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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Note to Correspondents: United Nations Peacebuilding Commission – Press Statement on Liberia

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Peacebuilding Commission’s Country-Specific Configuration on Liberia held a meeting on 28 May 2025, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of the Republic of Liberia, the Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia and other senior officials from Liberia and the United Nations.

    The meeting focused on Liberia’s peacebuilding and sustaining peace priorities, in particular women, peace and security. During the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to sustaining the peace and continuing to build on the progress achieved. The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Liberia, H.E. Mme. Gbeme Horace Kollie, briefed the Commission on the implementation of Liberia’s second National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security, and on the efforts to develop a third National Action Plan.

    The Peacebuilding Commission reiterated its commitment to supporting Liberia in building and sustaining peace. The Commission welcomed the recent adoption of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), Liberia’s fourth post-conflict National Development Plan (2025– 2029).

    The Commission welcomed Liberia’s efforts to implement its second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Under the Plan, further steps have been taken to ensure the full, meaningful, and equal participation of women in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The Commission commended the commitment by the Government of Liberia to develop and implement a third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

    The Commission also welcomed Liberia’s commitment to develop a first National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). In this regard, the Commission lauded the launch in June 2024, of the Youth, Peace and Security National Coalition in Liberia, which will coordinate efforts at the national and local levels on the development of the NAP. The Commission commended Liberia’s work on transitional justice and the firm commitment of the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

    The Commission commended Liberia for the peaceful by-election in Nimba county on 22 April 2025. The Commission underlined the need for the International Financial Institutions, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and other bilateral and multilateral donors to continue to support Liberia’s peacebuilding efforts.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Bridging national strategy and local action: Bangladesh’s success in vertical DRR integration

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Bangladesh has developed a comprehensive, multi-hazard national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy that aims to enhance the country’s resilience to natural hazards and climate-induced disasters. This strategy is closely aligned with international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and integrates risk considerations into national development planning. It marks a strategic shift from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction-focusing on saving lives, protecting livelihoods and investments, and supporting effective recovery and reconstruction.

    Underpinned by a robust legal and institutional foundation-including the Disaster Management Act 2012 and the Standing Orders on Disasters-the strategy clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders. It positions risk reduction and preparedness as foundational to reducing vulnerabilities at all levels. Key measures include the development and dissemination of early warnings for cyclones and floods investments in forecasting and risk assessment capacities, the construction and maintenance of protective infrastructure such as cyclone shelters and flood embankments, and widespread public awareness and preparedness campaigns.

    A notable feature of Bangladesh’s approach is its effective vertical integration. Recognizing that local communities are often the first responders, the national strategy prioritizes community empowerment and participation. Community-based disaster management committees (CBDMCs) have been established and supported, while local volunteers receive training in search and rescue, first aid and early warning dissemination. This ensures that local knowledge and perspectives are reflected in disaster risk planning and implementation.

    Given its acute vulnerability to climate change impacts, Bangladesh’s DRR strategy also integrates climate change adaptation. This includes developing climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices and livelihoods, and addressing the risks posed by sea-level rise, salinity intrusion and shifting weather patterns.

    Key Impacts 

    Bangladesh’s proactive and community-centred DRR strategy has yielded significant outcomes:

    Reduced disaster mortality: Despite its high exposure to hazards, Bangladesh has significantly reduced mortality from cyclones and floods. This achievement is largely attributed to improved early warning systems, greater community preparedness and the availability of cyclone shelters.

    • Strengthened institutional capacity and coordination: Legal and policy frameworks have clarified roles and responsibilities and fostered effective collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector.
    • Enhanced local resilience: Community ownership of DRR efforts has improved local capacities to prepare for and respond to disasters.
    • Improved coordination mechanisms: The established institutional framework has facilitated coherent action among various actors in the disaster risk management ecosystem.
    • Recognition as a DRR leader: Bangladesh is internationally recognized as a leader in DRR. Its models and experiences are being studied and adapted by other countries with similar risk profiles. Despite limited financial resources, it continues to demonstrate leadership in addressing disaster and climate risks.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    Bangladesh’s approach to disaster risk reduction offers several key lessons:

    1. Foster strong vertical linkages: The two-way flow of information and coordination between national and local levels is crucial. Establishing clear institutional mechanisms for such coordination enhances DRR effectiveness.
    2. Prioritise community engagement: Empowering communities and institutionalising local structures strengthens resilience and ensures that DRR measures are contextually relevant.
    3. Decentralise disaster management: The establishment of disaster management committees at all administrative levels-from national to union (local government)-provides platforms for inclusive planning and coordination.
    4. Invest in early warning systems and last-mile connectivity: Ensuring that timely, actionable warnings reach vulnerable populations is vital. Bangladesh’s volunteer networks offer a replicable model.
    5. Integrate DRR into development planning: Embedding DRR into national and sectoral development policies promotes sustainability and long-term resilience.
    6. Adopt a multi-hazard approach: Addressing a range of potential hazards ensures that preparedness and response strategies are comprehensive and inclusive.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Rights of the Child Closes Ninety-Ninth Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on Reports of Brazil, Indonesia, Iraq, Norway, Qatar and Romania

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon closed its ninety-ninth session after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Brazil, Indonesia, Iraq, Norway, Qatar and Romania under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the report on Brazil’s efforts to implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

    The concluding observations will be available on the webpage of the session on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday, 5 June 2025. 

    Presenting the report of the session, Sophie Kiladze, Committee Chairperson, said there had been a lot of improvements regarding the realisation of child rights in certain countries.  However, after more than 35 years of entry into force of the Convention, the child rights situation was still very alarming in many States parties. Millions of children were victims of armed conflicts in many different parts of the world.  The armed conflicts were taking their lives or lives of their parents and family members, leaving them in unimaginable sorrow for the whole of their lives.  Many who survived were living in camps under deteriorating conditions.  Millions of children were living in poverty, without access to education, health and digital environment, among others.  The list was very long and many hours would not be enough to express the suffering of these children.

    Ms. Kiladze said the United Nations was undergoing a huge liquidity crisis, which was affecting the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which had to work without knowing whether next sessions would be held.  She asked the Secretary-General 

    and all relevant States parties to ensure that the Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as other treaty bodies, continued their work.  She said the Committee regretted the cancellation of the pre-sessional working group, expected to be held during the week following the end of the session, because of the liquidity situation. 

    Under the Optional Protocol on a communication procedure, the Committee adopted decisions on eight individual communications on the following issues: children in the context of migration, access to school during the COVID pandemic, and parental contact with children.

    The Committee found no violation of the Convention in one case against Switzerland. It found three communications inadmissible in a case against Italy and two cases against Switzerland.  It also discontinued the consideration of four cases against Finland and Switzerland after they had become moot.  The Committee was satisfied that these discontinuances followed the positive resolution of these four cases.  The Committee also discussed inquiries under article 13 of the Optional Protocol.  It was currently dealing with four inquiries.

    Also during the session, the Committee discussed amendments to its rules of procedure and working methods.  It continued its discussion on follow-up to the treaty body strengthening process in the context of the United Nations liquidity crisis.  It also continued its work on the next general comment no. 27 on children’s rights to access to justice and to an effective remedy.

    The Committee continued its work on trends of the modern world regarding child rights, including artificial intelligence, and discussed a draft joint statement on artificial intelligence and child rights.  Nine international organizations were co-signatories of the statement, co-led by the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

    The Committee then adopted the report of the session.

    On the first day of the session, which was held from 12 to 30 May, Ms. Kiladze (Georgia) was elected as Chair and Cephas Lumina (Zambia), Thuwayba Al Barwani (Oman), Philip D. Jaffe (Switzerland), and Mary Beloff (Argentina) were elected as Vice-Chairs.

    The Committee also welcomed four new members – Timothy. P.T. Ekesa (Kenya), Mariana Ianachevici (Republic of Moldova), Juliana Scerri Ferrante (Malta), and Zeinebou Taleb Moussa (Mauritania) – and welcomed back Mr. Lumina, who previously served as a member from 2017 to 2021.   They made their solemn declaration. 

    Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.  The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

    The Committee is expected to hold its one hundredth session in September 2025.  However, this session is currently pending confirmation because of the liquidity situation. 

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CRC25.016E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Integrating risk into national development: Fiji’s approach to a risk-informed disaster risk reduction strategy

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Fiji’s United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 was developed with a comprehensive risk analysis integrated from the outset. Recognizing the country’s acute vulnerability to climate change, cyclones, flooding, sea-level rise and economic shocks, the UNSDCF underscored the importance of resilience-building and disaster risk reduction (DRR) across all sectors-not limited to environmental or disaster portfolios, but extending to health, education, gender, and economic sectors.

    Concurrently, Fiji updated key national frameworks, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2018-2030 and the Climate Change Act 2021. These instruments were directly informed by risk and vulnerability assessments that also contributed to the UNSDCF.

    The National DRR Policy is aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and incorporates core principles from the UNSDCF, including a whole-of-society approach, strengthened risk governance, investment in risk reduction, and the principle of building back better.

    The coordination between the Government of Fiji and the UN system was notably robust, particularly through the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). This ensured a bi-directional flow of risk information-informing both the UNSDCF and national DRR strategies.

    Fiji has transitioned from a reactive model of disaster response to a proactive, risk-informed development paradigm-saving lives, safeguarding infrastructure, and bolstering resilience to future shocks to safeguard development. The evolution of its DRR policies in tandem with the UNSDCF has repositioned resilience and risk management as central elements of national development, rather than peripheral emergency response mechanisms.

