities, then using those credit lines to purchase merchandise with no intention to pay them back. The scheme was carried out in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties.

    As a result of the investigation, a 34-count felony complaint was filed against three defendants by DOJ. The charges include organized retail theft, grand theft, and identity theft of 13 victims.

    “I am committed to using the full force of the California Department of Justice to fight organized retail crime both in the field and in the courtroom,” said Attorney General for California Rob Bonta. “This was not a one-off shoplifting offense, it was a malicious, coordinated scheme. These crimes hurt our businesses and pose a serious threat to our communities. I am thankful to Signet Jewelers as well as our local and state law enforcement partners for their collaboration in the battle against organized retail crime. We will not give up until we put a stop to this criminal activity all together.”

    From March 2023 to July 2023, the defendants fraudulently obtained over $100,000 worth of merchandise from high end retail stores and Harbor Freight retailers.

    “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is deeply committed to tackling organized retail crime through strategic multiagency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and targeted enforcement,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Division Chief Joe Mendoza. “By working closely with our local, state, and federal partners, we continue to strengthen our efforts, disrupt criminal networks, protect both businesses and our communities, while holding individuals accountable.”

    An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    A copy of the criminal complaint in this case is available here. Photos related to this investigation can be found here, here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Statement on New Report on Impacts of Tariffs on U.S. Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Released During National Small Business Week, New Report Finds That Small Businesses Are Facing Price Hikes And Layoffs As A Result of Trump’s Tariffs
    WASHINGTON, DC – During National Small Business Week, Senator Rosen released the following statement following the release of a new report highlighting the ways in which President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs and tariff uncertainty are harming small businesses across the country. In April, Senator Rosen highlighted the story of a Reno-based small business being hurt by Trump’s tariffs and demanded that the Trump Administration reverse course on its reckless trade policy.
    “Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy, and Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are forcing entrepreneurs in our state and across the nation to make difficult decisions,” said Senator Rosen. “This report makes it clear that President Trump’s trade policies are hurting our small businesses by raising costs and pushing them to lay workers off. I’m going to continue pushing to repeal these misguided tariffs.”
    Read the full report from the Joint Economic Committee here. 
    Key points from the report:
    New Committee analysis of data released on May 2 shows that employment at small businesses with fewer than 10 employees declined by 3 percent – 366,400 jobs – since President Trump took office.
    Price hikes: Recent survey data found that 30 percent of small business owners indicated in March that they plan to increase prices – the highest amount reported over the last year.
    The net percentage of small business owners expecting better business conditions declined for the third consecutive month in March – from 37 percent to 21 percent. This represents the largest monthly decline since December 2020.
    Small businesses in the manufacturing, construction, trucking, and restaurant industries are being hit especially hard by tariffs and tariff uncertainty.
    Five of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts recently reported weakening manufacturing activity – in large part due to trade pressures.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening gender-based violence against women

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Annie Bunting, Professor of Law & Society, York University, York Research Chair in International Gender Justice & Peacebuilding, York University, Canada

    In early 2025, the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group seized control of Goma and then Bukavu, two major cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    M23’s advance and control in eastern DRC, in defiance of ceasefire agreements, has terrorized communities and led to mass displacement. More than two million people have since been internally displaced in eastern DRC; close to one million people were displaced in 2024 alone.



    Read more:
    M23’s capture of Goma is the latest chapter in eastern Congo’s long-running war

    Civilians are caught in a devastating humanitarian crisis involving sexual and gender-based violence. This kind of violence not only contributes to forced displacement, but displaced women are also more at risk of gender-based violence during times of ongoing fighting.

    Furthermore, signs point to gendered violence worsening: in just the last two weeks of February 2025, UNHCR reported 895 reports of humanitarian workers being raped. Previous research has shown that sexual and gender-based violence continues through periods of political transition, and
    worsens     when state militaries are weaker than rebel forces.

    The risks and drivers of displacement

    To understand these risks, in December 2024 researchers with the Congolese organization Solidarité Féminine Pour La Paix et le Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI) interviewed 89 displaced women and 30 members of civil society organizations working in internally displaced person camps around Goma.

    We worked with a team of researchers from SOFEPADI, co-ordinated by SOFEPADI program officer Martin Baguma and national co-ordinator Sandrine Lusamba, and with research assistance from Cora Fletcher, a master’s student at Dalhousie University, to put together our recently published report that outlines some of the key findings from the interviews.

    The overwhelming majority of respondents had experienced or witnessed sexual and gender-based violence. While interviewers were careful to avoid direct questions so as not to induce trauma, dozens of women nonetheless disclosed personal experiences.

    These interviews show just how vulnerable the population is, and how an already dire situation for women and girls has been made exponentially worse over the past six months.

    Displaced women were extremely likely to have experienced conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence: 97 per cent of those interviewed were victims of or had witnessed violence during the conflict, with one stating that sexual violence had contributed to their displacement:

    “I was living in Kitshanga and then the war started, but I didn’t leave right away. One day I went to the field and I was raped. That’s the day I left Kitshanga and I came here [to the camp].”

    Over 70 per cent of interviewees identified M23 as the direct cause of their displacement. A further five per cent indicated that their displacement had been caused by Rwanda’s armed forces, either alone or in conjunction with M23.

    One woman from Kitshanga, a town roughly 150 kilometres away from Goma, stated that she had been displaced following “massacres, rapes, and the war…caused by the M23.”

    Perpetrators everywhere, protection nowhere

    M23 troops were not the only group identified as being responsible for perpetrating sexual and gender-based violence during displacement and in the camps. The crisis has led to widespread gender violence perpetrated by armed groups and forces, including the Congolese military and military-allied militias, civilians and groups of bandits.

    The breadth of perpetrators, challenges in identifying perpetrators, and the shifting status of civilians/ militia members all impact opportunities to hold individuals accountable and to meaningfully prevent sexual and gender-based violence through targeted initiatives.

    Despite the significant number of international forces operating in eastern DRC, both civil society representatives and displaced women expressed little confidence in these forces’ ability to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

    Goma remains the operational centre of the United Nations MONUSCO peacekeeping mission. Yet, of the 89 displaced women interviewed, only one identified MONUSCO troops as providing security in the areas surrounding the camps. In the eyes of most of the respondents, international forces are simply absent.

    Scattered survivors and thwarted justice

    Since the M23 takeover, international attention has been drawn to the crisis, and there is renewed focus by the International Criminal Court on combatting impunity and securing accountability for atrocity crimes.

    Organizations on the ground, however, remain under-resourced and over-stretched. Access to healthcare (including mental health support), banking, economic support, children’s education, and justice are all severely constrained – a point consistently emphasized by affected women interviewed.

    Repeated displacement of vulnerable people, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, is likely to further frustrate attempts at holding responsible actors to account, has made it near-impossible to track where women are going, to provide necessary and ongoing support.

    With the recent order from M23 for civilians to leave IDP camps, already uprooted women are displaced once again, with little access to humanitarian aid. Civilians have been dispersed, with many unable to return to their villages due to fighting.

    Others have returned to find their homes have been burned or looted and there is tension between neighbours over access to land and resources. Human rights defenders are also at grave risk of violence, with mass prison breaks and legal institutions not functioning.

    The need for action

    The DRC government and M23 have reportedly resumed peace talks to end the fighting. The security situation in eastern DRC is shifting rapidly, and the context that these interviews took place in only three short months ago has changed. The airport in Goma remains closed, thwarting the flow of humanitarian aid. What remains consistent are high levels of forced displacement, sexual and gender-based violence and an internationalized conflict that has worsened women’s security.

    With women and girls uniquely and disproportionately impacted, responses to this dire security situation must include and urgent and durable ceasefire and increased humanitarian support.

    Women must be at peace talks. Immediate steps must be taken to alleviate humanitarian suffering, to protect women and girls from further violence and abuse, and to move toward a peaceful resolution that results in Congolese civilians able to return to their homes and begin the process of recovering from this devastating conflict.

    Annie Bunting receives funding from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development.

    Heather Tasker receives funding from the UK International Development through the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme.

    – ref. Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening gender-based violence against women – https://theconversation.com/fighting-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo-is-worsening-gender-based-violence-against-women-255374

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: After the Brief: May 6, 2025

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Deputy Spokesperson and Foreign Service Officer Mignon Houston highlights the key topics covered by Spokesperson Tammy Bruce during the Department Press Briefing on May 6, 2025.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Ami Bera Signs Discharge Petition to Protect SNAP and Medicaid from GOP Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

    Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released the following statement after signing onto Representative Brendan Boyle’s (PA-02) discharge petition to protect SNAP and Medicaid from Republican efforts to cut these vital programs:

    “As a doctor, I know that access to health care and nutrition isn’t a luxury—it’s a basic need,” said Representative Bera. “SNAP and Medicaid are vital programs that millions of Americans rely on to stay healthy and feed their families. I’m proud to stand up and protect these vital programs from harmful cuts.”

