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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Request Biden White House and NARA Records on Politically-Motivated Investigations into President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to release all government records demonstrating the Biden administration’s role in advancing investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The senators are also opening an inquiry into NARA and its Inspector General’s role in those investigations.  
    The chairmen requested:
    All records between or among Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to President Trump’s election interference case, that began as the Arctic Frost investigation and ultimately became part of Jack Smith’s elector case. 
    All records between or among DOJ, FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to the investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information.
    All NARA records, including the NARA Office of Inspector General, referring, or relating to the Arctic Frost and the classified document investigation. 
    Read their full letter to NARA here. 
    Previous Arctic Frost oversight:
    April 9, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Release Additional Arctic Frost Records Detailing Sweeping Anti-Trump Investigation
    March 14, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Release Records Showing FBI Obtained Trump, Pence Cell Phones, Conducted Sweeping Interviews to Advance Anti-Trump Arctic Frost Investigation
    February 25, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Call for Investigation into Potential Criminal Leaks, Violations of FBI Information Sharing Policies
    January 30, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Make Public Whistleblower Records Revealing DOJ and FBI Plot to Pin Trump in Jack Smith Elector Case  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Late-Autumn Storm Lashes New Zealand

    Source: NASA

    Severe weather battered New Zealand’s east coast in late April and early May, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain to low-lying areas and late-autumn snowfall to the mountains. A state of emergency was declared for parts of the South Island, including its largest city, Christchurch, after a low-pressure system caused flooding, landslides, power outages, and travel disruptions, according to news reports.
    The image above (right) shows the central portion of New Zealand’s South Island on May 5, several days after the storm moved through. Higher elevations are blanketed in snow, and coastal waters are brightened by suspended sediment, likely from a combination of river discharge and material stirred up from the seafloor. In comparison, the mountains are mostly snow-free and coastal waters are clearer in an image from March 6 (left). Both were acquired with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite.
    Ground stations recorded 52.4 millimeters (2.1 inches) of rainfall in Christchurch on April 30, followed by 62.4 millimeters (2.5 inches) on May 1, according to New Zealand’s MetService. Both days exceeded the average monthly rain totals for their respective months, and even higher totals were reported elsewhere in the region. Some Christchurch residents evacuated as rivers rose and water inundated homes, submerged roads, and triggered landslides, The New Zealand Herald reported.
    Snowfall was significant in some mountainous regions. The Mount Hutt ski area west of Christchurch saw estimated accumulations of up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) from the storm. Over 10 centimeters (4 inches) fell along the shore of Lake Tekapo, according to news reports, and ski areas farther south received a dusting.
    Strong southerly winds amplified the storm’s effects on the North Island, with speeds exceeding 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour in Wellington. The gales ripped roofs off of homes, caused power outages, and led to canceled flights in and out of the city on May 1. Meteorologists warned of coastal flooding at high tide due to strong swells.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Preservation Teams Return To Kentucky To Show April Storm Survivors How To Salvage Family Treasures

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Preservation Teams Return To Kentucky To Show April Storm Survivors How To Salvage Family Treasures

    Preservation Teams Return To Kentucky To Show April Storm Survivors How To Salvage Family Treasures

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    – As Kentucky households recover from the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides, FEMA’s preservation teams will return to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in the Commonwealth to demonstrate how to safely handle and salvage your damaged items

    These specialists will show you how to salvage storm-damaged family photos, artwork, textiles, media and other family treasures

    Save Your Treasures Program SchedulePreservation Teams will be in Kentucky Disaster Recovery Centers May 5-17

    You can find the teams at the following:FRANKLIN COUNTY Frankfort Plaza, 827 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 Hours: 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    May 5-10 and 12-17

    ANDERSON COUNTY Anderson County Community Center, 1026 County Park Road, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342Hours: 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    May 5-6 and 9-10

    Watch for additional locations for the week of May 12-17

    The Save Your Family Treasures program is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and FEMA

    Specialists visit DRCs and provide advice to disaster survivors on how to salvage their personal keepsakes, including photographs, books, documents, textiles and other commonly damaged items

    They provide demonstrations, hand out informational resources, and give technical assistance to visitors

    If you are unable to attend an in-person demonstration, you can learn more about salvaging family treasures by visiting www

    fema

    gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures or culturalrescue

    si

    edu/who-we-are/hentf

    For safety reasons, and to ensure the items don’t suffer further damage in transit, survivors should not bring items to the DRC

    Survivors are encouraged to show a photo or describe the items they want to salvage

    The FEMA specialists will have example items to demonstrate the salvage techniques that are applicable to their items

     Survivors can also visit a recovery center to apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to other assistance that may be available and much more

    To find the nearest center, visit www

    fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362You do not need to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800-621-3362

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

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

    martyce

    allenjr
    Mon, 05/05/2025 – 15:26

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 3 Weeks Left To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following February Severe Storms and Flooding

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: 3 Weeks Left To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following February Severe Storms and Flooding

    3 Weeks Left To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following February Severe Storms and Flooding

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –Homeowners and renters in Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Simpson and Woodford counties who experienced damage or losses caused by the February severe storms and floods have three weeks to apply for federal disaster assistance

    The deadline to apply for federal assistance is May 25

     How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceThere are several ways to apply for FEMA assistance:Online at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visit any Disaster Recovery Center

    To find a center close to you, visit fema

    gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”)

    Use the FEMA mobile app

    Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    It is open 7 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    Eastern Time

    Help is available in many languages

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

    FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis

    FEMA representatives can explain available assistance programs, how to apply to FEMA, and help connect survivors with resources for their recovery needs

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

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

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    Survivors should keep their contact information updated with FEMA as the agency may need to call to schedule a home inspection or get additional information

     Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and is not intended to compensate for all losses caused by a disaster

    The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts

     Homeowners and renters in Woodford County may be eligible for federal assistance under DR-4860-KY or/and DR-4864-KY

    If you had property damage or loss in Woodford County from the February severe incident, and then again from the April severe incident, you will need to complete two separate disaster assistance applications

    For an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube

    com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw

     For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Mon, 05/05/2025 – 15:08

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Announces Historic Travel Assistance and Stipend for Voluntary Self-Deportation

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Announces Historic Travel Assistance and Stipend for Voluntary Self-Deportation

    lass=”text-align-center”>The First Illegal Alien to Utilize Travel Assistance has Already Returned to Honduras
    WASHINGTON, D

    C

    —Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a historic opportunity for illegal aliens to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country through the CBP Home App

    Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app

    Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U

    S

    and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U

    S

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

    Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent

    Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121

    The first use of travel assistance has already proven successful

    An illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country recently utilized the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras

    Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week

    “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest

    DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

    “This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers

    Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport

    ”
    Illegal aliens submitting their intent to voluntarily self-deport in CBP Home will also be deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure

    Participation in CBP Home Self-Deportation may help preserve the option for an illegal alien to re-enter the United States legally in the future

    Qualifying aliens need to submit their “Intent to Depart” via the CBP Home app

    For further information, visit DHS

    gov/CBPhome

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 100 Days of Secretary Noem: Making America Safe Again

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: 100 Days of Secretary Noem: Making America Safe Again

    lass=”text-align-center”>“I will continue fighting every day alongside President Donald Trump to secure our border and keep American communities safe

    This is just the beginning of the Golden Age of America

    ” – Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem 
    WASHINGTON – In her first 100 days on the job, Secretary Kristi Noem returned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to its core mission of securing the homeland

     
    Under Secretary Noem’s strong leadership, DHS is hard at work securing our borders, arresting and removing criminal aliens, safeguarding the U

    S

    cyber infrastructure, protecting America’s leaders, deterring terrorism, and keeping America safe

      
    Below are just some of Secretary Noem’s accomplishments from her 100 Days:
    Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, we have the most secure border in American history

    Daily border encounters have plunged 95% since President Trump and Secretary Noem took office

    Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99

    99%

    Secretary Noem launched a multimillion-dollar nationwide and international ad campaign, urging illegal aliens to leave the U

    S

    voluntarily or face deportation with no chance of return and warning criminals to stay out

    The data shows the world is hearing our message

    Secretary Noem and Secretary Kennedy have reunited nearly 5,000 unaccompanied children with a safe relative or guardian

    Secretary Noem is finishing the border wall

    DHS already has 85 miles of new construction either planned or under construction

    United States (U

    S

    ) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U

    S

    Coast Guard (USCG) have seized nearly 232,000 pounds of fentanyl and other illicit drugs—stopping them from ever reaching American communities

    Secretary Noem is fulfilling President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations—starting with the worst of the worst

    Secretary Noem unleashed the U

    S

    Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to target the worst of the worst, 75% of their arrests are criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges

    Secretary Noem rode with ICE agents on an operation in New York City that resulted in the arrest of a Tren de Aragua ringleader

    The Secretary went on a successful operation in Northern Virginia that got MS-13 gang members, 18th Street gang members, and perpetrators of sexual crimes off our streets

    Additionally, Secretary Noem went on an ICE operation in Phoenix that resulted in the arrest of human traffickers, drug smugglers, and 18th Street gang members

    DHS has secured 598 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g)

    Last week, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement—Operation Tidal Wave—resulted in 1,120 arrests across Florida

    Secretary Noem deputized the Texas National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Prisons, U

    S

    Marshals, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, members of the State Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help with immigration operations

       
    Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS has arrested over 168,000 illegal aliens in 2025 alone, including more than 600 members of Tren de Aragua

    To fulfill President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations, DHS and Department of  Defense (DOD) are detaining some of the most dangerous illegal aliens, including violent criminals and members of terrorist gangs, at Guantanamo Bay

     Secretary Noem was the first Cabinet Secretary to visit Guantanamo Bay and see the facilities where the worst of the worst are being held

    At President Trump’s direction, DHS deported nearly 300 Tren de Aragua and MS-13 terrorists to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) Prison in El Salvador, where they no longer pose a threat to the American people

    While in El Salvador, Secretary Noem signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to update the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) between the U

    S

    and El Salvador

    This agreement ensures fugitives’ criminal records are shared between America and El Salvador, so that criminals are not inadvertently released into American communities

    While in Colombia, Secretary Noem signed a Statement of Intent for Biometric Cooperation

    This agreement facilitates the sharing of biometric data between our nations to better identify and prevent criminals and terrorists from our crossing borders

    Biometric data sharing has already led to over 1,700 deportations and 1,000 arrests

    President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U

    S

    Secretary Noem replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country

    So far, thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport

    The Trump Administration is enforcing the Alien Registration Act which requires aliens to register with the federal government

    If illegal aliens fail to comply, they face fines and imprisonment

     
    Deportations have already exceeded 152,000—this is just the beginning

    Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS partnered with the Government of Uzbekistan to successfully deport over 100 illegal aliens from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

    This operation, in which Uzbekistan fully funded the deportation of their own nationals, underscores the deep security cooperation between our nations and sets a standard for U

    S

    alliances

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are putting the safety of Americans first and delivering justice for victims of illegal aliens and drug cartels

    Under the Secretary’s leadership, DHS is enforcing President Trump’s first major piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act

    This law mandates the federal detention of illegal aliens who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury

    President Trump designated international drug cartels and other criminal gangs, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

    This enables a whole-of-government approach to dismantle their drug and human trafficking operations

    The days of unchecked cartel and gang violence are over

       
    Following the Secretary’s meeting with the Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Trump Administration extradited Eswin Mejia, an illegal alien arrested for killing 21-year-old Sarah Root in a drunk driving crash, from Honduras

    President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve

    Secretary Noem has met with Angel families—including Alexis Nungaray, Sabine Durden-Coulter, Tammy Nobles, Maureen Maloney, and Agnes Gibboney—to hear their tragic stories and offer support from the Trump Administration

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are restoring integrity and common sense to our legal immigration system

    DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary

    No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens

     Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, and Afghan TPS

         
    President Trump is returning common sense to our legal immigration system and national security by revoking visas of terrorist sympathizers

    Those who glorify and support terrorists who kill Americans are not welcome in the U

    S

    Some examples include:

    ICE arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student who led activities aligned with Hamas and passed out pro-Hamas propaganda flyers

    Dr

    Rasha Alawieh was deported after she admitted to attending the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah and was responsible for killing hundreds of Americans

    ICE arrested Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown foreign exchange student whose father-in-law is a senior advisor to Hamas

    To keep America safe, DHS is now conducting enhanced vetting of visa applicants, including monitoring foreign aliens’ social media accounts to identify any support for terrorist organizations

    Under President Trump, Secretary Noem refocused DHS to its core mission of protecting the American homeland and eliminating government waste

    Secretary Noem has empowered our brave men and women in ICE, Border Patrol, and the Coast Guard to use common sense to do their jobs effectively

    DHS ensured a safe and secure Super Bowl for the more than 100,000 fans celebrating in New Orleans

    Secretary Noem is embracing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts to make sweeping cuts that eliminate government waste, return DHS to its core mission of protecting the homeland, and fulfill the Founders vision of returning power to the states

    The USCG eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland

    The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits

    Secretary Noem stopped the construction of a new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency headquarters building that was going to cost American taxpayers more than half a billion dollars

    Secretary Noem ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) FEMA grant program that was wasteful and ineffective

    This resulted in nearly a billion dollars being directed to the Disaster Relief Fund

       
    To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U

    S

    Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens

    Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems and keep Americans safe

    Bottom Line: Secretary Noem will continue fighting alongside President Trump every day to secure our border and keep American communities safe

    This is just the beginning of a new Golden Age of America

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mayor Johnston, Governor Polis, Attorney General Weiser, Senator Bennet, Congressman Neguse & Congresswoman Pettersen Release Letter to Colorado General Assembly on A.I.

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Mayor Johnston, Governor Polis, Attorney General Weiser, Senator Bennet, Congressman Neguse and Congresswoman Pettersen released the following letter to the Colorado General Assembly on A.I. 

    “For decades, Colorado has served as a national leader in the technology innovation sector. Our state is proud to be home to cutting-edge companies and national laboratories that drive our economy and jobs, while also championing groundbreaking consumer protection laws like the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. 

    Over the past year, stakeholders and legislators together have worked to find the right path forward on Colorado’s first-in-the-nation artificial intelligence regulatory law created by SB24-205. This bill established a regulatory framework that seeks to lower the risk of algorithmic discrimination in AI-based decision-making technology. 

    The stakeholder collaboration that took place over many months leading up to and during the 2025 legislative session brought many ideas, concerns, and priorities to the table from a wide range of communities. However, with just hours remaining in the 2025 legislative session, it is clear that more time is needed to continue important stakeholder work to ensure that Colorado’s artificial intelligence regulatory law is effective and implementable. 

    Together, we implore leadership and members of the Colorado General Assembly to take action now to delay implementation of SB 24-205 until January 2027. Colorado communities in every corner of our state deserve the benefit of well-crafted artificial intelligence consumer protection law that more time for stakeholder engagement and policy development work will bring. 