    Key impacts

    • Mainstreaming DRR across sectors: Risk reduction is now integrated into planning, budgeting and implementation across education, health, infrastructure, gender equality and climate policy. For instance, new schools and health facilities must be cyclone-resilient by design.
    • Strengthened risk governance and institutions: The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management has received enhanced capacity and resources. Local authorities now have clearer mandates for disaster preparedness and early action. Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) initiatives at the village level empower communities to manage risk.
    • Improved access to climate finance and international support: With coherent, risk-informed national strategies, Fiji has secured funding from sources such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), supporting major investments in resilient infrastructure development and early warning systems.
    • Enhanced early warning and anticipatory action systems: With support through the UNSDCF, Fiji has upgraded early warning systems for cyclones, tsunamis and floods, linking them to community evacuation plans and drills. Anticipatory actions such as evacuation and supply pre-positioning now occur before hazards strike, reducing casualties and economic losses.
    • Resilient recovery through “Build Back Better” principles: Post-disaster reconstruction projects-such as those following Tropical Cyclone Harold in 2020-have not merely restored infrastructure but have improved it to better withstand future events.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Risk-informed UNSDCFs anchor DRR in national development: In Fiji, the UNSDCF served as a strategic platform to align government priorities with international support and evidence-based risk analysis. It enabled integration of DRR at national, sectoral and community levels.
    2. Political leadership and institutional coordination are essential: The success of Fiji’s approach is attributed to strong leadership from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Disaster Management, coupled with cross-sectoral coordination among ministries.
    3. Localization and community participation are critical: CBDRM initiatives have ensured that national DRR policies are locally owned and contextually relevant, integrating indigenous knowledge into planning and action.
    4. UNSDCFs support resource for DRR and resilience investments: A clearly articulated, risk-informed development agenda helped Fiji attract international climate and development finance, while also catalyzing partnerships with civil society and the private sector.
    5. Policy coherence between DRR and climate change enhances outcomes: Fiji developed its Climate Change Act 2021 and National DRR Policy in a coordinated manner, reinforcing synergies and avoiding policy fragmentation.
    6. Investing in risk information systems strengthens accountability: Fiji’s efforts to enhance data systems-including hazard mapping, GIS, and disaggregated vulnerability data-have improved planning, monitoring and targeted interventions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Pioneering regional resilience: Kazakhstan’s model for transboundary disaster risk reduction

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Kazakhstan has positioned itself as a regional leader by embedding transboundary cooperation into its national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy-an innovative step in a region like Central Asia, where natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and extreme weather frequently transcend national borders.

    A major milestone in Kazakhstan’s approach was the establishment of the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR) in Almaty in 2016, in partnership with Kyrgyzstan and with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). CESDRR operates as a regional coordination platform, enhancing disaster preparedness and response across Central Asia through joint training, information exchange, and shared risk assessments.

    Kazakhstan’s national DRR strategy -developed after 2016 as part of broader DRR reforms extending through to 2030- is aligned with the Sendai Framework and explicitly prioritizes regional and international cooperation. It identifies shared hazards, particularly in seismically active zones and transboundary river basins such as the Syr Darya and Irtysh, as requiring coordinated risk management.

    One practical application of this strategy is the development of joint early warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) along the Tien Shan mountains. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan jointly manage hydrological monitoring responsibilities in these areas, enabling harmonized alerts to reach communities in both countries more quickly-reducing risk to life and property.

    Kazakhstan also participates in cross-border emergency simulations facilitated by CESDRR. These exercises, led nationally by the Ministry for Emergency Situations, strengthen readiness and operational coordination for regional hazards, including earthquakes and large-scale wildfires.

    In addition, Kazakhstan’s transboundary water governance efforts-particularly with Uzbekistan-have helped integrate DRR considerations into river basin management. Shared hydrometeorological data and coordinated flood prevention strategies mitigate the risk of downstream disasters during heavy rainfall or snowmelt periods.

    International partnerships, such as with the European Union, have further supported Kazakhstan’s risk governance through regional projects focused on institutional capacity-building and early warning systems. These complement national efforts by enhancing data-sharing protocols and strengthening technical capacity.

    Kazakhstan’s DRR strategy stands out for formalizing transboundary cooperation within national planning frameworks. This approach moves beyond ad hoc collaboration by institutionalizing cross-border risk reduction-a model cited in UNDRR reports as a good practice for other regions facing shared hazards. Through coordinated monitoring, planning and emergency response, Kazakhstan demonstrates how national strategies can actively contribute to regional resilience.

    Key impacts

    • Mutually reinforcing structures: The creation of CESDRR contributed to the formulation of Kazakhstan’s national DRR strategy, which later formalized and institutionalized CESDRR’s role within the national risk governance framework.
    • Expanded early warning systems: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of joint GLOF warning systems has improved emergency response capabilities and reduced glacier-related disaster risks in high-altitude transboundary areas.
    • Strengthened regional readiness: Regular cross-border emergency simulations have enhanced the preparedness and interoperability of emergency services across Central Asia.
    • Shared data and knowledge: Regional cooperation has led to the standardization of risk assessments and more effective hydrometeorological data exchange-especially valuable for flood forecasting and drought planning.
    • Integrated water governance: Kazakhstan’s transboundary water collaboration has reduced flood risks downstream and improved joint river basin management strategies.
    • Policy recognition and leadership: UNDRR regional reviews have highlighted Kazakhstan’s institutionalized transboundary DRR approach as a best practice in Central Asia.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Integrate cooperation into national strategy: Embedding transboundary mechanisms into national DRR strategies, rather than relying on ad hoc or project-based agreements, ensures long-term sustainability beyond political cycles.
    2. Harmonize early warning protocols: Joint investment in monitoring technology must be underpinned by shared operational procedures and trust-based information sharing.
    3. Leverage regional mechanisms: Kazakhstan’s engagement with CESDRR illustrates how pooling regional expertise and resources can reinforce national DRR efforts.
    4. Ensure community-level preparedness: Effective cross-border DRR requires that awareness and response capacity extend to at-risk communities on both sides of a border.
    5. Align DRR and climate risk planning: Kazakhstan’s integration of climate-related hazards into its DRR planning offers a replicable model for countries managing complex, overlapping risks.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tajikistan: Anchoring early warning systems as part of the national DRR strategy

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In July 2024, Tajikistan reached a significant milestone in disaster risk reduction (DRR) by endorsing a costed national roadmap for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS). This achievement followed the national launch of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative in August 2023, backed by high-level political commitment, including the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister as the government focal point.

    The roadmap sets out priority actions and investment needs in early warning and DRR, aligned with Target G of the Sendai Framework and building on the foundations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2019-2034). A key element of success has been the robust coordination mechanism led by the Tajikistan National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. This platform facilitates integration among national and local actors across key sectors, ensuring that early warnings are timely, actionable, and reach the most at-risk communities. Clearly defined institutional roles have strengthened information flow across the MHEWS value chain.

    In partnership with the Swiss Cooperation Office, UNDRR supported Tajikistan in positioning early warning systems within its DRR priorities. As part of this process, over 50 representatives from government ministries, technical sectors and vulnerable communities came together to develop a comprehensive national risk assessment methodology. This approach reflects Tajikistan’s status as a landlocked developing country (LLDC) highly exposed to natural hazards, guiding evidence-based decision-making,planning and climate risk adaptation.

    Tajikistan has also strengthened regional collaboration. In 2024, it joined Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in calling for the establishment of a Regional Early Warning and Mutual Information System under the EW4All initiative., underscoring the importance of cross-border cooperation and shared risk information.Tajikistan’s National DRR Strategy (2019-2034) has played a central role in advancing early warning capabilities, as evidenced by its contribution to the MHEWS road map.

    Key impacts include:

    • Policy alignment and institutional commitment: The MHEWS roadmap is anchored in the national DRR strategy, ensuring coherence with broader DRR goals. Alignment with Sendai Framework Target G reinforces risk-informed governance. The appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister as the EW4All focal point reflects strong political ownership.
    • Enhanced coordination: The National Platform for DRR enabled multi-sectoral integration for MHEWS development. By involving ministries and local actors, and clarifying institutional roles, the platform facilitated the efficient flow of disaster information to communities.
    • Regional engagement: The national strategy’s emphasis on collaboration has reinforced Tajikistan’s role in regional efforts to strengthen early warning systems, notably through joint advocacy with neighbouring Central Asian states.
    • Risk assessment and climate resilience: The strategy guided the design of a national risk assessment methodology, helping identify emerging hazards and climate risks and informing the prioritization of investments under the MHEWS road map.
    • Strategic foundation: The DRR strategy served as a critical policy anchor, providing coordination, direction and technical underpinnings for a scalable and sustainable early warning system.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. DRR strategies as enablers: National strategies provide a solid foundation for the development and expansion of early warning systems. Alignment with international targets, such as the Sendai Framework’s Target G, supports a coherent, structured approach.
    2. Political leadership is critical: High-level commitment, exemplified by the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister as EW4All focal point, helps accelerate implementation and secure long-term investment.
    3. Integrated coordination mechanisms: Multistakeholder platforms-such as Tajikistan’s National Platform-enhance coordination across government levels and sectors, improving the timeliness and relevance of early warnings.
    4. Regional cooperation enhances resilience: Tajikistan’s joint action with Central Asian neighbours demonstrates the value of coordinated responses and shared data to tackle transboundary risks more effectively.
    5. Data-driven planning supports adaptability: National risk assessments allow for a better understanding of evolving hazards, enabling targeted investments and improving the effectiveness of early warning systems.

    By leveraging its national DRR strategy, fostering political commitment, and investing in coordination and regional collaboration, Tajikistan has established a comprehensive and sustainable model for strengthening early warning systems. This approach not only enhances national disaster preparedness but also contributes to regional resilience against shared hazards.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mozambique bridges disaster risk reduction and internal displacement strategies to strengthen inclusive risk governance

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In Mozambique, the National Policy and Strategy for Internal Displacement Management was developed through a government-led, multisstakeholder process that addressed all major drivers of displacement-including disasters, climate change and conflict. Recognizing the country’s high exposure to climate hazards such as cyclones, floods and droughts, and the rising trend of disaster-induced displacement, the policy is closely aligned with Mozambique’s national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy. This reflects a shared commitment to minimizing the human impact of disasters through integrated, inclusive approaches.

    The policy directly supports Target B of the Sendai Framework, which aims to substantially reduce the number of people affected by disasters. It also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and well-being), 10 (reduced inequalities) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities) by protecting vulnerable populations and mainstreaming resilience into development strategies.

    To ensure strategic alignment, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management was designated as the lead coordinating body for policy implementation. This coordination ensures that displacement risks are addressed across ministries-including health, education and social protection-through integration into annual budgets and sectoral plans. This demonstrates effective institutionalization of DRR principles across government systems.

    The policy development process was guided by inclusive and participatory principles, consistent with Mozambique’s broader DRR strategy. A transdisciplinary national drafting team engaged displaced communities, local officials and civil society actors, ensuring that the strategy responded to real needs. Public consultations were widely covered in national media, bringing attention to displacement challenges and catalyzing high-level political support, which accelerated the policy’s approval. Mozambique is now focused on local capacity-building to operationalize the policy effectively.

    Key impacts

    • Policy innovation and integration: Mozambique is among the first African countries to adopt a national displacement policy that integrates DRR, climate adaptation and conflict sensitivity. This positions Mozambique as a regional leader in aligning DRR and displacement policy with the Sendai Framework.
    • Stronger institutional coordination: The policy clarified roles across government, assigning a coordinating role to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Ministries such as health, education and social protection now embed displacement-focused DRR actions into their planning and budgeting cycles, fostering cross-sectoral ownership.
    • Community-centred design: Direct engagement with displaced populations and local DRR actors ensured the policy was grounded in lived realities, enhancing relevance and the potential for effective implementation.
    • Political momentum through media engagement: National media coverage of displacement camps helped raise public awareness and generated high-levelpolitical commitment, expediting the policy’s adoption and implementation.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Integrate displacement explicitly into DRR strategies: While Mozambique’s displacement policy includes DRR, its national DRR strategy lacks a dedicated focus on displacement. Future policy updates should ensure two-way integration for greater coherence.
    2. Multisectoral collaboration enhances impact: Cross-sectoral teams and consultations with displaced populations contribute to more inclusive, legitimate and implementable policies.
    3. Clear leadership prevents fragmentation: Assigning leadership to the National Institute for DRR and Management helped avoid siloed approaches and ensured policy coherence.
    4. Budget alignment is essential for sustainability: Mandating ministries to integrate displacement-related DRR actions into budgets and programming promotes lasting, institutionalized solutions and sustainability.
    5. Media can drive political will: Strategic media engagement can raise visibility and catalyze high-level commitment, demonstrating the power of communications in advancing policy agendas.
    6. Local implementation remains a challenge: While national frameworks are advancing, local capacity gaps persist. Investments in decentralized planning, training and resources are vital for translating policy into impact on the ground.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 2025 Global Status of National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Target E of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which called for all countries to develop and implement national and local disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies by 2020, represented a critical milestone. It however was not an end in itself and, rather, marked the beginning of a continuous process aimed at strengthening disaster risk governance and building adaptive resilience over time.

    While many countries achieved Target E by adopting national DRR strategies by 2020 and have since pursued effective implementation with concrete impacts and deliveries on the ground, the evolving and increasingly complex, interconnected, and systemic nature of risks —driven by climate change, biological hazards, water-related threats, and displacement— demands that these strategies remain dynamic, forward-looking, anticipatory, and adaptive.

    Recognizing this, many countries are now taking proactive steps to review and enhance their strategies. A growing and effective practice in this context is the use of peer review mechanisms, such as those facilitated by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). These participatory and collaborative approaches enable countries to assess the coherence and robustness of their strategies against the guiding principles of the Sendai Framework and the evolving global risk landscape. They also promote mutual learning, knowledge exchange, cross-country learning and capacity-strengthening across institutions and countries.

    The sustained relevance and effectiveness of DRR strategies rely on a regular review, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and alignment with the rapidly evolving risk environment. These strategies must be undermined by a strong political commitment and leadership to prioritize DRR as part of national development planning, boost dedicated, predictable and sustainable budgetary allocations, and associated with robust capacity building efforts, monitoring, evaluation and learning mechanisms to keep DRR efforts adaptative and effective.

    By promoting coherence across sectors and engaging a broad range of actors, national DRR strategies are becoming more holistic, inclusive, and future-oriented. This evolution underscores a fundamental understanding that resilience can only be built through collaboration, shared responsibility, and integrated governance at all levels.

    The global community, along with national governments, are pursuing efforts towards achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework through to 2030. Achieving these goals will require accelerated efforts to overcome remaining challenges and ensure that national and local DRR strategies are effectively implemented, ultimately contributing to enhanced resilience across all regions and communities.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tunisia: Inclusive, multi-hazard and multi-sectoral disaster risk reduction strategies triggering funding for resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In 2019, Tunisia formally endorsed its National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy, developed through an inclusive, participatory process. With support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UNDP Country Office, the strategy integrates biological hazards and prioritizes post-COVID-19 recovery through a ‘build back better’ approach. This forward-looking framework aligns with national strategies on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development, and now forms a cornerstone of Tunisia’s Comprehensive Strategy for Ecological Transformation, endorsed by the Council of Ministers in February 2023.

    One of the strategy’s most significant outcomes has been the launch of a six-year (2021-2027) Comprehensive Programme for Disaster Risk Management and Resilience, which has attracted US$ 125 million in investment from the World Bank and the French Development Agency . This programme aims to enhance Tunisia’s preparedness and response capacities for disasters and climate shocks.

    The programme was shaped through extensive national consultations, particularly with the Ministry of Environment, which serves as the National Sendai Framework Focal Point. It resulted in the “Blended Programme for Resilience to Natural Disasters”, built around four interlinked pillars aimed at strengthening institutional, legislative and financial systems, fostering a robust culture of preparedness and recovery.:

    1. Flood risk management in urban areas: A US$ 42 million initiative led by the Ministry of Equipment and Housing focuses on strategic flood mitigation to protect urban populations and infrastructure.
    2. Enhanced early warning systems: With a US$ 24 million investment, the National Meteorological Institute is upgrading its meteorological and hydrological capabilities to deliver timely and reliable disaster alerts.
    3. Innovative disaster risk financing: Under the Ministry of Finance, a US$ 30 million project is developing disaster insurance mechanisms to provide financial protection to families and businesses impacted by natural hazards.
    4. Institutional and legislative strengthening: A US$ 2.5 million initiative is advancing legal and institutional frameworks to enhance coordination and capacity-building for DRR.

    Key impacts

    • Mainstreaming DRR into development planning: Tunisia embedded DRR into its national ecological transformation strategy, elevating resilience as a cross-cutting development priority and aligning it with climate action goals.
    • Mobilizing high-level political and financial support: The integration of DRR into national development planning helped mobilize US$ 125 million in external funding for the implementation of the Comprehensive Programme for Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (2021-2027) .
    • Fostering whole-of-government collaboration: The inclusive development process ensured inter-ministerial cooperation, securing buy-in from all sectors and levels of government.
    • Strengthening financial governance for DRR: A newly established Resilience Unit within the Ministry of Finance has improved the mobilization and management of financial resources for resilience. Legislative updates have empowered local authorities with greater roles in disaster risk management.
    • Leveraging a joint UN approach and international partnerships: Collaboration between UNDRR, UNDP and international partners has enabled the use of global expertise and cost-sharing to support local resilience-building efforts.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Structured DRR strategies attract investment: Tunisia’s US$ 125 million funding success illustrates how well-crafted DRR strategies can unlock substantial international support when integrated into broader development frameworks.
    2. Participatory approaches ensure relevance and sustainability: Inclusive, multi-stakeholder consultation processes enhance the effectiveness of national strategies, ensure local ownership and address the needs of vulnerable groups.
    3. Policy coherence enhances impact: Linking DRR strategies with climate change, biodiversity, and post-COVID recovery policies creates a more resilient and adaptable framework for managing current and emerging risks.
    4. Financial protection reduces economic vulnerability: Tunisia’s disaster risk insurance initiative underscores the value of pre-arranged financial mechanisms to buffer families and businesses against disaster-related economic shocks.

    Institutional innovation supports resilience financing: Creating dedicated resilience units within ministries-such as Tunisia’s Resilience Unit in the Ministry of Finance-helps integrate DRR into national budgeting and development planning. Tailoring governance mechanisms to local needs also empowers municipalities to play a proactive role in DRR.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Barbados: Prioritizing early warning systems in the national DRR strategy

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Integrating Early Warning Systems (EWS) has been a core national priority within Barbados’ National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategy / country’s work programme (CWP). This commitment is firmly embedded in the Barbados Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Policy 2022, which identifies, as a key strategic priority, the need to create an enabling environment for a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) policy and to improve related communications at both national and community levels.

    In alignment with this priority, a Technical Multi-Hazard Early Warning Committee was established bringing all sectors and stakeholders together to develop and implement the MHEWS policy, thereby embracing a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to preparedness and response. The EW4All initiative, launched in 2023, provided significant impetus to this process, boosting the relevant political commitment and resource allocation and catalyzing its approval and formal establishment in 2024.

    To further amplify the impact of the MHEWS, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) launched a public education campaign focusing on communities and vulnerable groups, with particular emphasis on the elderly and youth to increase their understanding of early warnings and how to act on them effectively. The campaign also extended to the fisheries sector, prompting an adaptation of the language used in alerts and warnings to ensure a full understanding from all last-mile communities.

    Key impacts

    • Barbados’ success in institutionalizing MHEWS governance, securing resources, and prioritizing inclusive communication has significantly enhanced national resilience and disaster preparedness. The country serves as a model for integrating early warning into national DRR strategies, ensuring a sustainable, people-centered approach to disaster risk reduction.
    • The establishment of Barbados’ Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) policy (2024) has contributed to significantly strengthen governance and policy framework by solidifying political commitment and resource allocation for disaster preparedness.
    • The Technical Multi-Hazard Early Warning Committee ensures that all sectors are integrated into national preparedness and response efforts, thereby fostering a whole-of-society approach.
    • The formalization of Barbados’ MHEWS policy improved national coordination and communication, reduced disaster impact and strengthened response mechanisms.
    • A targeted public education campaign launched by the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) contributed to enhancing vulnerable groups’ understanding (elderly, youth, and the fisheries sector). Adapting the alerts language also improved accessibility and comprehension of warnings for last-mile communities.
    • The integration of MHEWS as a priority in Barbados’ Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Policy 2022 and the Country Work Programme (CWP) guarantees sustained investment and commitment to DRR.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Governance and institutional frameworks are key to sustainability: A formalized MHEWS policy and governance structure ensures long-term political and financial commitment to early warning and disaster preparedness. Developing a dedicated multi-sectoral coordination mechanism (Technical Multi-Hazard Early Warning Committee) enables better integration across sectors.
    2. Embedding the policy as part of international initiatives can accelerate national progress: the EW4All initiative acted as a catalyst for accelerating the approval and operationalization of Barbados’ MHEWS. Aligning national efforts with global frameworks (Sendai Framework, CDM Policy 2022) enhances credibility, funding, and technical support.
    3. Governance and financial commitment must go hand-in-hand: a policy alone is insufficient – securing financial and resource commitments is essential for effective early warning and disaster preparedness. Embedding MHEWS in national strategies ensures it remains a priority in budget allocations and development planning.
    4. Early Warning systems must be backed by actionable plans: Simply having an early warning system is not enough – its operationalization and integration into national DRR strategies, associated with a fully participatory, well-coordinated and well-implemented early warning response system, is what ensures impact.
    5. Adapting alert language and tailoring communication to vulnerable groups improves last-mile accessibility and ensures early warnings translate into action. A strong public education campaign backed up by government fosters a culture of preparedness, reducing risks at the community level.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Montenegro’s inclusive, expert-led approach boosts quality, coherence and alignment with global frameworks

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In April 2024, Montenegro requested support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to conduct an external evaluation of its zero-draft Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction with the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Period 2025-2030. This successor strategy builds upon Montenegro’s previous DRR framework for 2018-2023.

    A drafting committee was established using a whole-of-society approach, involving governmental institutions, academic entities and civil society organizations to ensure inclusive participation. This approach significantly strengthened national disaster risk governance and resilience-building at the policy level.

    UNDRR’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROECA) coordinated the initial assessment, which involved 11 external experts from diverse technical backgrounds. Using the DRR Strategy Qualitative Assessment Tool, this peer review identified gaps and opportunities for strengthening the zero draft.

    By September 2024, a second round of evaluation reflected clear improvements. The revised strategy incorporated key elements of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, including measurable targets, hazard and sector-specific risk assessments, and timelines. It demonstrated a commitment to inclusivity, integrating gender equality, the needs of at-risk groups, alongside innovative nature-based solutions (NbS) to enhance sustainability. ). It also aligned with national development priorities and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The accompanying Action Plan translated these strategic goals into operational action-empowering municipalities and organizations to tackle localized vulnerabilities. It also linked DRR interventions to broader development objectives such as poverty reduction, climate adaptation, and ecosystem conservation, while incorporating monitoring mechanisms for accountability and continuous improvement.

    Key impacts

    • Elevated strategy quality and coherence: The structured peer review led by 11 external experts significantly enhanced the quality, relevance and strategic coherence of Montenegro’s 2025-2030 DRR framework.. The process grounded the strategy in national realities while ensuring global alignment.
    • Improved strategic maturity: Feedback from the first review allowed Montenegro’s drafting committee to make targeted revisions. The improved draft featured clearer goals, indicators, and stronger sectoral risk analysis. It also established institutional clarity through defined governance structures and multistakeholder coordination.
    • Global alignment and policy coherence: The strategy now closely mirrors the Sendai Framework, reinforcing Montenegro’s international DRR commitments and its understanding of cross-sectoral risk.
    • Inclusivity and innovation: Peer contributions helped embed gender equality, support for at-risk populations, and nature-based solutions into the strategy, underscoring Montenegro’s commitment to an inclusive and sustainable DRR approach.
    • Strengthened stakeholder engagement: The review process deepened national ownership by involving local authorities, academia, and civil society in shaping a DRR strategy with broad legitimacy and relevance.
    • Operational clarity and monitoring: The revised Action Plan clarified roles, responsibilities, timelines and budgets, while introducing robust monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the strategy’s accountability and long-term impact.

    Lessons learned for replication and adaptation

    1. Structured external feedback enhances quality: A peer reviewusing tools like UNDRR’s DRR Strategy Qualitative Assessment Tool provides objective, comparative insights often overlooked in internal reviews.
    2. Multi-stakeholder engagement is essential: Inclusive participation from local and national institutions, civil society and academia fosters strategy ownership and enhance relevance through diverse perspectives.
    3. Staged reviews ensure measurable improvements: Conducting at least two rounds of review allows time for meaningful revisions and enhances strategic outcomes.
    4. Ensure coherence with global frameworks: Peer reviews can serve as checkpoints to align national strategies with the Sendai Framework, SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
    5. Promote innovation and inclusivity: Engaging external experts from varied backgrounds encourages the adoption of emerging practices tailored to national contexts.
    6. Link to monitoring and accountability mechanisms: Peer reviewers emphasized the need for a detailed action plan with clear timelines responsible entitiesand M&E systems.to ensure implementation is feasible and trackable.
    7. Neutral coordination by a trusted third party is key: UNDRR’s facilitation ensured neutrality, consistency and quality control throughout the review. Engaging an experienced third party with the right tools and expertise is essential to a credible peer review process.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House and Senate Democrats Send Letter Calling on GAO to Investigate Federal Worker Firings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC –  In response to the Trump Administration’s unprecedented purge of tens of thousands of federal workers without cause, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on FSGG Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Acting Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) led more than 30 Democrats in sending a letter to Comptroller General of the United States Gene L. Dodaro calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide Congress with regular updates on how the Trump Administration’s personnel actions are affecting the federal workforce.

    “Over the past several months, the civil service has undergone an unprecedented level of change as tens of thousands of federal employees have been terminated, resigned, or placed on administrative leave,” the Members wrote. “Americans are already feeling the consequences – longer wait times for Social Security assistance, delayed veterans’ benefits, and disrupted disaster response are just a few examples of how these personnel actions are impacting people across the country. We are deeply concerned about the impact these actions will have on our government’s capacity to design, develop and deliver efficient services that connect agencies with the people they serve and meet the needs of the public.”

    Signatories include: Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks; Rep. Yassamin Ansari; Rep. Wesley Bell; Rep. Donald Beyer; Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.; Senator Richard Blumenthal; Rep. Shontel Brown; Rep. Greg Casar; Rep. Jasmine Crockett; Rep. Sarah Elfreth; Rep. Maxwell Frost; Rep. Robert Garcia; Rep. Glenn Ivey; Senator Timothy Kaine; Rep. Ro Khanna; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rep. Summer Lee; Rep. April McClain Delaney; Rep. Jennifer McClellan; Rep. Dave Min; Senator Patty Murray; Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton; Senator Alex Padilla; Rep. Emily Randall; Rep. Jamie Raskin; Senator Bernard Sanders; Senator Brian Schatz; Rep. Lateefah Simon; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam; Rep. Rashida Tlaib; Rep. Eugene Vindman; and Senator Mark R. Warner.

    The full text of the letter is included below:
     

    May 29, 2025
     

    The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro
    Comptroller General of the United States
    Government Accountability Office
    441 G Street, N.W.
    Washington D.C. 20548

    Dear Comptroller General Dodaro:

    The 2 million federal employees who work across our country are the backbone of our federal government and are responsible for delivering vital services to the American people. These individuals dedicate their lives to public service and ensure our government fulfills its mission to make our country safer, healthier and more prosperous.

    Over the past several months, the civil service has undergone an unprecedented level of change as tens of thousands of federal employees have been terminated, resigned, or placed on administrative leave. Americans are already feeling the consequences – longer wait times for Social Security assistance, delayed veterans’ benefits, and disrupted disaster response are just a few examples of how these personnel actions are impacting people across the country. We are deeply concerned about the impact these actions will have on our government’s capacity to design, develop and deliver efficient services that connect agencies with the people they serve and meet the needs of the public.

    To assist our oversight of the federal government’s personnel actions, we request that the Government Accountability Office provide us with regular briefings to ensure Congress has timely data and information on the status of the federal workforce. Specifically, we request that GAO begin providing the information following each quarter through the end of fiscal year 2028 to be scheduled in coordination with applicable staff. Information on the total number of the following groups of federal employees in the 24 CFO agencies categorized by agency of employment, location, occupation and tenure by quarter –

    a. All terminated federal employees who are separated for any reason;

    b. Federal employees who took the deferred resignation program offer;

    c. Federal employees in their probationary period;

    d. Federal employees in their probationary period who were terminated;

    e. Federal employees on administrative leave.

    f. Federal employees hired.

    Any difficulties experienced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in its collection, analysis, and publication of human capital data.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Local 83 member earns May NABTU Tradeswomen Hero award

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    She’s outgoing and knowledgeable. I’ve taught 30 or more of these classes, and sometimes there are people who really stand out.

    Gerry Klimo, MOST instructor

    Jess Mendenhall is the most recent Boilermaker sister to be recognized as a Tradeswomen Hero by North America’s Building Trades Union. Mendenhall, who was honored in May, is a journey worker at Local 83 (Kansas City, Missouri).

    She embodies what it means to be a Tradeswomen Hero by blazing trails, breaking barriers and demonstrating exceptional leadership and skill as a Boilermaker. Since indenturing into Local 83 in 2012, Mendenhall has forged an impressive path in a male-dominated field, earning respect through hard work, fortitude and a drive for excellence. Her dedication to the trade and commitment to lifelong learning have made her stand out not just among her peers, but also to instructors and leaders across the country.

    Mendenhall recently became only the second woman in 20 years to complete the Boilermaker MOST Project Management course—which speak volumes about her ambition and perseverance. MOST instructor Gerry Klimo noted her strong presence and potential: “She’s outgoing and knowledgeable. I’ve taught 30 or more of these classes, and sometimes there are people who really stand out.”

    Her career has spanned coast to coast, including leading teams as a foreman in California and taking on complex emergency projects, such as a high-stakes, on-the-fly refinery rebuild in Toledo, Ohio. She’s also held roles as a project coordinator and instructor, giving back to the trade by sharing her knowledge and supporting others.

    Mendenhall holds a Certified Associate Welding Inspector credential and is close to completing her associate degree in business management, with her sights set on earning a PMP certification. Because she works as a union Boilermaker, she’s able to pay her school tuition in full each semester.

    For a full list of May winners and instructions on making a nomination visit https://nabtu.org/twbn/.

    Read more about Jess Mendenhall

    Read More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Releases Statement on Major SCOTUS Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Ending the CHNV Parole Program

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Releases Statement on Major SCOTUS Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Ending the CHNV Parole Program

    lass=”text-align-center”>CHNV was an unlawful scheme to unleash over 530,000 poorly vetted aliens into America
    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secured a legal victory in its effort to terminate parole for more than 530,000 illegal aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) who were released into the country by the Biden Administration

    The U

    S

    Supreme Court issued a 7-2 order, staying a District Court’s order pending appeal with the U

    S

    Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

    With this decision, DHS can once again start removing illegal aliens under the disastrous CHNV parole programs as the case progresses

    This order comes after an activist judge ruled that DHS could not outright end the CHNV program

    DHS released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump Administration to keep Americans safe: 
    Statement Attributable to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin 
    “Today’s decision is a victory for the American people

    The Biden Administration lied to America

    They allowed more than half a million poorly vetted aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela and their immediate family members to enter the United States through these disastrous parole programs; granted them opportunities to compete for American jobs and undercut American workers; forced career civil servants to promote the programs even when fraud was identified; and then blamed Republicans in Congress for the chaos that ensued and the crime that followed,”  
    “Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First

    ” 
    Read the U

    S

    Supreme Court’s ruling here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union and Bipartisan Lawmakers Push to Sustain C-130J Production

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WASHINGTON, May 30, 2025 – The IAM Union and over 70 members of Congress are leading the charge on Capitol Hill to support strong funding and production levels for the C-130J Program in Fiscal Year 2026. IAM Local 709 members at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Ga., proudly build the aircraft.

    A bipartisan letter to House appropriators calling for robust Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) funding for the C-130J Super Hercules program has secured the support of 77 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Led by Reps. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), David Scott (D-Ga.), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), the letter urges the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to continue investing in the C-130J, the only U.S.-manufactured military airlift currently in production.

    The letter recommends the following additions to the FY26 Defense Appropriations bill:

    +8 C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)

    +3 to +5 KC-130J aircraft for the Navy Reserve (USNR) to continue the C/KC-130T recapitalization

    +2 LC-130J ski-equipped aircraft for the ANG

    +2 KC-130J aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps to replace operational losses

    +$100 million for fleetwide Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS)

    +$71 million for non-recurring engineering for the ANG’s LC-130J variant

    “The C-130J is the only U.S.-made airlift currently in production, and a stable and efficient production line is vital in supporting current and future Department of Defense and allied nation airlift requirements,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “The C-130J production line provides for thousands of high-skilled Machinists Union jobs and supports more than 27,000 jobs across its nationwide supply chain.”

    The IAM Union applauds the growing bipartisan support and strongly encourages all members of Congress to join in securing the future of this critical national security asset.

    Read the complete letter here. 

    The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

    The post IAM Union and Bipartisan Lawmakers Push to Sustain C-130J Production appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Record Heat in Northwest European Waters

    Source: NASA

    A long-lasting marine heat wave hit the waters surrounding the United Kingdom and Ireland in spring 2025. By mid-May, sea surface temperatures in some areas reached up to 4 degrees Celsius (7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than normal. The heat wave began in early March and continued into May, according to the U.K. Met Office, making it one of the region’s longest on record for this time of year.
    Persistent high-pressure weather systems throughout the spring produced long spells of sunny, dry, and calm weather—ideal conditions for surface waters to warm, experts noted. Heat from the Sun can build up quickly in the topmost layer of water when winds and waves are too calm to churn up cooler water from below. Throughout April and May, surface water temperatures reached the highest values in satellite records going back to 1982. These conditions followed a winter where sea surface temperatures were already above average.
    This map shows temperature anomalies across the water’s surface on May 22, 2025. The values reflect how far temperatures differed from the 2003-2014 average for that day. By this time in the heat wave, temperatures in the North Sea had already peaked, while surface waters west and south of Ireland were hitting some of their highest temperatures of the event so far.
    The map is based on data from the Multiscale Ultrahigh Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (MUR SST) project, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory effort that blends measurements of sea surface temperatures from multiple NASA, NOAA, and international satellites, as well as ship and buoy observations.
    Marine heat waves can have various effects on ecosystems, including harming fisheries and killing off key species such as kelp. Since the May 2025 heat wave around the U.K. and Ireland occurred before the height of summer, scientists think temperatures will stay low enough to avoid serious harm. However, the unseasonable warmth may still alter the size and timing of phytoplankton blooms, which is consequential because the organisms form the base of the aquatic food web.
    The heat associated with these events can extend beyond the ocean to affect weather on land. Researchers analyzing a June 2023 northwest European marine heat wave found that the sea surface heat contributed to a record-high monthly mean temperature in the U.K.
    In 2025, spring has been notably warm and dry in the U.K. And to the northwest, across the North Atlantic, Iceland experienced a prolonged spell of temperatures that were well above average in mid-May. Later in the month, however, weather systems brought rain, cooler temperatures, and westerly winds to the region, which the Met Office said may start to break up the warm sea surface layer and allow it to gradually cool.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using data from the Multiscale Ultrahigh Resolution (MUR) project. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Carolina Continues to Receive Historically High Emergency Assistance Under President Trump

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: North Carolina Continues to Receive Historically High Emergency Assistance Under President Trump

    North Carolina Continues to Receive Historically High Emergency Assistance Under President Trump

    President Trump turbocharged the emergency aid process to provide a 100% federal cost share in North Carolina for Public Assistance from the declaration date of September 29, 2024, to March 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON — In light of false reporting and charges from politicians, FEMA is setting the record straight

    North Carolina received one of the longest 100% cost share periods in FEMA’s history — 6 full months of full federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures

    Today, the state is still receiving a 90% cost share

    Due to the severity of the disaster with Hurricane Helene, exacerbated by the previous administrations’ mismanagement and neglect, FEMA is currently providing North Carolina a 90% federal cost share, far exceeding the normal 75% and the same amount the state of North Carolina requested on December 6, 2024

       Through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which provides funds for state and local governments’ response and recovery work, the state received more than $484 million at a 100% federal cost share for 180 days, funding projects for road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure repair and more

    Since January 20, 2025, more than $172 million in Public Assistance reimbursements has been approved to support the recovery efforts in North Carolina

    In addition to the higher threshold federal cost share, federal emergency management support to North Carolina has accelerated under President Trump’s administration

    More than 785 staff remain deployed on North Carolina, assisting with recertification of Direct Housing and Temporary Housing Units, supporting 2,700 Public Assistance projects, coordinating debris removal and survivor casework

    Over 45 of FEMA’s North Carolina staff are locally hired, joining the agency after Helene and bringing valuable local knowledge to the recovery efforts

    More than $455 million has been approved for North Carolina survivors to help pay for food, medicine, housing assistance and home repairs

    More than $22

    4 million has been provided to nearly 7,900 North Carolinians to repair or replace private roads and bridges damaged by Helene

    Nearly 12

    8 million cubic yards (CY) of debris have been removed from waterways, roads, homes and business, with more than 4

    7 million CY removed since President Trump took office

    amy

    ashbridge
    Fri, 05/30/2025 – 14:12

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4554–4555: Let’s Try That One Again…

    Source: NASA

    Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Earth planning date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
    We came in early this morning and learned that part of Tuesday’s plan didn’t execute on Mars due to a temporary issue with the arm. We collected APXS data on the target “Palo Verde Mountains,” but were not able to take the corresponding MAHLI images or drive away. So it was a straightforward decision for the planning team today to pick up where we left off yesterday, giving ourselves a second chance to collect the MAHLI observation and then complete the same 29.5-meter drive to the west (about 97 feet) that we had planned on Tuesday.
     We love making lemonade from lemons when things don’t go exactly as expected in rover tactical planning, and today was no exception. Since we’re sticking around for a little bit longer, the science team decided to collect additional mosaics of impressive nearby features, including a 15×2 Mastcam mosaic of the “Mishe Mokwa” hill and an 11×2 Mastcam mosaic of fractures near “Lake Cachuma.” We’re also having another go at taking the epically long, long-distance RMI mosaic of a crater 91 kilometers away from Curiosity (almost 57 miles) that we planned yesterday, and we’re playing around with the focus settings to see if we can get a sharper image. 
    The team also had time for a second RMI mosaic of our very well-imaged “Texoli” butte, and a ChemCam LIBS observation on a target named “Santa Monica Bay,” which is just above the “Sisquoc River” target we observed yesterday on the bumpy rock in our workspace. As usual, we will also continue to monitor the environment around us with REMS, RAD, Navcam, and Mastcam observations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Launch Fifth Anniversary

    Source: NASA

    President Donald Trump walks onstage to speak to a crowd at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission on May 30, 2020. The mission was the first crewed launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. This marked the first time American astronauts launched on an American rocket from American soil to low-Earth orbit since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.
    Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hubble Spies Paired Pinwheel on Its Own

    Source: NASA

    A single member of a galaxy pair takes centerstage in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. This beautiful spiral galaxy is NGC 3507, which is situated about 46 million light-years away in the constellation Leo (the Lion). NGC 3507’s classification is a barred spiral because the galaxy’s sweeping spiral arms emerge from the ends of a central bar of stars rather than the central core of the galaxy.
    Though pictured solo here, NGC 3507 actually travels the universe with a galactic partner named NGC 3501 that is located outside the frame. While NGC 3507 is a quintessential galactic pinwheel, its partner resembles a streak of quicksilver across the sky. Despite looking completely different, both are spiral galaxies, simply seen from different angles.
    For galaxies that are just a few tens of millions of light-years away, like NGC 3507 and NGC 3501, features like spiral arms, dusty gas clouds, and brilliant star clusters are on full display. More distant galaxies appear less detailed. See if you can spot any faraway galaxies in this image: they tend to be orange or yellow and can be anywhere from circular and starlike to narrow and elongated, with hints of spiral arms. Astronomers use instruments called spectrometers to split the light from these distant galaxies to study the nature of these objects in the early universe.
    In addition to these far-flung companions, a much nearer object joins NGC 3507. The object is marked by four spikes of light: a star within the Milky Way, a mere 436 light-years away from Earth.
    Text Credit: ESA/Hubble

    Media Contact:
    Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June’s Night Sky Notes: Seasons of the Solar System

    Source: NASA

    by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
    Here on Earth, we undergo a changing of seasons every three months. But what about the rest of the Solar System? What does a sunny day on Mars look like? How long would a winter on Neptune be? Let’s take a tour of some other planets and ask ourselves what seasons might look like there.
    Martian Autumn
    Although Mars and Earth have nearly identical axial tilts, a year on Mars lasts 687 Earth days (nearly 2 Earth years) due to its average distance of 142 million miles from the Sun, making it late autumn on the red planet. This distance and a thin atmosphere make it less than perfect sweater weather. A recent weather report from Gale Crater boasted a high of -18 degrees Fahrenheit for the week of May 20, 2025.

    Seven Years of Summer
    Saturn has a 27-degree tilt, very similar to the 25-degree tilt of Mars and the 23-degree tilt of Earth. But that is where the similarities end. With a 29-year orbit, a single season on the ringed planet lasts seven years. While we can’t experience a Saturnian season, we can observe a ring plane crossing here on Earth instead. The most recent plane crossing took place in March 2025, allowing us to see Saturn’s rings ‘disappear’ from view.
    A Lifetime of Spring

    Even further away from the Sun, each season on Neptune lasts over 40 years. Although changes are slower and less dramatic than on Earth, scientists have observed seasonal activity in Neptune’s atmosphere. These images were taken between 1996 and 2002 with the Hubble Space Telescope, with brightness in the southern hemisphere indicating seasonal change.
    As we welcome summer here on Earth, you can build a Suntrack model that helps demonstrate the path the Sun takes through the sky during the seasons. You can find even more fun activities and resources like this model on NASA’s Wavelength and Energy activity. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What to Expect When You Apply for FEMA Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: What to Expect When You Apply for FEMA Assistance

    What to Expect When You Apply for FEMA Assistance

    OKLAHOMA CITY – If you live in Cleveland, Creek, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, and Payne counties and were affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds that occurred March 14-21, 2025, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance

    How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceApply online at www

    DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Download the FEMA App for mobile devices

    Visit one of the state-led, FEMA supported, community sites

    Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a

    m

    and 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

    If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    When you apply for assistance, have this information readily available:If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security number, if available

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information for direct deposit if available

    Remember to keep receipts from all purchases related to cleanup and repair

     Within 10 days after registering, a FEMA Inspector will contact you to schedule an appointment

    To be prepared for the visit, please have the following documents available to support the inspection:Driver’s License (State ID) for applicant and co-applicant

    Proof of Ownership and Occupancy

    Receipts of any items purchased prior to inspection

    Pictures of any damages that may now be repaired or cleared off the property

    During the appointment, FEMA inspectors will:Wear official FEMA ID badges

    Confirm your disaster registration number

    Review structural and personal property damages

    FEMA inspectors will not:Determine eligibility

    Take any money or ask for credit card information

    Take the place of an insurance inspection

    Make sure to keep your scheduled appointment

    Appointments will take 10-20 minutes and you or someone you choose to represent you must be present

    Contact your insurance agent if you have insurance

    Within 10 days after the inspector’s visit, you will be sent a decision letter

    If eligible for assistance, you will receive an electronic funds transfer

    A follow-up letter will explain how the money can be used

     For an accessible video on FEMA home inspections, go to FEMA Accessible: Home Inspections

    Your Determination LetterYou will receive a letter from FEMA either by mail or email, based on the preference you indicated when you applied

    The letter will explain whether FEMA has found you eligible for assistance, how much, and how the assistance must be used

    If your letter says your application cannot be approved, it does not mean you’re denied

     The letter will explain how to appeal the decision if you do not agree with it

    For an overview of the appeal process, visit How Do I Appeal the Final Decision? | FEMA

    gov

    Digital DisbursementFEMA understands that everyone may not have an active bank account

    In order to provide additional options for survivors, FEMA is partnering with the U

    S

    Treasury to provide new options for survivors to receive their disaster assistance money through digital payments

    Eligible survivors will be able to receive their assistance funds through the following payment methods: A direct deposit into their bank accountA credit to their Visa or Mastercard debit cardA U

    S

    Debit Card they use to receive other federal benefitsAn electronic check sent to a pre-paid debit cardPayPal AccountDigital payments can provide money to eligible survivors on the same day in most cases

     FEMA and the U

    S

    Treasury will continue partnering with the private sector to add new ways for survivors to receive digital payments that comply with federal privacy, security and financial standards

     For more information, visit https://www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4866

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    thomas

    wise
    Fri, 05/30/2025 – 13:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Help Where It’s Needed Most: FEMA, SBA, and the State of Oklahoma Team Up in Wildfire-Damaged Counties

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Help Where It’s Needed Most: FEMA, SBA, and the State of Oklahoma Team Up in Wildfire-Damaged Counties

    Help Where It’s Needed Most: FEMA, SBA, and the State of Oklahoma Team Up in Wildfire-Damaged Counties

    OKLAHOMA CITY –In coordination with the State of Oklahoma, FEMA and the U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) will be offering face-to-face help at community sites for residents in Oklahoma counties affected by the March 14-21 wildfires and straight-line winds

     Homeowners and renters in Cleveland, Creek, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, and Payne counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    Staff will be available at the following locations:CREEK COUNTYFirst Baptist Church of Mannford105 Greenwood AvenueMannford, OK  74044Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    On Saturday June 7, the facility will be open from 10 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    LINCOLN COUNTYCarney High School203 Carney StreetCarney, OK  74832Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    On Saturday May 31 and June 7, the facility will be open from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    LOGAN COUNTYLogan County Courthouse Annex Across the street north of the courthouse in the old Girl Scout Room312 E Harrison AvenueGuthrie, OK  73044 Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    On Saturday May 31 and June 7, the facility will be open from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    PAWNEE COUNTYFirst Baptist Church Cleveland201 W Crestview DrCleveland, OK 74020Hours: Monday – Friday from 8 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

    On Saturday May 31 and June 7, the facility will be open from 8 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    PAYNE COUNTYCity of Stillwater Community CenterRoom 102315 W 8th AvenueStillwater, OK 74074Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    On Saturday May 31 and June 7, the facility will be open from 9 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    This location will close permanently on Wednesday, June 11 at 6 p

    m

     Additional locations may be added

    Residents can visit any open center to meet with representatives from FEMA and SBA

    No appointment is needed

    SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the centers to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status

     For information and to apply online visit SBA

    gov/disaster

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For more information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4866

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/

    thomas

    wise
    Fri, 05/30/2025 – 12:46

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DBEDT NEWS RELEASE: Visitor Industry Grows Again in April 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DBEDT NEWS RELEASE: Visitor Industry Grows Again in April 2025

    Posted on May 29, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI

     

    RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DIVISION

     

    JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    1. EUGENE TIAN

    CHIEF STATE ECONOMIST

     

     

    VISITOR INDUSTRY GROWS AGAIN IN APRIL 2025

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 29, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – According to preliminary statistics from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), total visitor arrivals and total visitor spending in April 2025 increased compared to the same month last year. There were 833,219 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in April 2025, up 7.9 percent from April 2024. Total visitor spending measured in nominal dollars was $1.69 billion, which was growth of 9.4 percent from April 2024. When compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, April 2025 total visitor arrivals represent a 98.1 percent recovery from April 2019 and total visitor spending was higher than April 2019 ($1.32 billion, +28.3%).

    In April 2025, 810,276 visitors arrived by air service, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East. Additionally, 22,943 visitors came via out-of-state cruise ships. In comparison, 740,720 visitors (+9.4%) arrived by air and 31,695 visitors (-27.6%) came by cruise ships in April 2024, and 824,610 visitors (-1.7%) arrived by air and 24,787 visitors (-7.4%) came by cruise ships in April 2019. The average length of stay by all visitors in April 2025 was 8.36 days, compared to 8.28 days (+1.1%) in April 2024 and 8.25 days (+1.4%) in April 2019. The statewide average daily census was 232,323 visitors in April 2025, compared to 213,080 visitors (+9.0%) in April 2024 and 233,616 visitors (-0.6%) in April 2019.

    In April 2025, 457,248 visitors arrived from the U.S. West, which was an increase compared to April 2024 (400,070 visitors, +14.3%) and April 2019 (388,573 visitors, +17.7%). U.S. West visitor spending of $855.0 million rose from April 2024 ($765.2 million, +11.7%), and was much higher than April 2019 ($547.0 million, +56.3%). Daily spending by U.S. West visitors in April 2025 ($234 per person) decreased slightly from April 2024 ($236 per person, -0.8%) but was up considerably from April 2019 ($171 per person, +36.7%).

    In April 2025, arrivals from the U.S. East of 180,383 visitors increased from April 2024 (176,339 visitors, +2.3%) and April 2019 (159,115 visitors, +13.4%). U.S. East visitor spending of $449.1 million rose from April 2024 ($436.8 million, +2.8%) and was significantly more than April 2019 ($286.8 million, +56.6%). Daily spending by U.S. East visitors in April 2025 ($277 per person) increased from April 2024 ($273 per person, +1.4%) and was much more than April 2019 ($200 per person, +38.4%).

    There were 52,358 visitors from Japan in April 2025, an increase from April 2024 (50,626 visitors, +3.4%) but continued to be much lower than April 2019 (119,487 visitors, -56.2%). Visitors from Japan spent $77.4 million in April 2025, compared to $75.1 million (+3.0%) in April 2024 and $164.0 million (-52.8%) in April 2019. Daily spending by Japanese visitors in April 2025 ($245 per person) was higher than April 2024 ($238 per person, +3.2%) and April 2019 ($234 per person, +5.0%).

    In April 2025, 36,381 visitors arrived from Canada, down from April 2024 (38,936 visitors, -6.6%) and April 2019 (56,749 visitors, -35.9%). Visitors from Canada spent $91.0 million in April 2025 compared to $88.3 million (+3.0%) in April 2024 and $100.2 million (-9.2%) in April 2019. Daily spending by Canadian visitors in April 2025 ($224 per person) increased from April 2024 ($221 per person, +1.6%) and was much higher than April 2019 ($154 per person, +45.8%).

    There were 83,905 visitors from all other international markets in April 2025, which included visitors from Oceania, Other Asia, Europe, Latin America, Guam, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands. In comparison, there were 74,749 visitors (+12.2%) from all other international markets in April 2024 and 100,686 visitors (-16.7%) in April 2019.

    In April 2025, a total of 4,885 transpacific flights with 1,085,113 seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands. Total air capacity was similar to April 2024 (4,890 flights, -0.1% with 1,080,344 seats +0.4%) but less than April 2019 (5,031 flights, -2.9% with 1,112,200 seats, -2.4%).

    Year-to-Date 2025

     

    A total of 3,288,966 visitors arrived in the first four months of 2025, up 3.2 percent from 3,186,223 visitors in the first four months of 2024. Total arrivals decreased 2.6 percent when compared to 3,376,675 visitors in the first four months of 2019.

    In the first four months of 2025, total visitor spending was $7.30 billion, an increase compared to the first four months of 2024 ($6.82 billion, +7.2%) and the first four months of 2019 ($5.81 billion, +25.7%).

    VIEW FULL NEWS RELEASE AND TABLES

     

    Statement by DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka

     

    April was a solid month for the visitor industry. The industry has performed well during the first four months of 2025, mainly driven by continued growth in the U.S. markets (U.S. West and U.S. East). U.S. arrivals grew by 5.5 percent, offsetting the decline in arrivals from international markets.

