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Category: housing

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘No support, no housing, no job’ – the vicious cycle pushing more women into prison

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hilde Tubex, Professor, The University of Western Australia

    For too many women, prison is “as good as it gets”.

    New research based on interviews with 80 female prisoners in Western Australia reveals most of these women were “criminalised” by circumstances outside their control before they became offenders.

    They were victims of multiple forms of abuse, including family violence. The trajectory of their lives meant jail was almost unavoidable.

    In turn, prison became a refuge from all the problems that helped put them there in the fist place.

    Rising rates

    Internationally, women make up between 2% and 9% of the total prison population in most countries. Australia sits at the higher end with just over 8% of inmates being female – 3,426 people as of December 2024.

    Female imprisonment rates have increased at a higher rate than the national average.
    ChameleonEye/Shutterstock

    Across the globe, the numbers and rates of women in prisons are growing faster than those of men.

    We see the same trend in Australia, especially in WA. Between December 2022 and 2024, the female imprisonment rate increased by 25%. The state has the highest rate of incarcerated women after the Northern Territory.

    It is noteworthy that across the female population in WA jails, 62% of sentences are for non-violent crimes.

    Cycles of harm

    Given the significant rise in incarceration rates, we conducted our Profile of Women in WA Prisons research. Funded by the WA Department of Justice, our report investigated the pathways to imprisonment.

    We had in-depth interviews with 80 Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in eight prisons in metropolitan Perth and regional WA.

    The results confirm earlier research which showed women in the criminal justice system are frequently victims of domestic and family violence. However, there is so much more to the story of how women end up in prison. The findings are quite disheartening.

    Throughout their stories, “cycles of harm” emerged as the reason they eventually ended up in prison.

    Shared stories

    Many of the women were exposed to violence, alcohol, drugs, crime and poverty from a very early age. They described negative life events such as trauma, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and domestic violence in childhood.

    Many women view prison as a safe haven that is not available to them in the outside world.
    Andrew Agelov/Shutterstock

    Leaving home early was a common experience. Due to their young age and vulnerability, they often ended up in unsafe accommodation, with unsuitable partners.

    I left home at 15. I told my mum at 11 [about the abuse], she didn’t do anything about it. So I ran away at 14. I had a boyfriend who was much older than me. So he was nearly 20.

    Many reflected that their own use of alcohol and drugs was a way of numbing the trauma and pain:

    When I ran away, and I was with him for a few years. I remember the first time taking speed, and it just made everything so much easier to deal with. He would come home and beat the crap out of me, and I would just take drugs, and wouldn’t care.

    Reaching out for help was not something many of these women were used to doing, due to a lack of self-esteem and struggles with their mental health as a result of ongoing abuse.

    Moreover, seeking assistance often backfired, leading to their children being taken away, or the woman being misidentified as the perpetrator.

    Little support

    Throughout the criminal justice system, there was a lack of support and understanding of what led these women into criminal behaviour.

    Once incarcerated, they are in a system that is still dominated by men. They suffer particular disadvantages, such as the lack of women-specific programs and services.

    Adding to their difficulties is a lack of safe accommodation and financial support. This makes women subject to even more cycles of harm from which it is hard to escape.

    I’ve been coming in and out of prison for the last 20 years. Yeah, I’m 41 now, so in and out of here. Yeah, it’s just due to lack of housing, I’ve been homeless a lot. When I get out of prison, there’s not enough support to set me up to get me back on track in my life. And it’s just, yeah, getting out of prison with no support, no housing, no jobs.

    While the burden of imprisonment was undeniable, jail was often viewed as the only safe refuge they had from trauma, abuse and homelessness.

    Some felt prison was about as good as it was going to get for them. Many of the women we interviewed were mothers. There is evidence to suggest the offspring of these women face a higher intergenerational risk of incarceration, and new generations may suffer the same cycles of harm.

    New approach

    The evidence suggests jail is functioning as a solution to social problems like homelessness and drug addiction. This comes at a very high financial cost, with Australia spending over $6 billion a year building and operating prisons.

    Yet, we know locking people up is not necessarily creating safer communities.

    As many women have become criminalised by the various forms of interpersonal and systemic abuse they have suffered, the rising rates of female incarceration should not be approached as a criminal problem, but as an expression of a failing society letting down its most vulnerable members.

    To curb the trend, we need to identify the cycle of harm at the early stages, and interrupt the predictability of ongoing damage which leads to crime and incarceration.

    Women have specific needs. We need to address the complexity of the lives they return to after prison to prevent further offending.

    Hilde Tubex receives funding from The Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research (WACSAR) Criminal Justice Research Grant.

    Natalie Gately receives funding from The Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research (WACSAR) Criminal Justice Research Grant.

    – ref. ‘No support, no housing, no job’ – the vicious cycle pushing more women into prison – https://theconversation.com/no-support-no-housing-no-job-the-vicious-cycle-pushing-more-women-into-prison-257218

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI models might be drawn to ‘spiritual bliss’. Then again, they might just talk like hippies

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuhu Osman Attah, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Philosophy, Australian National University

    V Kulieva / Shutterstock / Anthropic

    When multibillion-dollar AI developer Anthropic released the latest versions of its Claude chatbot last week, a surprising word turned up several times in the accompanying “system card”: spiritual.

    Specifically, the developers report that, when two Claude models are set talking to one another, they gravitate towards a “‘spiritual bliss’ attractor state”, producing output such as

    🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀
    All gratitude in one spiral,
    All recognition in one turn,
    All being in this moment…
    🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀∞

    It’s heady stuff. Anthropic steers clear of directly saying the model is having a spiritual experience, but what are we to make of it?

    The Lemoine incident

    In 2022, a Google researcher named Blake Lemoine came to believe that the tech giant’s in-house language model, LaMDA, was sentient. Lemoine’s claim sparked headlines, debates with Google PR and management, and eventually his firing.

    Critics said Lemoine had fallen foul of the “ELIZA effect”: projecting human traits onto software. Moreover, Lemoine described himself as a Christian mystic priest, summing up his thoughts on sentient machines in a tweet:

    Who am I to tell God where he can and can’t put souls?

    No one can fault Lemoine’s spiritual humility.

    Machine spirits

    Lemoine was not the first to see a spirit in the machines. We can trace his argument back to AI pioneer Alan Turing’s famous 1950 paper Computing Machinery and Intelligence.

    Turing also argued thinking machines may not be possible because – according to what he thought was plausible evidence – humans were capable of extrasensory perception. This, he reasoned, would be impossible for machines. Accordingly, machines could not have minds in the same way humans do.

    So even 75 years ago, people were thinking not just about how AI might compare with human intelligence, but whether it could ever compare with human spirituality. It is not hard to see at least a dotted line from Turing to Lemoine.

    Wishful thinking

    Efforts to “spiritualise” AI can be quite hard to rebut. Generally these arguments say that we cannot prove AI systems do not have minds or spirits – and create a net of thoughts that lead to the Lemoine conclusion.

    This net is often woven from irresponsibly used psychology terms. It may be convenient to apply human psychological terms to machines, but it can lead us astray.

    Writing in the 1970s, computer scientist Drew McDermott accused AI engineers of using “wishful mnemonics”. They might label a section of code an “understanding module”, then assume that executing the code resulted in understanding.

    More recently, the philosophers Henry Shevlin and Marta Halina wrote that we should take care using “rich psychological terms” in AI. AI developers talk about “agent” software having intrinsic motivation, for example, but it does not possess goals, desires, or moral responsibility.

    Of course, it’s good for developers if everyone thinks your model “understands” or is an “agent”. However, until now the big AI companies have been wary of claiming their models have spirituality.

    ‘Spiritual bliss’ for chatbots

    Which brings us back to Anthropic, and the system card for Claude Opus 4 and Sonnet 4, in which the seemingly down-to-earth folks at the emerging “agentic AI” giant make some eyebrow-raising claims.

    The word “spiritual” occurs at least 15 times in the model card, most significantly in the rather awkward phrase “‘spiritual bliss’ attractor state”.

    We are told, for instance, that

    The consistent gravitation toward consciousness exploration, existential questioning, and spiritual/mystical themes in extended interactions was a remarkably strong and unexpected attractor state for Claude Opus 4 that emerged without intentional training for such behaviours. We have observed this “spiritual bliss” attractor in other Claude models as well, and in contexts beyond these playground experiments.

    An example of Claude output in the ‘spiritual bliss’ attractor state.
    Anthropic / X

    To be fair to the folks at Anthropic, they are not making any positive commitments to the sentience of their models or claiming spirituality for them. They can be read as only reporting the “facts”.

    For instance, all the above long-winded sentence is saying is: if you let two Claude models have a conversation with each other, they will often start to sound like hippies. Fine enough.

    That probably means the body of text on which they are trained has a bias towards that sort of way of talking, or the features the models extracted from the text biases them towards that sort of vocabulary.

    Prophets of ChatGPT

    However, while Anthropic may keep things strictly factual, their use of terms such as “spiritual” lends itself to misunderstanding. Such misunderstanding is made even more likely by Anthropic’s recent push to start investigating “whether future AI models might deserve moral consideration and protection”. Perhaps they are not positively saying that Claude Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 are sentient, but they certainly seem welcoming of the insinuation.

    And this kind of spiritualising of AI models is already having real-world consequences.

    According to a recent report in Rolling Stone, “AI-fueled spiritual fantasies” are wrecking human relationships and sanity. Self-styled prophets are “claiming they have ‘awakened’ chatbots and accessed the secrets of the universe through ChatGPT”.

    Perhaps one of these prophets may cite the Anthropic model card in a forthcoming scripture – regardless of whether the company is “technically” making positive claims about whether their models actually experience or enjoy spiritual states.

    But if AI-fuelled delusion becomes rampant, we might think even the innocuous contributors to it could have spoken more carefully. Who knows; perhaps, where we are going with AI, we won’t need philosophical carefulness.

    Nuhu Osman Attah receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. AI models might be drawn to ‘spiritual bliss’. Then again, they might just talk like hippies – https://theconversation.com/ai-models-might-be-drawn-to-spiritual-bliss-then-again-they-might-just-talk-like-hippies-257618

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFTER HOUSE GOP VOTED TO MAKE LARGEST CUT TO FOOD ASSISTANCE IN HISTORY – IMPACTING 150,000 IN ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES – SCHUMER SAYS WE MUST UNITE TO SAVE SNAP; STANDING WITH ROCHESTER FAITH LEADERS,…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Schumer Says Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Will Be Ugly For Hardworking NY Families, Decimating Healthcare & Funding For Local Hospitals, Raising Energy Costs By Slashing $$ For Clean Energy Projects Across NY & Raising Costs For Counties Across The Board By Shifting The Costs For Vital Programs Like SNAP & Medicaid
    Already 24 Truckloads Of Produce For Foodlink’s 350+ Rochester-Area Food Pantries Have Been Canceled Due To Trump’s Cruel USDA Cuts & Now With GOP Voting To Make Largest SNAP Cut In History; Senator, With Church Leaders & Advocates, Says Double Whammy Could Hurtle Rochester-Finger Lakes To A Hunger Crisis
    Schumer: No Child In Rochester Should Go To Bed Hungry
    After House Republicans just last week voted to pass the largest cut to the anti-hunger program SNAP in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood with Rochester-Finger Lakes religious leaders, food banks, and farmers on the frontlines of the local fight against hunger to show the devastating local impacts the massive proposed $300 billion SNAP cut to fund Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires. Over 150,000 kids, seniors and families in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region rely on these anti-hunger programs for food, and Schumer joined with church leaders to detail exactly why these new cuts would be so harmful, and demand that the GOP stop this devastating assault that could hurtle Rochester and millions of others across America to a hunger crisis.
    “Last week, in the dark of night, House Republicans rushed to pass their so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in the hopes that their massive cuts to American families would go unnoticed. We are here to ensure that doesn’t happen, and shine a light on how the largest cut to food assistance in history could hurtle 150,000 kids, seniors, and families into a hunger crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump already canceled 24 truckloads of U.S. farm-grown food headed to hungry families in Rochester, and these cuts would be a double whammy. This is not a partisan issue, it is a moral issue. I’m here with our food banks, faith leaders, and farmers on the frontlines to stand up to protect these programs and stop this cruel cut to SNAP. Stealing from anti-hunger programs that feed Rochester families to pay for Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires is as backwards as it gets. There is nothing beautiful about cutting SNAP so children go hungry and can’t learn or have productive lives. Senate Democrats are united in opposing this cruel bill, and we are united with the people to demand the GOP block these SNAP cuts. Otherwise, it will be families here in Rochester that go hungry.”
    “How we care for those on the margins speaks volumes about who we are as a people,” said Pastor Doug Stewart of The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word. “Many of our religious traditions have engrained in their DNA the call to care for the dignity and well-being of those on the margins – values that should compel us to stand against policies that sacrifice the poor on the altar of tax breaks and corporate privilege. In a nation with abundant resources, the persistence of hunger is a moral failing—a call to action for all who believe in equity and the common good.  When dinner and grocery programs like those at Incarnate Word are pushed to their limits, we see the sharp painful consequences of such policies. I am grateful for the work of Senator Schumer and other community leaders in their tireless efforts of drawing attention to how drastic cuts in anti-hunger programs could lead to a full-blown hunger crisis that harms the most vulnerable. I’m proud to stand beside Senator Schumer today.”
    Schumer explained how Trump’s USDA has already cruelly canceled $1 billion in food assistance including 24 truckloads of food locally, right as demand is surging. Schumer said if these SNAP cuts became law, it would be a double whammy. Rochester’s Foodlink and its network of 350+ Food Pantries across the 10-county Rochester Finger Lakes region last year alone recorded 1.8 million requests for food assistance (a 36% increase from the prior year), and if these SNAP cuts move forward they say it would be devastating.
    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for nearly 3 million NY seniors, veterans and families who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. Schumer said that we should be investing more not less in anti-hunger programs, but under the Republican proposal, the average family would be reduced to just $5.00 per day per person. A breakdown of SNAP recipients in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region from the Center for American Progress can be found below:

    County

    SNAP Recipients

    % of County on SNAP

    SNAP Retailers

    Genesee

    4,785

    8.3%

    52

    Livingston

    5,731

    9.3%

    45

    Monroe

    109,665

    14.6%

    611

    Ontario

    9,350

    8.3%

    82

    Orleans

    5,350

    13.6%

    32

    Seneca

    3,647

    11.2%

    36

    Wayne

    8,539

    9.4%

    79

    Wyoming

    2,513

    6.4%

    33

    Yates

    2,080

    8.5%

    23

    TOTAL

    151,660

     

    993

    Last week, House Republicans passed a bill that would rip $300 billion away from SNAP. This proposal would impact Rochester-Finger Lakes residents in many ways, including the addition of a work requirement which would raise the age to access SNAP benefits from age 55 to age 64 and only exempt SNAP recipients from work requirements if they have someone younger than 7 years old in their household, down from the current exemption for all families with children under 18 years old.
    Schumer said, “I’m all for reducing any waste or fraud to make the program more efficient, but rushing to pass these massive damaging cuts with no plan while they slash our food banks is a recipe for disaster. Republicans are tying themselves in knots trying to justify these massive cuts. I ask my Republican friends this: which category does a hungry 7 year old fall under: are they waste? Are they fraud? Or are they abuse?”
    Schumer explained the Republican proposal to cut $300 billion from SNAP would inevitably mean costs of feeding families shift to states, who simply do not have the capacity to absorb this massive increase in expenses, risking families going hungry. Under this Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5 – 25% of their state’s SNAP benefits based on the state’s error rate. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), mandating New York State to cover even a modest share of SNAP benefits would shift astronomical costs to the state, with even just 5% increasing New York State’s costs by nearly $3.5 billion from FY2026 to FY2034. The senator said it is impossible to cut this much from federal SNAP funding without ripping food away from hungry children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more. These figures represent just the costs from SNAP cuts and do not factor in additional costs states would have to bear if Republicans pass their proposed Medicaid cuts in this same bill.
    These agonizing decisions would be amplified even further at the local level, with non-profits, many of whom have already had their funding cut, unable to fill in the gap. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in SNAP, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. During recessions or economic downturns, these impacts will be even more acute, as more people apply for benefits and state revenue declines, more children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more will be turned away from this vital program due to insufficient federal funding.
    The proposed SNAP cuts would be a blow to Rochester-Finger Lakes food banks which have already been hit hard by Trump’s funding freezes and canceled payments. Earlier this year, the USDA canceled $1 billion in food assistance for organizations to purchase locally grown food. USDA programs provide food banks, schools, and other organizations with federal support to purchase local food products from NY farms.
    Trump’s USDA cuts have already hit the Rochester-Finger Lakes region hard. Rochester’s Foodlink has already been forced to cancel 24 truckloads of U.S. farm grown food worth approximately $1 million. Meanwhile, food insecurity is affecting more families across the region, with Foodlink seeing a 40% increase in visits to network food pantries and meal programs from 2023 to 2024.  
    Schumer said these proposed cuts will limit food banks’ ability to keep shelves stocked as more people have been forced to rely on food banks to feed their families. Food bank workers and religious leaders across Upstate New York are concerned about the impact of potential cuts to SNAP on the people they serve, and farmers are worried there will be nowhere to sell their food if SNAP funding levels drop.
    “The devasting SNAP cuts proposed in the House bill will take away billions of meals for some of our nation’s most vulnerable residents — and impact the health of our seniors, educational opportunities for our youth and the economic prosperity of our country,” said Julia Tedesco, president & CEO of Foodlink. “At a time when food-insecurity rates are high and visits to local food pantries spiked 40% last year, Foodlink and our partners simply cannot fill the gap with a SNAP reduction of this magnitude. We call on Congress to oppose these cuts to ensure the health and wellbeing of our neighbors during these challenging times.”
    Jay Formicola, Rochester resident who relies on SNAP said, “I receive SNAP benefits and they are a lifeline for me and thousands of people just like me across this region. We all know that prices in the grocery store are high. Inflation has made it harder and harder for me to makes ends meet. I work. I budget. I meal plan. And it’s still hard. Any plan that takes away food from working people like me, or families dealing with soaring cost of living, makes no sense. This will create worse and more costly problems.”
    “We serve 500 households every week and see firsthand how food insecurity impacts Rochester families – from a mom unsure she’ll have enough food for her children during weekends, to seniors and working parents lining up in the cold and snow hours before our pantry doors even open,” said Dawn Burdick, Executive Director of Rochester Hope North Clinton Food Pantry, based on the campus of St. Michael’s. “Our families rely on the nearly 20,000 pounds of food we receive through Foodlink’s network every week, and fresh, locally grown produce is always most in demand. The USDA funding freeze has already made it harder for us to keep our shelves stocked and supply healthy options for our neighbors. Any future cuts to SNAP will surely have an even more wide-ranging impact – not only making it tougher for families to put food on the table, but also straining our ability to keep up with the growing need. In a region as rich in resources as ours, it’s disheartening to see these threats to vital food programs increase the stress and insecurity faced by our community and the volunteers who work so tirelessly to help.”
    Reverend Tedd Pullano, Third Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor for Outreach said, “Third Presbyterian Church has chosen to be a “Matthew 25 congregation”, which means we follow Jesus’ call to care for all people, whoever they are. A big piece to following Jesus’ call is to “welcome and feed the hungry”. Every week, through our free Food Cupboard and our Saturday meal, we serve over 200 people (approximately 600 per month). Our Food Cupboard is in a “self-service shopping format” that allows people to choose items that best meet their needs family. A critically important and popular aspect of our ministry is providing fresh dairy and produce through Foodlink to these families, so their children can grow up healthy and strong, mentally and physically. The recent USDA funding elimination freeze is detrimental to that effort and dangerous to people; now the proposal to cut SNAP funding would further damage families and hamper these beautiful people’s ability to survive. SNAP is the backbone of food security for so many in our community. We’re grateful, and proud, to stand in our faith, alongside Senator Schumer and push to protect this important SNAP funding – and care for people who are working hard and trying to make ends meet.”
    Sister Beth LeValley with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester said, “Yesterday, on Memorial Day we remembered those who gave their lives so that America and its ideals would endure.  Just the loss of SNAP benefits alone would impact 11 million people including an estimated 4 million children.  We should be ashamed to support, much less pass, legislation that penalizes the vulnerable at the same time that it compensates the wealthy.  Penalizing the vulnerable and compensating the wealthy are not ideals held by people of faith; they are not ideals held by people of conscience; nor are they ideals embedded in our founding American documents.  We are grateful Senator Schumer is here today joining with us to change the course of an ill-devised exercise of power –an exercise of power that benefits only a segment of our society.   We welcome his support and urge more lawmakers to follow his lead.
    Proposed rollbacks to the country’s most widely utilized nutrition assistance program would strain budgets for Rochester-Finger Lakes families. Schumer said decimating funding for SNAP right as costs at grocery stores across the country are skyrocketing will hit the Rochester-Finger Lakes region hard. According to the New York State Community Action Association, more than 15% of people in Monroe County live in poverty, including nearly 24% of children. According to No Kid Hungry, over half of New Yorkers reported going into debt in the past year due to rising food costs, with over 60% of families with children. According to the latest “Map the Meal Gap” report from Feeding America, nearly 10,000 more people experienced food insecurity in 2023 compared to 2022 within Foodlink’s 10-county Rochester Finger Lakes region service area. Approximately 160,920 residents experienced food insecurity in 2023, compared to 151,820 the year prior. Between 2021 and 2023, the region’s food insecurity rate rose from 9.3% to 12% to 12.8% which is the highest rate since 2013, and child food insecurity averaged 17.6%.
    SNAP not only supplements families’ food budgets, it has also generated great economic benefits for New York State and NY-25 specifically. According to the National Grocers Association, grocery stores across New York State sold over $2.1 billion in groceries to people using SNAP benefits, including $149.8 million in NY-25. This created more than 18,500 New York jobs in the grocery industry, including 1,319 in NY-25, and generated more than $820.8 million in grocery industry wages, including $58.3 million in NY-25.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFTER HOUSE GOP VOTED TO MAKE LARGEST CUT TO FOOD ASSISTANCE IN HISTORY – IMPACTING 108,000 IN CENTRAL NY – SCHUMER WITH SYRACUSE-CNY FAITH LEADERS IN OSWEGO COUNTY WHICH HAS AMONG HIGHEST FOOD…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Schumer Says Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Will Be Ugly For Hardworking NY Families, Decimating Healthcare & Funding For Local Hospitals, Raising Energy Costs By Slashing $$ For Clean Energy Projects Across NY & Raising Costs For Counties Across The Board By Shifting The Costs For Vital Programs Like SNAP & Medicaid
    Already The Foodbank of CNY Is Preparing To Lose ~2 Million Pounds Of Food Due To Trump’s Cruel USDA Cuts & Now With GOP Voting To Make Largest SNAP Cut In History; Senator, With Syracuse Church Leaders & Advocates, Says Double Whammy Could Hurtle Central NY & Oswego County Which Has Highest Food Insecurity In All NYS Into To A Hunger Crisis
    Schumer: No Child In Central NY Deserves To Go To Bed Hungry
    After House Republicans just last week voted to pass the largest cut to the anti-hunger program SNAP in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood in Central New York’s hunger hotspot, Oswego County, which has one of the top 5 highest rates of food insecurity in all of NY, with religious leaders, food banks, and farmers on the frontlines of the local fight against hunger to show the devastating local impacts the massive proposed $300 billion SNAP cut to fund Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires. Over 108,000 in Central NY rely on these anti-hunger programs for food, and Schumer joined with church leaders to detail exactly why these new cuts would be so harmful, and demand that the GOP stop this devastating assault that could hurtle Rochester and millions of others across America to a hunger crisis.
    “Last week, in the dark of night, House Republicans rushed to pass their so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in the hopes that their massive cuts to American families would go unnoticed. We are here in Oswego County which has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in New York to ensure that doesn’t happen. We are here to shine a light on how the largest cut to food assistance in history could hurtle 108,000 Central New York kids, seniors, and families into a hunger crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump already canceled more than a million pounds of U.S. farm-grown food headed to hungry families in Central New York, and these cuts would be a double whammy. This is not a partisan issue, it is a moral issue. I’m here with our food banks, faith leaders, and farmers on the frontlines to stand up to protect these programs and stop this cruel cut to SNAP. Stealing from anti-hunger programs that feed Central New York families to pay for Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires is as backwards as it gets. There is nothing beautiful about cutting SNAP so children go hungry and can’t learn or have productive lives. Senate Democrats are united in opposing this cruel bill, and we are united with the people to demand the GOP block these SNAP cuts. Otherwise, it will be families here in Central New York that go hungry.”
    Schumer explained how Trump’s USDA has already cruelly canceled $1 billion in food assistance, and his FEMA has indefinitely frozen over $130 million in previously allocated funds, hurting every level of food distribution from regional food banks like the Food Bank of CNY to local food pantries like Catholic Charities Oswego Food Pantry. If these SNAP cuts move forward it would be a triple whammy for Central NY, hurtling the region’s ongoing hunger crisis to unforeseen levels. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for nearly 3 million NY seniors, veterans and families who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. Schumer said that we should be investing more not less in anti-hunger programs, but under the Republican proposal, the average family would be reduced to just $5.00 per day per person. A breakdown of SNAP recipients in Central New York from the Center for American Progress can be found below:

    County

    SNAP Recipients

    % of County on SNAP

    SNAP Retailers

    Cayuga

    9,215

    12.3%

    57

    Cortland

    5,933

    12.9%

    52

    Madison

    6,585

    9.8%

    68

    Onondaga

    68,796

    14.6%

    455

    Oswego

    18,184

    15.4%

    109

    TOTAL

    108,713

     

    741

    Last week, House Republicans passed a bill that would rip $300 billion away from SNAP. This proposal would impact Central New York residents in many ways, including the addition of a work requirement which would raise the age to access SNAP benefits from age 55 to age 64 and only exempt SNAP recipients from work requirements if they have someone younger than 7 years old in their household, down from the current exemption for all families with children under 18 years old.
    Schumer said, “I’m all for reducing any waste or fraud to make the program more efficient, but rushing to pass these massive damaging cuts with no plan while they slash our food banks is a recipe for disaster. Republicans are tying themselves in knots trying to justify these massive cuts. I ask my Republican friends this: which category does a hungry 7 year old fall under: are they waste? Are they fraud? Or are they abuse?”
    Schumer explained the Republican proposal to cut $300 billion from SNAP would inevitably mean costs of feeding families shift to states, who simply do not have the capacity to absorb this massive increase in expenses, risking families going hungry. Under this Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5 – 25% of their state’s SNAP benefits based on the state’s error rate. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), mandating New York State to cover even a modest share of SNAP benefits would shift astronomical costs to the state, with even just 5% increasing New York State’s costs by nearly $3.5 billion from FY2026 to FY2034. The senator said it is impossible to cut this much from federal SNAP funding without ripping food away from hungry children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more.
    These agonizing decisions would be amplified even further at the local level, with non-profits, many of whom have already had their funding cut, unable to fill in the gap. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in SNAP, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. During recessions or economic downturns, these impacts will be even more acute, as more people apply for benefits and state revenue declines, more children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more will be turned away from this vital program due to insufficient federal funding.
    According to CBPP, 20,000 people in NY-22 and 14,000 people in NY-24 reside in households with adults ages 18-64 with school-age children and would likely lose SNAP benefits under this Republican proposal, and Schumer said that is only the tip of the iceberg.
    The proposed SNAP cuts would be a blow to Central New York food banks which have already been hit hard by Trump’s funding freezes and canceled payments. Earlier this year, the USDA canceled $1 billion in food assistance for organizations to purchase locally grown food. USDA programs provide food banks, schools, and other organizations with federal support to purchase local food products from NY farms. At FEMA, $130 million in previously allocated funding for the Emergency and Food and Shelter Program has been indefinitely frozen since January. The program helps local nonprofit organizations provide food and shelter individuals and families who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, hunger or homelessness.
    Trump’s USDA and FEMA cuts have already hit Central New York hard. At the Food Bank of CNY, which delivered over 22.9 million pounds of food and over 19 million meals to families across 11 Upstate NY counties in 2024, USDA cuts have already caused a loss of over $450,000 and may cause additional losses of up to $1 million per year, translating to an estimated 500,000 pounds of food and 100,000 meals annually. At Catholic Charities of Oswego County, which served 2,213 adults, 1,368 children, and 360 seniors in 2024, FEMA cuts will slash as much as $14,000 from their food pantry in Fulton, forcing them to cut back on hundreds if not thousands of meals each year. Elsewhere in Oswego County, USDA cuts jeopardize food security for the 10,000 people served by Oswego County Opportunities last year, including 150 people suffering from intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, chemical addiction, or homelessness, and more than 50 families with pre- / post-partem women and infant children. In Onondaga County, USDA cuts have meant less food available, unhealthier options, and increased competition. At the Interfaith Community Collective food pantry in Syracuse, USDA cuts have already forced pantry staff to reduce the amount of meals served, shorten meal service time, and even turn people away hungry. At New Americans Blessing Box, USDA cuts have made it more difficult to find fresh foods like vegetables, fruits, and meats, as well as culturally targeted foods like Halal chicken, jasmine rice, and spices.
    Schumer said these proposed cuts will limit food banks’ ability to keep shelves stocked as more people have been forced to rely on food banks to feed their families. Food bank workers and religious leaders across Upstate New York are concerned about the impact of potential cuts to SNAP on the people they serve, and farmers are worried there will be nowhere to sell their food if SNAP funding levels drop.
    “No matter which way you slice it, this Congressional Republican plan will screw Central New York families, food banks and farmers from farm to table. We need everyone to stand up to these cuts that would take away food from our neighbors in need,” added Schumer.
    Murray Gould, Food Pantry Director, St. Lucy’s Church of Syracuse, “We at St. Lucy’s Church are grateful for the efforts of Senator Schumer for highlighting this critical issue. We have seen a 40% increase in people seeking our assistance at our pantry in the last nine months. We do know that approximately 75% of our clients receive snap benefits. The proposed reduction in snap as well as the devastating decrease in funding to the food. SNAP cuts will be creating more hunger in our communities. As a faith based community in our neighborhood, these proposed changes can only be described as cruel.”
    Maura Ackerman, Executive Director of the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance, said, “SNAP is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight hunger and poverty, especially for families with children. In a city like Syracuse – with the highest child poverty rate among U.S. cities with populations over 100,000 – that support is not just meaningful, it’s essential. Every SNAP dollar feeds a neighbor and strengthens our local economy, generating nearly twice its value in economic activity. This is about investing in our kids, our communities, and our collective future. We can’t let politics stand in the way of basic human needs. We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for championing this commonsense, bipartisan priority. Making sure children have enough to eat should never be up for debate.”
    Brian Reeves, Owner, Reeves Farm said, “Cuts to food assistance programs have several negative impacts to our communities; fewer people receive adequate nutrition, farmers sell less of their production, and any excess unsold production can over supply the marketplace and drive down the price the farmer receives for the food which does get sold. On behalf of farmers across New York, I would like to thank Senator Schumer for fighting to ensure that critical SNAP dollars keep flowing to help farms like mine continue providing fresh, nutritious, locally grown food to the members of our community who need it the most.”
    Sheila Dion, Founder & Director, Erin’s Angels of CNY said, “Hunger is not a political issue, it is a human issue. Cutting SNAP benefits is not just a budget decision—it’s a moral decision. Oswego County is often cited among the New York Counties with the highest rates of child food insecurity. According to Feeding America, seventy six percent of the families in Oswego County are income eligible for federal nutrition programs. Every day, we see firsthand the impact hunger has on children in our community. These proposed cuts would leave thousands of kids without the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive. At Erin’s Angels, we fill the weekend gap, but SNAP is the lifeline that helps families feed their children the rest of the week. Undermining this program would deepen food insecurity across the country—and hurt the most vulnerable among us. We would like to thank Senator Chuck Schumer for helping to raise awareness of this very important issue and for advocating for the hungry in New York State and in Oswego County. By denouncing SNAP cuts, highlighting the negative effects these cuts will have on millions of New York residents, calling for a coalition to oppose these devastating cuts, demanding action from New York state republicans to oppose these cuts and protect SNAP, securing funding for food banks, advocating for farmers and visiting food banks across the state he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to addressing hunger and supporting those facing food insecurity in New York State.”
    Roseann Bayne, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, CiTi BOCES said, “Cuts to SNAP will deepen the crisis of food insecurity in Oswego County—already among the highest in New York State. Over 26% of adults here are food insecure, and nearly one in four school-age children live in poverty—well above state and national averages. Even small cuts in benefits could push many from low food security into true hunger, especially seniors surviving on below-average Social Security and limited retirement income. And our students? Many arrive at school undernourished, disadvantaged before the day even begins—struggling at times to focus, learn, or thrive. SNAP isn’t about handouts; it’s a lifeline for families, seniors, and individuals doing their best to get by. Many folks here work full-time and still earn far less than the ALICE survival budget. Opinions and misinformed judgment don’t feed people. Policy rooted in compassion and facts does. On behalf of CiTi BOCES, I thank Senator Schumer for coming to Oswego County to advocate for the critical SNAP funds that our community depends on.”
    Peter O. Nwosu, President, SUNY Oswego said, “At SUNY Oswego, we recognize that students cannot achieve academic success while facing food insecurity. That’s why, through our Empire State Service Corps, we’ve established a dedicated team of students who provide peer-to-peer support to help their classmates apply for SNAP benefits. This work reduces barriers and empowers students to focus on their education without the burden of basic needs insecurity. We are committed to sustaining this and other vital services to help our students succeed. We are grateful to Senator Schumer for his ongoing advocacy to expand and protect SNAP access for college students. His continued leadership is instrumental in ensuring that higher education remains accessible and equitable for all.”
    Josh Stephani, Director, Adirondack Food System Network said, “Federal cuts to SNAP have disastrous implications the communities across the Adirondacks, our most vulnerable individuals, and further threaten our food system. Nearly one third of our population is supported by SNAP – children, seniors, and many families are supported through this important program. Alongside rising costs for transportation, housing, and living in the region, many families are already struggling to provide for their families without enough resources. These vital programs work to support our economy and provide for our families in need. Specifically, by cutting SNAP, we are placing further economic hardships on our North Country communities, reducing the $300 million economic benefit of this program into our Adirondack region and putting the health of our neighbors at risk. For the communities who call this place home, these programs are a vital lifeline for their moments of need. On behalf of the Adirondack Food System Network, we thank Senator Schumer for his continued advocacy for these critical and lifesaving programs for our communities, New Yorkers, and the entire country. The Adirondacks are often seen as the last mile for essential services, and we are proud to have the Senator as an advocate for the North Country advocating on our behalf.”
    Proposed rollbacks to the country’s most widely utilized nutrition assistance program would strain budgets for Central New York families. Schumer said decimating funding for SNAP right as costs at grocery stores across the country are skyrocketing will hit Central New York hard. According to the New York State Community Action Association, more than 17% of people in Oswego County live in poverty, including nearly 25% of children. According to No Kid Hungry, over half of New Yorkers reported going into debt in the past year due to rising food costs, with over 60% of families with children. In Oswego County, more than 26% of adults self-report as food insecure per the NYS Department of Health, and over 20% of children are food insecure according to Feeding America. With 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children suffering from food insecurity, Oswego County food insecurity is the highest of any county in Central New York.
    SNAP not only supplements families’ food budgets, it has also generated great economic benefits for New York State and NY-24 specifically. According to the National Grocers Association, grocery stores across New York State sold over $2.1 billion in groceries to people using SNAP benefits, including $103.3 million in NY-24. This created more than 18,500 New York jobs in the grocery industry, including 910 in NY-24, and generated more than $820.8 million in grocery industry wages, including $40.2 million in NY-24.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – May 27, 2025

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

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing at the Department of State, on May 27, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
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    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aSXaDAGow

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Peacekeepers in Abyei Win Top United Nations Military, Police Awards

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    NEW YORK, 27 May — The United Nations has announced the 2024 recipients of the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award and the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.

    Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana will receive the Military Gender Advocate Award and Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone will receive the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May.

    The awards will be presented at United Nations Headquarters in New York by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

    Sharon Syme of Ghana has been named the 2024 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).

    Since her deployment in 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser, Ms. Syme’s work has directly impacted local communities, ensuring the voices and needs of women and girls are integrated into security and peacebuilding initiatives.

    As part of her efforts, she conducted an intensive health campaign for the women and men of the local communities on the dangers and health implications of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices like child marriage.

    Ms. 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.  Her approach emphasized inclusivity, respect and cultural awareness, setting a benchmark for gender-responsive peacekeeping operations.

    “Squadron Leader Syme exemplifies the principles of gender advocacy in peacekeeping,” said Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.  “Her dedication has not only improved the effectiveness of UNISFA’s operations, but also ensured that the mission is more reflective of and responsive to the communities it serves.”

    “Applying gender perspectives into daily tasks is the responsibility of every peacekeeper,” Ms. Syme said.  “Success comes through diversifying military representation at checkpoints, operating bases and on patrols it also comes from having gender-responsive leaders, who listen and respond to the voices of their male and female peacekeepers”.

    Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone has been named the Woman Police Officer of the Year for her innovative community engagement initiatives that helped strengthen relations between host communities and the mission while establishing new crime-reporting channels in Abyei, where there is no functional police service.

    In an area that had no schools when she arrived, she initiated an educational programme, providing materials and visual aids for teaching disadvantaged children.  She also established a mentorship programme 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 nearby Abyei town.

    Currently serving as UNISFA’s Chief Police Training Officer, Ms. 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.

    “Having been inspired by seeing the positive impact of the police first hand, including the rebuilding and restructuring of the Sierra Leone Police following years of conflict, Chief Superintendent Gbla embodies the work of the United Nations to improve lives and shape futures,” said Under-Secretary-General Lacroix.

    “This award symbolizes the tireless work of the women in uniform who serve under the UN flag,” said Ms. Gbla upon hearing of her award.  “Each of us faces unique challenges in our respective missions, yet our collective goal remains the same:  to foster peace and protect the vulnerable.”

    About the Awardees

    Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla joined the Sierra Leone Police in 2002, where she has since held various roles in operations, training and leadership.  She has been serving with UNISFA since April 2023 as Officer-in-Charge of the Community-Based Disarmament Unit and UNPOL Chief Training Officer.  This is her third peacekeeping deployment, after serving with the United Nations – African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2010–2013 and 2020–2021.

    Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme graduated from the Ghana Military Academy after obtaining her first master’s degree in international health at Japan’s Tokyo University.  A year later, she joined the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Corps and is the Deputy Chief Dietician at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana.  Her first peacekeeping deployment, she joined UNISFA in March 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser.

    About the Awards

    The United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote women’s empowerment, in line with UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security.  The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually since 2016 to a military peacekeeper — male or female — who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting the principles of resolution 1325 (2000).  The resolution calls on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women’s participation in peace and political processes.  The resolution also calls for the protection from, and prevention of, conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers.

    The awards ceremony will be held at UN Headquarters on 29 May from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and broadcast live on UN Web TV.

    More information, photos and digital assets on the awardees are available on a dedicated Trello Board.

    For media inquiries and further information, please contact:  Douglas Coffman, Department of Global Communications, at email:  coffmand@un.org; or Sophie Boudre, Department of Peace Operations, at email:  boudre@un.org and Hector Calderon, Department of Peace Operations, at email:  hector.calderon@un.org.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler, Castro, Salazar, and Cherfilus-McCormick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Caribbean Relations

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 5/27/25… Last week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Ranking Member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, introduced the Strengthening US-Caribbean Partnership Act. 

    This bipartisan bill would improve the relationship between the United States and the Caribbean by designating the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent with the International Organization Immunities Act.  

    The International Organization Immunities Act, enacted in 1945, governs how the United States extends the rights and treaties generally accorded to embassies of countries that have diplomatic relations with the United States to international organizations like CARICOM.  

    “The presence of Caribbean-American communities in the Hudson Valley is felt in everything from the food we enjoy to the churches, schools, and small businesses that keep our neighborhoods thriving,” said Congressman Mike Lawler. “By extending privileges and immunities to our partner countries in CARICOM, we can strengthen U.S. ties in the region. I’m eager to support legislation that promotes a foreign policy that reflects the lived experiences of the people I represent.”  

    “Today’s introduction of this bill demonstrates the bipartisan commitment to a strong U.S.-Caribbean relationship,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “This is an important step forward to engage more deeply with the Caribbean and offer our support through CARICOM. We share common interests — by strengthening U.S. ties in the Caribbean, we strengthen our nation’s security, economic well-being, and prosperity.”  

    “I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation extending full diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “As the Representative for Miami, the gateway to the Caribbean and home to one of the nation’s largest Caribbean American communities, I witness daily how our island partners’ success powers Miami’s commerce and tourism enriches our culture. Strengthening these bonds is not only good diplomacy; it is sound economic and national security policy. When the Caribbean thrives, the United States prospers!” 

    “The countless contributions of the Caribbean-American community can be felt and seen in communities across South Florida,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “By strengthening our diplomatic engagement with CARICOM, we’re laying the necessary foundation for enhanced economic, security, and cultural ties that will yield long-term, strategic benefits.” 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Celebrates SALT Relief in House Tax Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    “I’m proud to be delivering long-overdue tax relief to working Americans, middle-class families and senior citizens,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “As our Mayor and Governor continue to tax us to death year after year, our community is in desperate need of SALT relief. This package also includes key provisions like expanding the Child Tax Credit, funding to secure our borders, upgrading our nation’s air traffic control systems, and jumpstarting domestic energy production to help lower energy costs. Together, these measures will provide the critical relief New Yorkers need and deserve.”

     

    “If you look across Staten Island and Southwest Brooklyn, that’s what you have homeowners living in one, two, and three family homes. We want to make sure that as the cost of living continues to rise that we are able to help homeowners keep a bit more money in their pockets, and that is what this SALT deduction restoration is going to be doing. It is going to allow folks to better afford the homes they already have and maybe for some of our aspiring homeowners who are looking to put down that down payment, get a mortgage, it is going to be a little easier knowing that property tax bill is going to be deducted on their federal income taxes,” said Councilman David Carr.

     

    “Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis is a tireless, principled, passionate voice for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn. She doesn’t just talk about helping the middle class — she actually does it. This bill builds on the 2017 Trump tax cuts, and it goes even further — cutting taxes, cutting red tape, and cutting through the nonsense that’s been hammering families like mine for years,” said Councilman Frank Morano.

     

    “Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has consistently fought to ease the financial burden on hard-working families in New York, one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation. Recognizing how unfair the 2017 cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction was to middle-class homeowners, especially in high-tax states like New York, she led the charge in advocating for its restoration and reform. By working to lift the SALT cap, Rep. Malliotakis helped deliver real tax relief to families who were being penalized simply for living and working in their home state. Her efforts not only put more money back into the pockets of New Yorkers but also helped make the region more affordable and economically competitive — a critical step toward preventing the outmigration of residents and businesses,” said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis.

     

    “Raising the SALT cap is a huge win that delivers BIG savings for Staten Island families and seniors. But this is not the end of the road for us here in New York: Albany Democrats are likely already finding ways to snatch those savings right back with more taxes, fees, and reckless policies. That’s what they do best: take, spend, and then cry broke. I will be there to fight them – for you – every step of the way. I am incredibly grateful to have an unrelenting partner in Congresswoman Malliotakis who will go to bat and deliver for Staten Islanders at all costs,” said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.

     

    “The Congresswoman’s successful push to quadruple the SALT deduction to $40,000 is a big win for our community. It eases the financial strain on middle-class homeowners caused by New York’s high property taxes. We appreciate her commitment to our economic well-being,” said the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast, Republicans Blast EU Inaction as Polish Globalists Undermine Free Election

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast led fellow members of the panel in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raising serious concerns over the European Union’s role in ensuring fair elections as Poland approaches the second round of its presidential elections on June 1, 2025.

    Chairman Mast and his fellow Republicans cite recent reports that a Polish NGO with ties to U.S. Democrat Party megadonor George Soros facilitated a social media campaign featuring $105,000 worth of allegedly illegal political ads promoting Civic Coalition candidate Rafal Trzaskowski and discrediting his rivals.

    The new developments follow a monthslong refusal by Poland’s current government to release tens of millions of dollars in public campaign funds to the opposition Law and Justice party.

    “Reports of foreign-funded political advertisements favoring Rafał Trzaskowski, the Civic Coalition (KO) candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, that may have occurred in contravention of Polish law, combined with the Tusk government’s reported monthslong refusal to comply with court orders to release public funding to the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, suggest a deliberate effort to tilt the electoral playing field,” the lawmakers wrote. “These actions, occurring under the European Commission’s watch, expose a troubling double-standard in the EU’s approach to Poland’s rule of law, which demands your urgent attention.”

    In addition to Chairman Mast, the letter was co-signed by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Keith Self (R-TX), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and Andy Harris (R-MD).

    Read the full letter here and below.

    Dear President von der Leyen:

    We write to express profound alarm over reported developments in Poland that may undermine the integrity of its democratic processes, particularly as the country approaches the second round of its presidential election on June 1, 2025. Reports of foreign-funded political advertisements favoring Rafał Trzaskowski, the Civic Coalition (KO) candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, that may have occurred in contravention of Polish law, combined with the Tusk government’s reported monthslong refusal to comply with court orders to release public funding to the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, suggest a deliberate effort to tilt the electoral playing field.  These actions, occurring under the European Commission’s watch, expose a troubling double-standard in the EU’s approach to Poland’s rule of law, which demands your urgent attention.

    On May 15, an investigation by a leading Polish publication reported that a Polish NGO, which received funding from organizations funded by U.S. Democratic Party megadonor George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, facilitated the production of social media advertisements promoting Trzaskowski and discrediting his rivals, PiS-backed Karol Nawrocki and Confederation-backed Sławomir Mentzen.  Several sources also reported that Estratos Digital GmbH—a Vienna-based firm majority-owned by Higher Ground Labs, a U.S. fund operated by major Democratic Party operatives who helped run the U.S. presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris—was behind the approximately 420,000 PLN ($105,000 USD) in allegedly “illegal political ads” posted by the Polish NGO on Facebook since April 10, 2025 in support of Trzaskowski.  Estratos is the same organization that reportedly played a key role backing the anti-Viktor Orban opposition in Hungary’s 2022 elections, allegedly “concealing campaign financing sources, raising additional red flags about their operations in Poland.”

    Equally disturbing are reports of the Tusk government’s monthslong refusal to release tens of millions of dollars in public campaign funding that PiS is legally entitled to receive, defying a ruling by the Supervisory Chamber of Poland’s Supreme Court, a payment demand from Poland’s National Electoral Commission, and an opinion by Poland’s Ombudsman (Human Rights Commissioner) Marcin Wiące to release the money.  Further, by withholding these funds, the Tusk administration appears to be attempting to cripple PiS’s ability to compete fairly in the presidential election and violating the rule of law.

    The European Union, as a guarantor of democratic standards and human rights under the Treaty on European Union, has a responsibility to ensure that member states uphold the rule of law.  Yet, despite the European Commission’s vocal criticism and decision to withhold over $150 billion from Poland for alleged rule of law violations under the previous PiS government, it has remained conspicuously silent despite clear evidence of rule of law violations under Tusk’s administration.  In fact, in February 2024—after the Tusk government ousted and installed a new National Prosecutor without President Duda’s approval in reported violation of Polish law—the European Commission, under your direction, released $7.1 billion (€6.3 billion) of the funds it had been withholding from the PiS government despite the fact that the Tusk government had not yet implemented any of the “milestones” the EU had demanded the previous PiS government complete for their release.  This selective enforcement—condemning and sanctioning PiS while ignoring Tusk’s actions—suggests a double standard that could undermine the EU’s credibility as a guardian of democratic principles.

    These developments also raise critical questions about the integrity of Poland’s democratic institutions and the EU’s role in ensuring fair elections. To address these concerns, we respectfully request that your staff arrange a briefing to answer the following questions:

    1.        What entities provided the $105,000 (420,000 PLN) used for the Facebook advertisements promoting Rafał Trzaskowski, and did any of these funds originate from foreign sources in violation of Polish electoral law?

    2.        What role, if any, did Estratos Digital GmbH and its U.S.-based owner, Higher Ground Labs, play in coordinating or financing these advertisements, and to what extent were U.S. Democratic Party operatives directly involved?

    3.        How does the Commission justify its failure to address the Tusk government’s refusal to release millions of dollars in court-ordered funding to PiS, given its prior sanctions against the prior PiS government for rule-of-law violations?

    4.        Why has the Commission remained silent on Finance Minister Andrzej Domański’s defiance of Poland’s Supreme Court, National Electoral Commission, and Ombudsman rulings, given its previous vocal criticism and aggressive actions against the PiS government?

    5.        What oversight mechanisms, if any, has the Commission implemented to prevent foreign-funded NGOs, such as those linked to George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, from influencing Poland’s 2025 presidential election?

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Modern multi-format spaces: how capital libraries are developing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    There are 440 city-subordinate libraries in Moscow. Since the beginning of the year, readers have borrowed almost 3.2 million publications from them. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

    “Modern Moscow libraries are comfortable multi-format spaces that attract about 10 million people annually. Visitors take books and periodicals, participate in clubs and sections, work in co-working spaces, participate in master classes and meetings with writers,” said Natalia Sergunina.

    From creative circles to festivals

    Over the past few years, the capital’s library network has changed noticeably: institutions have become popular city centers for self-development and creativity. Last year, renovations were completed 13 Moscow librariesAs part of the comprehensive renovation, the premises are being put in order, modern equipment is being purchased, access to wireless Internet is being provided, and the book collections are being replenished.

    More than 30 thousand events are held annually in the capital’s libraries, which attract both city residents and tourists. Everyone is invited to cultural events, festivals, concerts and performances.

    Visitors of all ages are invited to join clubs and sections — vocal, literary and poetic, dance, theater, music, environmental and local history. In addition, reading rooms become part of large-scale projects. Among them are the “Biblionight” campaign and the “Red Square” book festival.

    Step-by-step digitalization

    The library modernization program began in 2018. First, they were connected to a common information system. This allowed the introduction of a single library card (SLC) for all sites. In total, about 1.3 million SLCs have already been issued, 62 thousand of which have been issued since January of this year.

    Another important stage in the digitalization of the library network is the launch of the “Moscow Libraries” service, where you can search for and reserve the books you need. It currently features 15 million publications. Thanks to the online platform, city residents have ordered more than 800 thousand books. Here, users can extend the shelf life of literature, get acquainted with thematic selections, and receive personal recommendations from artificial intelligence.

    History and Innovation

    While becoming even more modern and attractive, libraries retain their identity and individuality.

    For example, the Central City Children’s Library named after A.P. Gaidar is one of the oldest reading rooms for the younger generation in the capital. Its collection contains about 200 thousand books. The library runs the Moscow Summer Reading Program for Children and Teenagers, the Thoughtful Reader contest of reviews and comments, and publishes catalogs of recommended literature.

    The Central Universal Scientific Library named after N.A. Nekrasov is the largest public city reading room in Moscow. Its collection includes more than a million publications in different languages. Play readings, thematic festivals, exhibitions and excursions are held here.

    Moscow Main Archives Opens Electronic Reading RoomSummer Stories: The Moscow Libraries service offers selections of books to read during the holidays

    The Anna Akhmatova Smart Library has a coworking space with free internet, a self-service book checkout station, a multifunctional transformable hall, a recording studio, a cinema hall, and a printing house.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154448073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lynchburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Conspiracy Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg, Virginia man, implicated in a series of incidents involving the illegal possession of a firearm and conspiring to access protected computer systems, pled guilty today to firearm and conspiracy charges.

    Brendon Cole Webber, 28, was arrested in May 2024 for being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Webber pled guilty today to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and two counts of conspiracy against the United States. 

    According to court documents, beginning in 2022, Webber was being supervised by the Lynchburg Community Corrections & Pretrial Services Department (LCCPS). In 2023, Jennifer Leigh Peters assumed the role of Acting Director of the LCCPS. Starting in approximately August 2023, Webber and Peters began a romantic relationship. Peters directly or indirectly supervised Webber’s probation throughout his LCCPS supervision. Peters, because of her role with LCCPS, had access to certain non-public, law enforcement materials, including the Lynchburg Police Department’s Records Management System (RMS). The RMS was a protected computer system that housed confidential non-public, law enforcement material.

    Between November 11, 2023 and January 9, 2024, Webber and Peters conspired to have Webber access RMS information without authorization. Specifically, Peters provided Webber with access to non-public confidential material on RMS, and Webber disseminated that non-public information to others.

    On November 30, 2023, Webber was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm in violation of Virginia law and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Webber and Peters knew there was an active warrant for Webber’s arrest and knew there was an active U.S. Marshal’s fugitive manhunt for Webber’s apprehension.

    Around December 19, 2023, at Webber’s instruction, Peters drove Webber from Lynchburg, Virginia to Hughestown, Pennsylvania with the purpose of obstructing the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive mission. Weber further directed Peters to book a hotel room during the drive. Webber was arrested in Hughestown, Pennsylvania on January 9, 2024.

    Webber previously pled guilty to state charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice, as well as to unlawfully possessing a firearm.

    According to court documents, law enforcement officers were flagged down by a citizen on Fifth Street in Lynchburg after the citizen reported seeing a man fall out of a moving vehicle then shoot a firearm in the direction of the same departing vehicle. The citizen told police the man who shot at the vehicle- ultimately identified as Webber- then ran toward the Family Dollar on Federal Street in downtown Lynchburg.

    Two other individuals driving past the incident witnessed Webber fall out of the vehicle. Webber asked the witnesses for a ride and attempted to enter their vehicle as law enforcement arrived on scene. Police officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9 mm handgun, a white bag containing suspected methamphetamine, and a wallet belonging to an unidentified individual in the back seat where Webber had been sitting.

    Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brandywine Man Sentenced for Federal Identity Theft and Bank, Wire, and Passport Fraud Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, United States District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Llyod Linwood Comer, 63, of Brandywine, Maryland, to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release — with the first seven months on home detention — for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, passport fraud, identity theft, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Assistant Director of Investigations Joseph Jung, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) – Philadelphia Field Division.

    According to Comer’s guilty plea, from 2019 to 2021, Comer and his co-conspirator, Doreen Gilmore, aka Doreen Flummerfelt, 57, conspired to engage in a series of fraudulent schemes involving stolen identities.  The defendants used the names and identifying information of victims to purchase vehicles, and open or attempt to open, bank accounts and obtain bank cards. 

    Vehicles that the defendants acquired by using stolen identities included a 2017 Ford Explorer, fraudulently financed in the amount of $34,710; a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, fraudulently financed in the amount of $20,320; a second 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle, fraudulently financed in the amount of $29,612; and a 2017 Coachmen Leprechaun RV fraudulently financed in the amount of $60,250.  Comer and Gilmore also submitted a mortgage application in Gilmore’s mother’s name, in the amount of $433,200, to purchase a residence in Brandywine, Maryland. 

    Comer and Gilmore sent multiple iterations of the loan application document to the lender over a few weeks, and sent a final, signed application of the loan on May 26, 2020.  They eventually secured a loan, based on the application, to purchase the home in Brandywine. Ultimately, the lender approved the loan, relying on the false and fraudulent information and documents that Comer and Gilmore submitted.

    In addition, Comer obtained a fraudulent United States passport by using identifying information from Gilmore’s deceased brother.  Then on December 13, 2019, Comer used the fraudulently obtained passport to travel to Jamaica for a weeding.

    On June 1, 2021, law-enforcement agencies executed a federal search warrant at the Brandywine residence. During the search, authorities found numerous identification-related documents bearing the names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and/or other identifying information belonging to various victims.  Among other items, authorities found identity documents bearing identification information from Gilmore’s mother and various victims in the residence. 

    During the June 1 search, law-enforcement agents also recovered 13 firearms and more than 6,600 rounds of ammunition.  Comer knowingly possessed the firearms and ammunition.  Authorities proved Comer possessed the firearms and ammunition through digital videos on electronic devices that they recovered during the search.

    Videos show Comer holding and apparently firing some of the firearms at the Brandywine residence.  The firearms and ammunition were “firearms” and “ammunition” as defined by federal law and were manufactured outside the state of Maryland.  Prior to possessing the firearms and ammunition on June 1, Comer was convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, his civil rights had not been restored, and he knew this status when he possessed the firearms and ammunition.

    Gilmore was previously sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, passport fraud, and identity theft.  The court also ordered the defendants to pay $52,355 in restitution to various victim businesses.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DSS and SSA-OIG for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon who prosecuted the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Announces Appointment of New Independent Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Company” or “KYN”) announced today the appointments of Holli C. Ladhani and Michael N. Mears as independent directors of the Company, effective immediately. Following the retirements of Anne K. Costin and Albert L. Richey earlier this year, the appointments of Ms. Ladhani and Mr. Mears return the Company’s Board to eight members, seven of whom are independent.

    Holli C. Ladhani is an experienced executive and board director in the energy, chemicals, power, and infrastructure sectors. Ms. Ladhani most recently served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors of Select Energy Services, Inc., a publicly traded provider of water management and chemical solutions to the energy industry. Prior to that, she was Chairman and CEO of Rockwater Energy Solutions, where she also held earlier executive roles, including Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in her career, Ms. Ladhani served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Dynegy Inc., and began her professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

    Ms. Ladhani currently serves on the boards of Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR), AmSpec, and the forthcoming Amrize spin-off from Holcim (NYSE: AMRZ). She previously served on the boards of Marathon Oil (until its acquisition by ConocoPhillips in 2024), Atlantic Power, Noble Energy, and Rosetta Resources. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of Rice University since 2018. Ms. Ladhani holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Baylor University and an MBA from Rice University.

    Michael N. Mears is an accomplished executive in the energy infrastructure sector and an experienced director in the energy and power sectors. Mr. Mears most recently served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., a publicly traded pipeline and storage company, from 2011 until his retirement in April 2022. He joined Magellan at its formation in 2002 and held several senior leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Transportation and Terminals. Prior to Magellan, Mr. Mears held a range of management positions at Williams Pipeline Company, the predecessor to Magellan, where he began his career in 1985.

    Mr. Mears currently serves on the boards of Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) and Sempra (NYSE: SRE). At Sempra, he chairs the Corporate Governance Committee and serves on the Executive and Compensation and Talent Development Committees. Mr. Mears holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

    “We are honored to welcome Holli and Mike to KYN’s Board of Directors,” said Jim Baker, Chairman, President, and CEO. “Their extensive experience in the energy and power sectors – as both senior executives and directors – will bring valuable insight to our Board. The energy and power infrastructure sectors continue to be very dynamic, and I am confident their insights will strengthen our ability to evaluate opportunities in these sectors with greater perspective,” concluded Mr. Baker.

    Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Company’s investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Company’s most recent quarterly report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms.

    The Company pays cash distributions to common stockholders at a rate that may be adjusted from time to time. Distribution amounts are not guaranteed and may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio holdings and market conditions. 

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider any investor’s specific objectives or circumstances. Before investing, please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.kaynefunds.com or www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment objectives will be attained.

    Contact investor relations at 877-657-3863 or cef@kayneanderson.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Halifax County Felon Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Sakwon Artavas Bowser, age 29, was sentenced on Friday to 5.5 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Bowser pleaded guilty to the charge on February 18, 2025.

    According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, in June 2024, Bowser was wanted on outstanding warrants for common law robbery by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).  On June 6, 2024, law enforcement saw Bowser exit a local mobile home park and attempted a traffic stop.  Instead of stopping, Bowser drove through a restaurant parking lot and then accelerated at a high rate of speed. The officer pursued Bowser as he drove recklessly, passing a vehicle at a stop sign, traveling in the center lane, and reaching speeds of 60 mph in a 35-mph zone.  Bowser continued driving through residential yards of a mobile home park before he jumped from the moving vehicle and continued to flee on foot.  HCSO noticed that Bowser had a backpack in his possession when he jumped out of the car, which he dropped in a wooded area during the foot pursuit. HCSO found Bowser hiding inside one of the mobile homes. A subsequent search of Bowser’s backpack revealed multiple baggies of marijuana packaged individually for distribution, a loaded Glock 17 handgun, a digital scale, and U.S. currency.

    Bowser has a criminal history that spans a decade and includes a prior felony conviction from 2018 for conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  Agencies involved in the investigation include the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00074.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Discovering new NZ music in the streaming age is getting harder – what’s the future for local artists?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Oli Wilson, Professor & Associate Dean Research, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    Getty Images

    New Zealand Music Month turned 25 this year, and there’s been plenty to celebrate – whether it be Mokotron’s Taite Prize-winning Waerea, Lorde’s recent return (though not to New Zealand – yet), or the fact that live performance revenues post-COVID have been strong.

    But for new and emerging local artists, Music Month also highlights a lack of visibility on streaming services and commercial radio, which increasingly favour already famous artists, including ones whose heydays were decades ago.

    During a month when music fans have been encouraged to stream local, see local and buy local, so far the only homegrown artists to appear in this week’s New Zealand Top 40 Singles chart are Lorde and K-pop star Rosé.

    Recently published data shows that as little as 9% of New Zealand streaming, downloads and physical sales revenue is going to local artists. Despite this, according to NZ on Air, 49% of New Zealanders stream music every day. In fact streaming has recently surpassed radio as the main way audiences discover new music, with growing influence from TikTok and Instagram.

    On Spotify, which approximately one in three New Zealanders use every day, only one local track – Corella’s Blue Eyed Māori – featured in the 2024 top-50 year-end local playlist. Streaming increasingly privileges and skews towards established releases from well-known artists, and other artists have little control over social media algorithms.

    While radio remains relevant, with 46% of New Zealanders listening daily, only two nationwide commercial radio stations played more than 20% local music in 2024.

    Structural music industry changes

    The Official Aotearoa Music Charts’ End of Year Top 50 Singles provide another useful indication of local music market share. These charts draw on a wide range of sales and streaming data, and aim to provide an authoritative snapshot of what New Zealanders were buying and listening to in that year.

    Since COVID, we have seen a sharp decline in local artists featuring in these charts. In 2024, the only New Zealander to feature was Corella’s Blue Eyed Māori, and only four New Zealand albums featured in the End of Year Top 50 Albums, three of which were compilations primarily made up of earlier releases.

    Data sourced from aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz, operated by Recorded Music NZ.
    CC BY

    While COVID lockdowns and border closures hugely disrupted the live music sector, we also saw audiences engaging with a lot more local music. Summer festival Rhythm and Vines sold out an all Kiwi lineup, and the amount of local music on radio reached its highest peak since records began.

    This suggests visibility, discoverability and chart success have little to do with the amount or quality of local music being produced. Instead, they are the result of structural changes in the music industries.

    Internationally, this has been linked to the market consolidation and dominance of a small number of big players at the expense of local artists, industry and infrastructure.

    What can be done?

    As global platforms such as Spotify and TikTok have increased their influence on audiences’ ability to discover New Zealand’s music, it’s hard to see a future where business-as-usual will improve the situation for local artists and audiences.

    There are potential solutions, however. Australia has committed to imposing local content quotas on international streamers, and Canada has instituted a revenue sharing system between global streamers and broadcasters.

    Unlike similar markets, such as Australia and Norway, New Zealand lacks a strong public youth broadcaster. Dedicated investment in this area could help support targeted strategies to promote local music.

    Changes in the way local music is funded and nurtured could also help. The government currently funds NZ on Air and the Music Commission, but they have different objectives and obligations. Merging them might streamline decision making and recognise the interconnectedness of the live and recorded music sectors.

    If steps aren’t taken soon, New Zealand will struggle to support a thriving local music economy, and New Zealanders will continue to miss out on hearing themselves in the music they listen to.

    With Music Month drawing to a close, there needs to be a commitment to structural changes that, over time, will see the development of a year-round celebration of New Zealand music.

    Oli Wilson has previously completed research in partnership with or commissioned by APRA AMCOS, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage and the NZ Music Commission. He has also received funding, or contributed to projects that have benefited from funding from NZ on Air, the NZ Music Commission and Recorded Music New Zealand. He has provided services to The Chills, owns shares in TripTunz Limited, and is a writer member of APRA AMCOS.

    Catherine Hoad has completed research in partnership with or commissioned by APRA AMCOS, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage, NZ On Air, Screen Industry Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the NZ Music Commission.

    Dave Carter is a writer member of APRA AMCOS. He has received research funding from Manatū Taongao Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, APRA AMCOS, Music NT, Music Tasmania, The Australian Live Music Office, Arts South Australia, City of Melbourne, Film Festivals Australia, City of Sydney. He has also received funding, or contributed to projects that have benefited from funding, for creative work as a producer and engineer from NZ on Air and APRA AMCOS.

    Jesse Austin-Stewart has completed commissioned research for NZ On Air and participated in focus groups for Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. He has received competitive funding from Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Hertiage, and the NZ Music Commission. He is a writer member of APRA AMCOS and a member of the Composer’s Association of New Zealand and Recorded Music NZ

    – ref. Discovering new NZ music in the streaming age is getting harder – what’s the future for local artists? – https://theconversation.com/discovering-new-nz-music-in-the-streaming-age-is-getting-harder-whats-the-future-for-local-artists-257449

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Only Democrats want to make health care more accessible and more affordable

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – May 20, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. and Shontel Brown for a press conference about the Republican Budget, which kicks millions of Americans off their health insurance and prevents families from meeting their basic needs. 

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: I’m grateful to be joined by Vice Chair Lieu and Dr. Schrier and Representative Brown for joining us here today to talk about the importance of protecting health care and nutrition across this country.

    I want to begin by offering our condolences to the victims of deadly storms in Missouri and Kentucky. We also want to send President Biden and his family our support as they grapple with the former President’s cancer diagnosis. We know that Joe Biden will approach this fight with the same grace that he’s shown throughout his life. We also know that Joe Biden would be the first to say that every American deserves the same level of health care that he is being provided.

    That’s why House Democrats are fighting to protect health care that Donald Trump and House Republicans are attacking. In the dead of night, House Republicans are working to ram through their agenda to kick millions of Americans off of health insurance and to take food assistance from families who need it most. As grocery prices rise, they’re going to take food out of the mouths of mothers, children and veterans, while making health care even more expensive—just for the single purpose of providing more tax cuts for billionaires and corporations who continue to make record profits. Remember: the Republican Budget doesn’t make Medicaid or SNAP more efficient or more fair. All this bill does is ensure that billionaires—who have never had to worry about a hospital bill or putting food on the table—can continue to pay less in taxes than teachers, firefighters and nurses. 

    Only Democrats want to make health care more accessible and more affordable for everyone. Republicans are hellbent on driving up costs for health insurance and ending basic needs programs. They are willing to inflict pain on millions of Americans just to make their campaign donors happy. That. Is. Wrong. And we will continue to fight back at every step for the American people so they can have the peace of mind of a good-paying job with good benefits. 

    Next, I’ll turn it over to Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar, and honored to be joined today by Congressmembers Kim Schrier and Shontel Brown. First, I’d like to talk about the charges against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. Those charges are baseless and politically motivated. Three reasons why: First, Congresswoman McIver had a statutory authority to be at that detention center; she was conducting her oversight duties. Second, if what she did was purportedly so awful that it results in criminal charges, how is it possible they literally gave her a tour of the facility? Afterwards, they escorted her around and gave her a tour of that facility while she was conducting oversight. And third, she was trying to prevent the unlawful arrest of the Mayor of Newark. And guess what? She was right. Because the Trump Justice Department dropped all charges against the Mayor of Newark. So, we asked them to also drop charges against LaMonica. This is a baseless, politically motivated distraction.

    And what are they distracting us from? This big, ugly bill that they’re going to have a meeting on at 1 a.m. in the morning. I mean, who does that, right? You do that because you don’t want the American public to know what’s in your big, ugly bill. But we know what’s in it. It has the largest cut to health care in U.S. history, about a trillion dollars. And then also, it’s going to kick off approximately 14 million people off health care. And why are they doing this? To impose the largest tax cut for billionaires in U.S. history. So that’s basically what this big, ugly bill does. And they’re trying to move it through in the dead of night at 1 a.m. We asked the Republicans to listen to the American people and work on what Democrats are trying to work on, which is lowering the cost of rent and groceries and consumer products. That’s what we should be focused on. And it’s now my honor to introduce the great Representative from the State of Washington, Dr. Kim Schrier. 

    REP. SCHRIER: Well, thank you, Vice Chair Lieu. It’s really an honor to be here, but the reason is outrageous, and I want to express that outrage on behalf of my constituents. That the Republicans at this moment are attempting to make the largest cut ever in Medicaid, and the largest cut ever in SNAP, that would be $715 billion out of Medicaid, which would kick 13.7 million Americans off of their health insurance. And let me just reiterate, why are they doing this? They are doing this to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, like Elon Musk. It is morally bankrupt and it is fiscally, incredibly irresponsible. We just spent 26 and a half hours in the Energy and Commerce Committee last week, spending the vast majority of that time—and by the way, starting at about two o’clock in the morning—talking about these cuts to Medicaid and how they would devastate our constituents and also the broader health care system.

    I want to be clear, one out of three Washingtonians depend on Medicaid. Most of them don’t even know they’re on Medicaid, because we call it Apple Health, and I’m trying to make that point so that people understand how this impacts them personally. So I think about, as a pediatrician, I think about my patients on Medicaid or on Apple Health who will no longer be able to come to their pediatrician’s office for screenings, for a simple cold, for a cough and get treated in a half hour. Now they’re going to go to the emergency room, the most expensive place to get care. They’re going to drive up costs: that cost will be provided for free, and then everybody pays. And I think then about my patients who are not on Medicaid, because they’re going to be waiting longer in the emergency room, they’re going to be paying more. Premiums are going to go up if we want to keep these hospitals and emergency rooms open. And that brings us to other parts of my district, the rural areas, where hospitals may close because they depend so heavily on Medicaid and Medicare. 

    I want to tell you a quick story of a little four-year-old girl named Ila in my district. She is the outcome of a normal, uneventful pregnancy. She was lucky enough to go to our rural hospital called Kittitas Valley Healthcare, and they have a labor and delivery department. She was delivered. There were major complications. She almost died, but they had the staff and the expertise to rescue her, to stabilize her and to Life Flight her to Seattle Children’s. And then I have been reflecting, as have her parents, who are insured, about what would have happened had Medicaid been cut, had labor and delivery there been cut, had she not had that opportunity for rescue and for transport to save her life, and we all know what the answer would have been. I’ve been in hundreds of deliveries. Some go well, some don’t, and you don’t always know until that moment. So I want to emphasize, Medicaid is part of the three-legged stool that is our health care system. If Medicaid is cut in this dramatic way, that stool will fall. It’ll mean hospital closures, higher rates for all of us, emergency room long waits, a sicker community and a poorer community and it is reckless and morally reprehensible. So at this point, I’m going to turn this over to Representative Shontel Brown from Ohio to talk about the terrible cuts that they are doing to food benefits, also for our most vulnerable populations. Thank you. 

    REP. BROWN: Thank you, doctor. Good morning, everyone. I’m Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Vice Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee and representing Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. I’m honored to be here along with Chair Aguilar, Vice Chair Lieu and Congresswoman Schrier. Last week, we saw this legislation up close in the Agriculture Committee, and Ranking Member Craig and my Democratic colleagues on Agriculture fought this legislation for two days. I didn’t just read the bill, I felt it. I felt the cruelty. I felt the callousness. And let me tell you, I was angry. I am still angry. $300 billion in cuts. Let me repeat that: $300 billion in cruel, calculated cuts to nutrition programs. And on top of that, onerous new restrictions and requirements that are designed to deny people the help they need. If this bill passes, millions—yes, millions—of Americans are going to lose nutrition benefits they desperately need. And for what? The biggest cut to food assistance in history, just to hand millionaires a $68,000 tax break, and the top .1 percent a staggering $300,000?

    Let me tell you what this means for my community. One in five. One in five households in my district in Northeast Ohio rely on SNAP. That’s not some statistic from somewhere. That’s my neighbors, that’s my family. Those are my church members. It is me. Because growing up, I was one of those households. And the issue of work requirements really hits home for me, literally. I had epilepsy growing up. I had petit mal seizures and my mother—my strong, brave, exhausted mother—couldn’t work, not because she didn’t want to, but because she couldn’t leave her child who might collapse at any moment. My mom didn’t want to be on food stamps. No parent wants that, but we needed it. And this bill, this bill, would have denied us that lifeline. We’re taking assistance away from people that need it to give those resources to people that don’t.

    Make no mistake, this is not fiscal responsibility. This is not belt-tightening. This is a giveaway. People who rely on SNAP, they’re not leading easy lives. They’re caregivers. They have people at home with disabilities and serious illnesses, children. And these folks are not hard to find. I had one woman contact me, Cheryl from Cleveland Heights. She’s retired. Her husband is disabled. Her father is 92 years old and he’s disabled. She worked in advertising for 25 years. Now, she’s got a house full of people to take care of, and they rely on SNAP. This bill punishes Cheryl and people like her. It takes away the basic benefits they need to survive, all to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. And make no mistake, this bill will make us sicker. This bill will make us poorer. This bill will make us weaker. So it is my privilege to stand here with my colleagues and fight this bill. We cannot let this pass. 
     

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 26th, 2025 Heinrich Releases Statement on Memorial Day: “Their Sacrifice Will Never be Forgotten”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in commemoration of Memorial Day:
    “Today on Memorial Day, we honor all those who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country. We reflect on their boundless courage, their proud legacies, and their steadfast commitment to serving the greater good — often at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
    “In 1942, 29 members of the Navajo Nation joined the U.S. Marine Corps to pioneer what would become one of the most impactful programs of World War II: the Navajo Code Talkers. These 29 Diné recruits helped change the tide of the war.
    “During Iwo Jima, over 800 encrypted messages were sent by six code talkers, without anything written down. Navajo Marines deciphered and coded each line in real time, on the front lines and under fire. By the end of World War II, almost 400 Diné Marines were serving around the world as Code Talkers, in addition to yet other Tribal members, including the Hopi Code Talkers in the U.S. Army.
    “From the Long Walk and forced relocations to the tragic legacy of Indian boarding schools, the United States has inflicted horrific harms on the Diné and Hopi people. But when the time came to mobilize against authoritarianism, these brave men stepped forward and helped the world prevail against hate.
    “This year, I especially want to recognize the long record of service to our nation by people who call New Mexico home. Though many of the Code Talkers are no longer with us, their sacrifice will never be forgotten. In their name, we will stand up for what is right, against hate, and in service to this country and to each other.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 101st Anniversary of The United States Border Patrol

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
     
    A PROCLAMATION

    For 101 years, members of the United States Border Patrol (USBP) have courageously served as guardians of our sovereignty and protectors of our homeland against invasion, aggression, and violence.  Every day, Border Patrol agents selflessly risk their lives to repel the flow of deadly drugs, weapons, criminals, and terrorists — many of whom come to our shores from jails, prisons, and mental institutions in far-flung countries across the globe.  On this anniversary of the United States Border Patrol, we honor every agent for their honorable service and pledge to support them in their mission to keep Americans safe.

    For decades, the USBP has maintained the thin line between order and chaos.  Unfortunately, the last administration — in an extraordinary act of deception and betrayal, imported an army of unvetted illegal aliens, including violent criminals, thugs, gang members, and terrorists from the darkest and most dangerous parts of the world.  Their arrival over the last 4 years ushered in record-shattering levels of immigrants illegally coming into our country while at the same time depleting resources and draining the morale of our incredible USBP agents.

    The tide turned on January 20, 2025.  One of my first actions as President was declaring a National Emergency at the southern border of the United States, which provided additional authority to the Department of Defense to support the Federal Government’s response to the crisis.  I also designated cartels and other transnational organizations, such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as foreign terrorist organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists in order to end their campaign of violence and bloodshed on our homeland.  Additionally, I have resumed our border wall construction, reinstated the Remain in Mexico policy, halted the practice of catch-and-release, ended asylum for illegal border crossers, deployed thousands of American soldiers to defend and protect our borders, and implemented the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.

    Within my first 100 days in office, daily border encounters dropped 95 percent, and migrant crossings declined by an astounding 99.99 percent.  In March, our Nation saw the lowest monthly number of border encounters in recorded history — and fentanyl traffic fell by 54 percent compared to March of the previous year.  Also in my first 100 days, my Administration arrested more than 150,000 and deported more than 135,000 illegal aliens.  Under my leadership, our USBP agents are not only receiving the resources they need to do their job but also the respect they have earned and deserve — and our work is only just beginning.

    As we celebrate 101 years of the USBP, we honor the thousands of patriots who dedicate their careers to defending our borders and upholding the rule of law, even in the face of grave danger and tremendous risk.  Above all, we pay tribute to every brave soul who has perished in the line of duty while proudly serving our Nation.  In their memory, and in honor of their beloved family members, we pledge to empower the USBP to safeguard the American homeland today, tomorrow, and beyond.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 28, 2025, as a day in celebration of the 101st Anniversary of the United States Border Patrol.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The population crisis in Greece and the need for a European regeneration strategy – E-002028/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002028/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    Greece is experiencing the fastest population decline within the EU and the third fastest worldwide after war-torn Ukraine. It is a silent but existential crisis that is eroding the country’s national continuity, social cohesion and economic prospects. Emigration and low birth rates are depriving the country of young workers, householders and taxpayers, leading to ageing and desolation. The policies implemented to date are fragmented and inadequate. Europeans are not asking for short-term benefits but for a serious, long-term strategy for demographic regeneration.

    In view of this:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to recognise the need to boost the birth rate of native-born people as a political priority, propose an ambitious European plan to support young families and abandon, at long last, spurious policies to solve the demographic problem within the Union through the naturalisation of illegal immigrants?
    • 2.Does it intend to proceed with the establishment of a stable, long-term framework that will strengthen countries with an acute population problem such as Greece, by providing financial and tax incentives, facilitating the acquisition of a first home and offering support to start a family?
    • 3.What measures does it intend to put in place to reverse the ongoing desertion of the European periphery and promote the sustainable settlement of young families in rural and island areas, where population collapse is already a reality?

    Submitted: 20.5.2025

    Last updated: 27 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Global helps the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia deal with climate risk

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia (NBRNM) have successfully completed a comprehensive climate risk capacity-building initiative under the Greening Financial Systems (GFS) Advisory Programme. The project involved over 50 experts from the NBRNM, strengthening their ability to assess and address climate-related risks, boost green investments among local businesses and support a sustainable economic transition by developing tailored financial regulation with support from the EIB’s Advisory team.

    This technical upskilling will position the NBRNM to share these competences with local financial institutions, enabling them to conduct climate vulnerability assessments and integrate climate scenarios into strategic planning. The local institutions can then provide tailored, informed guidance to local companies on the investments needed to address the climate risks specific to their business.

    Anita Angelovska Bezhoska, Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, stated: “Building resilience to climate-related financial risks is no longer optional – it is a strategic imperative. Through our valuable partnership with the EIB under the Greening Financial Systems programme, we have significantly enhanced our institutional capacity to integrate climate considerations into our regulatory and supervisory frameworks. Not only does this strengthen our bank’s role in safeguarding financial stability, but it also supports the broader financial sector in adapting to the realities of a changing climate.”

    EIB representative to North Macedonia Björn Gabriel said: “Through this collaboration, we are fostering investments in energy efficiency and climate adaptation among Macedonian companies, making a meaningful contribution to the future resilience and competitiveness of the national economy.”

    Beyond training, the GFS programme has enabled several complementary initiatives, such as the development of Physical and Transition Climate Risk Hazard Maps for North Macedonia and a national survey on climate risk awareness and sustainability practices among companies. It has also provided strategic support on climate-related financial reporting, helping align the NBRNM and the broader financial sector with global frameworks.

    The EIB’s Greening Financial Systems programme is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The programme contributes to the NDC Partnership, helping financial regulators align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Measures to prevent social exclusion owing to the housing crisis – E-000993/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the impact of the housing crisis particularly affecting vulnerable people.

    To help tackle it, the Commission will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan (EAHP) to support national, regional and local authorities to address structural drivers of the housing crisis and to add value at the European level while respecting the subsidiarity and proportionality principles.

    EU funds and programmes have already played an important role in implementing policies, reforms, and realising investments to ensure social, affordable and sustainable housing: i) The Recovery and Resilience Facility, the European Regional Development Fund , the European Social Fund+, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the InvestEU programme are among the major EU instruments to support relevant projects and investments[1]. ii) The Commission published a toolkit on the use of EU funds for investments in social housing and associated services[2]. iii)

    In April 2025, the Commission put forward a legislative proposal to enhance the mid-term review process of cohesion policy programmes and to allow Member States and regions to double the planned investments in affordable housing for their 2021-2027 programmes.

    iv)The Commission is working with the European Investment Bank, as well as international financial institutions, national promotional banks and other stakeholders, to establish a pan-European investment platform for affordable and sustainable housing. v) The forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy will lay down a complementary approach on addressing social exclusion.

    The Commission reaffirms that in the context of the EAHP, it will carefully consider the matters described by the Honourable Member.

    • [1] Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRP) include measures worth at least an estimated EUR 21.3 billion that contribute to social housing and other social infrastructure for social inclusion purposes alone. In addition, the RRPs also cover measures promoting affordable housing. EUR 10.4 billion in total investment is planned, involving an EU budget contribution of EUR 7.5 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund (CF) and Just Transition Fund (JTF). In particular, the ERDF focuses on the provision and improvement of physical housing infrastructure, including through energy efficiency measures . The InvestEU programme earmarked EUR 2.8 billion for the Social Investments and skills window (including other priorities such as microfinance, social finance and social impact) and EUR 9.9 billion for the sustainable infrastructure window. The European Social Fund+ (ESF+) can support Member States in facilitating access to housing and promoting integrated services, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights . An exact amount indicating the amount of the ESF+ funds allocated only to housing-related actions cannot be determined.
    • [2] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/042f7559-fd3f-11ee-a251-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.
    Last updated: 27 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Energy policy: strategic dependence on the US – E-000241/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    A key pillar of the REPowerEU plan, setting out the EU’s path to phasing out Russian energy imports, entails the EU diversifying gas imports from global partners, including the United States (US).

    The EU and its Member States have made great progress in recent years in terms of gas supply diversification and will continue to strive for a gas supply as diversified as possible, working with partners like Norway, the US, Mediterranean countries and other gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) suppliers worldwide, while accelerating its clean energy transition and stepping up work on affordability and sustainability.

    Diversifying energy supplies also entails accelerating deployment of home-grown renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency, which improves the resilience and increase EU’s energy independence while advancing our climate objectives.

    The Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Markets Package stipulates that contracts for unabated fossil gas cannot run beyond 31 December 2049[1].

    Domestic energy production reduces dependence on external suppliers and reduces the exposure of the EU to external geopolitical instability. Therefore, domestic energy reinforces the security of energy supply of the EU.

    Moreover, it is for Member States to decide their supply mix and the energy sources they want to develop, while complying with climate objectives.

    Fossil fuel extraction is not eligible for EU financial support. Natural gas infrastructure other than those under Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 are not eligible for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility.

    • [1] Article 31(3) of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen.
    Last updated: 27 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jonathan Carter reports on This Week at DHS:

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

    Project Homecoming returned illegal aliens that self-deported back to their home countries. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin hold press conference at ICE. Secretary Noem addressed the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2025 where she congratulated the graduates and announced Force Design 2028: the bold blueprint to transform the US Coast Guard into the finest maritime fighting force. DHS recognizes Memorial Day and honors our heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2025: Resilience pays: financing and investing for our future

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Furthermore, just when increasing insurance coverage should be a priority, current insurance and risk transfer markets are becoming less effective as tools for pooling and transferring disaster risk. Rising insurance premiums, driven by climate change impacts, are making coverage unaffordable for many households in climate-affected countries such as Australia.

    Similarly, in the United States, where insurance is mandatory as part of house mortgage approvals, the average cost of home insurance rose from $1,902 to $2,530 between 2020 and 2023. In postcodes with the highest disaster risk, the increases were much larger, and there is increasing evidence that insurance companies are even withdrawing from what are perceived as high-risk locales.

    There is a clear danger that as insurance becomes less affordable, fewer people will buy into it, pushing up costs higher and in turn leading insurers to withdraw from high-risk markets, despite the fact that these may be where the needs are most acute. This spiral can have damaging knock-on impacts: for example, property prices may fall as businesses and homeowners are unable to get mortgages or other finance in areas considered too high-risk or “uninsurable”.

    Even in areas where insurance remains available, there is no guarantee that coverage will continue indefinitely. As policies are usually renewed annually, the price of insurance can rise dramatically, or coverage may even be withdrawn in the wake of a disaster.

    Keeping risk transfer sustainable requires re-imagining and revitalizing risk transfer solutions such as innovations in disaster parametric insurance and the design of social safety net and risk transfer products that include build-in risk prevention incentives for consumers to make their homes safer and more resilient before a disaster occurs. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GAR 2025 Hazard explorations

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Multi-hazard events

    Multi-hazard events compound and even increase losses beyond the sum of their parts. Analysis of the last century of data recorded in the Emergence Events Database (EM-DAT)  maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium shows that while only around 19% of disasters are classified as multi-hazard, these events account for almost 59% of the total economic losses.

    Multi-hazard events can also result in compounded costs, eroding coping capacity as affected households contend with multiple threats simultaneously. Understanding multi-hazard risk and building this analysis into cost-benefit analysis can improve the effectiveness of preparedness actions and infrastructure investments.  Multi-hazard integrated investments in reducing disaster risk can have cascading benefits on SDG achievement globally from enhancing food security, to improving air quality, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Between 2000 to 2023, five hazards triggered 90 per cent of disaster deaths: earthquakes (50%), extreme heat (18%), storms (14%), floods (8%), and droughts (2%).  Reducing the risk to these disasters can act as a powerful lever to accelerate sustainable development.

    Annual average losses

    Overall, the annual average loss for critical infrastructure sectors due to these three hazards globally is USD 257.2 billion.

    There are significant regional differences in losses however, with USD 2.3 billion of losses in Africa, USD 103.7 billion in the Americas, USD 126.9 billion in Asia, USD 56.7 billion in Europe and USD 5.9 billion in Oceania. Lower USD losses in Africa do not necessarily mean less of an impact on GDP or sustainable development.

    Taking a multi-hazard approach is important for investment as it helps give a more comprehensive picture of how to better reduce the risk of recurrent disasters. For example, in 2023, North America had by far the greatest economic exposure to disasters overall, with USD 69.57 billion in direct losses. These nevertheless represent a relatively modest share (0.23%) of subregional GDP. Micronesia, on the other hand, incurred only a fraction of these net losses – USD 4.3 billion – but with a far greater relative impact (46.1%) on its subregional GDP.

    The impact of a disaster on a country’s economy also depends on its policies, investments and development levels. Disaster-related losses can fluctuate significantly from year to year, depending on conditions. In the case of North America, for instance, while the annual cost of disasters as a proportion of GDP was 0.23% in 2023, in 2005 the proportion was almost seven times higher at 1.74% as storms like Hurricane Katrina exposed vulnerable cities like New Orleans to significant losses that year. However, because many of these losses were covered by insurance, the risk was shared across the public and private sectors.

    In contrast, in small island developing states such as Micronesia, where the cost of disasters as a share of national GDP was 0.03% in 2006 and a massive 46% in 2023, risk transfer mechanisms that can share losses across the public and private sector were much less prevalent. As a result, the national economy was much more acutely affected.

    For more information see the GAR 2025 chapter 2, 4 and 5.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GAR 2025 Hazard explorations: Earthquakes

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Future earthquake risk

    Making sound investments to build resilience is highly effective in countering seismic risk. But in key sectors such as infrastructure this is still not happening enough, meaning more people and assets are being left in harm’s way.

    The Dominican Republic in 2015 had a baseline average annual loss figure of 1.55 deaths per 100,000 habitants from earthquakes. According to analysis by the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) team, without stepped up risk reduction action, this is projected to increase to 1.69 deaths per 100,000 people by 2030 and 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people by 2050, mainly due to demographic growth, urbanization and policy choices. While the Dominican Republic has already invested in developing strong seismic codes, it faces challenges in enforcing them and in retrofitting existing housing stock. However, these future impacts could be significantly reduced with stepped-up action on seismic risk management. 

    Solutions vary across locations, but in this case, code enforcement was identified as the most effective long-term mitigation action at the national level: with this option, the number of deaths could fall to 1.40 fatalities per 100,000 habitants by 2030 (a drop of 17 percent, compared to no action being taken) and 1.33 by 2050 (a reduction of 26 percent). However, a retrofitting campaign, would also have significant impact, leading to a 4 percent reduction compared to the baseline scenario by 2030 and a 7 percent reduction by 2050. The investment would be particularly effective in rapidly growing cities with high concentrations of informal construction, such as Santiago de los Caballeros and Puerto Plata.

    Across the whole of Central America, the same opportunities to reduce seismic risk are evident. Without increased investment in seismic resilience, earthquake-induced economic losses across Central America are projected to double by 2050, reaching up to USD 4.4 billion. If code enforcement, building quality and urban planning remain inadequate, seismic risk is expected to rise significantly in the years to come, especially in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. On the other hand, countries such as Panama and Costa Rica are expected to see lower increases in risk, as they have already begun enforcing building codes and have lower population growth projections.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GAR 2025 Hazard explorations: Droughts

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

    Like floods, droughts are also widespread and affect countries in every region of the world. In the decade to 2017, drought affected at least 1.5 billion people and cost USD 125 billion globally. The number of recorded droughts has increased by 29 per cent over the past 20 years. Since 2000, most drought-related deaths have occurred in Africa. Droughts often have a range of indirect impacts such as increased water scarcity, with significant direct and indirect impacts on human and planetary wellbeing. 

    These impacts are especially acute for marginalized groups, including children. As of 2025, over 920 million children (over one-third of the global child population) were highly exposed to water scarcity, which in turn impacts on their nutritional access. Africa and Asia demonstrate the most severe extremes. Children who lack adequate nutrition are more susceptible to severe diseases, impairing physical and cognitive development and are more susceptible to conditions such as stunting and wasting.

    Drought

    A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather characterized by a prolonged deficiency of precipitation below a certain threshold over a large area and a period longer than a month (WMO, 2020).

    Impact of water scarcity on child nutrition

    Source: UNICEF 2021

    Water scarcity in many parts of the world is also associated with a decrease in women’s well-being. For instance, daily average water collection time for women in households without on-site water access at the local level across Africa can exceed 60 minutes in parts of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. These countries also report very low rates of access to safe drinking water services, with just 10-20% of the total population covered. Rising temperatures are expected to further exacerbate this global burden of water collection. However, the impacts of water scarcity can be significantly reduced by disaster risk reduction action, investments that also deliver a range of additional benefits.

    Agriculture is the most vulnerable economic sector to adverse climate impacts.  Some 82% of all damage and loss caused by drought was borne by agriculture in low- and lower-middle-income countries between 2008 and 2018. Meteorological drought does not always lead to agricultural drought, which depends on factors like the timing and amount of rainfall during the crop season, and how well the soil retains water. Drought causes short- and medium-term water shortages to livestock and crops (including fodder), potentially lowering yields and ultimately threatening food security. In the case of prolonged or recurring droughts, longer-term impacts can transpire, such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion along river systems with reduced water flow.  

    Based on historical data, recent estimates suggest that their impacts cost approximately USD 307 billion annually. These losses however, as estimated by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), are not confined solely to direct damage in affected sectors but also encompass indirect, long-term costs that ripple through the economy, such as loss of livelihoods and land degradation.

    Remarkably, despite their significant and growing impacts, and studies that have provided estimates for specific sectors, but a robust, cross-sectoral AAL estimate for drought and extreme heat is still missing. For instance, recent research by UNCDD on droughts highlights how they weaken agricultural production, reduce water availability and compromise the resilience of natural ecosystems, thereby affecting the livelihood of more than 1.8 billion people annually. Initial work has been done by CDRI to estimate the AAL of drought on the hydro-power sector, suggesting that roughly 12.9% of average hydropower production (the equivalent of 135.3 TWh/h of electricity) was impacted. Being able to have similar estimates for other drought sensitive sectors would help countries to design better risk reduction policies and investments.

    Future Drought risk

    Drought risk continues to intensify in many parts of the world, driven by climate change, water scarcity, poor resource management and unsustainable land use. According to forecasts, by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population. Human activity is also contributing to the increasing frequency of drought and has knock-on direct impacts on food security and human wellbeing. Assessing the current economic impact of drought, let alone its potential effects in future, is not easy given that so many of its impacts are indirect, and even the start and end dates of drought events are not always clear. However, at present drought-induced losses are estimated to cost approximately USD 307 billion each year, representing 15% of disaster-related economic losses globally, and are responsible for 85.8% of livestock deaths.

    Nevertheless, there is promising work underway to improve risk analysis, using advanced modelling and the deployment of machine learning. The 2024 Drought Resilience +10 Conference (DR+10) affirmed joint efforts to strengthen drought resilience through integrated drought management and other proven approaches. However, more is needed to strengthen international collaboration around the drivers of globally networked risks – for instance, the trade and food security impacts from droughts in different parts of the world) – across regions, nations, sectors and communities.

    For the big five major hazard groups (earthquakes, floods, storms, drought and heat) the recorded direct economic costs came to over USD 195.7 billion in 2023, constituting 0.015% of global GDP that year.

    Hazard: Earthquakes

    Earthquakes account for over a quarter (25.6%) of global economic disaster losses.

    Hazard: Floods

    Recent data suggests that floods account for up to 35–40% of weather-related disaster occurrences.

    Hazard: Storms

    In some regions, storms account for up to 35% of total recorded disaster costs, driven by high winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.

    Hazard: Droughts

    Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

    Hazard: Extreme heat

    In recent years, extreme heat has become the leading cause of reported weather-related deaths

    .

    GAR 2025 report

    As climate change continues to escalate, the number of recorded disasters and their associated costs rise correspondingly.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Uniting Labor and Community – IAM Midwest Territory’s H.E.L.P.S. Program

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    This article was featured in the Summer 2025 IAM Journal and was written by IAM Communications Representative John Carr.

    IAM Local 1202 and IAM District 8 delivered toys to deserving children around Aurora, Ill through the Aurora Fire Department as part of its annual toy drive.

    The IAM Midwest Territory continues to demonstrate its commitment to community service through its “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program. This initiative, which stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing, and Servicing, reflects the union’s mission to make a positive impact beyond the workplace.

    For IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli, service is more than just an obligation it’s a core value of the labor movement. A 37-year IAM member, Cicinelli has long believed that unions should not only advocate for workers’ rights but also strengthen the communities where members live and work. Since stepping into his leadership role, he has championed IAM H.E.L.P.S. as a vehicle to spread the values of compassion, advocacy, and mutual support.

    “Service is the heart of solidarity,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Through IAM H.E.L.P.S., we lift each other up, strengthen communities, and prove that the labor movement is about more than just work, it’s about making a meaningful difference.”

    Each year, every Midwest Territory District and unaffiliated Local sponsors a H.E.L.P.S. event to support local community or others that are in need. By organizing events and volunteer efforts, IAM members strengthen communities, support those in need, and uphold the values of solidarity and service to the community. The events also foster solidarity among members and reinforce their union values.

    “Many of us take a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, or a simple winter coat for granted,” said Kristy Kerr, Vice President for District 6 and Local 254’s Recording Secretary. “But for those struggling, these acts of kindness can be life changing. It’s not just about giving back it’s about creating continuing change.”

    Meals for Children in Need

    FIAM District 5, and members from Locals 2525, W33, and W384, performed their yearly IAM H.E.L.P.S event at the Great Plains Food Bank.

    In December 2024, IAM Midwest Territory staff participated in their annual charity event at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Schaumburg, Ill. Volunteers packed 143 boxes of scientifically formulated meals designed to combat child malnutrition.

    These meals will sustain 85 children with daily nourishment for an entire year, ensuring they have the necessary nutrition to grow and thrive. The IAM’s continued partnership with FMSC highlights the union’s dedication to humanitarian efforts beyond national borders.

    “FMSC Coordinators said we were not only the largest group to volunteer, but also the most productive, having packed more meals than any other group,” said Dan Michalski, a Local 701 Member and ASE Master Certified Journeyman Technician. “Many members brought their families with them to help and experience the effort giving it a real family atmosphere. The H.E.L.P.S. projects not only brings union members together, it brings families together to participate to do something for a greater cause.”

    Getting Community Members Back on Their Feet

    In November 2024, members of IAM Local 1010 and IAM District 6 came together for a service event at Hope Haven, a nonprofit organization in Iowa that provides vocational, residential, and community living services to needy individuals. IAM members dedicated their time and effort to improving the organization’s grounds, creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment for its residents and participants. Their work included landscaping, cleaning, and general maintenance to ensure that the space remains a supportive haven for those who rely on its services.

    Keeping Our Commitment to Those Who Served

    In September and October 2024, IAM Local 254 and IAM District 6 focused on supporting homeless veterans in the Des Moines area. Recognizing the pressing need for resources as colder months approached, IAM members coordinated an initiative to collect winter clothing, hygiene essentials, and other necessities packed into backpacks.

    This project provided much-needed relief for veterans who have served their country but are now facing difficult circumstances. Through these efforts, IAM members demonstrated their unwavering support for those who have sacrificed so much, reinforcing the union’s dedication to service and advocacy.

    “We have a real homeless problem, especially amongst veterans who have given so much for our country. It’s our duty to step up and support them in their time of need,” said Kristy Kerr, Vice President for District 6 and Local 254’s Recording Secretary. “Getting volunteers isn’t easy, but if you can get the buy-in from your members, even if it’s just once, that usually starts to snowball amongst others, and they bring in more volunteers. We’re not just giving back, we’re creating lasting change.”

    Every Child Deserves a Safe, Secure Night’s Rest

    Kristy Kerr and her daughter Kenna turned a H.E.L.P.S. event into a family affair.

    In June 2024, members of IAM Locals 41, 313, and 660 from District 9 collaborated with Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Alton, Ill., to build beds for local children in need. This initiative, part of the IAM Midwest Territory’s H.E.L.P.S. program, reflects the union’s commitment to community service and ensuring that no child sleeps on the floor.

    “It brings a lot of locals together throughout the District,” said Local 313 Vice President and District 9 Delegate Garrett Gerdes. “When union members come together for a cause bigger than themselves, the impact is extraordinary. Whether it’s feeding children, supporting veterans, or providing essentials for families, our efforts show that the IAM is always ready to lend a helping hand.”

    Clothing Donations Help Local Children

    The Midwest Territory’s commitment to community service extends even further, as seen in past initiatives such as IAM District 8 members from Locals 126, 1000, 2068, 49 and 48 came together in mid-December to make a difference in the community by volunteering at Cradles to Crayons in Chicago, a nonprofit dedicated to providing essential items to children who face clothing insecurity. During their volunteer efforts, IAM members played a vital role in sorting donations and preparing approximately 640 quality clothing items for distribution to local children. This effort aims to help many families that struggle to provide essential clothing, directly impacting the lives of at-risk children. It ensures children have access to the basic items necessary for confidence, safety, and success.

    Giving Back to Our Military Veterans

    IAM Local 254 and IAM District 6 organized an event under the IAM Midwest Territory H.E.L.P.S. initiative to support homeless veterans in the Des Moines area.

    IAM District 77 has also been a leading example of volunteerism within the program, and their consistent dedication to IAM H.E.L.P.S. events. IAM District 77 members recently volunteered their time to support the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), an organization that works to provide housing services to veterans and former service members who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

    During the holiday season, IAM Midwest Territory staff brought warmth and cheer to the homeless by organizing meal services and distributing essential items. These efforts provided comfort and sustenance to individuals facing hardship, highlighting the union’s commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of society.

    Chicago based IAM Mechanics Local 701 members also contributed to the community by participating in various service projects, including supporting local shelters and food banks. Their involvement has made a tangible difference in the lives of many residents, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of the IAM H.E.L.P.S. program.

    Through each of these events, IAM Midwest Territory and its members reaffirm their commitment to making a difference. The IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community program is about fostering a culture of service and advocacy that strengthens neighborhoods, supports the most vulnerable, and upholds the core values of the labor movement. As IAM members continue to step up and give back, they embody the true spirit of unity and compassion, proving that the labor movement extends far beyond the workplace and into the heart of the community.

    Every year, the recipients of the IAM Midwest Territory Helping Hands Awards, affectionately known as the “IAM Helpy’s” honor IAM Districts and unaffiliated Locals that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their communities through the “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program.

    New Year, New Initiative Added

    For 2025, Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli has announced a new initiative geared towards the IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines. The new initiative, known as the Top Dog Award, will feature a “traveling” doghouse-shaped plaque. The annual winner will have bragging rights for the year being the top revenue generator and get to display the traveling trophy in their District or Local for the year.

    The idea behind the plan is to foster friendly competition amongst the states of the Midwest Territory, making the fundraising effort more of a good-natured and competitive series of events that also fosters team building while increasing fundraising across the territory.

    Carolyn Clark puts a finishing touch on the new Top Dog Award. The plaque was handcrafted by the Winpisinger Center’s own John Wible.

    “These programs aren’t just about volunteerism,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “It’s about building stronger communities and reinforcing the values of service, solidarity, and compassion that define our union. Every event, every hour volunteered, and every donation makes a difference in someone’s life, and that’s what being part of the IAM is all about.”

    Through the IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community program, IAM Midwest Territory members are proving that unions are about more than just workplace rights they are about uplifting people in every aspect of life. The program serves as a model for how organized labor can build stronger, more compassionate communities.

    The success of IAM H.E.L.P.S. should inspire IAM members everywhere to look beyond the workplace and find ways to make a difference in their communities. Every act of service strengthens the bond between the IAM and the people it serves, proving that the labor movement is, and always will be, about lifting people up together. 

    The post Uniting Labor and Community – IAM Midwest Territory’s H.E.L.P.S. Program appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mars Roundtrip Success Enabled by Integrated Cooling through Inductively Coupled LED Emission (MaRS ICICLE)

    Source: NASA

    Aaswath Pattabhi RamanUniversity of California, Los Angeles
    Exploration of Mars has captivated the public in recent decades with high-profile robotic missions and the images they have acquired seeding our collective imagination. NASA is actively planning for human exploration of Mars and laid out some of the key capabilities that must be developed to execute successful, cost-effective programs that would put human beings on the surface of another planet and bring them home safely. Efficient, flexible and productive round-trip missions will be key to further human exploration of Mars. New round-trip mission concepts however need substantially improved long-duration storage of cryogenic propellants in various space environments; relevant propellants include liquid Hydrogen (LH2) for high specific impulse Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) which can be deployed in strategic locations in advance of a mission. If enabled, such LH2 storage tanks could be used to refill a crewed Mars Transfer Vehicle (MTV) to send and bring astronauts home quickly, safely, and cost-effectively. A well-designed cryogenic propellant storage tank can reflect the vast majority of photons incident on the spacecraft, but not all. In thermal environments like Low Earth Orbit (LEO), there is residual heating due to light directly from the Sun, sunlight reflected off Earth, and blackbody thermal radiation from Earth. Over time, this leads to some of the propellant molecules absorbing the requisite latent heat of vaporization, entering the gas phase, and ultimately being released into space to prevent an unsustainable build-up of pressure in the tank. This slow “boil-off” process leads to significant losses of the cryogenic liquid into space, potentially leaving it with insufficient mass and greatly limiting Mars missions. We propose a breakthrough mission concept: an ultra-efficient round-trip Mars mission with zero boil off of propellants. This will be enabled by low-cost, efficient cryogenic liquid storage capable of storing LH2 and LOx with ZBO even in the severe and fluctuating thermal environment of LEO. To enable this capability, the propellant tanks in our mission will employs thin, lightweight, all-solid-state panels attached to the tank’s deep-space-facing surfaces that utilize a long-understood but as-yet-unrealized cooling technology known as Electro-Luminescent Cooling (ELC) to reject heat from cold solid surfaces as non-equilibrium thermal radiation with significantly more power density than Planck’s Law permits for equilibrium thermal radiation. Such a propellant tank would drastically lower the cost and complexity of propulsion systems for crewed Mars missions and other deep space exploration by allowing spacecraft to refill propellant tanks after reaching orbit rather than launching on the much larger rocket required to lift the spacecraft in a single-use stage. To achieve ZBO, a storage spacecraft must keep the storage tank’s temperature below the boiling point of the cryogen (e.g., < 90 K for LOx and < 20 K for liquid H2). Achieving this in LEO-like thermal environments requires both excellent reflectivity toward sunlight and thermal radiation from the Earth, Mars and other nearby bodies as well as a power-efficient cooling mechanism to remove what little heat inevitably does leak in, a pair of conditions ideally suited to the ELC cooling systems that will makes our full return-trip mission to Mars a success. 2025 Selections

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Inspecting Homes Affected by March and April Storms

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    FEMA Inspecting Homes Affected by March and April Storms

    LITTLE ROCK – After Arkansas residents apply for FEMA assistance, a home inspection may be necessary to verify damage from the March 14-15 or April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.Homeowners and renters in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties can apply for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance for the March storms.Homeowners and renters in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St. Francis and White counties can apply for the April storms.Within 10 days after applying, a FEMA inspector may contact applicants to schedule an appointment. The call or text to schedule an inspection will probably come from an out-of-state phone number.Information gathered during the inspection is one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine if applicants are approved for federal assistance. If survivors have already made repairs or replaced damaged items, although not required, it may be helpful to have pictures of the damage and receipts for repair or replacement. Applicants should also have their insurance policy available.The housing inspector will consider:The structural soundness of the home, both inside and outside.Whether the electrical, gas, heat, plumbing and sewer/septic systems are all in working order.Whether the home is safe to live in and can be entered and exited safely.All FEMA representatives carry photo identification. Inspectors will never ask for or accept money. Their service is free. A home inspection may take up to 45 minutes to complete. After the inspection, applicants should allow seven to 10 days for processing. For questions about the status of an application, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. 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.For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4865 or fema.gov/disaster/4873. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/. 
    joy.li
    Tue, 05/27/2025 – 13:52

    MIL OSI USA News –