    The discharge petition, led by House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan Boyle, would trigger a House floor vote on the Hands of Medicaid and SNAP Act if it garners 218 signatures. The legislation amends the Congressional Budget Act to block any reduction in Medicaid or SNAP benefits during budget reconciliation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NC Breaks Tourism Spending Record, Continues to Be #5 Most Visited State

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NC Breaks Tourism Spending Record, Continues to Be #5 Most Visited State

    NC Breaks Tourism Spending Record, Continues to Be #5 Most Visited State
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein announced today that the overall North Carolina tourism economy held strong against the headwinds of Hurricane Helene. Travelers spent more than $36.7 billion on trips to and within the state in 2024. The previous record of $35.6 billion was set in 2023. 

    “Today’s news underscores what we all know: North Carolina is a fantastic place to visit,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As our mountain economies worked to recover from Helene, our Piedmont and coastal destinations remained popular and contributed to the growth of North Carolina’s tourism economy. We must continue to support tourism and small businesses in western North Carolina to help them come back stronger.”

    Governor Stein’s announcement coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4-10), when travel and tourism professionals across the country unite to underscore the value of travel to the economy, businesses, communities, and personal well-being. The state’s Welcome Centers will host activities throughout the week.  

    The state’s tourism-supported workforce increased 1.4 percent to 230,338 jobs in 2024.  Tourism payroll increased 2.6 percent to $9.5 billion. As a result of visitor spending, state and local governments saw rebounds in tax revenues to nearly $2.7 billion.   

    The figures are preliminary findings from research commissioned by Visit North Carolina, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and conducted by Tourism Economics. In measuring the economic value of the travel sector, the research incorporates a broad range of data sources to ensure that the entire visitor economy is quantified in detail. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OmniTrak visitor profiles, the U.S. Census, STR, AirDNA and KeyData lodging reports, and the NC Department of Revenue are among the sources included in this comprehensive model. More information about the study can be found online at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies, which also links to archived reports dating back to 2005.

    The statistics published today report data from a statewide perspective.  Later this year, a supplemental report will provide regional and local visitor data, offering a better perspective on Helene’s impact on western North Carolina’s tourism economy.

    With nearly 40 million visitors from across the United States, North Carolina ranks No. 5 behind California, Florida, Texas, and New York in domestic visitation. The past four years have seen tight competition with Pennsylvania and Tennessee for fifth place. In addition to 2024’s record spending by domestic travelers, North Carolina also saw gains in the international market. With more than 900,000 international travelers, spending rose 16.5 percent to nearly $1.2 billion.  

    “North Carolinians in all 100 counties benefit from the money that visitors spend,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “From our smallest towns to our largest cities, tourism means jobs for more than 50,000 small businesses and our first-in-talent workforce. These workers address travelers’ needs for transportation as well as lodging, dining, shopping, and recreation.”

    As a result of travelers’ contributions to state and local tax revenue, North Carolina households average $593 in yearly savings.   

    Learn more about NC tourism:

    • Total spending by domestic and international visitors in North Carolina reached $36.7 billion in 2024. That sum represents a 3.1 percent increase over 2023 expenditures.   
    • Domestic travelers spent a record $35.6 billion in 2024. Spending was up 2.7 percent from $34.6 billion in 2023.   
    • International travelers spent $1.2 billion in 2024, up 16.5 percent from the previous year.   
    • Visitors to North Carolina generated nearly $4.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2024. The total represents a 2.9 percent increase from 2023.   
    • State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 1.1 percent to nearly $1.4 billion in 2024.   
    • Local tax receipts grew 4.3 percent to nearly $1.3 billion.  
    • Direct tourism employment in North Carolina increased 1.4 percent to 230,338.   
    • Direct tourism payroll increased 2.6 percent to $9.5 billion.   
    • Visitors spend more than $100 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $7.3 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $3.6 million in local taxes).   
    • Each North Carolina household saved $593 on average in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state. Savings per capita averaged $241.  

    About Visit North Carolina:  

    Visit NC, the state’s official destination marketing organization, is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, a private nonprofit corporation that serves as North Carolina’s economic development organization. The EDPNC focuses on business and job recruitment, existing industry support, international trade, tourism, and film marketing. 

    The mission of Visit NC is to unify and lead the state in positioning North Carolina as a preferred destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events, and film production. Each year, North Carolina welcomes about 40 million visitors who spend nearly $37 billion during their stay. The tourism industry employs more than 230,000 people and generates nearly $2.7 billion in state and local tax revenues. For travel ideas and inspiration, go to VisitNC.com.

    May 7, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –