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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Wednesday, 14 May 2025 (continued on Thursday, 15 May 2025) – Volume 784 – 001473

    Source: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

    CAMERON LUXTON (ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Te Wai, Pirirākau, Ngāti Taka, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Pango, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hangarau, Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāi Te Ahi, Ngāti Ruahine, and all your tīpuna and all your ancestors that you represent here today and your descendants to come.

    I have stood and spoken in this House on behalf of the ACT Party on a few Treaty settlement bills. In the 18 months since I’ve been elected, I’ve been privileged to speak on the Whakatōhea Claims Settlement Act—close to home—and, recently, the Te Ture mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara 2025/Ō-Rākau Remembrance Act 2025, the history of which touches deeply in some of the history outlined in the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill.

    This is, for me, an emotional moment to speak on such a bill. I am a child of Pāpāmoa. I come from the Bay of Plenty; this is where I am from. I read about the history, and it’s history that I know quite well—as much as one who didn’t descend from it and live part of it can hope to know. These acknowledgments are long overdue. When I was a young fulla—I actually said something similar in the Ō-Rākau Act—I probably spent too much time wagging school, but I was doing some things. At one point, I drove over to the site of the Battle of Ō-Rākau by myself when I should have been at school, because I was interested in the history. But that history stemmed from a story that I have shared with some people, some who are even in this gallery today, where I went about trying to understand the history of my own area because I didn’t feel like I was learning it properly. I remember, one day I left school—probably during English class—and got my way over to Pyes Pā and went looking for a battle site that I’d read about but didn’t know anything about and wasn’t being taught about.

    Actually, first I should say, growing up, my generation started learning about Gate Pā, better known as Pukehinahina. We started learning about that, and it was talked about the way the toa and the wāhine treated with their enemy—there was a declaration on the way that Māori toa were going to treat with their enemies. I found the great line: “If thy enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink.” to exemplify what I’m trying to talk about here. So Pukehinahina was a known battle. It was sat there as a monument with an Anglican church on it, and we all knew it was there, but we didn’t know about Te Ranga. I went looking that day for the battle site. I had old maps that I’d found—God bless the internet for giving information out. I was trying to track the topography of the land and the rivers and the road, trying to find this place. So imagine a 15-year-old—myself—bashing through a bramble bush on the side of the road and finding this concrete plinth with old writing on it that could barely be understood. You know, it was not a well-kept mark of the site. But, as for me, I could start to see the way things happened there, and it was deeply emotional for me sitting there—I mean, remember, I was 15 years old; this was quite a shocking thing to try and discover for oneself.

    I’m glad and proud that today that site has been taken care of, acknowledged, and shown to the people of Tauranga and the people that travelled that road between Rotorua and Tauranga. But I recognise also the deep pain of the battle of Te Ranga, and the way that pain has carried on through the generations probably reflects why it was not in the state that it is now. It is a good thing that it is now being looked after, but I can completely empathise with those who would rather have just looked away and not thought about that particular site.

    The raupatu and confiscations are something that Tauranga was—you know, reading Victory at Gate Pā?, Buddy Mikaere’s book, you can see the constraints on the descendants. You know, moving into areas like Judea, in Tauranga—”Ju-daya”, I suppose, if anyone else is reading it—how that was marginal land, and how they no longer had access to places like Kōpūrererua and the fertile places around to harvest kai and grow. It was not a great—”not great” is an understatement; it was a horrible, horrible situation for a century, for decades and decades. But, today, this House starts to recognise, by going through the motions of passing into law, deed of settlement. That has, as we’ve heard, been a long time coming back from the splitting of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress Bill.

    Also, I note that in some of the settlement, there is land to be returned. A lot of people outside of the Bay of Plenty know about Mount Maunganui—Mauao—know about the hill that sort of sits there and is the symbol of our area and a sacred hill to you—sorry, Mr Speaker—to Ngāti Ranginui. But there’s also hills like Pūwhenua and Ōtānewainuku getting returned in this settlement in a way—still with access to the public, but returning.

    Talking to my wife this morning, I asked, “What are you doing today, darling?” She said, “I’m going to go and get the bloody stoat that I’ve heard is running around in Ōtānewainuku right now.” So as I stand here speaking about the settlement and how Ōtānewainuku is being returned, my wife is currently out there trying to eradicate pests on that very piece of whenua, and I felt that was quite a poetic situation to find myself, and ourselves, in.

    My children are getting raised in the area. They’re learning about where all the reefs are. They learn where the hills are and the rivers. I don’t shy back from telling them about the history of Tauranga, but I also tell them that this is their place. This is where they’re from. This is where they’ll always be able to come back to. We know the rivers, as much as I can discover them and my family can discover them. We know the waters, the hills, and the bush as much as we can. It probably was a bit too much as a young fulla trying to get out and go places that perhaps weren’t always public access, but I wanted to experience everything that our beautiful rohe, your beautiful rohe, has to show.

    Tauranga was supposed to be a safe harbour. It was discovered by Tamatea-arikinui and the waka Tākitimu, eventually opening up for your people to settle. Te Awanui, Tauranga Harbour, was supposed to be—and it is—a safe harbour. Te Awanui was supposed to be a safe harbour and it was not. The Crown ships came in, opened up another front of the Waikato Wars, and that’s where this pain starts. Today, we’re not finishing the pain but we’re taking another step on that path of sorting it out. I thank you very much for listening to me ramble on. Ngā mihi. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Wednesday, 14 May 2025 (continued on Thursday, 15 May 2025) – Volume 784 – 001474

    Source: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

    CAMERON LUXTON (ACT): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Te Wai, Pirirākau, Ngāti Taka, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Pango, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hangarau, Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāi Te Ahi, Ngāti Ruahine, and all your tīpuna and all your ancestors that you represent here today and your descendants to come.

    I have stood and spoken in this House on behalf of the ACT Party on a few Treaty settlement bills. In the 18 months since I’ve been elected, I’ve been privileged to speak on the Whakatōhea Claims Settlement Act—close to home—and, recently, the Te Ture mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara 2025/Ō-Rākau Remembrance Act 2025, the history of which touches deeply in some of the history outlined in the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill.

    This is, for me, an emotional moment to speak on such a bill. I am a child of Pāpāmoa. I come from the Bay of Plenty; this is where I am from. I read about the history, and it’s history that I know quite well—as much as one who didn’t descend from it and live part of it can hope to know. These acknowledgments are long overdue. When I was a young fulla—I actually said something similar in the Ō-Rākau Act—I probably spent too much time wagging school, but I was doing some things. At one point, I drove over to the site of the Battle of Ō-Rākau by myself when I should have been at school, because I was interested in the history. But that history stemmed from a story that I have shared with some people, some who are even in this gallery today, where I went about trying to understand the history of my own area because I didn’t feel like I was learning it properly. I remember, one day I left school—probably during English class—and got my way over to Pyes Pā and went looking for a battle site that I’d read about but didn’t know anything about and wasn’t being taught about.

    Actually, first I should say, growing up, my generation started learning about Gate Pā, better known as Pukehinahina. We started learning about that, and it was talked about the way the toa and the wāhine treated with their enemy—there was a declaration on the way that Māori toa were going to treat with their enemies. I found the great line: “If thy enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink.” to exemplify what I’m trying to talk about here. So Pukehinahina was a known battle. It was sat there as a monument with an Anglican church on it, and we all knew it was there, but we didn’t know about Te Ranga. I went looking that day for the battle site. I had old maps that I’d found—God bless the internet for giving information out. I was trying to track the topography of the land and the rivers and the road, trying to find this place. So imagine a 15-year-old—myself—bashing through a bramble bush on the side of the road and finding this concrete plinth with old writing on it that could barely be understood. You know, it was not a well-kept mark of the site. But, as for me, I could start to see the way things happened there, and it was deeply emotional for me sitting there—I mean, remember, I was 15 years old; this was quite a shocking thing to try and discover for oneself.

    I’m glad and proud that today that site has been taken care of, acknowledged, and shown to the people of Tauranga and the people that travelled that road between Rotorua and Tauranga. But I recognise also the deep pain of the battle of Te Ranga, and the way that pain has carried on through the generations probably reflects why it was not in the state that it is now. It is a good thing that it is now being looked after, but I can completely empathise with those who would rather have just looked away and not thought about that particular site.

    The raupatu and confiscations are something that Tauranga was—you know, reading Victory at Gate Pā?, Buddy Mikaere’s book, you can see the constraints on the descendants. You know, moving into areas like Judea, in Tauranga—”Ju-daya”, I suppose, if anyone else is reading it—how that was marginal land, and how they no longer had access to places like Kōpūrererua and the fertile places around to harvest kai and grow. It was not a great—”not great” is an understatement; it was a horrible, horrible situation for a century, for decades and decades. But, today, this House starts to recognise, by going through the motions of passing into law, deed of settlement. That has, as we’ve heard, been a long time coming back from the splitting of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress Bill.

    Also, I note that in some of the settlement, there is land to be returned. A lot of people outside of the Bay of Plenty know about Mount Maunganui—Mauao—know about the hill that sort of sits there and is the symbol of our area and a sacred hill to you—sorry, Mr Speaker—to Ngāti Ranginui. But there’s also hills like Pūwhenua and Ōtānewainuku getting returned in this settlement in a way—still with access to the public, but returning.

    Talking to my wife this morning, I asked, “What are you doing today, darling?” She said, “I’m going to go and get the bloody stoat that I’ve heard is running around in Ōtānewainuku right now.” So as I stand here speaking about the settlement and how Ōtānewainuku is being returned, my wife is currently out there trying to eradicate pests on that very piece of whenua, and I felt that was quite a poetic situation to find myself, and ourselves, in.

    My children are getting raised in the area. They’re learning about where all the reefs are. They learn where the hills are and the rivers. I don’t shy back from telling them about the history of Tauranga, but I also tell them that this is their place. This is where they’re from. This is where they’ll always be able to come back to. We know the rivers, as much as I can discover them and my family can discover them. We know the waters, the hills, and the bush as much as we can. It probably was a bit too much as a young fulla trying to get out and go places that perhaps weren’t always public access, but I wanted to experience everything that our beautiful rohe, your beautiful rohe, has to show.