    This pause will allow consumer advocates, Colorado’s business community, and other states to collaborate on a balanced, future-ready framework – one that protects privacy and fairness without stifling innovation or driving business away from our state.” 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Housing: unfair competition between public authorities and increased tourist pressure in Galicia – E-000952/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The housing crisis in several Member States is caused by several factors. The regulation (EU) 2024/1028[1] on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services (STR) aims to provide Member States authorities with reliable and objective data on short-term rentals to allow them to adopt the most convenient and proportionate measures to counterbalance any possible negative effects of short-term rentals.

    Member States that wish to receive data on short-term rentals from platforms are obliged to implement the STR Regulation. In this regard, any registration scheme that Member States want to introduce must be compliant with the STR Regulation.

    However, Member States are not obliged to introduce registration schemes or seek data from platforms, in which case the regulation does not need to be implemented.

    Public authorities may take different approaches in this area. It is for Member States and their competent authorities to decide whether to put in place registrations schemes at regional level.

    In addition, to help tackle the housing crisis, the Commission has appointed the first-ever Commissioner responsible for housing and established a Task Force for Housing.

    The Commission will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan and will tackle systemic issues with the short-term accommodation rentals and make proposals to tackle the inefficient use of the current housing stock.

    During these activities, the Commission will give due consideration to the matters described by the Honourable Member.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1028/oj/eng
    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of projected “Trump Slump,” Governor Newsom announces record-high tourism — again

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 5, 2025

    What you need to know: California remains the #1 state for tourism, with record-high tourism spending reaching $157.3 billion in 2024. However, the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric are driving away tourists, killing tourism and hospitality jobs, and already leading to decreased tourism projections.

    SACRAMENTO — Governor Newsom and Visit California today announced that California’s tourism spending continued to grow in 2024, reaching a record-high of $157.3 billion in tourism spending throughout the state — an increase of 3% from 2023, another record-spending year.  This comes after recent news that California’s economy is now the fourth-largest economy in the world and experienced a population increase for the second year in a row.

    “California dominates as a premier destination for travelers throughout the nation, and around the globe. With diverse landscapes, top-rate attractions, and welcoming communities, California welcomes millions of visitors every year. We also recognize that our state’s progress is threatened by the economic impacts of this federal administration, and are committed to working to protect jobs and ensure all Californians benefit from a thriving tourism industry.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The announcement comes with the release of Visit California’s 2024 Economic Impact Report and revised 2025 forecast released today. According to Visit California’s report, in 2024:

    • Visitors spent $157.3 billion at businesses across the state.
    • Tourism spending supported 1.2 million jobs and created 24,000 new jobs.
    • $12.6 billion in state and local tax revenues was generated from tourism.

    Economic progress at risk of Trump Slump

    However, the forecast also anticipates a 1% dip in overall visitation and a 9.2% decline in international visitation in 2025, in direct response to federal economic policy and an impending “Trump Slump.” Looking ahead, 2025 is projected to be more challenging, particularly due to global economic pressures and a slowdown in international tourism, the direct result of declining global sentiment about travel to the United States. California is already seeing the impact, with a sharp year-over-year decline in March of this year.

    In anticipation of the slump caused by the Trump administration, Governor Newsom and Visit California are encouraging Californians to continue to travel within the state to help support the booming tourism industry. The Governor has also launched a new campaign encouraging Canadian consumers to continue to travel to the Golden State.

    More people moving to California 

    In addition to record-breaking tourism, California is welcoming more new residents. Governor Newsom recently announced California’s population increased for the second year in a row. The announcement also noted that previous reports that California’s population had declined by hundreds of thousands of people in 2021 and 2023 were found inaccurate, and since 2021, California’s population has increased by nearly 275,000 people. 

    California’s economic leadership

    With a nation-leading GDP and more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, California’s economy remains a global powerhouse driven by diversity, creativity, and opportunity.

    • 4th largest economy in the world: California’s $4.1 trillion GDP recently surpassed Japan.
    • #1 in the nation: Leads the U.S. in Fortune 500 companies, new business starts, venture capital access, manufacturing output, high-tech industries and agriculture.
    • Major trade powerhouse: Over $675 billion in two-way trade, making California the largest importer among U.S. states and a key driver of job creation.
    • Manufacturing hub: Home to 36,000+ manufacturing firms, employing over 1.1 million workers, with strengths in aerospace, electronics, and zero-emission vehicles.
    • AI & innovation leader: California hosts 32 of the world’s top 50 AI companies and produces 25% of global AI patents and conference papers.

    Recent news

    May 2, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after the University of California Board of Regents named James Milliken the new president of the University of California: “California’s future depends on the strength of our institutions,…

    May 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…

    May 1, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Accessibility of household appliances for visually impaired people – E-000884/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Accessibility Act is a directive with legal base Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Under this legal base, the legislator can adopt measures for the approximation of laws in the Member States, with the objective of the establishment and functioning of the internal market.

    The related Impact Assessment clarified that there was no national legislation on accessibility of domestic appliances. Hence no barriers in the market due to divergent legislation were identified, with domestic appliances falling outside the scope of the Commission proposal.

    Nevertheless, the Commission supports the accessibility of user interfaces including by the development of accessibility standards, such as those under standardisation request M587 regarding the accessibility requirements of products and services in support of the European Accessibility Act[1]. These could help manufacturers of domestic appliances to address accessibility of their products.

    In addition, through the AccessibleEU centre, the Commission supports capacity building and training on accessibility including for manufacturing industries.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/enorm/mandate/587_en
    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament establishes a European Order of Merit

    Source: European Parliament

    To mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the European Parliament establishes the first European distinction of its kind, a European Order of Merit.

    Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration – the founding moment of European unity – the European Parliament’s Bureau has decided to establish the European Order of Merit, the first European distinction of its kind granted by an EU Institution.

    This new civilian distinction will honour the achievements of individuals who have made significant contributions to European integration and European values. All Member States – but Ireland[1] – award distinctions in national orders, reflecting a shared commitment across the Union to recognise excellence and reward contributions that enrich society. There is currently no similar distinction at European Union level. The European Order of Merit aims to fill this gap, reaffirming a shared European identity at a time when global challenges call for stronger unity.

    “Europe is built by its people and the European Order of Merit is for them,” said President Metsola. “This Order celebrates those who lead with courage, act with conviction, and believe — like Robert Schuman — that peace, democracy and dignity are not just ideals, but actions. On the 75th anniversary of Europe’s boldest beginning, we honour those who continue to build it.”

    Proposals for appointment to the Order may be made by the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, Heads of State or Government, and Speakers of national parliaments of the Member State. Each year, up to 20 laureates will then be appointed to the Order by a dedicated committee comprising the President of the European Parliament, two Vice-Presidents, and four eminent European personalities.

    The first ceremony of conferral is expected to take place by 2026.
    With this initiative, the European Parliament pays tribute to the enduring spirit of European unity — from its post-war beginnings to today’s challenges.

    [1] Ireland does not have a system of national orders; instead, it confers honorary titles and awards, such as the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Support for the 100 climate-neutral cities under the Green Deal – E-000580/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In Greece there is a momentum for the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission[1]; of the six Greek cities selected for the Cities Mission, five have already received the Mission Label.

    These cities established the ‘Climanet’ network, and the Greek Government announced EUR 20 million to be allocated to these cities for the preparation of studies and the financing of projects[2].

    At European level, 53 Cities have so far been awarded with a Mission Label. A further 33 Climate City Contracts are now under review. 80 more cities have joined the Twinning Learning Programme[3] to replicate good practices: nine are Greek cities[4].

    The Climate City Capital Hub[5], launched in June 2024, helps labelled cities[6] to get projects ready for investment. It offers advice on financing solutions, in cooperation with existing advisory services, such as those offered by the European Investment Bank (EIB), and puts cities in touch with investors.