     

    We expect a modest slowdown in tourism during the summer season caused by uncertainties in the political and economic environment both nationally and internationally. We believe the situation will be temporary and anticipate the state’s tourism industry to rebound in 2026.

    # # #

     

     

    Media Contacts:

     

    Laci Goshi 

    Communications Officer

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Cell: 808-518-5480

    Email: [email protected]

     

    Jennifer Chun

    Director of Tourism Research

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Phone: 808-973-9446

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “We all are going to die:” 6 catastrophic ways Trump’s Big Ugly Bill threatens Californians

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 30, 2025

    SACRAMENTO — In a callous moment during a townhall this morning, Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst shrugged off the devastating human toll of President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to fund tax breaks for the rich by gutting Medicaid and food assistance — saying, “Well, we all are going to die” when warned by her own constituents that slashing these programs would cost lives.

    Unfortunately, she’s right about one thing: people will die if President Trump’s Big Ugly Bill becomes law. President Trump’s bill is an all-out assault on America’s safety net, targeting the most vulnerable communities in every state, including California. 

    Here are 6 catastrophic cuts in the bill that would do real damage to Californians:

    ❌ Eliminate coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians, largely among those covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion

    ❌ Cut at least $22 billion in federal Medicaid funding by imposing burdensome job loss penalties on low-income adults

    ❌ Punish states like California that use state funding to cover undocumented residents for non-emergency benefits by slashing federal support by at least $4 billion annually

    ❌ Restrict vital funding mechanisms, such as provider taxes and certain other payments that support hospitals and providers across California, that would result in the loss of billions of dollars

    ❌ Shut down nonprofit providers like Planned Parenthood by cutting them off from Medicaid funding

    ❌ Cut federal funding for SNAP in California by at least $2.3 to $4.9 billion annually, with at least 250,000 recipients likely to lose this benefit

    Governor Gavin Newsom recently spoke about the impacts of the Big Ugly Bill on the MeidasTouch Network: “No state, incidentally, has more to lose on that. 3.4 million Americans will lose support if that bill passes in its existent form in the United States Senate, here in California.”

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    May 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: With unprecedented speed, Governor Newsom is today announcing the availability of $800 million in competitive grant funding as part of Proposition 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2 to develop a wide…

    May 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: CAL FIRE is awarding $72 million to projects across the state that help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk across California. Governor Newsom also announced 13 vegetation management projects spanning nearly 7,000 acres have already been…

    May 29, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is launching CalHeatScore – a groundbreaking tool to help protect vulnerable populations from dangerous heatwaves. The state’s new tool provides localized warnings and resources for extreme heat events. Governor Newsom is also…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOA News release on specialty crop grant program

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DOA News release on specialty crop grant program

    Posted on May 29, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

        

         

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

    ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI

     

    SHARON HURD
    CHAIRPERSON

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    DEAN M. MATSUKAWA
    DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRPERSON

    KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

     

    HDOA SPECIALTY CROP GRANT PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

    Grant Funding Totals More than $500,000

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    May 29, 2025

    NR25-12

     

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Market Development Branch (MDB), is accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for Fiscal Year 2025. The funding for this year’s program totals $512,663 and seeks project proposals that increase the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops. Award amounts range from $20,000 to $50,000.

    Under the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated funding to each state based on the value of the specialty crops produced. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Much of Hawai‘i’s diversified agriculture falls under this specialty crop designation.

     

    Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local, state and federal government entities, for-profit organizations, universities and individuals for projects that enhance the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops. Applicants must reside in, or their business or educational affiliation must be registered in Hawai‘i.

     

    The primary goal of this grant program is to support projects that could provide the highest measurable benefits or return-on-investment to the specialty crop segment in Hawai‘i. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of Hawai‘i-grown specialty crops, in either domestic or foreign markets. Preference will be given to projects that measurably increase the production and/or consumption of specialty crops, and/or foster the development of fledging crops and organic operations.

    Application information for the Request for Proposals (RFP25-03-MDB) is available on the State Procurement Office website at: https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities

     

    The application deadline is noon on June 20, 2025. 

    To assist applicants, an instructional video will be posted on the SCBGP website at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/scbgp/

     

    Inquiries may be addressed to 808-973-9594 or email: [email protected]

    # # #

    Media Contact:
    Janelle Saneishi
    Public Information Officer
    Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
    Phone: 808-973-9560
    Cell: 808-341-5528
    Email:     [email protected]
    Website:     http://hdoa.hawaii.gov

     

     

    HDOA is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, retaliation, or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or any other class as protected under federal or state law, with respect to any program or activity.

                                                             

    For more information, including language accessibility and filing a complaint, please contact HDOA Non-Discrimination Coordinator at 808-973-9591, or visit HDOA’s website at http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.

     

    To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services for this document, contact the HDOA at 808-973-9591 or email [email protected].

    Aloha,

    Janelle Saneishi

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
    ph: (808) 973-9560
    email: [email protected]

    Website: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/

    Confidentiality Notice:  This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  Any review, use, disclosure, or distribution by unintended recipients is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient(s), please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump cuts U.S. Forest Service, California deploys an extra $72 million to reduce wildfire risk and ‘rake the forest,’ fast-tracks critical projects

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 30, 2025

    What you need to know: CAL FIRE is awarding $72 million to projects across the state that help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk across California. Governor Newsom also announced 13 vegetation management projects spanning nearly 7,000 acres have already been approved for fast-tracking under his emergency proclamation.

    SACRAMENTO – As the Trump administration cuts the U.S. Forest Service and creates rampant uncertainty ahead of peak wildfire season, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the state is continuing to ramp up its efforts to reduce wildfire risk and increase forest health. 

    CAL FIRE awarded nearly $72 million today to support large-scale, regionally based land management projects aimed at restoring forest health and resilience throughout California, while enhancing long-term carbon storage.

    Additionally, Governor Newsom announced that under his wildfire prevention emergency proclamation, which became operational on April 17, the state has already fast-tracked approval for 13 projects totaling nearly 7,000 acres, on top of the 2 million acres treated in recent years. These projects involve tribes and other partners, natural resource managers and fire districts. This is part of statewide efforts to advance projects in key locations to help protect communities from catastrophic wildfires. One week after applications opened to fast-track critical wildfire safety projects in mid-April, the state began issuing fast-track approvals for wildfire safety projects.

    “California is ‘raking the forests’ at a faster pace than ever before. Where’s the federal government?”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    While 57% of California’s forests are federally managed, the state government manages only 3% of the forestland. The other 40% is privately owned and this work relies on partnership with private forestland owners. 

    More than 2,200 vegetation management projects are complete or underway, and in recent years, California has treated nearly 2 million acres – made possible by scaling up investments to 10 times the amount from when the Governor took office in 2019. California has funded over $350 million worth of projects on federal lands in the same time. CAL FIRE estimates that 83% of all tree mortality in California, which poses a significant wildfire risk, is on national forest lands. 

    ‘Raking the forest’ 

    Through its Forest Health Program, CAL FIRE is awarding 12 grants to local and regional partners carrying out projects on state, local, tribal, federal, and private lands. Designed to address critical forest health needs, these initiatives will reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem resilience, and enhance carbon sequestration across California’s diverse landscapes.

    Forest health grant projects focus on large, landscape-scale forestlands – no less than 800 acres in size – that are composed of one or more landowners and may cover multiple jurisdictions. 

    “CAL FIRE is proud to award Forest Health grants that will increase the wildfire resilience of California’s landscapes and communities and help restore ecosystems following wildfire,” said Alan Talhelm, Assistant Deputy Director of Climate and Energy at CAL FIRE. “These grants will provide our partners around the state with funds to complete projects that support local economies, protect watersheds, increase public safety, and sequester carbon.”

    The projects will employ a wide array of forest management strategies, with goals of wildfire resilience, watershed protection, habitat conservation for endangered species, recovery of fire-scarred and drought-impacted forests, and the reintroduction of fire as a natural ecological process. Projects include:

    • The Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority will conduct fuels reduction on 1,288 acres in El Dorado National Forest using mastication and hand thinning. This aims to lower wildfire risk, protect communities, improve forest resilience, and enhance wildlife habitat.
    • The Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. will treat 867 acres of forest fuel in a rural, low-income area in Northern Mendocino County. This will create over 80 forestry jobs and additional jobs/learning for young adults via California Conservation Corps trail work.

    The majority of CAL FIRE’s Forest Health grants are funded through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund (TRFRF), with additional support provided by California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative that directs billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars toward achieving the state’s climate goals.

    Fast-tracking critical wildfire prevention projects

    The approved projects for fast-tracking are focused on removing flammable dead or dying trees, creating strategic fuel breaks, creating safe egress along roadways, manual and mechanical removal of ladder fuels and beneficial fire use. Some of the approved projects include:  

    • The Prosper Ridge Community Wildfire Resilience Project in Humboldt County is the first approved project under the Governor’s emergency proclamation on wildfire. This collaborative state, federal, and tribal project will treat nearly 450 acres with a combination of mechanical thinning, manual treatments, and prescribed fire.
    • The Tonner Canyon South Vegetation Management Project aims to reduce wildfire risk on 354 acres south of Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County through hazardous vegetation removal, fuel break creation, and defensible space improvement.
    • The Scott Valley/Callahan Fuels Reduction and Forest Resiliency Project located on 2,917 acres in the Scott River watershed in Siskiyou County will use mechanical and manual treatments to increase vigor of the residual stands of timber for improved carbon sequestration, fire resiliency and individual tree health.
    • The Weed Community Forest Restoration and Enhancement Project located on 1,923 acres near the 2022 Mill Fire and is designed to protect the surrounding the community of Weed in Siskiyou County and provide safe ingress/egress to emergency responders.
    • The Sycuan Wildfire Resiliency Project covers over 240 acres in San Diego County and aims to protect the Sycuan Reservation from wildfire by reducing fire hazard, ensuring defensible space, and providing safe egress with the use of 300 grazing goats. 

    To move faster without compromising important environmental protections, the state developed a new Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan. State agencies will monitor and oversee these projects from initiation to completion to provide support and ensure environmental protections and best management practices are followed.

    Accelerating investments in fuels reduction and wildfire resilience

    Following action by Governor Newsom and the Legislature last month, state conservancies are moving to deploy $170 million in voter-approved funding for wildfire resilience projects. The accelerated funding is part of the “early action” 2025 budget package. Governor Newsom signed the funding bill along with an executive order to ensure the wildfire safety projects benefit from the streamlining process created under the March 1 State of Emergency proclamation.

    Building on unprecedented progress 

    This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation signed in March to fast-track forest and vegetation management projects throughout the state. Additionally, to bolster the state’s ability to respond to fires, Governor Newsom announced last week that the state’s second C-130 Hercules airtanker is ready for firefighting operations, adding to the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world. 

    New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes builds long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate. A full list of California’s progress on wildfire resilience is available here.

    Highlights of achievements to date include:

    • Historic investments — Overall, the state has more than doubled investments in wildfire prevention and landscape resilience efforts, providing more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience since 2020, with an additional $1.5 billion to be allocated from the 2024 Climate Bond.
    • On-the-ground progress — More than 2,200 landscape health and fire prevention projects are complete or underway, and from 2021-2023, the State and its partners treated nearly 1.9 million acres, including nearly 730,000 acres in 2023.
    • Increasing transparency — The Governor’s Task Force launched an Interagency Treatment Dashboard to display wildfire resilience work across federal, state, local, and privately managed lands across the State. The Dashboard, launched in 2023, provides transparency, tracks progress, facilitates planning, and informs firefighting efforts.
    • Hardening communities — Adding to California’s nation-leading fire safety  standards, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to further improve community hardening and wildfire mitigation strategies to neighborhood resilience statewide. Since 2019, CAL FIRE has awarded more than $450 million for 450 wildfire prevention projects across the state and conducts Defensible Space Inspections on more than 250,000 homes each year.
    • Leveraging cutting-edge technology — On top of expanding the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, CAL FIRE has doubled its use of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and the state is utilizing AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    May 29, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is launching CalHeatScore – a groundbreaking tool to help protect vulnerable populations from dangerous heatwaves. The state’s new tool provides localized warnings and resources for extreme heat events. Governor Newsom is also…

    May 29, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONCalifornia is home to more than 6…

    May 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:LaCandice Ochoa, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Independent Living and Community Access Division at the Department of Rehabilitation. Ochoa has been Dean of…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Secures the Extraditions of Individuals Accused of Violent and Other Serious Crimes from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius,

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    United States Also Returned International Fugitives Wanted for Terrorism, Murder, Attempted Murder and Child Sexual Abuse to Canada, India, and Mexico

    Note: The defendants whose names are underlined hyperlink to press releases.

    WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination between the Justice Department and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the extraditions in April and May of dozens of individuals. The defendants returned to the United States are alleged to have committed crimes — including child sexual abuse and rape, murder, hate crimes, assault, narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, alien smuggling, cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, aggravated robbery and extortion — in a number of U.S. states and federal districts, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

    The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

    • Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, a Georgian national and alleged leader of a white supremacist group, was extradited from Moldova to face charges in the Eastern District of New York for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. As the alleged leader of the white supremacist group “Maniac Murder Cult,” an international, racially motivated violent extremist group that adheres to a neo-Nazi ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups that it deems “undesirables,” Chkhikvishvili allegedly traveled to Brooklyn in 2022 and actively solicited acts of mass violence with a person who was, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, an undercover FBI employee. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly began planning a mass casualty attack to take place on New Year’s Eve, which would involve an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities. In January 2024, as alleged, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the undercover FBI employee to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn.

    • Liridon Masurica, also known as @blackdb, 33, a national of Kosovo and alleged administrator of an online criminal marketplace, was extradited from Kosovo to face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and fraudulent use of 15 or more unauthorized access devices in the Middle District of Florida.

    • Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, also known as Andrea, 45, a national of Colombia and an alleged member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to face charges in the Southern District of Texas of narco-terrorism and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.

    • Aler Baldomero Samayoa-Recinos, also known as Chicharra, 58, a national of Guatemala and alleged leader of a prolific Guatemalan drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the District of Columbia of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine for importation to the United States.

    • Daniel Flores, 49, a national of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of first-degree murder for the 1995 killing of two brothers, both U.S. Marines, ages 22 and 19, in Cook County, Illinois.

    • Manuel Alejandro Vasquez, 47, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face a charge of murder in Ventura County, California. Vasquez’s two co-defendants were convicted in 1999 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1998 murder of a man in his home over an alleged unpaid debt. Vasquez fled to Mexico before charges could be filed against him.

    • Tyler Buchanan, 23, a UK national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the Central District of California. Among other crimes, Buchanan and his co-conspirators allegedly stole cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars following phishing attacks on over 45 companies based in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

    • Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 33, a Dominican citizen, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges of fentanyl trafficking in the District of New Hampshire.

    • Samuel Steven Huggler, 28, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Spain, to face charges relating to the alleged murder and attempted murders of three of his siblings in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Huggler is charged with aiding, inducing, or causing murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aiding, inducing, or causing attempted murder, and possession of an altered firearm. 

    • Michel Patrick Desalles, 54, a Mauritian national, was extradited from Mauritius to face a charge of murder in the second degree in the State of New York. Desalles allegedly choked his employer to death with zip ties and immediately fled the United States in 2017.

    • Juan Miguel Roman-Balderas, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face two charges of murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Roman-Balderas is alleged to have stabbed to death his 28-year-old ex-girlfriend in April 2014 in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    • Rody L. Wilcox, 50, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Georgia to face charges of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age filed in Latah County, Idaho. Wilcox allegedly sexually assaulted a six-year-old child on multiple occasions in 2023. In 2024, Wilcox fled Idaho while on bond. Through OIA’s cooperation with the FBI, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Georgian authorities, Wilcox was arrested in Georgia on Aug. 16, 2024, while en route to the Russian Federation.

    • Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of aggravated first-degree murder and rape in Pierce County, Washington. Urbano-Vazquez is alleged to have raped four victims between March and October 2002, one of whom he is also alleged to have murdered in the course of rape.

    • Gilberto Gutierrez, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, was extradited from El Salvador to face charges of rape, child abuse, and related sex offenses in Wicomico County, Maryland. Gutierrez allegedly repeatedly sexually abused two girls under the age of 10 years old between approximately 1999 and 2004.

    • Ramon Manriquez Castillo, 68, a dual U.S. and Mexican citizen; Edgar Rodriguez Ruano, 29, a Mexican citizen; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito, 48, an Ecuadorian citizen; and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto, 30, a Colombian citizen, were surrendered by Guinea-Bissau to face drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Florida. The co-defendants are alleged members of a transnational drug trafficking organization comprised of several cartels in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, and they allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of cocaine through Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Guinea-Bissau using a U.S.-registered airplane, with a U.S. citizen onboard, from about November 2023 to September 2024. They are also charged with distributing cocaine in these countries using an airplane with a U.S. citizen onboard.

    • Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak, 35, a Ukrainian national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers in the Eastern District of New York and the Middle District of Florida. According to the charges in the Eastern District of New York, Stryzhak is one of the administrators of the Nefilim ransomware gang. The Middle District of Florida charges allege that Stryzhak used the Hive ransomware to engage in a computer hacking and extortion scheme that targeted businesses in the United States and abroad. The Hive ransomware group is estimated to have attacked approximately 1,500 victims and extorted approximately $110 million in ransom payments.

    The fugitives extradited by the United States include:

    • Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen, native of Pakistan, and convicted terrorist, was extradited to India to stand trial on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 160 people, including six Americans, and wounded hundreds more.

    • Aaron Seth Juarez, 26, a U.S. citizen, was extradited to Mexico to be prosecuted for femicide for the 2019 killing of his approximately 31-year-old stepmother, whose body he allegedly buried in the backyard of her Tijuana home. 

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), along with the U.S. Marshals Service, provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Eastern District of California litigated with OIA the successful outgoing extradition cases for Rana and Juarez, respectively. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Guatemala and Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: British and Chinese Nationals Indicted for Alleged Plot to Silence U.S. Dissident and Smuggle U.S. Military Technology to China

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Federal grand juries in Los Angeles and Milwaukee each have returned indictments charging two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking (Los Angeles) and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act (Milwaukee), the Justice Department announced today.

    “As alleged, the defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”

    “The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People’s Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China. I want to commend the good work of the FBI and our partners in the U.S and overseas in putting a stop to these illegal activities.”

    • Central District of California (Los Angeles)

    According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals (Individual 1 and Individual 2) inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the Victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC government and President Xi.

    “The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticized the Chinese government and its president,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.”

    “The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC, and targeting him with violence.”

    Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 1 and Individual 2 were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.

    In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller directed and coordinated an interstate scheme to surveil the victim, to install a tracking device on the victim’s car, to slash the tires on the victim’s car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the victim depicting President Xi and President Xi’s wife.

    A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, Cui and Miller paid two other individuals (Individual 3 and Individual 4), approximately $36,500 to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 3 and Individual 4 were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI.

    • Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

    According to court documents, beginning in November 2023, Miller and Cui solicited the procurement of U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People’s Republic of China from two individuals (Individual 5 and Individual 6). 

    In connection with the scheme, Cui and Miller discussed with Individuals 5 and 6 ways to export a cryptographic device from the United States to the People’s Republic of China, including concealing the device in a blender, small electronics, or motor starter, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller paid approximately $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device via a courier in the United States and a wire transfer to a U.S. bank account.

    ***

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

    If convicted, Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties: five years in prison for conspiracy; five years in prison for interstate stalking; 20 years in prison for violation of the Arms Export Control Act; and 10 years in prison for smuggling.

    The FBI is investigating the case. The United States is coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller from Serbia.

    Assistant United States Attorneys David Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division and Amanda B. Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, both of the Central District of California, Benjamin Taibleson of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Elder Fraud Prevention Forum

    Source: US FBI

    MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida hosted a public outreach event and interactive discussion, in partnership with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), focused on preventing crimes against senior citizens on May 15, 2025 at Century Village in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Participants included the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, Broward State Attorney’s Office, the Wilton Manors Police Department, and AARP Florida.

    The program discussed common schemes affecting senior citizens, investment fraud, lottery, and inheritance fraud, along with a local law enforcement panel with local fraud and abuse case examples.

    This program is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida’s Elder Justice Initiative. For more information about the Justice Department’s efforts to help American seniors please visit the Elder Justice Initiative webpage at justice.gov/elderjustice and for information regarding how the FBI can help the public, visit https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/elder-fraud.

    To report an elder fraud scam, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip at  https://www.ic3.gov/Home/EF, or contact your local field office. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is also available for reports at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

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    MIL Security OSI –