    Tauranga was supposed to be a safe harbour. It was discovered by Tamatea-arikinui and the waka Tākitimu, eventually opening up for your people to settle. Te Awanui, Tauranga Harbour, was supposed to be—and it is—a safe harbour. Te Awanui was supposed to be a safe harbour and it was not. The Crown ships came in, opened up another front of the Waikato Wars, and that’s where this pain starts. Today, we’re not finishing the pain but we’re taking another step on that path of sorting it out. I thank you very much for listening to me ramble on. Ngā mihi. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Property Market – Nine in ten NZ property resellers make a profit despite market softness

    Source: Cotality (formerly CoreLogic)

    New Zealand’s residential property market remained broadly steady in the March quarter, with the average seller pocketing $280,000, according to Cotality’s latest Pain and Gain Report.

    The share of resales made at a gross profit in Q1 2025 was 90.8%, easing only slightly from 91.1% in the previous quarter. While still below the post-pandemic high when 99% of resales delivered a profit, the data suggests the market has stabilised.

    “The figures for the March quarter tell a story of resilience,” said Kelvin Davidson, Chief Property Economist for Cotality NZ (formerly CoreLogic).
    “Despite house prices still sitting about 16% below their early 2022 peak, most property owners are continuing to sell for a profit – especially those with longer ownership periods.”
    The median gross profit on resales was $280,000 in Q1, down from $298,000 in Q4 2024 and the Q4 2021 record of $440,000, but still well above levels seen prior to the pandemic. In contrast, the median resale loss decreased slightly to $50,000, continuing a three-year trend of relative stability in the $50,000–$60,000 range.
    “Longer hold periods remain key,” Mr Davidson said.
    “A typical property resold for a profit in the first quarter of 2025 had been owned for 9.1 years. That’s unchanged from the prior quarter and underscores how time in the market generally shields owners from volatility.”

    Investors show no signs of rushing for the exits

    Despite commentary that investor-owned properties may be under pressure, the report found no evidence of widespread distress selling.
    Mr Davidson noted that, “Lower mortgage rates are helping support investor cashflows. We’re not seeing any sign of fire-sale exits.”
    Across owner-occupiers and investors alike, those who had held properties for shorter periods – especially 2 to 3 years – were more likely to record losses. 
    The median hold period for loss-making resales was 3.3 years in Q1, up from 3.0 years in the December quarter and a sharp rise from just 1.2 years in mid-2022.

    Apartments under pressure, but no panic

    The likelihood of a resale loss continues to vary by property type.
    In Q1 2025, just 8.4% of houses resold at a loss, compared to 32.8% of apartments. While that is an increase for apartments from 28.6% in Q4 2024, the data does not indicate a rush to offload.
    “There’s no evidence that apartment owners are abandoning the market en masse,” Mr Davidson said.
    “Loss-making sales of apartments might tend to reflect unexpected personal changes such as family issues, rather than widespread market retreat.”
    The median loss on apartment resales was $63,000 in Q1, compared to $49,000 for houses. Meanwhile, the median resale profit was $128,000 for apartments and $280,000 for houses – broadly in line with historical trends reflecting the lower entry price of apartments.

    Looking ahead: slow and steady gains

    While the abundance of property listings and a soft labour market are likely to weigh on prices in the near term, Cotality expects that lower interest rates will lend gradual support.
    “We’re not anticipating a sharp rebound,” Mr Davidson said. “But conditions are in place for a slow and steady uplift in values, which should continue to support profitability for resellers over the remainder of 2025.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Commemorating 77 Years of the Palestinian Nakba: A Call for Justice, Memory, and Solidarity

    Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

    On 15 May 2025, Palestinians and their allies around the world mark Nakba Day, commemorating 77 years since the catastrophic displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes in 1948. Known as al-Nakba, or “the Catastrophe,” this moment in history saw the systematic destruction of Palestinian villages, towns, and society — a tragedy whose consequences are still being felt today.

    For Palestinians, the Nakba is not confined to history books; it is a lived and ongoing reality. Millions remain refugees and exiles, denied their internationally recognised right of return, while those in the occupied Palestinian territories and within historic Palestine continue to endure military occupation, siege, and systematic oppression.

    “Nakba Day is a solemn reminder of both the injustice that befell the Palestinian people in 1948 and the ongoing violations of their rights to this day,” said Maher Nazzal, spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand. “It is a call to the international community — including here in Aotearoa — to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom, justice, and self-determination.”

    This year’s commemoration comes amid intensified violence in Gaza, relentless settlement expansion in the West Bank, and a growing humanitarian catastrophe. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand calls on the New Zealand government to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities by advocating for an end to the occupation, supporting the right of return for refugees, and taking decisive action against ongoing violations of international law.

    “The Nakba is not a chapter of the past — it is a continuing story of dispossession and resistance,” Nazzal added. “We urge all people of conscience to honour the memory of the Nakba by standing in solidarity with Palestine today.”

    Maher Nazzal
    Palestine Forum of New Zealand

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Managing Director Remarks’ at the IMF Conference on Public Debt Transparency—Aligning the Law with Good Practices

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF

    May 14, 2025

    Good morning and a very warm welcome to everybody, those who are in the room and those who join us online.

    It is my great pleasure to join you because the topic that you will be discussing truly affects countries, businesses, communities, in a way that slows down progress and makes it harder for countries that are still falling behind to catch up.

    We all know the data. Global public debt is expected to approach 100 percent of global GDP by the end of the decade. In other words, we would owe as much as we generate in one year. And this is worse than what we had during the pandemic.

    You all know that governments are wrestling with tight budgets. And now with trade policy uncertainty, the fiscal trade-offs are going to be even more complicated. This is a problem everywhere in countries rich and poor, but it is particularly painful for emerging markets and developing economies, where the mounting cost of servicing debts is squeezing their ability to make investments and to respond to shocks.

    It is against this backdrop that at the Fund we have been doing extensive work on issues of global debt architecture and sovereign debt restructurings. These efforts have intensified since the pandemic, and you are all aware we came up with the Common Framework, and then we realized we needed to have an inclusive space for debtors and creditors, both public and private, so we created the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable. I see people who are members, and I want to appreciate all those who are engaged in it.

    We are also actively working with authorities in Paris Club and non-Paris Club countries to bring everybody to the table for debt restructuring. Our engagement seeks to improve coordination, ensure that countries play by global rules, and very important, that there is comparability of treatment across creditors during debt restructuring.

    Five years ago, much less was known about the magnitude and nature of lending from non-Paris club creditors, or how to encourage their involvement in debt restructuring. Since then, we need to recognize that significant progress has been made in helping improve transparency in lending practices and encouraging fair burden sharing across creditors, including the non-Paris Club countries.

    Overtime, the G20 Common Framework has become more efficient and work in this regard continues. We are not done. We also see that the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable plays a significant role as evidenced by the recent publication of the Sovereign Debt Restructuring Playbook. You play by the book, you get things done fast. It spells out steps to speed up the restructuring process, and it defines countries’ accountability for their actions. Importantly, this also includes compiling data to give a clear picture of domestic and external debt and the creditors who hold this debt.

    So why is debt transparency so important? For the reasons we were describing – Yan in her introduction, then we saw the little movie and now me.

    We have high level of debt and on top of it, countries are increasingly using complex forms of financing that are often opaque. New debt instruments have emerged such as guaranteed, securitized and collateralized debt contracts linked to. public-private partnerships, state-owned enterprises and pension funds. And because of the novelty and complexity of these instruments, our experience is that too much debt remains hidden from the eyes of policymakers and from the public. And too often it comes to light only when it is late, through the debt restructuring process.

    Hidden debt inflicts real costs. It saps investor confidence. It increases borrowing costs. And it puts debt sustainability at risk, which can lead to a debt crisis.

    Simply put, you cannot manage what you cannot see. And this is why we need light to cut through the fog surrounding the mountain of debt. We need the right laws and requirements in both borrower and creditor countries to defer the decision-making to competent bodies so they can do what is right for debt reporting and debt management. And that is the topic of today’s conference, this is what you will be doing here.

    Let me say a little bit about our work at the Fund.

    As we heard from Yan, we have identified debt transparency as a public good, and we have done a lot of work already.

    Even if it is not labeled as debt transparency at the heart of it, when we support debt management in countries, this is what we do. Let me give you three examples.

    First, back in 2023, we published a paper on ‘Making Public Debt Public.’ It looked at factors that underlie the lack of disclosure and the IMF’s role in reforms. We found that debt disclosure in boring low-income countries and emerging market economies falls way short due in large part to the increasing share of non-marketable and SOE debt. And in keeping with the theme of today’s conference, gaps in borrowing countries’ domestic, legal, institutional, and operational frameworks hinder transparency. We ought to close those gaps.

    Second, our debt limit policies now require more detailed transparency on debt information. Including for the first time, we require the publication of the holders of a country’s public debt.

    Third, in our Article IV consultations, we introduced a more structured and transparent assessment of data adequacy on debt, where broader and more granular debt data will be required. And this assessment will inform not just us, it would inform countries, and it would inform those interested to invest in countries.

    We have scaled up our training on debt transparency. We have delivered over 200 capacity development projects just on debt management in the last two years.

    How many of you have been following our spring meetings this year? So, for those who were here and for those who weren’t, a very important message that came out of this meeting was, countries need to put their own house in order. It was a line I used in my curtain raiser speech. And then I was so delighted to hear it played back to me by country delegations. They would say, it is tough, we have to get our own house in order and getting your own house in order absolutely requires transparency.

    Good law drives good practices, and it drives good arrangements. There are many questions countries need to answer. They need to answer ‘who has the authority to borrow on behalf of the country,’ ‘who can sign a valid contract,’ ‘can the state’s resources be used as collateral?’ We look at the law for answers to these questions and I can tell you, they seem obvious and yet there are so many countries in which they still need to be answered.

    Our Legal Department reviews debt-related legislation, as we heard from the movie, from the little clip. They did the review for 85 countries and we found several areas for improvement in legal frameworks. Less than half of the country surveyed require debt management and fiscal reporting. It’s a big gap we have to close. In many cases, the legal definition of public debt is too narrow. It excludes SOEs or it excludes types of borrowing and as a result some forms of that fall outside the sovereign’s awareness. When we are in a situation like this, we do have to (a) recognize what the gaps are, (b) work together to close these gaps, and I can tell you at the Fund we are at the disposal of our members to do exactly that.

    We have in this conference policymakers from 72 countries. We have representatives of civil society organizations, from private sector and academia. And I am very uplifted because I think together we can make a difference. And from our side, we intend to work hard to be part of making that difference.

    First, our upcoming review of debt sustainability analysis for low-income countries will consider how we can better support debt transparency. It complements the completion of a similar review of that sustainability analysis for market access countries. And I would welcome engagements as we go with this review.

    Second, our work on the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable and the Common Framework will engage constructively all relevant parties so they do their part for debt transparency. In the recent meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, there was a very strong commitment to it, let’s get it done. Debtors can be more transparent about the debt on their books. Creditors can be more forthcoming in outlining what they are lending for. And I think we can, working together, get really good data. So good debt management becomes the norm, not the exception.

    And third, we will systematically draw lessons from experience in our surveillance program and capacity development engagements to develop and share best practices in advancing debt transparency. We will periodically report on progress in strengthening legal frameworks for debt transparencies as part of our reporting on progress with the multi-pronged approach to reduce debt vulnerability. In other words, we concretely commit specifically to how we are going to act to advance this agenda.

    Accurate information is so critical. I’m sure you know the saying ‘garbage in, garbage out.’ What we want is to clean the garbage.

    Benjamin Franklin, to paraphrase his words, we can say ‘transparency is always good policy.’

    Enjoy your work here. Have fun, get things done. Thank you.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/14/sp051425-managing-director-remarks-public-debt-transparency

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman David Scott Votes Against Republican Bill That Cuts $230 Billion From SNAP, Leads Effort to Protect SNAP Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

    WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), voted against House Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation bill that would steal $230 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

    “To gift trillions of dollars in tax cuts to their billionaire friends, Republicans are taking food from the mouths of those who need our help the most, including children, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities,” said Congressman David Scott. “That is why I filed several amendments removing all SNAP funding cuts in their disastrous and cruel Reconciliation bill. When given the opportunity to protect this crucial nutrition program millions of their constituents rely on, every single Republican voted against it. I voted NO for these irresponsible cuts on behalf of the more than 280,000 Georgians in my district and the 42 million American who rely on SNAP to not go hungry.” 

    “The Atlanta Community Food Bank helps neighbors facing food insecurity by connecting them to resources to meet their nutritional needs. SNAP is a key part of this effort, as more than 43% of people facing food insecurity in Georgia are eligible for SNAP benefits, according to a recent Feeding America study,” said Sarah Fonder-Kristy, Chief Development Officer of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “The Food Bank is grateful to Congressman Scott, and his long and steadfast support for those in need of nutrition assistance through the federal government and USDA. Food banks, alone, will not be able to fill the increasing meal gap in our communities, which is why SNAP is critical to providing continued food support for those who are struggling.”

    To cut $230 billion in SNAP funding, the Republican budget would impose unrealistic and harsh work requirements, reduce monthly benefits, and prevent benefit rate adjustments from increasing in the future. These changes will make millions of existing SNAP recipients ineligible overnight. They would also increase food insecurity across the country while Republicans are decreasing funding for other forms of food assistance, such as food banks and local pantries. As many as six million SNAP recipients could be at risk of losing benefits under this Reconciliation bill.

    SNAP provides assistance to over 42 million Americans, including 1.2 million low-income veterans. In Georgia’s 13th District, 282,731 households receive assistance through SNAP—more than half include young children. Beyond slashing $230 billion from SNAP benefits, the Republican Reconciliation bill calls for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $330 billion in cuts to federal education programs.

    In addition to leading an amendment to remove all SNAP funding reductions, Congressman David Scott led an amendment to prohibit the implementation of any provision of the bill related to SNAP until USDA and all state agencies confirm that this bill would not cause a reduction of participation in SNAP for Veterans or the surviving families of Servicemembers or Veterans who died during active duty or from a service-related disability. All Republicans voted against this amendment as well.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tackling the housing emergency

    Source: Scottish Government

    Increasing housing supply and reducing temporary accommodation use.

    A range of measures have been taken by the Scottish Government to increase investment in housebuilding and help reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation since declaring a housing emergency last year.

    Actions taken in the last year include:

    • Investing £600 million in affordable housing in 2024/25. £40 million of which was used to purchase properties and bring empty social homes back into use.
    • Helping to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation in 12 council areas, according to the latest figures.
    • Making an additional £1 million available to Registered Social Landlords and third sector organisations to prevent homelessness and support people to stay in rented accommodation.
    • Boosting supply through other funding models, including the Charitable Bonds programme which has seen investment of £46m in the past year, supporting the delivery of 325 homes.

    Further action will be taken in the coming year to continue to tackle the housing emergency and ensure more people can access a safe and affordable home, including:

    • Investing £768 million in this financial year in affordable housing, which will support the delivery of 8,000 homes for social and mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership.
    • Providing local authorities with £15 billion this financial year for a range of services, including in homelessness services.
    • £2 million invested through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to continue to reduce the number of privately owned empty homes.

    Commenting, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

    “Providing everyone in Scotland the right to a warm, safe and affordable home is essential to our key priority of eradicating child poverty. The measures we have taken have meant increased investment in the affordable housing sector and fewer families living in temporary accommodation.

    “As a result of our actions, an estimated more than 2,600 households with children have been helped into affordable housing in the year up to December 2024.

    “We have delivered 136,000 affordable homes, with 97,000 of those for social rent, between 2007 and the end of December 2024. We are also working to identify and turn around empty private and social homes and encouraging more funding streams into the sector through our Housing Investment Taskforce.

    “It is encouraging that we are seeing a reduction in families in temporary accommodation in some local authority areas. However, we know there is more to do which is why we have increased the affordable housing budget for this financial year by £200 million to £768 million. In the longer term we will also introduce homelessness prevention measures and a system of long-term rent controls in our Housing Bill.

    “We are determined to tackle the housing emergency and ensure that everyone in Scotland can have somewhere to call home.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thompson Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson today announced the 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner: Emma Zacherl, a sophomore at Clarion-Limestone High School.

    Ms. Zacherl, of Clarion, won for her water mixable oils painting, titled “Waiting.” An independent panel of judges selected Ms. Zacherl’s work from 72 entries. Ms. Zacherl also took home the top prize in the 2024 art competition. The winners were announced Saturday during an exhibit at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, Pa.

    “Congratulations to Emma Zacherl on another first-place win in the Congressional Art Competition,” Rep. Thompson said. “Emma is an exceptional artist, and I continue to be impressed by her skills. I look forward to welcoming her again to Washington, D.C. to celebrate this achievement.”

    The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

    Ms. Zacherl’s artwork will be displayed in a special exhibit in the U.S. Capitol for one year with winners from each congressional district in the nation. She is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C. with other winners, which will take place in June.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners:

    First Place 
    NAME: Emma Zacherl
    SCHOOL: Clarion-Limestone High School
    SUBMISSION: Waiting
    HOMETOWN: Clarion, Pa.
    TEACHER: Karl Jacobson

    Second Place
    NAME:  Nefeli Dionysiou Karali
    SCHOOL:  DuBois Area Senior High School
    SUBMISSION: Feline Feminism
    HOMETOWN: DuBois, Pa.
    TEACHER: Cheyenne Kanouff

    Third Place 
    NAME:  Madison Ray
    SCHOOL: Clarion-Limestone High School
    SUBMISSION: Modern Sax
    HOMETOWN:  Strattanville, Pa.
    TEACHER:  Kendra Zerbe

    Fourth Place 
    NAME:  Kaleb Gooden
    SCHOOL:  Keystone High School
    SUBMISSION: Maturity
    HOMETOWN: Shippenville, Pa.
    TEACHER:  Janet Hockman

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thompson, Bonamici Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Community Services Block Grant Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today introduced the Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 to update the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program.

    The CSBG program is the only federal program with the singular mission of fighting poverty. The program supports more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in nearly every county across the United States.
     
    For more than 60 years, CAAs have provided a range of holistic services to low-income individuals and communities across the country, including education, skills development, financial literacy, and other services promoting economic independence. CAAs serve an estimated 10 million low-income individuals annually, representing nearly 5 million families across the U.S., providing a critical “first stop” for those in need to navigate the resources available to them. 

    “The Community Services Block Grant fulfills a core American value: neighbors helping neighbors in need,” Rep. Thompson said. “This bipartisan legislation reaffirms our commitment to reducing poverty to strengthening communities across the country, provides much needed reforms to ensure community action agencies across the country can continue to serve vulnerable populations, and ultimately will help put those in poverty on the path to independence.” 

    “Congress created the Community Services Block Grant program to assist low-income individuals and families during challenging times while addressing the causes and conditions of poverty,” Rep. Bonamici said. “The program funds Community Action Agencies and benefits millions of people across the country. I am pleased to join my colleague Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson in leading this bipartisan update to CSBG to provide Oregonians and Americans with opportunities that will help them achieve stability so they can thrive rather than struggle.”
     
    “Representatives Thompson and Bonamici have a proven record of putting Americans first, and we thank them for their leadership on this bipartisan bill. It supports strong, successful community programs nationwide and brings local solutions, innovation, opportunity and hope to every corner of the country. The bill also reinforces Community Action’s commitment to performance, accountability and using every federal dollar wisely. Thanks to the steadfast, bipartisan leadership of Representatives Thompson and Bonamici, this bill will be a breath of fresh air for every American community when it passes.”- David Bradley, National Community Action Foundation CEO

    COMMUNITY SUPPORT
    “I am deeply thankful for Congressman GT Thompson, who has consistently been a true champion for Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Inc. and the Community Services Block Grant. His unwavering support ensures that we can continue to provide vital programs and services like the Weatherization Assistance Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, sixteen (16) food pantries, Medical Assistance Transportation Program, and four (4) HUD subsidized housing projects to individuals and families across Clearfield and Centre Counties (10,312 individuals in 2024). Without his advocacy, our ability to meet the growing needs of the community would be severely limited. We are fortunate to have a representative who truly understands and values the impact of community action.” – Michelle Stiner, Executive Director, Central Pennsylvania Community Action
     
    “Congressman Glenn Thompson has been a steadfast advocate for Armstrong County Community Action Partnership (ACCAP), consistently recognizing the vital role local organizations play in improving lives and creating stronger, more resilient communities. His support ensures that Armstrong County families have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, including access to nutritious food, which is fundamental to health and stability. ACCAP operates the Armstrong County Foodbank; we have 16 food pantries spread throughout the county. In 2023, our foodbank distributed nearly 12,000 boxes of food, and in 2024, that number rose to nearly 19,000 boxes. That is a 63% increase in one year. Congressman Thompson understands these types of challenges communities face, especially in rural counties like Armstrong. We’re grateful for his continued commitment to the work our agency does every day – lifting people up, fostering self-sufficiency, and building a brighter future for everyone.” – Marlene Petro, Executive Director, Armstrong Country Community Action Partnership
     
    “For the last sixty years, the Community Services Block Grant has been a catalytic tool employed across the United States to improve conditions for people with low incomes, empowering them to gain the skills needed to live stable, economically secure lives and be active and engaged members of their local communities. Organizations who steward the block grant in their local service territories have helped set the foundations for individuals and communities to flourish and thrive. Our agency has chosen to adopt food security and agricultural services as a foundational pillar of community health and vitality. Food security work is not simply concerned with the availability of food, but it is also concerned with the nutritional health of that food and how it contributes to the ability of a human being to grow and flourish. We believe that food, farms, and farmers are not only foundational to an individual’s ability to grow and flourish, but also to community health and prosperity. Representative G.T. Thompson’s interest in both agriculture and the Community Services Block Grant speaks to his leadership in these areas and his commitment to ensuring that communities across the nation maintain access to all the resources available that contribute to community and individual prosperity.” – Sandra Curry, Executive Director, Community Partnership, Inc.
     