    Through the ‘Enabling City Transformation Programme’ under Horizon Europe, EUR 21 million were secured in 2024 to deploy advisory services of the EIB[7]. In addition, the EIB ringfenced a lending envelope of EUR 2 billion for the labelled cities to support the implementation of their decarbonisation strategies.

    Greek Mission cities will also receive support from EU Cohesion Policy and, in line with the European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund Regulation[8], they are implementing their sustainable urban development strategies, to support energy efficiency, climate adaptation, smart cities and green transport projects.

    Finally, EU actions, such as the Covenant of Mayors[9], the Green City Accord[10], the European Urban Initiative[11], the URBACT IV programme[12] and others, support cities in capacity-building and knowledge exchange.

    • [1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en
    • [2] https://2030.ioannina.gr/?page_id=1121
    • [3] https://netzerocities.eu/twinning-learning-programme/
    • [4] These are Penteli, Palaio Faliro, Mytilene and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni (selected for Cohort 1); Chalkida and Chios (in Cohort 2); Fyli, Heraklion and Larisa (in Cohort 3).
    • [5] https://netzerocities.eu/capital-hub/
    • [6] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/942e747e-3ccf-4121-a973-9cc8032fc421_en
    • [7] Including European Local ENergy Assistance (https://www.eib.org/en/products/advisory-services/elena/index)
      and the InvestEU Advisory Hub (https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme/investeu-advisory-hub_en).
    • [8]  OJ L231, 30/06/2021, Article 11.
    • [9] https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/home
    • [10] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en
    • [11] https://www.urban-initiative.eu/
    • [12] https://urbact.eu/

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Pakistan: Climate disasters increasing risks of death and disease amongst children and older people – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    • Healthcare and disaster response failing during floods and heatwaves
    • Collaboration with Indus Hospital & Health Network reveals extent of problem
    • Children and older people most likely to suffer; least likely to be counted

    Pakistan’s healthcare and disaster response systems are failing to meet the needs of children and older people who are most at risk of death and disease amid extreme weather events related to climate change, Amnesty International said in a new report.

    Uncounted: Invisible deaths of older people and children during climate disasters in Pakistan documents how increasingly frequent floods and heatwaves are overwhelming Pakistan’s underfunded healthcare system, leading to preventable deaths among young children and older adults in particular.

    Pakistan, which contributes about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, is the world’s fifth-most vulnerable country to climate disasters. In collaboration with Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), a charity hospital that provides free healthcare in Pakistan, Amnesty International investigated how spikes in deaths often followed extreme weather events.

    Children and older people in Pakistan are suffering on the front line of the climate crisis.

    Laura Mills, researcher with Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme

    “Rising temperatures drive ever more intense and unpredictable weather. Children and older people in Pakistan are suffering on the front line of the climate crisis, exposed to extreme heat or floods that lead to disproportionate levels of death and disease,” said Laura Mills, researcher with Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme.

    “Pakistan’s healthcare system is woefully underfunded and overstretched, even in non-emergency times. The climate emergency creates an extra strain that is unbearable and the system is failing to deliver adequate care to those in need.”

    Floods often foster the spread of water- and mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory illnesses, which pose a major threat to older people and young children. Similarly, extreme heat is most dangerous for older adults, particularly those with preexisting health conditions, as well as infants. Pakistan collects virtually no mortality data on these impacts, limiting its ability to respond adequately and save lives.

    To understand the impact of extreme weather patterns on health, IHHN conducted a quantitative study, analysing deaths across three of its facilities in 2022: Badin (in Sindh province, most affected by floods), and Muzaffargarh and Bhong (in Punjab province, most affected by heatwaves). IHHN compared the relationship between mortality rates and climate indicators, including precipitation and temperature.

    To build on IHHN’s quantitative investigation, Amnesty International conducted qualitative interviews to further understand the situation. Amnesty International visited Sindh and Punjab provinces four times between April 2024 and January 2025, and conducted remote interviews in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In total, the organization interviewed 210 people, including 90 relatives of people whose deaths could credibly be explained by heatwaves or flooding.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Transport seeks feedback on unclogging Dominion Road congestion

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Auckland Transport (AT) is asking for feedback to change the operating hours of Dominion Road’s southbound bus lane by one hour, to help improve congestion and keep your city moving.

    AT is also proposing to install a peak time right hand turn ban at certain bottleneck intersections to improve traffic flow.

    “Dominion Road is long, but quite narrow, and we simply can’t fit any more vehicles down it – it’s reached its peak,” Chris Martin, AT’s Road Network Optimisation Manager says.

    “More Aucklanders are on the move earlier in the afternoon, and this, combined with school traffic, means the peak travel time home on Dominion Road now starts at 3pm rather than 4pm. We need to keep pace with this, and make the appropriate amendments to keep it moving,” Mr Martin says.

    “The only things we can do to speed up travel is to make the most of the space already on the road, and this means using the existing bus lane more, and to restrict right hand turns at key intersections.

    “We believe this change will save the average bus passenger up to three minutes in travel time between 3pm-4pm along Dominion Road. That’s up to 15 minutes every week,” he says.

    People who travel along Dominion Road will know all too well that it is often congested in peak times.

    It’s been this way for more than a decade. While Auckland’s population has grown rapidly since, the number of vehicles that can fit down the road, around 25,000, has remained the same.

    “Making better use of the existing bus lane is one of our most effective ways of beating congestion, helping more Aucklanders travel to and along the road,” Mr Martin says.

    “By increasing the operating hours of the bus lane, we can increase the number of people who are able to travel down Dominion Road by bus.

    “One double-decker bus can hold up to 100 people. If more people experience a faster bus journey, that’s potentially up to 100 fewer vehicles squeezing their way down this road.”

    Feedback on intersection changes

    AT wants to make other changes to Dominion Road to improve congestion, including restricting right hand turns at two specific intersections in peak time traffic.

    “Balmoral is especially prone to congestion on Dominion Road in peak times, and part of the problem is the number of motorists turning right down Wiremu Street looking for a park,” Mr Martin says.

    “This turning traffic must wait a while for northbound traffic to clear and means other southbound vehicles on Dominion Road back up behind causing big delays down through to the intersection with Balmoral Road, and beyond.”

    AT is proposing to restrict right-hand turns from Dominion Road onto Wiremu Street and also Memorial Drive in peak hour traffic between 7am–10am and 3pm-7pm on weekdays.

    We are also proposing to implement a permanent no right turn ban onto George Street.

    “Restricting right turns at these bottlenecks during the peak period will help to unclog the busy through traffic approaching major intersections and reduce delays, as well as reducing turning crash risks,” Mr Martin says.

    AT invites you to provide feedback on the proposed changes for Dominion Road at haveyoursay.at.govt.nz. Feedback is open until 25 May 2025. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey released

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Headline: New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey released

    The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS) shows that around a third of adults were victims of a crime in 2024.

    Published by the Ministry of Justice today, the latest survey is based on interviews with more than 7,000 New Zealanders between October 2023 and October 2024.

    It found that 30 percent of adults (1.3m) were the victim of a personal or household crime in 2024.

    “This finding is consistent with previous years since the survey began in 2018,” says Ministry of Justice General Manager Sector Insights Rebecca Parish.

    “The NZCVS helps define the true rate of crime in New Zealand by asking participants about both reported and unreported experiences of crime. Each year only around a quarter of crime incidents are reported to Police.”

    In 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of victims of sexual assault reporting to Police.

    In the most recent survey, 32 percent of victims (28,000) reported at least one sexual assault offence to Police, compared to 7 percent (5,000) in 2018.

    “When the reporting rate increases, it does not necessarily mean that the prevalence rate has also increased.

    “In the case of sexual assault, rates of sexual assault remain broadly steady but more victims are reporting those assaults,” Ms Parish says.

    “We are working to understand what is driving these findings. This will be further explored in the NZCVS Key Stories report which will be published at the end of May. This will contain further analysis and context for some of the trends in this report.”

    In other key findings, 17 percent of adults were victims of personal offences (interpersonal violence, fraud and cybercrime, and threats and damages) in 2024, compared to 15 percent in 2018.

    “This is mostly driven by an increase in fraud and cybercrime over the last two years,” Ms Parish says.

    The NZCVS is shared with government agencies, NGOs and researchers who use it to understand the full picture of crime in New Zealand, both reported and unreported.

    “The findings are used to help target investment at the people and communities that need it most, and to measure the performance of the justice system.”

    The Government has set a target of less violent crime – with 20,000 fewer people the victims of assaults, robberies and sexual assaults by 2029.

    The NZCVS is being used to monitor progress towards this target.

    Other key findings

    • Since the survey began there has been a slight decrease in both the proportion of households who were victims of household offences, and the number of incidents of household offences – 26 incidents per 100 households in 2024 compared to 33 incidents per 100 households in 2018. A decrease in burglary is driving this trend.
    • The number of incidents of personal offences (interpersonal violence, fraud and cybercrime, and threats and damages) has remained around 30 incidents per 100 adults for every year of the survey. In 2024, it was 32 incidents per 100 adults.
    • Victimisation rates for violent offences (physical and sexual assault, and robbery) have mostly remained steady compared to previous years.
    • The survey consistently finds that adults aged 65+ are less likely than the New Zealand average to be the victim of at least one offence – 21 percent compared to 30 percent.

    Quarterly violent crime updates

    • The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet publishes a quarterly update on the Government’s Target 4 – Reduced violent crime using NZCVS data. The annual NZCVS year to October data provides the most robust measure of violence and is what we recommend for making comparisons over time, but the quarterly update provides a more regular snapshot.
    • Using NZCVS year ending October 2024 data, there were 24,000 fewer victims of violent offending, compared to the year ending June 2024.
    • The Government’s violent crime target aims to reduce the number of victims of violent crime (assault, sexual assault, and robbery) by 20,000 people from the October 2023 baseline of 185,000. Since the target was set, the number of victims has varied, including an increase to 215,000 for the year to June 2024. The year to October 2024 data indicates a decrease of 24,000 victims since the year to June 2024.

    About the NZCVS

    • The NZCVS is an annual national survey about New Zealanders’ experiences of crime that has been running for seven years.
    • The NZCVS is the most comprehensive source of data on adult victims of crime in New Zealand.
    • Only around a quarter of crime is reported to the Police, so the NZCVS provides a key source of data on the nature and volume of crime.
    • There are now seven years of data, representing almost 50,000 interviews since data was first collected in March 2018.
    • Over the next few months, the Ministry will be publishing two more NZCVS reports. The Public Perceptions report will be published at the end of April. This will summarise data from a new set of survey questions designed to measure New Zealanders’ levels of trust and confidence in the law and criminal justice system.
    • The Key Stories report will provide further analysis and context for some trends in both Key Results and the Public Perceptions report, and will be published at the end of May.

    High resolution infographics from the NZCVS are available on request.

    NZCVS Cycle 7 resources and results

    Public Perceptions report – NZCVS

    ← Back to the news

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Monte Vista Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years of Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Blas Villa, 41, of Monte Vista, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    According to the plea agreement and information presented at sentencing, Villa is a well-known drug dealer in the San Luis Valley. Villa possessed close to a pound of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills over three incidents in 2023. In August 2023, Villa and an associate were found at a home in Monte Vista with significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, a handgun, five cell phones, a scale with drug residue, and $13,400 in cash. A search of Villa’s phone revealed photos of Villa posing with firearms, as well as many photos of fentanyl pills associated with a pill counting app. Villa was originally charged in state court and bonded out of custody. While on bond, Villa was arrested again for possessing heroin and methamphetamine in November 2023. Villa bonded out of state custody again. In December 2023, law enforcement pulled over a car driven by Villa and found over 2,500 fentanyl pills and distribution amounts of methamphetamine. Prior to this case, Villa had fifteen prior convictions, including several felonies.   

    “Mr. Villa is a serial offender,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “I thank our law enforcement partners for removing him and his deadly wares from the San Luis Valley.”

    “Villa consistently brought harm and poison to Colorado, and with his sentencing the state is that much safer,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “The men and women of DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to take down people and organizations causing harm to Coloradans and those around the country.”

    “The removal of these dangerous drugs is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Monte Vista Police Department, specifically the dedicated work of our Detective, in collaboration with key federal partners,” said Interim Monte Vista Police Chief Tyler Harford. “This operation represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. We remain committed to addressing this issue and protecting our residents.”

    United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing in Durango, Colorado.  The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Monte Vista Police Department handled the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.

    Case Number: 24-cr-00046-GPG-JMC

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Sentenced to Serve More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison after Traveling to Oklahoma to Engage in Sexual Acts with a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – BRYAN DEVIN CRUZ, 25, of Texas, has been sentenced to serve 210 months in federal prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    Public record reflects that, in April 2024, an officer with the Moore Police Department (MPD) was dispatched to a home on reports of a stranger peeking into the window of a 13-year-old girl. MPD then deployed a thermal imaging drone to survey the area and located the suspect, later identified as Cruz, moving away from the property. Cruz was arrested shortly after. The minor’s parents consented to the search of a laptop used by the teenager. Investigators learned the teen and Cruz met online through an online application, and that Cruz told the minor he was a high school student and claimed to be 17 years old. Eventually, Cruz expressed interest in meeting the minor, and traveled from Dallas, Texas, to the minor’s residence on April 5, 2024, with the purpose of engaging in illicit activity.

    On May 7, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against Cruz, charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor. On September 12, 2024, Cruz pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment, and admitted he traveled from Dallas, Texas, to Moore, Oklahoma, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

    At the sentencing hearing on May 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Cruz to serve 210 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to protect the public from further crime and the nature and circumstances of the offense, indicating that Cruz’s conduct was pervasive, rather than isolated.

    This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Jose AI Solutions Company Agrees To Pay $1.5 Million To Resolve Allegations That It Improperly Obtained Federal Grant Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN FRANCISCO – Vimaan Robotics, Inc. (Vimaan), a San Jose-based company that develops computer vision and AI warehouse management solutions, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly accepting and drawing down funds from a grant award that it was ineligible to receive.  

    The settlement relates to a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant that Vimaan obtained from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The terms and conditions of the SBIR grant preclude companies that are majority-owned by one or more venture capital operating companies from applying for or receiving such an award.  The settlement resolves allegations by the United States that at the time Vimaan received the award on April 16, 2020, Vimaan failed to disclose that it had become majority-owned by one or more venture capital companies one month earlier, making it ineligible for the award.  Between June 2020 and August 2022, the United States contends, Vimaan submitted 14 separate requests to NSF for disbursement of the award funds and falsely certified its eligibility to receive the award funds in each of these payment requests.

    “Federal small business research grants awarded by NSF are designed to support and foster innovative research by small businesses, not to provide taxpayer funding for businesses primarily owned by venture capital firms,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins.  “When companies evade program restrictions and obtain grants even though they are not eligible, this office will vigorously enforce the False Claims Act to ensure that federal dollars go to proper recipients.”

    “The SBIR program is a valuable tool in advancing NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by increasing opportunities for small businesses to undertake cutting-edge scientific research. Entities that misrepresent their eligibility in order to obtain government funding undermine the integrity and effectiveness of the program. The NSF Office of Inspector General is committed to vigorously pursuing oversight of these taxpayer funds and I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its strong support in this effort,” said Megan E. Wallace, NSF’s Acting Inspector General.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar handled this matter for the government.  The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and NSF-OIG.  

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating fraud in federal grants.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement involving NSF can be reported to NSF’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.nsf.gov/contact/hotline.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

    Vimaan Settlement Agreement
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Pop-up clinics helping families stay well this winter

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 06/05/2025

    The ACT Government is making it easier for parents and carers to protect our youngest community members with a series of free pop-up influenza vaccination clinics for children.

    Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the clinics – for aged 6 months to under 5 years – are a simple and convenient way for busy parents to keep their little ones protected against serious illness.

    The clinics can be accessed via booking or walk-in and will be located across the ACT, in Belconnen, Gungahlin, Central Canberra, Tuggeranong and Weston Creek.

    This service is another part of our commitment to high quality, free healthcare for Canberrans. The clinics are a part of the biggest investment in healthcare in our Territory’s history.

    “Respiratory illnesses like influenza (flu) can be serious for young children, and an annual influenza vaccine is the best way to reduce the risk of your child getting sick with influenza and spreading it to others,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

    “We know it can be challenging for families to find time while juggling work, childcare and daily responsibilities. That’s why we have set up these after-hours pop-up clinics to make it faster and more convenient for parents to get their child’s annual influenza vaccine.

    “The clinics are available to families with children aged from 6 months to under five, with locations across Canberra. Influenza vaccination for this age group is also available through ACT Early Childhood Immunisation Clinics and GPs, so there are a range of options for parents and carers to have their young children vaccinated.”

    “There are also other simple actions you can take to keep yourself and your family well this winter, including practising good hand hygiene, staying home if you’re unwell, keeping active and eating well.”

    ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman encouraged all Canberrans to look after their health and wellbeing this winter, starting with getting an influenza vaccination.

    “Respiratory viruses are more than just a cold and they can be far more serious than you think,” Dr Coleman said.

    “For best protection against influenza, it is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over to be vaccinated every year.

    “Vaccinations are a safe and easy way to protect both yourself and the people in your community who are at risk and now is the perfect time to schedule an appointment to visit our pop-up clinics”.

    For many people, the influenza vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program, although providers may charge a fee to administer the vaccine. This includes:

    • children aged six months to under five years
    • people aged 65 years and older
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older
    • pregnant people
    • people aged six months or older with underlying medical conditions

    Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are widely available from GPs and a range of pharmacies around Canberra as well as at selected public health facilities for some eligible people.

    Walk-ins at the clinics are welcome but a booking is recommended, which can be made through myDHR or by calling: 02 5124 9977.

    For more information on the pop-up influenza vaccination clinics visit www.act.gov.au and search ’pop up clinic’.

    – Statement ends –

    Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Banking – ASB recruiting 80 home ownership specialists to prepare for refixing surge

    Source: ASB

    ASB is on a hiring drive to recruit 80 additional home ownership specialists as it prepares for a surge in home loan applications. 80 percent of New Zealand homeowners are expected to refix their home loan within the next year, according to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. While most of the 80 full time specialists have now been recruited, there are still some roles being advertised. The specialists will work across the bank’s in-house home ownership team and mortgage adviser-led business.

    With many Kiwi having locked in short-term rates when interest rates were higher, Adam Boyd, Executive General Manager of Personal Banking says ASB is already seeing a change in customer behaviour, with people starting to fix for longer terms. “As a result of falling rates, we expect 55 percent of our home loan customers will have locked in rates under 6 percent by December this year, compared to 40 percent in March 2025.”

    ASB is also simplifying its refinance process so that Kiwi coming to the end of their fixed rate term at another bank can receive a decision on moving to an ASB loan quicker and more easily. For its mortgage adviser-led business, ASB has introduced a system to improve the quality of applications being submitted so they can be processed more quickly.  

    ASB was named Canstar’s 2025 Bank of the Year – Home Loans Award winner. The award recognised that ASB delivers mortgage products that combine ‘the best features with the lowest costs, plus provides great customer service at every stage of the mortgage journey’. ASB also won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards in four categories – Home Lender, Investment Home Lender, Fixed Home Lender, and Investment Fixed Home Lender.

    “We are seeing elevated demand for our home loans. By growing our teams and enhancing our refinance process, we’ll be able to turn around applications faster, both for our customers and the mortgage advisers we work with, while continuing to deliver great service,” says Boyd.

    “We continue to offer competitive pricing, having dropped fixed rate mortgages six times this year. Our one-year fixed term rate is currently joint market leading, at 4.99 percent.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Tech – Fusion5 repositions itself in market as transformation partner

    Source: FUSION5

    6 May – Auckland, New Zealand – Following several significant senior appointments and acquisitions of related technology businesses over the past 18 months, Australasian systems integrator Fusion5 has formally announced its transition from a business applications company to a full-service transformation partner.
    Formed in 2003, Fusion5 initially filled the gap between the big, strategically focused IT consulting firms and smaller, hands-on, agile applications software specialists. From a running start as a highly awarded digital partner to world-leading business application providers (including CRM, ERP, and HR) across Microsoft, Oracle, Workday and IBM, the company went on to add advanced technical and integration capabilities.
    “To keep pace with the intensifying complexity of IT ecosystems, Fusion5 acquired complementary ‘best-in-class’ IT practices to expand our in-house digital capability,” says Sven Martin, CEO – Fusion5 Australia. “In particular, bringing IntegrationWorks into the fold in 2024 introduced significant skills, expertise, and referenceability – deepening our proficiency in systems integration.”
    The company has also invested heavily in its culture and capability; adding strategic services such as consulting and advisory, a robust client-success program and managed services to ensure clients access the governance and innovation necessary for success.
    However, despite providing its customers with a seamless approach to digital transformation, recent customer research identified a perception gap.
    “Our evolution had out-paced market understanding,” says Martin. “Fusion5 goes beyond the role of typical systems integrators, IT consultants, business solutions implementors, or even managed services providers – to stitch all of that digital capability (and more) together as a cross-functional transformation partner. This convergence of solutions, services, and capabilities enables us to utilise AI as a strategic lever for transformation.
    “We now offer our customers one-partner simplicity and the benefit of a Trans-Tasman team that’s geared up, both strategically and practically. In short, we can help our customers ‘go beyond’ what they ever expected to achieve with technology alone.”
    Kristy Brown, CEO – Fusion5 New Zealand, adds: “Today’s CIO grapples with the ongoing tension of harnessing digital innovation while ensuring measurable IT performance. In other words – keeping the lights on while lighting up innovation. They must champion digital agility and prepare the business to leverage new technologies while optimising existing ones. Fusion5 offers a unique blend of business acumen and digital capability to bridge the vision-to-performance gap many business leaders face.”
    To mark its evolution, Fusion5 has undertaken a major brand overhaul to better realign market perception and reflect its ‘go beyond’ transformation partner status.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Investments – NZ SUPER FUND NAMED WORLD’S BEST OVER PAST 20 YEARS

    Source: New Zealand Super Fund

    Average annual returns of 10.03 percent after costs over the past 20 years make the New Zealand Superannuation Fund the world’s best-performing sovereign wealth fund, according to international sovereign wealth fund experts GlobalSWF. 

    GlobalSWF’s annual rankings compare the performance of 13 sovereign wealth funds and 37 pension funds from 18 countries across five continents. The NZ Super Fund’s returns for the 20 years to 30 June 2024 were well ahead of the average returns for both sovereign wealth funds (6.4 percent) and pension funds (6.8 percent).

    The NZ Super Fund was also the top performing sovereign wealth fund during the past decade, with an average annualised return of 10.33 percent after costs.

    NZ Super Fund CEO Jo Townsend said that over the past 20 years the Fund had significantly outperformed long-term performance expectations.

    “In part, that reflects how well global equities, which presently make up about 60 percent of the Fund’s assets, have performed during that time. In addition, our active investment strategies have also outperformed both our Reference Portfolio benchmark and our long-term performance expectations,” Ms Townsend said.

    Ms Townsend said the Guardians’ active investment strategies were designed to capitalise on its competitive advantages as an institutional investor, particularly its long investment horizon, operational independence, and clear and effective governance structure.

    Ms Townsend said maintaining long-term, growth-oriented investment strategies through multiple market ups and downs had been central to the success of the NZ Super Fund.

    The NZ Super Fund has $8 billion invested in New Zealand, including investments in forestry, agriculture and horticulture, and numerous listed and unlisted entities.

    In the past year, the Fund had expanded its rural land portfolio, increased its investment in locally managed funds that provide growth capital to New Zealand businesses, and continued its involvement in various land development initiatives that will provide platforms for housing and social infrastructure.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mautohe Cathedral Cove closed for conifer removal

    Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house

    Date:  05 May 2025

    DOC Coromandel Senior Ranger Matt Flynn says the conifers are invasive weeds that threaten to permanently alter the unique landscapes only found in New Zealand.

    Conifers were introduced to New Zealand in the 1880s. Since then they have spread across the country from forests, shelterbelts and erosion plantings.

    Matt says there are five large wilding conifers dotted across Mautohe Cathedral Cove to be removed, and if left unchecked they are likely to spread the invasive species further across the reserve.

    “Removing the wilding conifers supports our weed management and biodiversity restoration goals – enabling native flora and fauna to regenerate at Mautohe Cathedral Cove,” he says.

    Contract arborists will be conducting the work, which will focus on areas above the rock archway and near the beach, on 8 and 9 May weather permitting.

    The closure of the track is to ensure public safety, and visitors should stay out of the reserve while the arborists carry out their work.

    People are discouraged from landing on the beach when the conifer removal is underway, and any visitors will be guided by contractors to a safe area away from the worksite.

    The walking track is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, 10 May 2025.

    Invasive species, over-exploitation, habitat loss, pollution and climate change are putting immense pressure on our ecosystems.

    What we do makes a difference. We have proven in many parts of the country that when we remove or manage the threats, restore habitats or modify how we use or interact with nature, it comes back.

    Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Garbrielle. DOC repaired the tracks through the second half of 2024, and they reopened to visitors in December 2024.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police acknowledge Race Unity Speech Awards winner

    Source: New Zealand Police

    The winner of the 2025 Race Unity Speech Awards is Jordyn Joy Pillay, from Ormiston Senior College, Auckland.

    Jordyn’s speech highlighted that diversity must be more than a moment – it must be a movement.

    “I am the ocean I cannot be read I am calm and soothing and so accepting. Come to me …I’ll bring you peace. I see no difference. I’m home to fins and feathers, skin and scales …home to many, I freely give. I welcome you warmly. Abide in me.”

    The awards were held at the Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Manukau Institute of Technology Ōtara Campus over the weekend and featured students from several schools across New Zealand.

    This year’s theme – ‘Te Moana Nui o te Kanorau – The Great Ocean of Diversity’ – highlights our need for the natural harmony that we see in the outdoors to be replicated in our society. The metaphor also talks to our strength being in our differences.

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is delighted to be the first Commissioner to attend the awards.

    “Supporting initiatives like this represents our commitment to building trust and confidence with the diverse communities we serve,” Commissioner Chambers says.

    Police Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers, the chief judge of the awards, stressed the importance of providing a platform for rangatahi to discuss and share their thoughts on important societal issues.

    “I am astonished by the quality of the speeches from our young people over the weekend,” she says.

    “As Police, we are proud to be supporting a platform for our young people to voice their aspirations and solutions.”

    Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo MNZM – National Partnerships Manager Ethnic, acknowledged the history of the award the partnership.

    “As Iwi and Community Partnerships, we are honoured to have been supporters of these awards for nearly two decades. These awards offer us a meaningful platform to be highly visible amongst our youth and positively engage with them on issues that are important to them and their communities. Each year, we are inspired by the voices of our young people – who are leading us now and into the future,” he says.

    About the Awards

    The Race Unity Speech Awards were established by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in memory of race relations advocate and Bahá’í Faith member Hedi Moani. Organised by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community, a religious community dedicated to promoting the oneness of humanity at various levels, the Speech Awards is supported by the New Zealand Police, the Human Rights Commission, Foundation North, Manukau Institute of Technology, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand, Hedi Moani Charitable Trust, and Studio Marque.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu gives in-principle approval for Greenfield airports in Kota, Rajasthan and Puri in Odisha

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 9:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is committed to expandand strengthen air connectivity across the nation. Taking another step in this direction, Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu hasgranted in-principle approval for the establishment of a Greenfield airport in Kota, Rajasthan and Puri in Odishaon May 05, 2025.

    Kota Airport, a long-awaited development is a result of consistent efforts by Shri Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha and MP from Kota-Bundi, who has been actively pursuing the realization of an airport for Kota. His continued engagement with the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been one of the driving forces to expediting this approval. 

    The proposed airport will not only serve Kota city, known as a major educational and industrial hub, but will also cater to the growing population and economic activity in the Hadoti region. With its establishment, Kota will be able to be major destinations within India and internationally.

    This decision marks a major milestone in the infrastructure development of Kota, Rajasthan and the Government’s commitment to making air travel accessible to every citizen.

    Puri, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India and home to Lord Jagannath, attracts millions of devotees and tourists from across the country and the world. The decision to establish an airport in Puri will provide a major boost to religious tourism, regional development, and overall connectivity in the region.

    This airport will be able to enhance the direct connectivity between Puri and major metropolitan cities in India.This decision marks a important milestone for Puri and Odisha and is in line with the Government’s commitment to strengthening last-mile air connectivity and making air travel accessible to all.

    ***

    Beena Yadav/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2127174) Visitor Counter : 53

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s first mortgage backed Pass Through Certificates listed on the National Stock Exchange

    Source: Government of India

    India’s first mortgage backed Pass Through Certificates listed on the National Stock Exchange

    Secretary, DFS stresses the importance of housing sector and the housing finance sector for the growth of the economy

    Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 7:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance listed India’s first Mortgage backed Pass Through Certificates (PTC) structured by RMBS Development Company Limited on the National stock Exchange on 05 May 2025.  Listing was done by Shri M. Nagaraju by ringing the bell. The listing ceremony was attended by several Heads of Banks, Housing Finance Companies and other financial institutions.

    These PTCs are backed by pool of housing loans originated by LIC Housing Finance Limited. The issue of Rs. 1,000 crores (1,00,000 PTCs of Face value of Rs. 1,00,000/-). was fully subscribed.

    This is the first issue of a PTC where the coupon was discovered on the “Electronic Book Provider (EBP)“ platform of the National Stock Exchange. The final maturity of the PTC issued will be nearly twenty years and the coupon is 7.26% per annum. The rating of the Instrument is AAA(SO) by CRISIL and CARE Ratings. These PTCs are issued in demat form and are transferable. As the PTC is listed on a stock exchange, they can be traded in the secondary market.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nagaraju stressed the importance of housing sector and the housing finance sector for the growth of our economy. He stated that housing finance has many forward and backward linkages with many other industries including the infrastructure. With a country of such vast population, housing needs have to be addressed at the earliest to achieve overall economic development.

    He stated that securitization can act an integrating factor for housing finance market and the debt market. Reiterating the importance of RMBS, he stated that it could act as a catalyst for the growth of the housing finance sector.

    ****

    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2127137) Visitor Counter : 85

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 5th, 2025 Heinrich, Rounds Seeking Public Input on Initiative to Accelerate Advancements in American Science (ASAP)

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Published: May 5th, 2025
    Request seeks input for building out national AI infrastructure to make science advancements 10 times faster by 2030

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released a Request for Information (RFI) for the American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP), a bipartisan initiative aimed at making advancements in U.S. science ten times faster by 2030. The RFI invites researchers, innovators, businesses, government agencies and the public to share proposals that will equip American scientists and stakeholders with next-generation data, computing and artificial-intelligence capabilities while removing unnecessary barriers to innovation.
    “It’s time to unleash a new era of American discovery — one where we cure cancers, power our grid with fusion energy, and widely deploy superconductors,” said Heinrich. “With the American Science Acceleration Project, we’re setting out to make U.S. science ten times faster by 2030. To get there, we need bold ideas from every corner of the country. This is our moment to dream big, remove outdated barriers, and build the tools that will define the next century of innovation.”
    “The United States has always faced grand challenges, from building the interstate highway system to landing on the moon,” said Rounds. “Today, we face a new imperative: creating a superhighway for science that lets our researchers cure cancer, harness fusion energy and defend our country from both physical and cyber threats in record time. Creating a centralized system that involves input from the experts and the public is the first step in turning that vision into reality.”
    BACKGROUND:
    American innovations routinely take a decade or more to move from laboratory discovery to products that improve lives. Emerging AI-driven research methods have demonstrated 10- to 50-fold improvements in drug design, materials screening and clean-energy development, yet access to the requisite data, compute and regulatory agility remains sparse. ASAP seeks to match the scale of the 1950s interstate build-out with a 21st-century investment in scientific infrastructure so the nation can:

    Bring life-saving therapies to patients in months, not years.

    Connect net-positive fusion power and next generation nuclear to the grid before 2030.

    Deploy affordable superconductors and materials that revolutionize energy and transportation.

    Specifically, the RFI invites comment on:

    DATA – Creating secure, interoperable platforms that house the world’s largest collection of AI-ready, consented scientific data.

    COMPUTING – Making sure U.S. researchers have unrivaled access to advanced computing, networking and energy infrastructure.

    AI – Developing scientific artificial intelligence “copilots” that accelerate innovation and discovery—and keep scientists at the heart of the scientific process.

    COLLABORATION – Unlocking cross-disciplinary teamwork and tapping wells of talent across the nation.

    PROCESSES – Streamlining regulatory pathways and adopting AI-enabled testing protocols to speed time-to-market while raising the bar for safety and establishing clear metrics for measuring success.

    The comment window is now open for 60 days. The feedback received will guide ASAP legislation to be introduced this Congress.
    Click HERE to read the full RFI and submission instructions.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen Joins Senior Senate Colleagues in Demanding Investigation into Elon Musk’s Alleged Abuse of White House Position for Personal Gain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **Shaheen introduced new legislation last month that would prevent Special Government Employees like Musk from receiving federal contracts or grant payments to companies they own**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, on Friday joined several of her high-ranking Senate officials in sending a letter to President Trump to demand an investigation into recent reports that Elon Musk—senior White House advisor and Special Government Employee—has used his role to advance personal business interests abroad. In the letter led by U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the lawmakers reference an alarming pattern in which Musk allegedly utilized influence in the  policy making process to pressure foreign governments—including India, South Africa, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan and Lesotho—into granting favorable treatment to his satellite internet provider Starlink in apparent exchange for U.S. policy concessions.  
    Last month, Shaheen unveiled new legislation that would prevent federal contracts or grant payments to companies owned or controlled by any person who became a Special Government Employee on or after January 1, 2025. 
    The Senators wrote, in part: “Public servants must serve Americans, not their own bank accounts. These alleged actions are an egregious breach of public trust, degrade our credibility with allies and partners, and potentially violate U.S. laws.”  
    The letter details instances of Musk meeting with foreign leaders – including those from India and Bangladesh – inside the White House complex and the Blair House, shortly before their governments fast-tracked regulatory approvals for Starlink. In one example, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission issued what was described as “the swiftest recommendation” in its history for a Starlink license shortly after officials requested a delay in U.S.-imposed tariffs and met with Musk on White House grounds. 
    The Senators continued: “The White House and the Blair House are not merely buildings – they are enduring symbols of American democracy and service. To use this public property for personal enrichment is not only a betrayal of the public trust – it also sends a dangerous signal that power is not a solemn responsibility, but an asset to be exploited for personal gain.” 
    They concluded: “Brazen corruption of that sort is seen in despotic regimes, not the United States of America. We call for you to investigate these claims about Musk and to make public any findings. And we call for an accounting to Congress of Musk and his associates’ use of government positions for personal benefit.” 
    Click here to view the letter. 
    In addition to Shaheen and Warner, the letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee; Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee; Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member, Senate Budget Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee; Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture Committee; and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Request Biden White House and NARA Records on Politically-Motivated Investigations into President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to release all government records demonstrating the Biden administration’s role in advancing investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The senators are also opening an inquiry into NARA and its Inspector General’s role in those investigations. 
    The chairmen requested:

    All records between or among Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to President Trump’s election interference case, that began as the Arctic Frost investigation and ultimately became part of Jack Smith’s elector case.
    All records between or among DOJ, FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to the investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information.
    All NARA records, including the NARA Office of Inspector General, referring or relating to the Arctic Frost and the classified document investigations.

    Read their full letter to NARA HERE.
    Previous Arctic Frost oversight:
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2025

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation 

    Every year, hurricanes destroy lives, striking some of our Nation’s most beautiful regions and leaving devastation in their wake.  National Hurricane Preparedness Week is a time to raise awareness about the dangers of these storms and encourage citizens in coastal areas and inland communities to be vigilant in emergency planning and preparation.

    Hurricanes, storm surges, and flooding can wash away homes and properties, but the greatest threat is the loss of life, making readiness paramount.  Those living in at-risk areas should have a family evacuation plan and a supply of non-perishable food, water, medicine, batteries, and other essential items.

    This August marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which caused widespread destruction and loss of life, leaving an indelible impact on the Louisiana Delta and Mississippi Coast.  Tragically, in the decades since, other catastrophic hurricanes — most recently Helene and Milton — have devastated communities and shattered lives throughout our Nation. 

    In the aftermath of each storm, the intrepid American spirit emerged.  It was evident in the professionalism and compassion of volunteers and organizations offering aid, comfort, and temporary shelter — and in the extraordinary resilience and strength of those left to rebuild their lives.  I witnessed this firsthand in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, where I met with survivors and local leaders working tirelessly to restore their communities.

    I remain steadfastly committed to supporting hurricane recovery efforts and ensuring that Federal resources and tax dollars are allocated to American citizens in need.  I signed an Executive Order giving State and local authorities a more significant role in resilience, preparedness, and rapid-response efforts.  Local officials have the insight to make risk-informed decisions, deploy resources, manage operations, and eliminate ineffective bureaucracy so we can better serve affected communities.

    As hurricane season approaches, I urge every household to recognize the dangers of severe weather, assess their risk, and develop a comprehensive plan to ensure disaster preparedness.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week.  I call upon Americans living in hurricane-prone areas to safeguard their families, homes, and businesses from the dangers of hurricanes. 

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

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –