NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Video: Press Sec: “This was a CLEAR coverup.”

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkgKOAe8juo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Fischer Highlights Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the following video to promote mental health in the ag industry and workforce on ‘Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.’

    Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously approved Fischer’s resolution designating May 29th as ‘Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.’ The resolution shines a light on the unique challenges agricultural producers face, while highlighting the resources available to those in need of assistance. 

    Click the image above to view a video of Fischer’s remarks

    Click here to download audio

    Click here to download video

     

    Mental Health Resources:

    Click here to learn about national resources available for those in need of assistance.
    Click here to learn about Nebraska resources available for those in need of assistance.

    Full Video Transcript: 

    Hello, this is Senator Deb Fischer. 

    Throughout my life, I’ve had many roles – daughter, wife, mother, school board member, and now as the U.S. Senator for Nebraska.

    Yet, one of the most challenging roles I’ve had is that of a cattle rancher, on our family ranch.

    As our agriculture producers and workforce know, working in the ag industry is not for the faint of heart – and feeding and fueling our world is no easy task.

    We face numerous challenges – from weather to volatile commodity prices. 

    These daily uncertainties can take a toll. It’s why farmers and ranchers face higher levels of stress and anxiety.

    Sadly, farmer suicide rates are two to five times higher than the national average.

    That’s why, today, on Mental Health Awareness Day in Agriculture, I want to take a moment to remind our ag producers and farmworkers that there are resources available for those who may be struggling.

    To our farmers and ranchers: Thank you for helping to feed and fuel the world. We appreciate the hard work you do every single day. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Senators Press RealPage on Multi-Million Lobbying Campaign and House Republicans’ Provision Blocking States from Protecting Renters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    May 29, 2025

    RealPage has been scrutinized for use of AI algorithms that drive up costs for renters 

    Provision would block state and local efforts to protect renters from artificial price hikes powered by AI pricing tools

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Dana Jones, CEO and President of RealPage, expressing concerns regarding RealPage potentially benefiting from a provision on artificial intelligence (AI) included in the House Republicans’ budget reconciliation package. The provision would prohibit the enforcement of any state or local laws on AI for the next ten years.

    RealPage’s YieldStar and AI Revenue Management (AIRM) tools use black box algorithmic pricing schemes to unfairly hike rents at a time when Americans face a national housing affordability crisis. Several states and cities have passed or are considering laws limiting the use of AI-enabled pricing software.

    “[M]ore Americans than ever before are now paying over 30 and 50 percent of their income on housing,” wrote the senators. “In light of this, we seek information on RealPage’s lobbying efforts, and on how the Republicans’ reconciliation provision would help the bottom line of RealPage and other large corporations by allowing them to take advantage of consumers.” 

    Last week, the Republican-controlled House passed a reconciliation bill that cuts Medicaid and rips away health care coverage for millions of Americans, all to pay for trillions of dollars in giveaways for billionaires. In what has been described as a “massive artificial intelligence giveaway,” the bill also includes a provision that would block state- and local-level efforts to curb the harms of products like YieldStar and AIRM, the cornerstones of RealPage’s business model. 

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already sued RealPage for “its unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing,” which the DOJ asserts constitutes unlawful price-fixing. Since the DOJ lawsuit was filed in August 2024, RealPage has amped up its lobbying efforts on AI-related issues, nearly doubling its lobbying spending from $4.8 million in 2020 to nearly $9 million in 2024. The senators point out that following these investments, House Republicans worked to “nullify existing and future state efforts to address the harms from AI.” 

    “The net result will be that Americans will lose important protections against the misuse of AI tools,” warned the senators. “This will directly benefit RealPage and similar companies, at the expense of renters who will be forced to pay higher costs for rent and other daily needs.”

    The senators have previously written letters in November 2022, March 2023, September 2024, and February 2025 raising the alarm about RealPage’s YieldStar and AIRM products. Due to RealPage’s potential involvement in this harmful measure, the senators requested a response to their questions by June 10, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Bicameral Legislation to Require the Supreme Court to Adopt Binding and Enforceable Code of Ethics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Congress, the executive branch, all lower federal courts, and every state supreme court have ethics guardrails and a mechanism for enforcing ethics rules
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) in reintroducing the bicameral Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act, legislation to require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws. The SCERT Act would improve disclosure and transparency when a justice has a connection to a party or amicus before the Court, end the practice of justices ruling on their own conflicts of interests, and require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public. 
    “Vermonters I talk with don’t understand why Supreme Court justices are allowed to accept lavish private airplane travel and yacht vacations from billionaires. It’s no surprise that these ethical problems have shattered public trust in our nation’s most powerful court,” said Senator Welch. “This ethics legislation is unfortunately necessary, because the Supreme Court will not do what it has the responsibility to do. This is a long-overdue step, and one my Republican colleagues should support.” 
    “Supreme Court justices have repeatedly gotten caught red-handed receiving extravagant gifts from politically active billionaires and refusing to report the gifts as required by law. It’s not even clear proper taxes were paid. Despite these ethical problems, the Court does not allow basic fact-finding regarding the justices’ behavior, or any neutral process to resolve ethics questions,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This Court has repeatedly proven that it cannot police itself, so it’s time for fair and transparent guardrails, with clear procedures for receiving, investigating, and resolving ethics complaints. With Trump’s persistent improper pressure on the judiciary, it’s now urgent to get this right.” 
    “A judiciary whose members are accountable for their conduct, that is transparent to its citizens, and that is free from bias or partiality is truly independent,” said Representative Johnson. “Americans need to feel confident that when serious concerns arise, the judiciary can diligently investigate and correct judicial misconduct, no matter who might be implicated. That is a judiciary whose judgements will be accepted, observed, and respected. An independent judiciary is crucial to our democracy now more than ever.” 
    In the last two years, reporting from ProPublica and the New York Times has exposed Justice Clarence Thomas’s long record of accepting undisclosed gifts from politically active right-wing billionaires. Further reporting from ProPublica found that Justice Samuel Alito accepted private jet travel to an all-expenses-paid vacation from a hedge fund billionaire who had contributed over $80 million to Republican political organizations and had business before the Court. Justice Alito’s luxury vacation was organized by Leonard Leo, the engineer of the current right-wing Supreme Court supermajority at the behest of a cadre of right-wing billionaires and special interests. 
    The SCERT Act would address these ethical shortfalls and help restore Americans’ faith in the judicial branch. The bill would: 
    Develop a Process for Enforcement of a Code of Conduct 
    Require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct within 180 days; 
    Require the Supreme Court to publish its code of conduct and any other rules or procedures related to ethics, financial disclosure, and judicial misconduct; 
    Require the Supreme Court to create a transparent process for the public to submit ethics complaints against the justices, and for a random panel of chief judges from the lower courts to investigate and make recommendations based on those complaints; 
    Require safeguards modeled on the lower courts’ complaints process to deter and punish frivolous ethics complaints. 
    Improve Gift Rules and Transparency 
    Require the Supreme Court to adopt rules requiring disclosure of gifts, travel, and income received by justices and law clerks that are at least as rigorous as the House and Senate disclosure rules; 
    Require the rules for what gifts justices can accept to be as restrictive as Congress’s; 
    Require greater disclosure of amicus curiae funding; 
    Require parties and amici curiae before the Supreme Court to disclose any recent gifts, travel, or reimbursements they’ve given to a justice; 
    Require parties and amici curiae before the Supreme Court to disclose any lobbying or money they spent promoting a justice’s confirmation to the Court. 
    Strengthen Recusal Requirements 
    Create new recusal requirements governing gifts, income, or reimbursements given to judges; 
    Create new recusal requirements governing a party’s lobbying or spending money to campaign for a judge’s confirmation; 
    Ensure that requests for a judge to recuse are reviewed by a panel of randomly selected, impartial judges, or by the rest of the justices at the Supreme Court; 
    Require written notification and explanations of recusal decisions; 
    Require the judiciary to develop rules explaining when a judge’s connection to an amicus curiae brief might require recusal; and 
    Require the Federal Judicial Center to study and report to Congress every two years on the extent to which the judiciary is complying with recusal requirements. 
    Late last year, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts released a report that found every state supreme court (or equivalent high court) subjects its judges or justices to ethics reviews—similar to the processes that apply to all federal judges except the Supreme Court under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act. The SCERT Act would eliminate this loophole by establishing an ethics review process for the Supreme Court. 
    In addition to Senators Welch and Whitehouse, the legislation is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).  
    The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act is endorsed by Accountable.US/Accountable.NOW, Common Cause, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Citizens United/Let America Vote, Demand Justice, Fix the Court, New York City Bar Association, People’s Parity Project, League of Conservation Voters, Court Accountability Action, Free Law Project, American Governance Institute, Lawyers for Good Government, Public Citizen, and Stand Up America.  
    As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Welch continues to push for transparency and ethics reform at the U.S. Supreme Court. Last year, Senator Welch led his colleagues in introducing the High Court Gift Ban Act, bicameral legislation that would ban Supreme Court Justices from receiving gifts valued at over $50 and help strengthen ethical standards of the Supreme Court. In October 2011, Senator Welch joined 45 of his then-House colleagues in sending a letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging the investigation of outstanding ethical questions surrounding the court. 
    Read and download the full text of the SCERT Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Hurricane Season, Welch Leads 14 Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Reinstate Terminated Employees at NWS, NOAA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led 14 of his colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to swiftly reinstate terminated employees at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. In their letter, the Senators emphasized that staff reductions at both agencies pose a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness by undercutting essential forecasting and weather monitoring systems. The Senators requested information on how the administration plans to address staffing at both agencies. 
    NWS maintains 122 weather forecast offices across the United States which are responsible for providing 24/7 weather monitoring and forecasts. The NWS Forecast Office in Burlington, Vermont, is vital to providing Vermonters with information on how to prepare for and protect their families from flooding and extreme weather events. The Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to eliminate an additional 1,000 staff from NOAA, including at NWS, in the coming weeks. These cuts, combined with current staffing constraints, could reduce the NWS workforce by 15% just months into 2025. 
    “NWS would be unable to provide accurate and timely forecasts without sufficient staffing levels at weather forecast offices nationwide. In addition to daily forecasting operations, weather forecast offices are responsible for issuing emergency weather warnings ahead of events such as major floods, wildfire hazards, hurricanes, and blizzard conditions,” wrote the Senators. “As the frequency and severity of such disasters increase, maintaining NWS’s real-time forecasting operations is essential to saving lives and reducing the cost of recovery for disaster-affected communities.” 
    The Senators continued: “NWS employees and the programs they support are essential to the safety of the millions of Americans impacted by storms and disasters each year. On February 27, 2025, 108 probationary NWS employees were terminated, adding to the 170 staff who accepted the Administration’s ‘deferred resignation’ plan earlier that month. These staffing cuts are already impacting NWS services, forcing NWS to halt weather balloon launches in New York, Maine, and Alaska that provide daily weather data to meteorologists at weather forecast offices across the country.”  
    “As we head into hurricane season, 30 weather forecast offices are without a meteorologist-in-charge, one is completely without any managers at all, and nearly a dozen are preparing to shut down 24/7 services without immediate action to address shortages,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to reassess the staffing needs at NOAA and NWS and reinstate terminated probationary employees swiftly.” 
    The Senators requested answers to the following questions: 

    How many of the NWS regional weather forecast offices were impacted by terminations or deferred resignations since January 20, 2025? Please provide a list of affected offices, including how many staff departed and how many remain.  
    With reports of at least one weather forecast office in Goodland, Kansas stopping 24/7 operations due to staffing shortages, how do the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to maintain continued 24/7 operation of forecasting offices without requiring excessive overtime hours from staff?  
    With a requested budget cut of $1.311 billion for NOAA’s overall budget, and a $209 million cut for NWS procurement of weather satellites and infrastructure9, how does the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to ensure adequate staffing and preparedness in the midst of worsening storm seasons, increasing heat waves, and changing weather patterns? 
    As NWS employees are critical to public safety, especially heading into hurricane season, will the Department of Commerce grant an exemption to the hiring freeze to fill these crucial positions? 

    In addition to Senator Welch, the letter was cosigned by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). 
    Read the full text of the letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Acting Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Laura Grimm. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/29/2025 PHOTO: Blackburn Tours Memphis xAI Facilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following photo and statement after touring xAI’s Memphis facilities. In June 2024, xAI announced plans to build the world’s largest AI supercomputer, named Colossus, in Memphis:

    “Tennessee is the best state in the nation to do business, and xAI’s Memphis facility is proof that innovative companies thrive when entrpreneurs like Elon Musk choose to set up shop in our state,” said Senator Blackburn.  “Touring the site, I witnessed first-hand how xAI is creating hundreds of good-paying jobs, generating millions for Memphis and Shelby County, and partnering with small businesses to give hardworking Memphians exciting economic opportunities. This is only the beginning of what xAI will accomplish, and I’m excited to see how the company continues to grow and flourish for years to come.”

    Click here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn.

    BACKGROUND

    • xAI was founded by Elon Musk in 2023.
    • xAI’s Memphis facility occupies a 785,000-square-foot former Electrolux manufacturing plant. xAI has committed more than $10 billion to turn the plant into state-of-the-art super computer.
    • Memphis was chosen for a number of strategic reasons, including:
      • Existing industrial infrastructure, including access to water and energy resources;
      • Logistical advantages due to the city’s location as a major freight and shipping hub; and
      • Economic incentives provided by local and state governments eager to bring high-tech jobs and investment to the area.
    • In March, xAI announced a significant expansion of its operations in Memphis with the acquisition of a one million square foot property.
    • The development of the new facility is expected to attract additional tech companies to the region, further enhancing the city’s status as the “Digital Delta” and contributing to the local economy through job creation and technological advancement.
    • xAI has made numerous commitments to the city of Memphis, including:
      • Constructing an $80 million graywater recycling facility in Southwest Memphis, protecting the Memphis Aquifer for generations to come;
      • Developing a battery farm that allows its operations to function independently from the local power grid;
      • Creating over 320 high-paying jobs in Memphis, with 80% of the workforce being local hires. Hundreds of more hires are expected in the coming months and years; and
      • Generating between $15 and $20 million in tax revenue for the city.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building on Previous Success Bringing Investments Home to Illinois, Duckworth Returns to Taiwan to Help Bring Jobs to our State

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    May 29, 2025

    [TAIPEI, TAIWAN] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) traveled to Taiwan this week to underscore Illinois’s preparedness for additional international investments similar to those she’s already successfully secured in her previous international travels. On this trip, Duckworth met with the Island’s representatives, economic leaders and corporate and business leaders to highlight how Illinois is an ideal location for Taiwanese business expansion. Photos from Taiwan are available on the Senator’s website.

    “In Taiwan this week I’m continuing my work of championing Illinois abroad,” Duckworth said. “Illinois is ideally situated for greater investment from international business—we’re already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing and transportation, and in the coming years we’re going to be a national and international leader for quantum technology. As I’ve traveled across Asia and Europe, I’m proud I’ve been successful in promoting Illinois on a global level and bringing home investment, and I hope to continue that success after this trip.”

    During Duckworth’s visit she met with Hon Hai Research Institute, the research division of the microelectronics manufacturer, which recently visited Chicago to learn more about Illinois’s growing quantum and microelectronics industry. Duckworth also met with leaders including President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, Defense Minister Wellington Koo and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has extensively championed Illinois abroad. In Taiwan previously she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of Illinois’s corn and soybeans, and following an official visit to Japan, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy. Since becoming a member of SFRC Duckworth has also traveled to Laos and Vietnam, Sweden and the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom and the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

    Following her meetings in Taiwan, Duckworth is now continuing onto Singapore for this year’s Shangri-la Dialogue.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER WARNS: UNDER CLEAN ENERGY TAX HIKE IN GOP PLAN THAT PASSED HOUSE LAST WEEK, NEW YORK COULD LOSE A STAGGERING 20,000+ JOBS & SEE HIGHER MONTHLY ENERGY BILLS; SENATOR SOUNDS ALARM AND DEMANDS…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Last Week, The House GOP Rushed To Pass Trump’s Tax Giveaway To Billionaires, That Guts Food Assistance And Medicaid, AND Also Kills The Fed Clean Energy Investments NY Companies Are Using To Lower Energy Costs, Create Good-Paying Union Jobs & Bring Manufacturing Back From China

    Since The Inflation Reduction Act Passed Three Years Ago, NY Companies Have Announced Over $5 BILLION In Clean Manufacturing Investments Creating Thousands Of Good-Paying Jobs From Long Island To Buffalo; Senator Warns What Will Happen If GOP Doesn’t Back Off Plan To Kill Clean Energy And Manufacturing

    Schumer: Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Is An Ugly Mess That Means Bigger Electric Bills & Big Job Losses For New York

    Just a week after House Republicans passed Trump’s devastating bill to kill clean energy incentives so they could give tax breaks to billionaires, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer revealed how tax hikes on clean energy tucked in the bill would be a gut punch to New York’s economy.

    Schumer said new data studies from NERA Economic Consulting shows that repealing the clean energy tax credits could cause New York to lose up to 20,300 jobs as clean energy projects are cancelled or scaled back due to lack of incentive, with a whopping nearly $3.5 billion hit to the state’s GDP and New Yorkers paying up to $650 in higher energy costs each year by 2032 if these devastating cuts become law.

    “Higher energy bills and many thousands fewer jobs, that’s what New York gets under Trump’s reckless tax bill, which is a giveaway to billionaires and corporations. Already, thousands of New Yorkers were making improvements to their homes to lower their electric bills and make their homes warmer in the harsh winters, now they lose all that support. Thousands of new jobs building clean energy projects in every corner of the state and bringing manufacturing back from China will all be vaporized by the GOP’s ugly budget bill. It is a gut punch to New York and a gift to China, which wants to dominate clean energy manufacturing,” said Senator Schumer. “Losing these clean energy projects means losing cheaper electricity for families and businesses. We need more energy production from many sources including wind and solar and water; we need America to be energy independent and to manufacture clean energy technology here, not overseas, and eliminating these tax credits radically and irresponsibly rolls back all the progress we have made in recent years. It turns America’s clean energy boom into a bust.”

    Schumer explained that the bill which passed the Republican House last week would kill clean energy incentives created in the Inflation Reduction Act, these tax credits are already benefiting hundreds of New York businesses with ongoing projects and families who are using them to help improve their homes and lower their electric bills. These cuts are broad and deep to New York’s clean energy sector, Schumer specifically highlighted how the bill would:

    • Eliminates the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, which provides families in New York up to $3,200 to help weatherize their homes for better protection in the harsh winters and make improvements to make their homes more energy efficient to lower their electric bills with qualifying items like doors, windows, better insulation and heat pumps.
    • Eliminates the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which gives New York families a 30% discount on home energy improvements, like solar panels, heat pumps, or energy storage, that help lower energy bills and keep the lights on during power outages.
    • Eliminates the Clean Electricity Investment & Production Credits that support more cheap, clean electricity. With natural gas turbines on a five-year delay, the IRA’s clean electricity tax credits have ensured a robust buildout of wind and solar power while helping keep electricity prices from increasing and spurring demand for American-made energy products.
    • Sabotages the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit that has generated a more than five-fold increase in investment in manufacturing in the solar and EV supply chains, creating thousands of jobs and shifting these industries out of China to the U.S.
    • Eliminates the IRA’s Electric Vehicle Tax Credits that make it cheaper to buy new and used electric and plug-in hybrid cars, and has led to a massive onshoring of EV and battery supply chain manufacturing, undercutting China and bolstering American companies.
    • Eliminates the New Energy-Efficient Home Credit that makes it cheaper to build new, highly efficient and affordable homes, expanding the housing supply while reducing energy costs.
    • Eliminates the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit that supports American-made clean hydrogen, led by New York companies like Plug Power and Air Products, to be used for clean manufacturing and agriculture.

    Schumer said that clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act have created the biggest clean energy boom in American history, but now with many of these core provisions being clawed back or eliminated it risks all the progress that has been made in New York and across the country. The senator said if NY energy projects are forced to stop or scale back, energy costs would increase for families and businesses across the country. With electricity demand surging in New York and across the country, clean energy sources like wind and many other sources of clean power are often the most efficient sources of new electricity, much cheaper than traditional alternatives like natural gas and oil. NERA Economic Consulting estimates costs for New York families could increase by $650 a year, as the Republican plan to gut the clean electricity production and investment tax credits makes it more expensive to provide more electricity, while simultaneously killing the Residential Clean Energy and Energy Efficient Home Improvement tax credits makes it more costly for families to make their homes more efficient and reduce their energy bills.

    Schumer added, “Democrats are united in opposing this cruel and counterproductive bill, and these ill-conceived elimination of energy tax credits so they can put more money in the pockets of billionaires. We need the GOP to block these cuts, otherwise it will be American families and our manufacturing future paying the price.”

    The Clean Economy Tracker estimates the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives have spurred over $5 billion worth of investments in clean manufacturing in New York, creating over 7,200 jobs. Schumer said if this House Republican plan goes through, many of the clean energy projects spurred by the IRA could be forced to scale back or even stop and the workers building the future of American energy would be laid off, and projects that otherwise would have come online will never come to fruition. That would impact both major NY employers and manufacturers in the clean energy, manufacturing, electric vehicle, battery, research sector and our small businesses. One example is Geothermal Works in the Hudson Valley, a small Westchester based family business with that helps homes get updated with heat pumps and geothermal systems to lower their electric costs, who said that if the current clean energy cuts go through in the GOP bill it would shutter their business and force them into early retirement.

    Below are just some examples of projects spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act in New York State that show why eliminating these provisions could be so harmful:

    • Off Long Island, Equinor invested $5 billion in building a massive offshore wind farm project, Empire Wind, that will provide power for hundreds of thousands of homes in New York State, and is supported by tax credits for offshore wind projects created by the Inflation Reduction Act .
    • In the Capital Region, Plug Power invested $125 million in a new green hydrogen fuel cell factory in 2023, creating new good paying jobs to boost production of clean hydrogen fuel cells with support from the Fuel Cell Production Tax Credit. Additionally, the company is poised to harness the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act, to spur further growth both in the Capital Region and at Plug’s Henrietta, NY Gigafactory in the Finger Lakes that manufactures Electrolyzers. GE Vernova invested $50 million in a new manufacturing line for its onshore wind business in 2023, hiring 200 new workers with support from a production tax credit for U.S. wind turbine manufacturing created by the Inflation Reduction Act.
    • In Western New York, Viridi Parente a fast growing company on Buffalo’s East Side has added hundreds of good-paying jobs growing the domestic battery manufacturing industry with support from clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Production tax credit. Solar Liberty Energy Systems and PanelClaw are installing thousands of solar panels at homes and businesses. Solar Liberty Energy Systems is helping customers navigate available federal clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce the burden of installation costs while PanelClaw is producing racking systems with help from the American Domestic Manufacturing Bonus tax credit created by the Inflation Reduction Act.

    Since Trump was elected, approximately $14 billion worth of manufacturing projects have been outright cancelled, representing more than 13,000 jobs lost. If the GOP plan to raise taxes on energy goes through, those cancellations could balloon to threaten more than $800 billion in private investment in domestic clean energy made in the past three years across the country, according to the Clean Investment Monitor. NERA Economic Consulting estimates that New York could lose an estimated 20,300 jobs if these tax breaks are killed. Schumer said the House Republican bill would repeal the very parts of the Inflation Reduction Act that have helped companies grow in New York and spurred millions of investments, many of which are in Republican districts.

    Repealing the clean energy tax incentives would also be a disaster for America and Schumer said that would cede energy manufacturing leadership to China, which already produces a significant amount of the world’s clean technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. If companies can no longer support clean energy manufacturing in the United States, they will bring these projects to America’s competitors, and jobs that would’ve otherwise been created in America will be created in countries like China. This will destabilize American supply chains and make American families and businesses reliant on China for cheap energy.

    “No matter which way you slice it, the House Republican bill is bad news for New Yorkers. Shutting down projects, killing jobs, and increasing electricity bills would be devastating for our state, which is why we need Republicans to stand up to this bill to save investments in homegrown American energy,” concluded Schumer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Budd Applauds Trump Administration for Postponing Closure of Blue Ridge Parkway to Prioritize WNC Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced postponing full closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway, between Blowing Rock and Beacon Heights, until 2026 to accommodate for community recovery efforts in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

    “Communities in Western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and as we begin to rebuild, closing the Blue Ridge Parkway at this juncture would only set us back. The Parkway serves as a lifeline to small businesses and recreation access across the Appalachian Region — bringing tourists, supporting local businesses, and keeping our economy moving. I’m grateful the Trump administration recognized our state’s needs following a letter I sent last month. This is the right decision to prioritize the near-term recovery of our region while still ensuring the resurfacing project is completed in the future,” said Senator Budd.

    Read the full text of the letter from the Trump administration HERE.

    Background

    In April 2025, Senator Budd was joined by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in sending a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, requesting DOI to consider options to delay the resurfacing of the Blue Ridge Parkway until after the peak 2025 recreation season. Read the full text of the letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening Alberta’s market presence in Southeast Asia

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyoming Army Guard 2-300th Field Artillery Regiment Returns Home (Cheyenne)

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    Cheyenne, WY – The Wyoming National Guard invites media representatives to cover the second of two groups of redeploying Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Regiment.  Details are further below.

    The 2-300th deployed last summer to several Middle Eastern countries to support Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve.

    This deployment marked their eighth deployment in the past 20 years.  While earlier deployments for the command typically saw only portions of the unit depart, this mission represented the first time the battalion had deployed as an entire command for a field artillery mission since the Korean War.

    Overall, more than 360 2-300th Soldiers deployed, representing batteries headquartered in the Wyoming communities of Torrington, Gillette, Lander and Casper.

    Returning 2-300th Soldiers will be greeted by senior WY National Guard and government leadership on the tarmac as they debark the aircraft at the Casper-Natrona County International Airport before departing for home with their families and loved ones.

    Event Details:

    • Time and Date: 1:30pm (approx.), May 30th, 2025.
    • Location: Casper-Natrona County International Airport, 8410 Airport Pkwy, Casper, WY 82604
    • Program: Returning Soldiers will deplane and be greeted by senior command and government leadership before departing the airport with families and loved ones.
    • Contact: For more information and to RSVP, please contact the Wyoming National Guard, Chris Hyde, at 443-883-2698, or email at wyoguard@gmail.com.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: NOTICE OF JOB OPENING

    Source: Government of Greece
    The Consulate General of Greece in Tampa has a job opening for one (1) position of Secretary/Assistant to the Consul General with a limited time contract.The candidates should be between the ages of 21 and 63, reside permanently in the United States, and be fluent in speaking and writing both Greek and English languages, as well as PC word processing. All candidates will be subject to criminal background check. All Greek male candidates must have fulfilled in addition their military obligations or have obtained a legal exemption from the Greek army.The candidates should forward electronically at grcongen.tam@mfa.gr their CV to their…

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Condemns Biden Administration Failures in the Wake of the Lahaina, Hawaii Fires

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Report reveals 1 in 6 survivors were forced to engage in sexual acts in exchange for basic necessities like food and housing

    WASHINGTON – A new report about the aftermath of the August 2023 Lahaina, Hawaii, fires reveals FEMA’s horrific neglect and mismanagement under the Biden Administration.   

    According to the report, issued by Filipino Hawaiian advocacy group Tagnawa, conditions for survivors in the aftermath of the fire were both appalling and inhumane. 1 in 6 survivors were forced to engage in sexual acts in exchange for basic necessities like food and housing and some women had to sleep in cars because they felt unsafe in FEMA-coordinated shelters. 

    “1 in 6 survivors of the Lahaina Fires were forced to engage in sexual acts in exchange for basic necessities like food and housing. These women — our fellow American citizens — were so desperate for food that they had to resort to such extreme measures just to feed themselves in our own country. That’s unacceptable. That is unAmerican,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “While American citizens from Hawaii to North Carolina suffered, Biden and Mayorkas used FEMA as a piggy bank, spending hundreds of millions of American taxpayer dollars to housing illegal aliens, including at the Roosevelt Hotel that served as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to shelter Laken Riley’s killer.” 

    This is yet another outrageous example of the gross mismanagement and poor treatment of Americans under the prior administration. 

    This will never happen again under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kentville — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Courtney Stronach

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Kings District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 36-year-old Courtney Lynn Stronach, who was last seen May 26 in Kentville.

    Stronach is described as 5-foot-6, 130 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Currently, no clothing description is available.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Courtney Stronach is asked to contact police at 902-542-3817. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Press Sec: “…We will deport you if you’re here illegally.”

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBKpfwRgt0M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Kyrgyzstan: Detention of Kloop media staff intensifies crackdown on independent journalism

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the security service raids on Kloop Media and the detention and interrogation of its current and former staff members, including cameraman Aleksandr Aleksandrov, journalist Abdil Aitbay Tegin and former employee Zhoomart Duulatov, by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) in Bishkek, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

    “The detention of Kloop journalists is yet another stark example of how Kyrgyzstan’s security apparatus is being used to crush dissent and dismantle independent journalism. These actions are clearly intended to intimidate critical voices.”

    “Detaining journalists for their work, denying access to legal counsel and carrying out warrantless searches of homes violates both Kyrgyzstan’s own legal obligations and international human rights standards. These arrests are part of a broader, intensifying campaign of harassment against media outlets that dare to report on corruption and abuse of power.

    Detaining journalists for their work, denying access to legal counsel and carrying out warrantless searches of homes violates both Kyrgyzstan’s own legal obligations and international human rights standards

    Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

    “The Kyrgyzstani authorities must immediately release Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Zhoomart Duulatov and Abdil Aitbay Tegin, and end the persecution of Kloop Media and other independent media outlets and professionals.”

    Background

    On 28-29 May, GKNB officers conducted coordinated raids in Bishkek and Osh, targeting current and former staff of the independent outlet Kloop Media, known for its investigative journalism and anti-corruption reporting. At least eight individuals were taken for questioning, among them journalists Aiday Erkebaeva, Zyyagul Bolot-kyzy, Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Abdil Aitbay Tegin, and former editorial staff Zara Sydygalieva and Zhoomart Duulatov.

    According to their lawyer, authorities denied the detainees access to legal counsel for more than six hours. Aleksandrov and Duulatov remained in custody for 48 hours, reportedly facing accusations of “inciting mass unrest” and alleged links to “anti-state activities,” though no formal charges have been disclosed.

    In February 2024, a Bishkek court ordered the liquidation of the Kloop Media Foundation, citing claims that its reporting “undermines trust in government institutions.” The outlet has since been blocked in Kyrgyzstan but continues publishing. In January that year, 11 journalists associated with the Temirov Live media project, another independent media outlet, were arrested, with two receiving prison sentences of up to six years for their reporting.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Lead the Charge to Establish Binding Code of Ethics for U.S. Supreme Court

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    May 29, 2025

    Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act would require the Supreme Court to adopt a binding and enforceable code of ethical conduct; Congress, the executive branch, all lower federal courts, and every state supreme court have ethics guardrails and a mechanism for enforcing ethics rules

    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today they joined their colleagues to reintroduce the bicameral Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act. The legislation would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws. Led by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), the SCERT Act would improve disclosure and transparency when a justice has a connection to a party or amicus before the Court, end the practice of justices ruling on their own conflicts of interests, and require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public.

    “All Supreme Court justices should be held to a binding code of ethics, just like all other federal judges, the executive branch, and Members of Congress,” said Merkley. “Thanks to the Federalist Society, the highest court in the land has become compromised, pushing a right-wing, corporate viewpoint above all else. To restore a government in service of the people—not the powerful—it’s clear we need to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.”

    “It’s imperative the U.S. Judicial Branch serve its Constitutional duty to uphold laws set by Congress, not accept lavish gifts from constituents scheming to curry favor with the court,” said Wyden. “I’ve been watchdogging Clarence Thomas’ unethical acceptance of gifts and sounding the alarm that he and any other judge who won’t recuse themselves in cases where they have a vested interest are compromising their oaths to defend the Constitution. If they won’t recuse themselves, we must prevent any egregious breach of ethics by passing the Supreme Court Ethics, Recuse and Transparency Act.”

    In the last two years, reporting from ProPublica and the New York Times has exposed Justice Clarence Thomas’s long record of accepting undisclosed gifts from politically active right-wing billionaires. Further reporting from ProPublica found that Justice Samuel Alito accepted private jet travel to an all-expenses-paid vacation from a hedge fund billionaire who had contributed over $80 million to Republican political organizations and had business before the Court. Justice Alito’s luxury vacation was organized by Leonard Leo, the engineer of the current right-wing Supreme Court supermajority at the behest of a cadre of right-wing billionaires and special interests.

    The SCERT Act would address these ethical shortfalls and help restore Americans’ faith in the judicial branch. The bill would:

    Develop a Process for Enforcement of a Code of Conduct

    • Require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct within 180 days;
    • Require the Supreme Court to publish its code of conduct and any other rules or procedures related to ethics, financial disclosure, and judicial misconduct;
    • Require the Supreme Court to create a transparent process for the public to submit ethics complaints against the justices, and for a random panel of chief judges from the lower courts to investigate and make recommendations based on those complaints;
    • Require safeguards modeled on the lower courts’ complaints process to deter and punish frivolous ethics complaints.

    Improve Gift Rules and Transparency

    • Require the Supreme Court to adopt rules requiring disclosure of gifts, travel, and income received by justices and law clerks that are at least as rigorous as the House and Senate disclosure rules;
    • Require the rules for what gifts justices can accept to be as restrictive as Congress’;
    • Require greater disclosure of amicus curiae funding;
    • Require parties and amici curiae before the Supreme Court to disclose any recent gifts, travel, or reimbursements they’ve given to a justice;
    • Require parties and amici curiae before the Supreme Court to disclose any lobbying or money they spent promoting a justice’s confirmation to the Court.

    Strengthen Recusal Requirements

    • Create new recusal requirements governing gifts, income, or reimbursements given to judges;
    • Create new recusal requirements governing a party’s lobbying or spending money to campaign for a judge’s confirmation;
    • Ensure that requests for a judge to recuse are reviewed by a panel of randomly selected, impartial judges, or by the rest of the justices at the Supreme Court;
    • Require written notification and explanations of recusal decisions;
    • Require the judiciary to develop rules explaining when a judge’s connection to an amicus curiae brief might require recusal; and
    • Require the Federal Judicial Center to study and report to Congress every two years on the extent to which the judiciary is complying with recusal requirements.

    A recent report from Senator Whitehouse found every state supreme court (or equivalent high court) subjects its judges or justices to ethics reviews—similar to the processes that apply to all federal judges except the Supreme Court under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act. The SCERT Act would eliminate this loophole by establishing an ethics review process for the Supreme Court.

    Congress has an appropriate and well-established role in oversight of the judiciary and updating ethics laws that apply to federal officials, including federal judges and justices. Congress passed the Ethics in Government Act and judicial recusal law, which expressly apply to Supreme Court justices. Congress created through statute the Judicial Conference, which administers financial disclosure laws for the entire judiciary. Congress also has the authority to regulate and make exceptions to which cases justices can hear, outside of a small category of cases required by the Constitution.

    In addition to Merkley and Wyden, the legislation was cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    The legislation was endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Fix the Court, Public Citizen, Demand Justice, Accountable.US/Accountable.NOW, Common Cause, End Citizens United/Let America Vote, New York City Bar Association, People’s Parity Project, League of Conservation Voters, Court Accountability Action, Free Law Project, American Governance Institute, Lawyers for Good Government, and Stand Up America.

    Full text of the bill is available by clicking here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces $9.6 Million for Hurricane Ida Repairs, Fire Response

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $9,623,017.01 from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reimbursement for permanent school repairs and fire suppression efforts following Hurricane Ida and recent wildfires.
    “When disaster strikes, whether it’s a hurricane or a wildfire, Louisianans stand together. This funding supports the schools and first responders that anchor our communities,” said Dr. Cassidy.

    Grant Awarded
    Recipient
    Project Description

    $3,589,727.97
    Jefferson Parish Public School System
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to J.D. Meisler Middle School as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $3,156,954.41
    Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness
    This grant will provide federal funding for fire suppression measures during the Tiger Island Fire.

    $2,876,334.63
    Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
    This grant will provide federal funding for fire suppression efforts during the Highway 113 Fire.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • PM Modi launches ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ to boost agricultural modernisation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the launch of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan via videoconferencing, describing it as a significant initiative for farmers and a unique effort to support agricultural development.

    Highlighting the timely nature of the initiative with the monsoon season approaching and preparations for the Kharif season underway, the Prime Minister said that, over the next 12 to 15 days, around 2,000 teams—comprising scientists, experts, officials, and progressive farmers—will travel across more than 700 districts and reach millions of farmers in villages. He extended his best wishes to all participating farmers and teams, acknowledging their dedication to strengthening India’s agricultural sector.

    Noting that agriculture has traditionally been a state subject, with each state formulating its own policies and welfare schemes, PM Modi emphasised the need for transformation in the sector in response to changing times. While Indian farmers have achieved record levels of production, he said that evolving market dynamics and consumer preferences require modern reforms in agriculture, undertaken in collaboration with both state governments and farmers.

    Under this campaign, scientific teams will move from “lab to land,” bringing data and advanced agricultural knowledge directly to farmers. The teams will assist farmers ahead of the Kharif season, ensuring they are equipped with practical insights and updated techniques.

    The Prime Minister lauded the significant research achievements of Indian agricultural scientists over the decades and their positive impact on productivity. He also praised progressive farmers who have adopted new techniques and achieved remarkable results. However, the PM noted that there remains a gap in the widespread dissemination of this knowledge and that efforts must now be intensified. “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan presents a valuable opportunity to bridge this knowledge gap and ensure farmers benefit from cutting-edge agricultural innovations,” he said.

    The Prime Minister stressed that for India to become a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), agriculture must also evolve. He listed several priority areas for the government, including ensuring fair prices for produce, strengthening the rural economy, and aligning crop patterns with national and global needs. He asserted that India must not only meet its own food requirements but also emerge as a global food supplier.

    To meet this vision, PM Modi underlined the importance of addressing challenges posed by climate change, increasing grain production with minimal water use, protecting soil health, modernising farming techniques, and taking science and technology directly to the fields. He noted that the government has worked extensively in these areas over the past 10–11 years and urged all campaign participants to raise awareness among farmers about these efforts.

    The Prime Minister also focused on diversifying farmers’ income sources beyond traditional agriculture. He mentioned initiatives such as installing solar panels along field boundaries to generate additional revenue, expanding beekeeping under the “Sweet Revolution,” converting agricultural waste into energy, promoting the cultivation of Shri Anna (nutri-cereals), and increasing value addition in farm products.

    The PM also highlighted the Gobardhan Yojana, which is helping generate income from non-milking cattle. Modi urged widespread dissemination of information about these innovations to maximise farmer participation.

    “India’s agriculture must become a cornerstone of a developed India,” PM Modi said, underscoring the magnitude of the mission. He encouraged farmers to engage actively with visiting scientists and ask questions to gain practical insights. The Prime Minister also urged scientists and officials to treat the campaign not merely as routine work but as a form of national service. “Address farmers’ queries in full and document their valuable suggestions,” he said.

    PM Modi expressed confidence that the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan would open new avenues of progress for India’s farmers and help drive agricultural modernisation. He extended his best wishes to all stakeholders involved.

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hamas says it has received a new proposal from US special envoy S. Witkoff on a ceasefire in Gaza

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    GAZA, May 29 (Xinhua) — Palestinian Hamas movement said on Thursday that its leadership has received through intermediaries a new proposal from U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and is currently studying it.

    “The Hamas leadership received from the mediators a new proposal from S. Witkoff and is responsibly studying it with the aim of ensuring that it meets the interests of our people, provides assistance and ensures a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” the movement said in a brief statement.

    Details of the proposal were not disclosed.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas said in an official statement that it had reached an agreement with Witkoff on the general framework for a ceasefire in Gaza, which includes a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave, an exchange of 10 Israeli hostages and several bodies of the dead for Palestinian prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the transfer of governance of the strip to a technical committee. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel accepts US special envoy S. Witkoff’s proposal for ceasefire in Gaza – media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said the Jewish state’s government has accepted the proposal of U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported.

    According to Kan, B. Netanyahu made the statement during a meeting with the families of the Israeli hostages who are presumed dead.

    The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office is not yet ready to comment.

    Earlier on Thursday, Hamas said in a statement that it had received Witkoff’s proposal and was currently studying it.

    As reported by Kan, citing a senior Israeli official, the proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of 10 live hostages and the handover of 18 bodies of the dead in two stages. Israel, in turn, must free 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and hand over the bodies of 180 dead Palestinians.

    The proposal does not oblige Israel to end its 19-month offensive in Gaza, but it does require the Jewish state and Hamas to negotiate a long-term truce. The United States, Egypt and Qatar would act as guarantors of the ceasefire. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DeGette Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Paving Way for Uinta Basin Railway

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    DENVER, CO — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that construction of the Uinta Basin Railway can begin.

    “This decision lays the groundwork for an environmental catastrophe,” said DeGette. “As the harsh impacts of the climate crisis increase the vulnerability of the Colorado River, the risk of an oil spill along this train route is unacceptable. Increasing fracking levels and transporting them across the country would not only harm the communities through which the train travels, including those in Denver, but it would further devastate the communities surrounding the facilities where this oil would burn. This is a public health nightmare waiting to happen, and I am deeply concerned about how this decision will hamper environmental justice and allow big oil and gas to exploit our public lands.” 

    On Thursday, May 29, the Supreme Court ruled that the Surface Transportation Board properly analyzed the impact of the Uinta Basin Railway, clearing the way for an 88-mile stretch of railroad to proceed. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Hardy

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Sharp County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damage from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2-22.

    Beginning Friday, May 30, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Hardy to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    SHARP COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Hardy Fire Station
    203 Church St.
    Hardy, AR  72542

    Opens at 9 a.m., Friday, May 30

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

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

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH scientists pioneer promising treatment for intractable cancer pain

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Thursday, May 29, 2025

    RTX is a non-addictive pain therapy derived from a cactus-like plant.
    National Institute of Health (NIH) scientists report that a first-in-human clinical trial of a new therapy based on the plant-derived molecule resiniferatoxin (RTX) shows that it is a safe and effective agent for pain control in patients with intractable cancer pain. Researchers tested a single injection of small quantities of RTX into the lumbar cerebral spinal fluid (by lumbar puncture) of advanced-stage cancer patients and found that it reduced their reported worst pain intensity by 38% and their use of pain-relieving opioids by 57%.
    “The effects are immediate,” said Andrew Mannes, M.D., lead study author and chief of the NIH Clinical Center Department of Perioperative Medicine. “This is a potential new therapy from a new family of drugs that gives people with severe cancer pain an opportunity to return some normality to their lives.”
    The trial enrolled research participants with terminal end-stage cancer who were among the 15% of cancer patients unable to find pain relief from standard of care pain interventions, including vast quantity of opiates without relief.
    A single injection of RTX provided patients durable relief. Patients’ need for pain-relieving opioids declined sharply, and their quality of life improved. They no longer needed to spend significant periods being sedated with opioids and after treatment were able to reengage with their family, friends and communities.
    The NIH scientists believe RTX has potential to treat many other pain conditions, including other types of cancer pain, chronic pain from nerve injuries called neuromas, post-surgical pain, a facial pain condition called trigeminal neuralgia, and chronic oral inflammatory problems following head and neck radiation therapy.
    “Targeting specific nerves brings many pain disorders into range of RTX and allows physicians to tailor the treatment to the patient’s pain problem. This interventional approach is a simple path to personalized pain medicine,” said senior study author Michael Iadarola, PhD, a senior research scientist in the NIH Clinical Center Department of Perioperative Medicine.
    RTX is not addictive and doesn’t cause a high. Instead, it prevents pain signals from reaching the brain by inactivating a specific sub-group of nerve fibers which transmit heat and pain signals from damaged tissue. RTX is an activator of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, or  TRPV1 ion channel and a super-potent equivalent of capsaicin, the active molecule in hot peppers. The ability of RTX to open the channel pore in TRPV1 allows an overload of calcium to flood into the nerve fiber and block its ability to transmit pain signals.
    “Basically, RTX cuts the pain-specific wires connecting the body to the spinal cord, but leaves many other sensations are intact,” Iadarola said. “These TRPV1 neurons are really the most important population of neurons that you want to target for effective pain relief.”
    Iadarola’s contributions have led decades of basic science research into the neurobiology of pain and pain control. That body of research has informed them that to effectively block pain, you must block it from getting into the spinal cord and from there having it leave the spinal cord to transit to the brain, where we perceive pain.
    Unlike other current approaches that use heat, cold, chemicals, or surgery to non-selectively interrupt nerves to stop pain, RTX targets the specific sensory pathways of tissue damage pain and heat. Other sensory pathways, such as touch, pin prick, pressure, muscle position sense (known as proprioception), and motor function, remain intact. It is not a generalized numbing as occurs with local anesthetics.
    “What makes this unique from all the other things that are out there is this is so highly selective,” Mannes said. “The only thing it seems to take out is heat sensation and pain.”
    RTX is derived from the Euphorbia resinifera plant, a cactus-like plant native to North Africa. Euphorbia extract has been known for 2,000 years to contain an “irritant” substance, which NIH scientists identified how to use for patients through basic research on living cells observed through a microscope. Adding RTX to TRPV1-containing cells caused a visible calcium overload, which Iadarola and Mannes eventually translated into an early-stage human clinical trial.
    The next steps include additional, larger clinical trials to move RTX toward eventual approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and clinical availability.
    This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH Clinical Center and NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    Reference:
    Treatment of Intractable Cancer Pain with Resiniferatoxin — An Interim Study 2025. NEJM Evidence. DOI:10.1056/EVIDoa2400423

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Together With Local and Federal Law Enforcement Partners, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms Commitment to Combat the Fentanyl Epidemic

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Attorney General Bonta joins law enforcement partners in Sacramento region to discuss collaborative efforts to protect communities from fentanyl

    SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire, and local and federal law enforcement partners today to reaffirmed their commitment to combating the fentanyl epidemic through collaborative action. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively working to prevent fentanyl trafficking across the border through coordinated efforts with local and federal law enforcement partners throughout California to stop fentanyl before it ever has a chance to make it to Sacramento. As of April 2025, DOJ has seized a total of 15,468,990 fentanyl pills, 6,793 pounds of fentanyl powder and have arrested 508 suspects on fentanyl related charges. 

    “Today, I want to remind Californians that our work will continue until illicit fentanyl stops destroying lives,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “We will continue to collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement wherever possible. We’ll investigate traffickers, disrupt trafficking networks, and continue to prevent overdose deaths by taking illicit fentanyl off of our streets. Those who bring this poison into the state can expect to be prosecuted and held accountable for the death and devastation they’ve caused. We are extremely thankful to all our Greater Sacramento area law enforcement partners standing on the frontlines with us to battle this epidemic.”  

    “With a focus on increased accountability for drug dealers, our SACFORCE team has successfully prosecuted dangerous drug peddlers,” Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “We’re partnering regionally to disrupt fentanyl distribution and increasing public awareness to protect people from fentanyl poisonings. This combined approach is working in Sacramento, and we will continue to keep fentanyl deaths on a downward trend.”

    “With 33 years in law enforcement, and having worked as a gang and narcotics detective, I have been in the war against drugs for decades – and fentanyl is the deadliest drug I have ever seen,” said Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper. “We need to be the adults in the room. The social experiment of allowing this deadly poison to flow freely has failed – and now it’s time to take action, with more than just words.”

    “We are proud to stand with our federal, state, and local partners in the continued fight to rid our communities of fentanyl and those who peddle it,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “Our aggressive enforcement and prosecution, combined with our extensive outreach and education campaigns, have reduced overdose and poisoning deaths in our region and are saving lives. We will continue to hold dealers of this poison accountable and use all available resources to combat this deadly epidemic.”

    In 2022, in response to the fentanyl epidemic, the California Legislature and the Governor approved appropriation for the creation of the California Department of Justice Fentanyl Enforcement Program (FEP). FEP works with local and federal law enforcement partners throughout the state to address the fentanyl crisis and get these dangerous drugs off California’s streets. The program is comprised of regional investigative teams placed in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dublin, and Sacramento. FEP targets major multijurisdictional fentanyl-trafficking criminal networks. The program works with local and federal law enforcement partnerships to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle these criminal networks. 

    Some of Doj’s recent fentanyl related enforcement actions can be read about here:

    • March 2025: Announced the arrest of three major fentanyl traffickers and the seizure of nearly $55 million worth of fentanyl in Los Angeles.
    • January 2025: Announced an update on the ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic at the Mexico and California border through the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team. 
    • October 2024: Issued guidance to provide local governments with suggestions for the permissible, effective, and strategic use of opioid settlement abatement funds.
    • April 2024: Together with local and federal law enforcement partners, Attorney General Bonta received a briefing on fentanyl trafficking and toured the California-Mexico border
    • February 2024: Announced a joint operation in San Diego County resulted in the felony arrest of a suspect and the seizure of 720,000 fentanyl pills.
    • January 2024: Announced that FEP arrested and filed charges against three drug traffickers alleged to be responsible for bringing 30,000 fentanyl pills across the Mexico and California border.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colorado Recognized for National Climate Leadership, Receiving A-List Top-Status in Environmental Reporting and Data Transparency

    Source: US State of Colorado

    STATEWIDE – CDP, a global non-profit running the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system, named Colorado to its 2024 CDP A-list Thursday. Colorado is one of only two states to receive this designation (out of 92 states and regions that disclosed). In addition, 37 U.S. cities also received the designation, including Aspen, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Lakewood. 

    To receive this top-status A-list recognition, states and local governments had to meet rigorous criteria, including publishing an emissions inventory, a climate risk and vulnerability assessment, and a climate action plan through CDP. A-listers also had to be working to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner and tracking progress toward that goal. 

    Data transparency, quality, and accessibility are key parts of Colorado’s environmental justice strategy. These not only hold Colorado accountable to achieving our goals and addressing historical inequities in disproportionately impacted communities, but also help the state, local governments, and businesses make decisions that reduce emissions, improve air quality, and save Coloradans money. 

    “Colorado is a national leader in climate action, and our data plays an important role. Data helps Colorado to make the right decisions to help save people money and maximize environmental, economic, and health benefits in our communities. We appreciate CDP’s recognition and look forward to demonstrating the ongoing benefits of our climate work,” said Governor Polis. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former MBTA Transit Police Officer Convicted of Aiding and Abetting the Filing of False Report Related to Assault at MBTA Station

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A former Sergeant with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Transit Police Department (Transit Police) was found guilty today by a federal jury in Boston following an eight day trial, of aiding and abetting the filing of a false arrest report regarding another Transit Police Officer’s assault on a man at the Ashmont MBTA Station.

    David S. Finnerty, 49, of Rutland, was convicted on one count of aiding and abetting the filing of a false report. In August 2023, Finnerty was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Finnerty was the Transit Police Officer in Charge and the supervisor of Transit Police Officer Dorston Bartlett. At 1:47 a.m. on July 27, 2018, at the Ashmont MBTA station, Bartlett, while acting in his role as an officer, physically assaulted a man without legal justification. Finnerty helped Bartlett draft a false arrest report regarding the incident, with the intent to impede any federal investigation of Bartlett’s unconstitutional use of force.

    The charge of false reports provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Julien M. Mundele are prosecuting the case.
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Los Angeles Man Who Mailed Kilograms of Cocaine for Distribution in Western Pennsylvania Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to a drug trafficking charge, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Jose Angel Sanchez, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2022 and September 2022, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that Sanchez would mail parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from California to a residence in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. After investigators seized a parcel containing two kilograms of cocaine before it reached the Aliquippa residence, Sanchez began sending the parcels from California to co-defendant Christopher Andrew Salgado in West Virginia. Thereafter, surveillance confirmed that Salgado would drive the parcels from West Virginia to the Pittsburgh International Airport, where he would pick up Sanchez, who had arrived on flights from California. Salgado would when then drive both the parcel of cocaine and Sanchez to co-defendant Romaro Foster Sr. in Aliquippa.

    Following one re-supply of cocaine to Foster Sr., law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Salgado as he drove Sanchez back to the Pittsburgh International Airport. After identifying Salgado and Sanchez, law enforcement terminated the traffic stop while surveillance followed the conspirators. Prior to reaching the airport, investigators observed Salgado park at a fast food restaurant and discard a box in a trash bin in the restaurant’s parking lot before leaving. Investigators recovered the box, which bore a shipping label with Salgado’s West Virginia address that Sanchez had mailed from California. Investigators observed drug packaging material within the box and conducted a field test of the packaging, which revealed the presence of cocaine.

    In August 2022, investigators seized a parcel sent from California to Salgado in West Virginia that contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Investigators then executed a search warrant upon Salgado’s residence, recovering a different parcel mailed by Sanchez to Salgado that contained another approximately two kilograms of cocaine.

    Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for October 2, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Judge Hardy previously sentenced Salgado to five years of imprisonment for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Sanchez.

    This prosecution is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
     

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  • MIL-OSI Video: Ghanaian Woman Peacekeeper Wins Top UN Military Honour | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Squadron Leader Sharon Syme of Ghana has been awarded the 2024 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year in recognition of her exceptional commitment in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls during her tour of duty with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Syme also helped strengthen the gender awareness and capacity of UNISFA’s military components, spearheading patrols composed of men and women able to address diverse community needs, and engaging with local women’s groups to promote trust and collaboration.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RAnd5BkKMM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Sierra Leone Woman Peacekeeper Wins Top UN Police Honour | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone has been awarded the 2024 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year for her innovative community engagement initiatives that helped strengthen relations between host communities and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). In an area that had no schools when she arrived, she initiated an educational program, providing materials and visual aids for teaching disadvantaged children. She also established a mentorship program for girls. Projects she also initiated to support crop cultivation and livestock sale at the local markets gave the women sustainable sources of income, allowing them to provide for their families and send their children to school in Abyei town.

    Currently serving as UNISFA’s Chief Police Training Officer, Chief Superintendent Gbla spent her teenage years displaced within her home country of Sierra Leone and later as a refugee in Guinea – experiences that motivated her to enter the police service and to empower women affected, like her, by conflict.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mPOOWbiH4M

    MIL OSI Video –