    “Congressman Thompson has been a steadfast advocate for Community Action, Inc. and the vital work we do to assist low-income individuals striving for self-sufficiency. His leadership as Vice Chair of the Congressional Community Action Caucus and his dedication to reauthorizing and improving the Community Services Block Grant Program demonstrate his unwavering commitment to fighting poverty. Congressman Thompson’s community-oriented approach, including his active participation in local events and openness to discussing collaborative projects, highlights his role as a true friend of the community. His efforts to expand resources and eligibility for CSBG ensure that the essential services we provide like emergency shelter, weatherization, food assistance and veteran housing assistance remain accessible to those who work hard but need a helping hand. His bipartisan advocacy continues to strengthen the foundation of Community Action, Inc. and uplift countless lives.” – Misty Fleming, CEO, Community Action, Inc.

    ABOUT THE BILL
    The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 will reauthorize this critical program for ten years and make long-overdue updates to improve federal efforts to reduce poverty. Updates to the CSBG program include:

    • Reauthorizing the CSBG Act for 7 years and increases the resources available to CAAs to fulfill the program’s mission
    • Permanently raising income eligibility for participation in the CSBG program to 200 percent of the poverty line, which is the current, temporary threshold for the program
    • Increasing transparency and accountability for federal CSBG dollars, ensuring states and CAAs are maximizing federal investments
    • Authorizing a Broadband Navigator Program to respond to the broadband and digital needs of low-income families and communities
    • Requiring federal and state training and technical assistance to be responsive to local economic conditions, including natural disasters, that may create economic insecurity

    To read the full bill text, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thompson, Sewell Introduce Solid American Hardwood Tax Credit Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    Bipartisan bill will level playing field for American-grown and manufactured hardwood products

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Solid American Hardwood Tax Credit Act to allow individual taxpayers to include solid American manufactured hardwood products, such as flooring and paneling, as qualified home energy efficiency improvements under the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. By including hardwood materials as eligible products for this credit, the legislation will provide meaningful environmental and economic benefits.

    As a building material, hardwood actively sequesters carbon and serves as long-term carbon storage in residential structures. Carbon storage reduces the impact of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and helps support more sustainable practices. By ensuring hardwood materials are fairly counted as an energy efficient home improvement, this legislation will help lower the cost of housing, strengthen American manufacturing, and protect American jobs.

    “Pennsylvania is blessed with some of the finest hardwoods in the world, which have provided thousands of jobs across the Commonwealth,” Rep. Thompson said. “This bill supports the Trump Administration’s timber production and housing affordability initiatives, ultimately helping to lower housing costs and strengthen American industry. I look forward to continuing to advocate for domestic hardwood production.”
     
    “Alabama’s rich history and association with timber farming and hardwood product sale & production is integral for a strong statewide economy,” Rep. Sewell said. “This legislation will help preserve American jobs in the lumber and hardwood industries by combating bad actors in China that have begun to flood markets with inadequate imitations of U.S made products.”
     
    “Without active management, responsible harvesting, and robust markets, the health of our hardwood forests—and the industries and communities that depend on them—are at serious risk.  Providing consumers with a tax credit to purchase real, American grown, American manufactured solid hardwood products over cheap, imported substitutes will save thousands of American jobs and small businesses in rural America,” said Dallin Brooks, Executive Director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congressman Marc Veasey (Member, India Caucus) on the Terrorist Attack in Kashmir

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Statement from Congressman Marc Veasey (Member, India Caucus) on the Terrorist Attack in Kashmir

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Veasey, Member of the India Caucus, released the following statement following a terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, 2025: 

    “I am horrified and heartbroken by the brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir today that claimed the lives of more than 20 innocent people. This senseless violence is an act of pure evil, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

    Terrorism in any form is unacceptable, and the United States must stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners in India as they confront these cowardly attacks. 

    This attack also hits close to home. Many families in North Texas—especially in the Valley Ranch area—have loved ones and deep ties to the region. To those in our own communities feeling fear, sorrow, and anger today: you are not alone. My office stands with you and we are ready to provide support.

    We will not allow extremists to sow fear, hatred, or division. We will continue to stand firmly for peace, justice, and security—for the people of India, for our Indian American neighbors, and for all who reject terrorism in all its forms.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi, Democratic Women’s Caucus to Committee Republicans: Don’t Cut Medicaid and SNAP, Stand with Women and Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined 42 Democratic Women’s Caucus members led by DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Policy Task Force Co Chair Deborah K. Ross (NC-02) in sending a letter to the Republican Members of the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Agriculture Committees. The letter urged Republicans to stand with women and families by protecting Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs women and families need to thrive in their budget.

    In the letter, sent Monday evening ahead of markups this week, DWC members explained why Medicaid and SNAP are so important for women and families across America, and how devastating these cuts will be to women already struggling to put food on the table or provide for their families:

    “62% of SNAP households serving children are headed by a single adult, of which 92% were headed by women. We have a simple question for you: will you stand with single moms trying to feed their kids or with billionaires? Cuts to SNAP could steal food from the mouths of 11 million children ages 5 to 17; 4.4 million children under the age of 5; and 7.8 million seniors ages 60 and older. With rising grocery prices, this devastation will be felt even harder.”

    …

    “Ripping health care away from pregnant women and closing down rural hospitals under the guise of ‘eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse’ is nothing but a poor excuse for abandoning women, babies, and your duty as a Member of Congress. There are many ways to reduce fraud and keep women safe–we call on you to protect women and babies by voting against any and all cuts to Medicaid and other essential health programs.”

    The Members also called on Republicans to “consider the experiences of your constituents who are navigating increasing costs while raising a family and preserve or increase the Child Tax Credit to help women and families.”

    The full letter can be accessed here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Putin approves makeup of Russian delegation for talks with Ukraine in Istanbul

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

    Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday approved the composition of the Russian delegation for upcoming talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Türkiye, according to a Kremlin statement.

    The delegation will be led by Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky and include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin; Igor Kostyukov, chief of the main directorate of the general staff of the Russian army; and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

    Apart from the delegation members, a list of four experts was also approved for the talks.

    In a statement on Sunday, Putin proposed the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said he would be in Türkiye on Thursday and expected to meet Putin. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Entrepreneur forum highlights China-UK AI cooperation

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

    Participants at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneur Forum on Wednesday praised China’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and emphasized the boundless opportunities for deepening cooperation between the two countries.

    The forum, co-organized by The 48 Group in Britain and China Daily, was held under the theme “Smart Decisions for Smart Technologies.”

    Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang highlighted the growing collaboration between the two countries in the AI sector. He noted that both nations have actively participated in bilateral meetings and exchanges, which have yielded tangible benefits on both sides. Zheng underscored the importance of continued science and technology cooperation.

    According to official data, China is home to over 4,500 AI-related enterprises, with the core AI industry valued at nearly 600 billion yuan. In 2024, Chinese entities accounted for more than 61 percent of global AI patent applications, while new industries, business formats, and digital models contributed over 18 percent to China’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    Jack Perry, Chairman of The 48 Group, commended the current high-tech collaboration between China and the UK. He cited successful examples such as BYD’s leadership in electric mobility, Alibaba Cloud’s role in smart infrastructure, and Octopus Energy’s efforts in clean energy transformation. Perry noted that the UK, now attracting more venture capital in AI than any other European country, offers complementary strengths to China’s capabilities.

    Panel discussions featured insights from experts and industry leaders on how AI is transforming a wide range of sectors, including power supply, green growth, finance, language technologies, automotive design, cloud computing, and advertising.

    “China and Britain are two global engines of innovation with deeply complementary strengths,” said Rebecca Yang, editor-in-chief of China Daily Europe. She pointed to the UK’s excellence in fundamental research, fintech, and regulatory frameworks, and China’s expansive market, digital infrastructure, and real-world application capabilities as a foundation for strategic bilateral collaboration. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China issues 10.06 trillion yuan in new loans in first four months

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

    China issued 10.06 trillion yuan (about 1.39 trillion U.S. dollars) in new yuan-denominated loans in the first four months of 2025, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

    At the end of April, outstanding yuan loans amounted to 265.7 trillion yuan, up 7.2 percent year on year, according to the People’s Bank of China.

    In the first four months, household loans increased by 518.4 billion yuan, while loans to enterprises increased by 9.27 trillion yuan.

    The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8 percent year on year to 325.17 trillion yuan at the end of April.

    The M1, which covers cash in circulation, demand deposits and clients’ reserves of non-banking payment institutions, stood at 109.14 trillion yuan at the end of April, up 1.5 percent year on year.

    The M0, which indicates the amount of cash in circulation, reached 13.14 trillion yuan at the end of last month, an increase of 12 percent year on year.

    In the first four months, China’s yuan-denominated deposits increased by 12.55 trillion yuan, with household deposits accounting for 7.83 trillion yuan of this rise.

    The data also showed that the total social financing stock in China reached 424 trillion yuan at the end of April, marking an 8.7 percent increase from the previous year.

    During the first four months, the newly added social financing amounted to 16.34 trillion yuan, representing a 3.61 trillion yuan increase from the corresponding period of the prior year, according to the data. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Applauds House Committee Markups Advancing President Trump’s Economic Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today applauded U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Kentucky) on successful committee markups that move Congress one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s economic agenda.
    “We have been working closely with our House counterparts on the Ways and Means Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Administration on a unified goal: to extend pro-growth tax policy, ensure Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money, provide additional tax relief to those who need it most, and take long-overdue action toward getting our fiscal house in order.  These committees have taken significant steps by passing legislation that builds on the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and preserves and strengthens federal health care programs, and I commend Chairmen Smith and Guthrie for the progress they have made.  The Senate will continue working through its process to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent and deliver additional tax relief for American workers and families, and I look forward to continued coordination with our House colleagues.  I am confident we can build on this momentum and deliver on our shared vision of restoring economic prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch, Lummis Introduce Bill to Protect Firefighters, Communities from Wildfire Threats

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) led their colleagues in introducing the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025 to safeguard firefighters, communities and property across the West from the destructive impacts of wildfires.
    “Uncontrolled wildfires wreak havoc on communities and landscapes throughout the West—burning close to one million acres in Idaho last year alone,” Crapo said.  “This bill ensures the heroic men, women and agencies battling raging fires can continue deploying aerial fire retardant when people’s lives, homes, possessions and Idaho’s vast natural expanses are threatened by blazing infernos.”
    “Our response to devastating wildfires must not be delayed by extremist, activist litigants,” said Risch.  “The Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act ensures timely access to fire retardant and protects Idaho’s communities, forests and way of life.”
    “In Wyoming and across the West, we understand all too well the devastating toll wildfires take on our communities,” said Lummis.  “Without timely access to fire retardant, lives and homes are at risk.  In an emergency, we cannot afford to let bureaucracy slow down our response, and this legislation ensures firefighters have the tools they need to protect lives, property and public lands.”
    Crapo, Risch and Lummis are joined by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) as original co-sponsors.
    The Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act ensures that federal, state, local and tribal firefighting agencies can continue using fire retardant to combat wildfires without being hindered by permitting delays.  Specifically, it creates an exemption under the Clean Water Act, clarifying that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is not required for the use of fire retardant in active firefighting operations.
    Currently, agencies like the U.S. Forest Service operate under longstanding EPA guidance dating back to 1993, which states that fire control qualifies as a “non-point source silvicultural activity,” and thus does not require an NPDES permit.  Despite this, environmental groups have filed lawsuits seeking to halt the use of fire retardant until such permits are issued—a process that could take years.
    If the injunction is granted and fire retardant is not available for use in 2025, firefighters and individuals living in forested areas would be in greater danger and billions of dollars of infrastructure would be at risk.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch Send Letter Backing President Trump’s Call for Full Dismantlement of Iran’s Nuclear Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in sending a letter to President Donald Trump regarding the Administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran.  The letter calls on the Trump Administration to secure a deal that results in the full dismantlement of the Iranian nuclear program, including permanently ending the regime’s capacity to enrich uranium.  The letter was signed by 51 Senate Republicans.  The letter states:
    “We write to express our strong support for your efforts to secure a deal with Iran that dismantles its nuclear program, and to reinforce the explicit warnings that you and officials in your Administration have issued that the regime must permanently give up any capacity for enrichment.
    “We cannot afford another agreement that enables Iran to play for time, as the JCPOA did.  The Iranian regime should know that the Administration has Congressional backing to ensure their ability to enrich uranium is permanently eliminated,” the letter continues.  “As always we stand ready to provide you and your Administration whatever resources you need to advance American national security interests.”
    The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Jim Banks (R-Indiana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Shelly Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ashley Moody (R-Florida), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Dan Sullivan (R-Arkansas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Todd Young (R-Indiana), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).
    Read the full letter here or below:
    Dear Mr. Trump:
    We write to express our strong support for your efforts to secure a deal with Iran that dismantles its nuclear program, and to reinforce the explicit warnings that you and officials in your Administration have issued that the regime must permanently give up any capacity for enrichment.
    During your first term you withdrew the United States from the deeply broken Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and imposed maximum pressure on the regime.  As you said then, a fatal flaw of the deal was that it “allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium and, over time, reach the brink of a nuclear breakout.”  The JCPOA allowed Iran to sell oil, provided waivers allowing third countries to help Iran build out its nuclear program and included the termination of United Nations sanctions on the regime.  Despite critics claiming your withdrawal from the deal would allow Iran to advance its nuclear ambitions, the Iranian regime remained deterred from making substantial nuclear progress throughout your term because of your maximum pressure campaign.
    Tragically, the Biden Administration systematically undid that pressure, functionally re-implementing the nuclear deal.  They immediately rescinded your decision to reimpose U.N. sanctions, allowed Iran to sell oil at JCPOA-levels and even re-issued waivers allowing Iran to build out its nuclear program.  As you predicted, those policies indeed allowed Iran to reach the brink of nuclear breakout, which is where they are today.  The Biden Administration made those concessions without any reciprocal concessions from Iran, and Iran even ceased providing international inspectors access to significant parts of its nuclear program in the early days of the Biden Administration.
    The scope and breadth of Iran’s nuclear buildout have made it impossible to verify any new deal that allows Iran to continue enriching uranium.  In its most recent report, published on February 26, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that because of Iran’s activities over the last four years, “the Agency has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and current inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and UOC, which it will not be possible to restore.”
    You and your Administration have therefore correctly drawn a redline against any deal that allows Iran to retain any enrichment capability.  Your National Security Presidential Memorandum on Iran stated that “Iran’s nuclear program, including its enrichment- and reprocessing-related capabilities and nuclear-capable missiles, poses an existential danger to the United States and the entire civilized world,” and you recently said that only “full dismantlement” of those capabilities would be acceptable.  Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff has made it clear in that context of negotiation that for any final arrangement to work, “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
    We cannot afford another agreement that enables Iran to play for time, as the JCPOA did.  The Iranian regime should know that the Administration has Congressional backing to ensure their ability to enrich uranium is permanently eliminated.
    As always, we stand ready to provide you and your Administration whatever resources you need to advance American national security interests.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida Financial Advisor Sentenced for Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client Funds

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Florida financial advisor was sentenced today to eight years in prison for orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and to steal client funds.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes. In reality, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and his co-conspirators, who then sent the money, minus a fee, to a different bank account that the client controlled. Tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.

    In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million. Mellinger and a co-conspirator, who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from the scheme.

    In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were under investigation and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and the relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million from some of the clients, a portion of which Mellinger used to buy a home in Delray Beach.

    In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett for the Southern District of Mississippi ordered Mellinger to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $37 million in restitution to the United States.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations and Director of DCIS Kelly P. Mayo made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Op-Ed: Getting Tough on Water Treaty

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) authored the following op-ed in The Monitor praising the Trump administration for prioritizing the push for Mexico to live up to its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty and previewing his next steps in the fight to bring relief to the South Texas agriculture community.
    Getting Tough on Water Treaty
    Senator Cornyn
    The Monitor
    May 13, 2025
    https://myrgv.com/opinion/2025/05/13/commentary-getting-tough-on-water-treaty/
    The Rio Grande Valley is home to farmers and ranchers who supply the nation’s grocery stores and represent billions of dollars in economic activity. In 1944, Mexico and the United States made an agreement to share the waters of the Rio Grande. Under this treaty, Mexico and the U.S. agreed to deliver set amounts of water every five years to one another. While that may seem straightforward, this deeply flawed agreement has the Lone Star State’s tensions with Mexico at a tipping point, and I’m working with the Donald Trump administration to get this fixed and protect Texas agriculture.
    While the United States and Texas have kept their side of the agreement, faithfully delivering water from the Colorado River to Mexico as set out in the treaty, Mexico has been delinquent. They’ve not met their full obligations in years. Four years into the current five-year cycle, Mexico a balance of more than 60% of their five-year water delivery obligation outstanding and due in just over six months.
    As the senior senator from Texas, I’ve been using every lever at my disposal to hold Mexico accountable. I’ve worked with the Appropriations Committee here in the Senate to prohibit funds from going to Mexico until they hold up their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats blocked this effort.
    I secured provisions that authorized block grants to provide relief to South Texas farmers and ranchers who are affected by water shortages. While these grants offered some relief, the White House has the ultimate authority to enforce the treaty and hold Mexico accountable.
    The Joe Biden administration’s response epitomized its weak posture on foreign policy. I demanded that the State Department put pressure on Mexico to fulfill their obligations. I hosted multiple calls with Secretary Anthony Blinken, urging him to listen to what Texans were experiencing and hold Mexico accountable for failing to meet their treaty obligations. But the Biden administration didn’t care. In characteristic ineptitude on the world stage, President Biden and Secretary Blinken did nothing to hold Mexico accountable.
    Thankfully, under President Trump we have an entirely new landscape. Last month, thanks to President Trump, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Mexico has finally agreed to start making deliveries again. This much-needed development will make a difference for South Texas farmers. But while this is an important step in the right direction, I will not consider this work finished until Mexico is making consistent water deliveries.
    Nothing short of annual water deliveries will fulfill Mexico’s obligations to the United States. Mexico must give one-fifth of the required water every year in order to meet the 1.7 million acre-feet quota and give South Texas farmers and ranchers the predictability they need.
    Given Mexico’s current water shortages, it is unlikely that they will meet this total requirement by the end of the cycle, and they can’t blame Mother Nature for their failure to plan. Furthermore, even if they could suddenly deliver the required amount left before time runs out, this would not make Texas farmers whole.
    Consider how farming works. Farmers cannot go four years without irrigating their crops, and suddenly make up for it in year five when their fields are dry and decimated. Cattle and other livestock won’t last long without water, either. This is exactly what Mexico has been doing to South Texas farmers, and it is unacceptable.
    I will continue to push this issue in the Senate until South Texas farmers are receiving the water they deserve. My efforts will include introducing legislation and holding a hearing in the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, which I chair. I will also continue working with the Trump administration to strengthen the terms and enforcement of the treaty as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement review process.
    The United States has kept our end of the treaty. Mexico must be held accountable until they have done the same. I will not stop fighting until Texas agriculture is receiving the predictable, yearly water deliveries that Mexico is obligated to provide.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Dedicated decade: more than 370 children removed from harm thanks to tireless work of joint SA child protection taskforce

    Source: New South Wales – News

    During its decade-long efforts to detect and stamp out hideous online child sexual exploitation committed by South Australian offenders, a small and dedicated taskforce of AFP and South Australia Police investigators have protected more than 370 children around the world from further abuse.

    The South Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) was formed in 2015 to provide a more coordinated investigative response and achieve the best possible outcomes for vulnerable young people in Australia and overseas.

    In the decade since SA JACET was established, more than 370 child victims, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, from countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, United States and Southeast Asia, have been identified and removed from further harm.

    During this time, SA JACET received 677 referrals from national and international law enforcement agencies relating to alleged South Australian-based offenders, resulting in the arrest of 654 people locally.

    So far this financial year (2024-25)*, SA JACET investigations have resulted in the removal of 14 children from harm in Australia and overseas, and the charging of 49 men and women in South Australia for their alleged involvement in the online sexual exploitation or abuse of children.

    AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Stephen Hegarty, from SA JACET, said there was no greater reward than being part of a resilient and dedicated team focused on protecting the youngest, and often most vulnerable, members of the community.

    “As an original member of the SA JACET, I can say that repeatedly viewing videos and images of children being exploited, abused or tortured is tough – but it does not compare to the trauma that child victims endure,” a/Sgt Hegarty said.

    “The team’s common goal is to make a difference in children’s lives – ensure victims are identified and removed from further harm and protect other children from having their innocence stolen.

    “Our team can spend weeks, months, or even years investigating just one of these evil and horrendous crimes and sadly, are often investigating several matters at once.

    “Identifying suspects can require extensive intelligence gathering and investigative techniques, including using the execution of search warrants to gather evidence, and forensic examination of equipment and images.

    “It’s also important to remember an investigation does not end with an arrest.

    “Police will continue to review seized images and videos to try to identify child victims, prepare evidence for the judicial process, investigate possible other offending, and provide referrals to other local and international agencies if required.

    “JACET investigators are relentless, and we never give up trying to combat this crime type.”

    Acting Sergeant Hegarty said the co-location of the AFP and South Australian investigators provided significant opportunity to quickly and efficiently share jurisdiction-specific intelligence.

    “JACET teams are in most Australian states and territories, and complement the efforts of the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE),” a/Sgt Hegarty said.

    “With the AFP’s involvement, JACET can also reach into our broad international network.”

    South Australia Police Acting Assistant Commissioner, Crime Service, Catherine Hilliard commended the hard work of SAPOL and AFP investigators over the past 10 years.

    “Child protection will always be a key priority for South Australia Police, and we will continue working with partner agencies to keep children safe and remove them from harm,” she said.

    “We also work with other agencies across the world to identify and bring those involved in child exploitation to justice.

    “Our hardworking investigators often spend their days examining confronting material, but seeing the results over the past 10 years of JACET provides further motivation to overcome obstacles and persist in our quest to detect and apprehend child sex offenders.

    “SA JACET will continue to pursue child sex offenders wherever they may hide.”

    Acting Assistant Commissioner Hilliard urged parents to discuss online safety with their children.

    “As a community it’s important to be aware of the risks and warning signs in children to prevent their exploitation online,” she added.

    “This may include changes in behaviour, secrecy around devices, changing passcodes and isolating themselves in their rooms.

    “Be approachable, have open conversations with your children, and know educational resources are available to assist in these vital conversations.”

    *Figures from the period 1 July, 2024 to 1 May, 2025.

    Significant SA JACET sentencings from the past 12 months

    June 2024

    A South Australian man was sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment for soliciting sexually explicit material from 10 foreign children (Philippines) via social media platforms.

    The sentencing is the first conviction in South Australia under mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for Commonwealth child sexual abuse offences.

    November 2024

    A South Australian man was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment – with a non-parole period of nine years – for child abuse offences, including the live streaming of young children overseas (Philippines).

    Case studies

    Criminal Asset Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) seizures and forfeiture of homes in South Australia of convicted online child abuse offenders 

    • In November, 2020, the CACT restrained the Adelaide home of a man who was then accused of ordering and instructing live distance child abuse of children overseas, which he watched online from his home. It was the first time the AFP had restrained the home of an alleged child sex offender, who was not accused of profiting from his crimes. The man was later convicted and sentenced to more than 15 years’ imprisonment. A total of 50 per cent of the market value of the property was ultimately confiscated.
    • In December, 2024, the CACT restrained the home of a South Australian man who had been charged with more than 50 offences, largely relating to the alleged transmission and production of child abuse material on social media platforms.

    ·

    Other states (assets restrained/forfeited online child abuse offenders)

    • In October, 2020, a Belgian national living in Sydney was the first person to have assets restrained by the CACT as part of a child protection investigation. He had been selling child abuse material from a website he operated. The CACT restrained the man’s assets, estimated to be worth $30,000, which included funds in two bank accounts, camera equipment, a drone and scuba diving gear. The matter has been finalised, with the Supreme Court of NSW ordering all property be forfeited to the Commonwealth.
    • In March, 2024, the CACT restrained the home of a Northern Territory man who was convicted of online child abuse offences. The home was subsequently forfeited to the Commonwealth in June, 2024.
    • In March, 2025, the CACT restrained the home of a New South Wales man, charged with three offences relating to use of a carriage service to transmit, possess, and access child abuse material.
    • In April, 2025, a Victorian Court made consent orders for a Geelong man, 32, to pay a sum of more than $850,000, being equal to the benefits he derived from the commission of his offences. He was convicted of controlling, producing and possessing child abuse material and dealing with proceeds of crime. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of various other property, including the proceeds of sale of two vehicles, 48 household items, including high-end televisions, audio-visual equipment, furniture and appliances, and more than $30,000 in funds.

    Top tips for parents and carers

    • Supervision is essential. This means knowing what your children are doing online, who they are interacting with and what platforms, apps or games they are using.
    • Have open conversations, often. Talk to your children often about their online activities.
    • Check privacy settings. We recommend parents and carers research and understand app settings, including privacy settings. This could include turning off location settings, setting profiles to private, or turning off chat functions.
    • Encourage your child to recognise safe or unsafe situations and inappropriate contact. This can empower them to make informed decisions, including when they’re unsupervised.
    • Advise children not to share personal information with any ‘friends’ they have only met online.
    • Be approachable if your child needs help. Coming forward isn’t always easy, and children may feel reluctant to tell you about online issues if they believe they will be punished or have their devices taken away.
    • Know how to make a report. It’s important immediate action is taken if your child is in danger of online sexual abuse. If something goes wrong online, it is critical your child is supported. Parents and carers need to know how to act.

    What are the warning signs a child may be groomed online?

    Common online grooming behaviour to look out for includes:

    • Unsolicited friend requests;
    • An online user asking children personal questions;
    • Promising something in exchange for self-generated child abuse material; or
    • Fake social media accounts.

    How can a report be made to the ACCCE or law enforcement?

    • If parents or carers believe a child is being groomed, it is important to collect as much evidence as possible before the content is removed. This will assist police in their investigation.
    • This evidence includes:
    • Screenshots or photos of conversations. However, do not screenshot, save, share or distribute any explicit images of the underage person as this is an offence.
    • Recorded social media details, including account profile and username profiles.
    • Webpage addresses (URLs).
    • Dates and times of when the online grooming occurred.
    • Any other information you have about the interaction or the potential offender.
    • Block or delete. It’s important to capture this information before blocking or deleting the user or you may lose important evidence.
    • Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report through the ACCCE website, https://www.accce.gov.au/report.
    • If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
    • The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach.

    The AFP-led ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.

    The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

    Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.

    Note to media:

    Use of term ‘CHILD ABUSE’ MATERIAL NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’

    The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

    Use of the phrase “child pornography” is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

    • indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
    • conjures images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

    Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Citizen of India Unlawfully Living in Greenbrier County Pleads Guilty in Marriage Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Aakash Prakash Makwana, 29, a citizen of India unlawfully residing in Ronceverte, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft. Makwana admitted that he committed the offense as part of a scheme to marry a United States citizen to evade U.S. immigration laws.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 23, 2019, Makwana arrived in the United States on a J-1 non-immigrant visit under which he worked in hotel hospitality and culinary service. As part of his guilty plea, Makwana admitted that he knew the J1 visa was valid for one year and that he remained in the United States after the visa was not extended and expired on November 24, 2020.

    In or around August 2021, Makwana conspired with others to marry a U.S. citizen for $10,000 so he could apply for Lawful Permanent Residence status, also known as obtaining a Green Card. Makwana was living in White Sulphur Springs and working at an area convenience store without legal authorization. As part of this scheme, Makwana married the U.S. citizen on September 3, 2021, falsified a residential lease agreement in White Sulphur Springs to make it appear that he and the U.S. citizen lived together, and added the U.S. citizen’s name to his utility bills and bank accounts. Makwana admitted that he committed aggravated identity theft when he included the name and signature of the residential property’s manager on the falsified lease agreement without the property manager’s authorization.

    After learning that the marriage fraud scheme did not work, Makwana filed a Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Makwana admitted that he falsely claimed in the petition that he suffered domestic violence and emotional abuse at the hands of the U.S. citizen he married as part of the fraud scheme. Makwana further admitted that he filed the petition to continue to stay in the United States while his claims were considered and to increase his chances of obtaining a Green Card.

    Makwana is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025, and faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Makwana is also subject to removal from the United States.

    The U.S. citizen, Kalee Ann Huff, pleaded guilty on February 20, 2025, to marriage fraud and perjury. Huff, 28, now living in Fairbury, Illinois, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025. Huff’s brother-in-law, Joseph Sanchez, pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, to participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy. Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois,is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025.

    “This case reflects another unacceptable attempt to undermine our nation’s immigration laws, and the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to enforce those laws to uphold public safety, national security, and the rule of law in our country,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.

    Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

    United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-190.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Waters, Senator Merkley Launch New Effort to Boost Congress’ Oversight of Trump’s Mass Firings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

    Washington, D.C. – As the Trump Administration continues mass firings of federal employees, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to strengthen Congress’ authority to protect workers and override federal staffing cuts implemented without consultation.

    The Reduction in Force (RIF) Review Act empowers Congress to overrule any president’s workforce cuts at all federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Health and Human Services. The bill makes RIF plans subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and bolsters Congressional oversight of the executive branch’s actions.

    “Donald Trump and co-President Elon Musk are engaged in a lawless and reckless restructuring of the federal workforce. By firing thousands of federal workers, they are dismantling the infrastructure supporting Social Security, veterans’ healthcare, and our entire government. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are sitting by and refusing to perform their duty under the Constitution to provide a check on this President. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Merkley to introduce the Reduction in Force Review Act, which will restore Congress’ role in overseeing major changes to the federal workforce. Agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which I’ve been fighting to protect as Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, protect ordinary Americans from financial scams and predatory lenders. If Republicans want to declare open season on working families, they should at least have to vote on it,” said Waters.

    Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, led the Senate introduction of the RIF Review Act.

    “Trump and his unelected billionaire sidekick Elon Musk’s reckless decision to fire tens of thousands of federal employees threatens the critical services that families, veterans, seniors, and children rely on,” said Merkley. “This isn’t about fiscal responsibility—it’s about cruelly shifting resources away from those who need them most to the very richest among us. Gutting resources and staff from vital programs is not resulting in better services or increased efficiency, but is instead causing pain for folks in Oregon and across the country. Congress must step in and exercise its oversight of the executive branch.”

    The RIF Review Act makes an agency’s reduction in force plan subject to a vote in both houses of Congress under the CRA process and enhances existing RIF reporting requirements to include:

    • The specific reasons for the reduction in force;
    • The anticipated impact of the reduction in force on the employees and operations of the federal agency;
    • Any alternatives to the reduction in force that the federal agency considered, including the reasons that the federal agency rejected those alternatives;
    • A summary of the consultations that the federal agency has held with employees of the federal agency who will be affected by the reduction in force (or representatives of those employees); and
    • A summary of how the reduction in force will impact employees of the Federal agency who are veterans.

    In addition to Waters and Merkley, the RIF Review Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Doris O. Matsui (CA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). 

    The RIF Review Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, SEIU, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), and National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).

    “The Trump administration’s reckless attempt to dismantle our government without congressional approval threatens vital services Americans depend on every day—from caring for veterans and safeguarding public health, to protecting our environment and maintaining national security. This illegal power grab would gut federal agencies, disrupt communities nationwide, and put critical public services at risk. AFGE is proud to support the RIF Review Act to protect not just the patriotic public servants we represent, but the integrity of American government and the essential services that our nation deserves,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

    “DOGE’s illegal firings are an attack on federal workers and on the communities across the country who rely on them. Veterans will be left waiting even longer for care, and the workers who ensure our food is safe and water is clean have been fired. If these cuts are not overturned, we’ll see seniors waiting for delayed Social Security checks, and kids and teachers going without vital school programs. The RIF Review Act is critical to stopping these reckless cuts and restoring the jobs that make these programs work. We urge Congress to act now: stand with working people and support this bill or let the Trump administration and an unelected billionaire dismantle the essential services that millions of Americans count on,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

    “This administration’s war on the services that Americans rely on is despicable,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the NTEU. “These illegal mass firings not only harm thousands of dedicated civil servants across the country, but also millions of taxpayers who need these services and local communities who will suffer from increased unemployment. I applaud Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Waters for their leadership in ensuring that Congress can step in and stop these efforts before it’s too late.”

    Full text of the RIF Review Act can be found by clicking here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission real estate agent indicted for fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Mission man has made an appearance in McAllen federal court on wire fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    According to the four-count indictment, Sergio Efrain Zamora Jr. sold multiple homes by forging signatures on the documents and transferring titles to his business.

    The charges allege, beginning in June 2021, Zamora orchestrated a real estate fraud scheme by selling multiple homes without the homeowners’ authorization. He allegedly forged signatures on documents and transferred property titles to his business.

    The victims-some of whom were his own family and friends-were unaware their homes were being sold, according to the charges. Zamora allegedly created fraudulent documents, including warranty deeds and contracts of sale, to make the transactions appear legitimate.

    According to the indictment, he forged paperwork as part of the scheme. He allegedly profited illegally by using the proceeds to pay off debts and, in some cases, by receiving funds directly from the fraudulent closings.

    The charges allege the scheme caused a total loss of $655,000 to the victims and the title company.

    If convicted, Zamora faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican national sentenced to 70 months for possession of sexually explicit images and videos of children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 47-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Felix Raymundo Mora-Gonzalez pleaded guilty Feb. 20.

    U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now sentenced Mora-Gonzalez to 70 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution to the known victims and will serve 25 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Mora-Gonzalez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

    Mora-Gonzalez was arrested Feb. 21, 2023, in connection with his involvement in an alien smuggling investigation. Mora-Gonzalez was originally arrested for harboring illegal aliens. However, the investigation uncovered a cell phone at the stash house that belonged him. A forensic examination of the cell phone revealed Mora-Gonzalez knowingly possessed 29 videos and nine images of CSAM.

    He also pleaded guilty to the alien smuggling charges and was previously sentenced to 15 months.

    Mora-Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ana C. Cano, Israel Cano and Joe Esquivel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

    Last July, a powerful student-led uprising in Bangladesh toppled the authoritarian, corrupt government led for 15 years by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

    Bangladesh now shows modest signs of democratic recovery. Months into its tenure, a transitional government has reopened political and civic space, especially at universities, and begun reforming key state bodies.

    Yet, violence and political retribution persist. This week, the interim government banned Hasina’s former party, the Awami League, under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act while a tribunal investigates its role in the deaths of hundreds of protesters last year.

    Elections have also been delayed and may not happen until 2026.

    Amid this fragile transition, interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel-prize winning economist, has emerged as a rare figure of trust and calm. His popularity is so high, in fact, many are calling for him to remain at the helm for another five years.

    Given the uncertainty, Bangladesh faces some uncomfortable questions: can it afford electoral democracy right now? Or must stability come first, with democracy postponed until institutions can catch up?

    And what happens if emergency governance becomes the new normal?

    Fraught road to democratic renewal

    According to a global democracy report, Bangladesh is still classified as an “electoral autocracy” — one of the few in the category that actually got worse in 2024.

    The opposition, chiefly the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), has mounted a fierce challenge to the interim government’s legitimacy, arguing it lacks a democratic mandate to implement meaningful reforms.

    While the BNP and its former ally, the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, may appeal to segments of Bangladesh’s Muslim majority, their support is undermined by reputational baggage and limited resonance with younger voters.

    At the same time, radical, right-wing, Islamist forces are exploiting the vacuum to reassert themselves, exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the Hindu minority.

    Economically, the country is also still reeling from the damage done under Hasina’s regime.

    Corruption hollowed out the banking system, leaving key institutions almost bankrupt. Although Yunus has taken steps to stabilise the economy by bringing in competent officials, uncertainty continues to dampen investor confidence.

    Inflation remains high. And unless job creation accelerates, especially for the youth, the seeds of further unrest are already planted.

    In addition, law and order has deteriorated sharply. The country’s police force has been tainted by its association with the Alami League, and the former police chief is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

    Street crime is rising and minorities are experiencing growing harassment. Women feel deeply unsafe — both online and on the streets. Some parties are also seen as a threat to countering violence against women.

    Despite strong laws on paper, weak law enforcement and victim-blaming are allowing violence to flourish. It’s very difficult to hold perpetrators of crimes to account.

    Bangladesh is also increasingly isolated on the global stage.

    India, long allied to Hasina’s government, has turned its back on the interim government. The United States is disengaging, as well. USAID had committed nearly US$1 billion (A$1.6 billion) from 2021–26 to help improve the lives of Bangladeshis, but this funding has now been suspended.

    Some gains on civil liberties

    This year, Bangladesh improved slightly in Freedom House’s index on political freedoms and civil liberties, from a score of 40 points out of 100 last year to 45. This is a step in the right direction.

    Among the improvements in the past year, the government has:

    The appointment of new election commissioners and the creation of advisory commissions for judicial and anti-corruption reform also signal an institutional reset in motion.

    But gains remain fragile. While politically motivated cases against opposition figures have been dropped, new ones have emerged against former ruling elites. The military’s policing role has expanded and harassment of Awami League supporters by protesters persists.

    In addition, media freedom remains heavily constrained, with a human rights group reporting the interim government had targeted hundreds of journalists in the past eight months.

    In this fractured environment, urgent reforms are needed. But these need to be sustainable, as well. Whether the interim government has the time, authority or support to deliver them remains in doubt. The government also needs to deliver on its promise to hold free and fair elections.

    A new party on the rise

    The country’s politically engaged youth have not been dissuaded by these issues. Rather, they are trying to reshape the political landscape.

    The new National Citizen Party (NCP) was formed in early 2025 by leaders of last year’s student uprising. It has positioned itself as the party to bring a “second republic” to Bangladesh. Drawing from historical models from France and the US, the party envisions a new elected, constituent assembly and constitution.

    With organisational support and tacit backing from the interim government, the NCP has rapidly grown into a viable political force.

    Still, the party faces a steep, uphill climb. Its broad, ideological umbrella risks diluting its message, blurring its distinctions with the BNP.

    For the NCP to turn protests into policy, it must sharpen its identity, consolidate its base, and avoid being co-opted or outflanked.

    Whether this moment of political flux leads to real transformation or yet another cycle of disillusionment will depend on how boldly — and how sustainably— the interim government and new actors like the NCP act. And they must not draw out the process of transition for too long.

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

    – ref. After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress – https://theconversation.com/after-an-autocratic-leader-was-toppled-in-bangladesh-democratic-renewal-remains-a-work-in-progress-253846

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK to clamp down on criminal networks in Western Balkans as the Prime Minister travels to Albania

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK to clamp down on criminal networks in Western Balkans as the Prime Minister travels to Albania

    The UK will step up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans on a historic visit to the region by the Prime Minister. 

    • Prime Minister visits Albania in historic first official visit, as the two countries step up cooperation on defence and security, organised immigration crime and economic growth  
    • UK to expand Joint Migration Task Force in the Western Balkans to intercept migrants upstream before they reach UK shores  
    • Discussions on illegal migration come after the Prime Minister unveiled the government’s Immigration White Paper, a comprehensive plan to drive down net migration 
    • Prime Minister set to see UK cooperation with Albania in action during visit to Port, as both countries double down on efforts to tackle forged documents, illicit finance and incentives to migration  

    The UK will step up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans on a historic visit to the region by the Prime Minister.  

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer will begin a two-day visit to Tirana today, to step up cooperation on migration and expand successful joint initiatives with Albania to more countries in the region.  

    It comes after the Prime Minister unveiled the government’s Immigration White Paper, a comprehensive plan that will bring net migration to the UK down significantly, earlier this week. 

    During the first ever official visit to Albania by a UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will visit the Port of Durres to see firsthand how UK cooperation is intercepting people smugglers, deterring would-be migrants and snaring criminals using fake documents.  

    The UK’s cooperation with Albania has underlined how this government’s approach of intercepting and deterring migrants upstream can dramatically cut illegal migration to British shores. 

    There has been a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals in the last three years, while the number of Albanians returned to the country has also doubled in the past two years, with 5,294 Albanians returned in 2024, more than double the 2,035 Albanian nationals returned two years earlier.  

    But the Prime Minister has been clear that the government cannot be complacent about the success, and while in Albania this week, he is expected to announce the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force with Albania and Kosovo to include North Macedonia and will further progress positive discussions with Montenegro.

    The task force brings together specialists from the countries involved to design and execute operations to detect, deter and manage illegal migration. It will see the UK share greater intelligence to allow local law enforcement to intercept smuggling gangs and deploy UK funded drones to snare gangsters funnelling migrants through the Western Balkans corridor and on to the UK.  

    The UK will also support both countries to reinforce checks at border crossing points.  

    The expansion of the task force comes ahead of the UK hosted Western Balkans Summit in the Autumn, which is expected to focus on regional security, economic growth and tackling shared challenges such as foreign interference and illegal migration with innovative solutions. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:   

    Global challenges need shared solutions, and the work the UK and Albania is doing together is delivering security for working people in both countries.   

    And our joint work to deter, detect and return illegal migrants is further proof that intervening upstream to protect British shores and secure our borders is the right approach.   

    Every step we take to tackle illegal migration overseas, cripple the criminal networks that facilitate it and stem the finance streams that fund it is delivering safer streets in the UK, and reducing the strain on taxpayer funded services.  

    But we cannot take this action alone, through closer partnerships and greater cooperation, we are creating real change with our partners across Europe and delivering on our Plan for Change.

    The UK will also double down on its success with Albania, ensuring the barriers deterring migrants from making the journey from Tirana to British shores remain in place.  

    As part of an enhanced strategic partnership with Albania, the Prime Minister and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama are expected to agree to go further on clamping down on people smuggling, supporting human trafficking victims and ensuring Albanians deported home do not attempt a second journey.   

    The two countries will also launch a new project to tackle illicit finance and investigate underground finance streams that are laundering money between Albania and the UK.   

    Two forgery detection machines will also be donated to the Albanian State Police to quickly identify discrepancies and confirm document authenticity through regular checks, allowing Albanian law enforcement to track and apprehend individuals trying to illegally enter the UK on stolen or fake passports.  

    And the UK will support Albania tackle what is known as the ‘revolving door effect’ – when a migrant is returned home, only to evade law enforcement and leave the country again –  through a new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find meaningful employment. The focus of the programme will be in northern Albania, where the majority of migrants who arrive illegally in the UK are traced back to.   

    The leaders are also expected to step up cooperation to counter serious organised crime, including the funding of a new forensic evidence programme to share and track the DNA swabs of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UK.   

    The recent roll out of the programme saw more than 55 serious criminals – including murderers, rapists and manslaughter offenders – taken off UK streets thanks to the closer cooperation between the two countries. The project has seen 1000 hits in the past 18 months in UK data bases, resulting in 55 arrests in the UK.  

    The government will invest a further £1 million in the partnership this year to upgrade Albania’s forensics, biometrics and digital capability to detect and detain further criminals and protect UK streets. It will also allow law enforcement in both countries to identify and gather evidence in some of the most serious crimes committed in Albania, the UK and beyond.  

    Later in the day, the Prime Minister will see firsthand the deeper defence and security cooperation between the UK and Albania when he visits troops from both countries working together to train up Ukrainian soldiers under Operation Interflex.  

    Day two of the programme will see the Prime Minister attend the European Political Community summit, where he will convene a roundtable on Defence and Security and continue conversations on innovative solutions to the challenge of illegal migration.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 16)

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 1262 of Part One and Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Article 3 of the Federal Law “On Amendments to Articles 102 and 1262 of Part One and Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The bill is aimed at motivating employers to participate in the formation of funds under the long-term savings program for the benefit of their employees, as well as encouraging citizens to enter into long-term life insurance contracts.

    2. On amending the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 23, 2021 No. 636 (in terms of amending the Regulation on the Federal Customs Service)

    The draft act provides for amendments in terms of granting the Federal Customs Service of Russia the authority to take measures related to counteracting the financing of extremist activities.

    3. On Amendments to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 16, 2009 No. 228 (regarding amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media)

    The draft act is aimed at implementing the provisions of the Federal Law of December 26, 2024 No. 479-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Advertising” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

    4. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation in 2025 to provide a subsidy to the joint-stock company DOM.RF in the form of a contribution to property that does not increase its authorized capital

    The draft order is aimed at compensating credit and other organizations for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued to employees of accredited organizations operating in the field of information technology.

    5. On Amendments to Certain Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources)

    The draft act is aimed at bringing the provisions of Government acts into line with the legislative changes introduced by Federal Law No. 460-FZ of December 13, 2024 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

    Moscow, May 14, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko proposed publishing a jubilee collection of Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s works

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The State Duma held the second meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky

    May 14, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko during a meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky

    May 14, 2025

    Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin

    May 14, 2025

    Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov

    May 14, 2025

    Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    May 14, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    The State Duma held the second meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky

    The State Duma held the second meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the LDPR, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, where the plan for the main events was considered.

    Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, noting the scale of Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s personality, emphasized the importance of perpetuating his memory: “We must do everything so that the memory of him, as a person who did a lot to create the party-political system of our state, who headed the faction in the State Duma throughout his entire time, lives and is passed on from generation to generation.” He recalled that Vladimir Zhirinovsky did a lot to strengthen the Russian state.

    Vyacheslav Volodin told what has already been done within the framework of the memorial events: “Starting September 1, scholarships named after Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky will be paid to the most gifted, talented students who have achieved high results in the field that Vladimir Volfovich loved – in oriental studies. He was a specialist in it.”

    The Chairman of the State Duma noted the efforts made by the leader of the LDPR faction Leonid Slutsky: “Leonid Eduardovich and his colleagues are doing a lot to ensure that the Vladimir Volfovich museum is opened next year. It will be located in the headquarters of the LDPR party. This is a home place for Vladimir Volfovich.”

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the meeting. He emphasized that Vladimir Zhirinovsky left behind a significant scientific and literary legacy, and put forward an initiative to publish a jubilee collection of his works.

    “Considering that Vladimir Volfovich left behind a significant scientific, literary, journalistic legacy, if Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin supports it, I propose considering the possibility of creating a commission at the State Duma, which could include scientists, historians and sociologists from the country’s leading universities, such as Moscow State University, Russian State University for the Humanities, and St. Petersburg State University. It would analyze the existing legacy, propose a publication structure and select works and documentation to publish a collection of his works,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted that on the eve of the committee meeting he discussed preparations for the anniversary with LDPR Chairman Leonid Slutsky. As a result, the draft plan of events was significantly expanded: federal ministries and departments, the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as major public organizations and media will participate in the implementation of 56 events.

    In conclusion, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked all members of the Government and personally the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin for their active participation in the preparation of the anniversary. The Deputy Prime Minister added that all work is under the control of the Chairman of the Government Mikhail Mishustin.

    The meeting of the organizing committee was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, the Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, the Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, the Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit, the Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Denis Ashirov, State Duma deputies, senators and other members of the organizing committee.

    The 80th anniversary of Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s birth will be celebrated on April 25, 2026. By decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin dated November 6, 2024, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin was appointed head of the organizing committee. The committee includes parliamentarians, government representatives, scientists, representatives of the university community and major media.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK at heart of NATO talks on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security and support for Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    UK at heart of NATO talks on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security and support for Ukraine

    NATO Allies are in Turkey to underline the Alliance’s support for Ukraine and commitment to a secure and stable Euro-Atlantic.

    • UK leading calls for Europe to support Ukraine
    • UK and NATO Allies will commit to building a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO at meeting of Foreign Ministers in Antalya 
    • Visit follows UK hosted talks with European partners on bolstering security and support for Ukraine 

    As President Zelenskyy further demonstrates his commitment to peace by travelling to Istanbul for direct talks with Russia, NATO Allies are gathering in Turkey today to underline the Alliance’s support for Ukraine and commitment to a secure and stable Euro-Atlantic, with a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO at its core. 

    At the NATO informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Antalya, the Foreign Secretary will lead calls for the strongest Alliance in history to stand united in the face of a generational threat from our adversaries, and stand behind Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace. Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and central to this government’s plans to deliver growth and prosperity to British working people.

    Ahead of the Hague Summit in June, Allies are meeting in Antalya with a clear message that NATO must step up together to meet this critical moment for our collective security. The Foreign Secretary will say that Europe must shoulder more responsibility for its own security, as security threats from Russia and its enablers continue to mount. 

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    Today, President Zelenskyy is in Turkey in a further demonstration of his commitment to peace, ready to enter talks direct with Russia and continuing to push for a full ceasefire as a first crucial step.

    As myself and my fellow NATO Allies also travel to Turkey, we are united alongside Ukraine in our determination to secure a just and lasting peace. We are working to deliver more for our collective security and bring this barbaric war to an end.

    Euro-Atlantic security is the foundation of our Plan for Change. Without the security NATO provides, we cannot deliver the growth and prosperity the British people deserve.” 

    During his remarks in an informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council, the Foreign Secretary will update on UK steps to protect Euro-Atlantic security and disrupt Russia’s reckless actions to force Putin’s hand. He will say that every step the Alliance takes to increase pressure on Russia and achieve peace in Ukraine is another step towards security and prosperity at home and abroad. 

    Earlier this week, six spies working for Russia were sentenced in the UK, as the UK cracks down on Russian espionage attempts on British soil. The successful convictions came about as a result of close international cooperation with a number of NATO Allies, including Bulgaria, France and Germany, demonstrating a unified front against hostile Russian activity. 

    The visit follows the UK-hosted Weimar+ meeting on Monday, where representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU joined the Foreign Secretary in London to share Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s right to peace and freedom. 

    It also comes after the Prime Minister’s visit to Oslo last week where the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) announced enhanced support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces through intensive training exercises, increasing interoperability across military platforms and enhancing countering disinformation support as well as allowing JEF Nations to learn from the battlefield experience of Ukraine’s armed forces.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

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