Category: Natural Disasters

MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: In House Agriculture Committee Hearing, Pingree Slams Trump Admin. and Republicans for Threatening to Cut SNAP Benefits

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, during a House Agriculture Committee hearing, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) called out the Trump Administration and their Republican allies for threatening to slash $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which more than 40 million Americans rely on for monthly food assistance—in order to pay for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.

In her remarks, Pingree blasted the proposed plan, highlighting the devastating impact these cuts would have on Maine, where more than 174,000 people—including over 43,000 children—rely on the program each month.

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“Look, I may be a Democrat, but in my state, making sure the kids get fed, making sure that our seniors have food, this is just common sense. About a third of the households in my state use SNAP dollars to feed children. There are over 174,000 Mainers who get help from SNAP. This is just to put food on the table. And I think we all know $6 a day per person isn’t much to feed your family,” Pingree said in her remarks. “… The reason we’re talking about the cuts, it’s not ‘fear mongering.’ It’s not ‘smack.’ It’s because in this reconciliation plan, which some of our Republican colleagues have been over in the White House talking about just as this hearing was going on, you can’t cut $230 billion from this committee without cutting some SNAP benefits. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re talking about this.”

A transcript of Pingree complete remarks is copied below.

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Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Thank you to you and the ranking member for hosting this hearing. Thank you to everyone on the panel. It’s possible I’m the last speaker. At least I’m close. And I know you’ve put in many hours, and I hope you know how much we appreciate the time that you’re spending with us.

Just to counter a little bit what my colleague from Wisconsin was saying, talking about this hearing as being ‘fear mongering’ and ‘talking smack.’ Look, I may be a Democrat, but in my state, making sure the kids get fed, making sure that our seniors have food, this is just common sense. About a third of the households in my state use SNAP dollars to feed children.

There are over 174,000 Mainers who get help from SNAP. This is just to put food on the table. And I think we all know $6 a day per person isn’t much to feed your family, $2 per person. I just want to say the reason we’re talking about the cuts, it’s not ‘fear mongering’. It’s not ‘smack.’ It’s because in this reconciliation plan, which some of our Republican colleagues have been over in the White House talking about just as this hearing was going on, you can’t cut $230 billion from this committee without cutting some SNAP benefits.

That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re talking about this. We’ve been through a very long farm bill negotiation. I hope we’re able to bring that to a conclusion at some point. But we’ve been talking about cutting food through the healthy Thrifty Food plan. So we know this is about whether it’s, future opportunities to have enough money to pay for SNAP or current benefits.

This is on the table. It’s a current conversation. That is actually why we’re here. And so many of my colleagues say “waste, fraud and abuse.” “Get rid of the waste, fraud and abuse.” Well, I don’t know how many studies we’ve looked at, how many times we have looked at the waste, fraud and abuse. And we appreciate that that’s a very important thing to cut.

But I just want to talk about one of the things that gets covered as waste, fraud and abuse. This is a store in my district. We’ve gotten floods of calls from one part of my district, from constituents, about a little tiny grocery store at the risk of closing because USDA has revoked their SNAP license.

Now we know how difficult it is to find a grocery store, how many food deserts there are, how many food stores don’t have fresh fruits and vegetables. This store has been around for 33 years. It’s a pillar of the neighborhood. They made a mistake. They accidentally allowed a sale of tissues and dish soap, estimated around $10, which was ineligible for SNAP, as all of you would know.

So they received a $5,700 fine. A $5,700 fine. For a small business owner. They understood the consequences. They arranged a plan, but there was some confusion around the payment, the payment date, they were late on a payment. Their license has now been revoked. As a result, the store isn’t sure if it’s going to be able to remain open.

About a fourth of their sales, I think, are SNAP sales and it’s also a critical resource for those communities. So, I know that every source of waste, fraud and abuse isn’t exactly like this. But if we’re going to account for all of these in our total numbers, and we’re going to say that these small grocery stores, we should be putting them out of business? That’s just not reasonable.

Another big concern I have is that we’ve already cut our local food purchase agreements at our food banks. We’re making more cuts to the emergency food assistance, the TEFAP program, putting a strain on our feeding organizations. These are also cuts to farmers. Some of these were contracts with farmers to deliver food to our local food banks, to our school lunch programs.

And now we’re going to cut SNAP benefits? Those are more farmers. Our SNAP sales at farmers markets and farm stands in Maine is about 5 to $600,000 a year. Now, maybe if you’re from California, that doesn’t sound like much, but those are critically important programs for our farmers. We use the Nutrition Incentive program to provide Harvest Bucks. Wonderful way to get more healthy fruits and vegetables.

This increases SNAP total spending at our farmers markets to around $900,000 a year. Every dollar is important here. There are 50 Maine farmers in Maine that accept SNAP, so that continues to add more farms where people can get healthy fruits and vegetables. I’m worried about all these.

I won’t support any cuts in the reconciliation bill or our farm bill that takes away money from low-income households, and they’re not always what we would think of as low income. Many of these are two-earner families. People who go to work, go to work every day, but don’t have enough money to put on the table to make sure they can afford food, particularly with skyrocketing costs.

And now we’re talking about tariffs on our food. So I know I’m getting calls in my office from the people who are already worried about the cost of food, who are struggling at the grocery store and who are already saying, now you’re going to cut my SNAP benefits next? You know, where do I turn? How do I make ends meet?

So, I didn’t get a chance to ask you all a question, but I want you all to know I appreciate you very much. I know you put in a long day, as I said, you bring a lot of valuable information to all of us and provide an important discussion.

And with that, I yield back my time. And I thank the chair and the ranking member.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Coalition Statement Responding to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

Public Service Unions, Small Business, Veterans and Conservation Organizations and Rule of Law Advocates Vow to Continue Fight

WASHINGTON – In response to today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court granting the government’s request for a stay of the preliminary injunction against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) blocking the firings of thousands of federal workers, the coalition of plaintiffs and co-counsel in the case released the following statement:

“There is no doubt that thousands of public service employees were unlawfully fired in an effort to cripple federal agencies and their crucial programs that serve millions of Americans every day. Today’s order by the U.S. Supreme Court is deeply disappointing but is only a momentary pause in our efforts to enforce the trial court’s orders and hold the federal government accountable.

“Despite this setback, our coalition remains unwavering in fighting for these workers who were wronged by the administration, and in protecting the freedoms of the American people. In fact, plaintiffs will be back in court tomorrow developing alternative grounds for relief. This battle is far from over.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Republican incompetence is crashing the economy with reckless tariffs

Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – April 08, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Representatives Adam Gray, Tim Kennedy and Andrea Salinas for a press conference on the reckless Republican tariffs that are crashing the economy and draining the retirement accounts of Americans.

CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. Pleased to be joined with Representatives Gray, Kennedy and Salinas here today. On behalf of the Vice Chair and I, we also are pleased to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Washington, D.C. area. Look forward to catching a game this homestand.

Donald Trump has imposed the largest tax increase in 50 years on every single American. Republican incompetence is crashing the economy with reckless tariffs and bleeding the accounts, the retirement accounts, of Americans dry. We’re watching a global recession take hold because of the boneheaded policies of one person—which will cause hardworking people to lose their jobs, potentially lose their homes and their health care. At the same time, Republicans in Congress are preparing to cut Medicaid by $880 billion so they can give a massive tax cut to billionaires. They are telling us with a straight face—that the economic growth will pay for these tax breaks—while the economy is in a tailspin. The truth is, passing the Republican budget would be a death blow to the American economy. And the people that get caught in the crossfire of this Republican Recession will be hurt the most by Medicaid as a tool that Republicans want to chip away at. Congress needs to take away the keys of economic policies like tariffs from this incompetent Administration and restore some stability to the economy. House Democrats are going to continue to prioritize the economic needs of the American people by working to bring down costs, make health care more affordable and looking out for everyday Americans. With that, I’ll turn it over to Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. As an American and as a veteran, my heart goes out to the four U.S. soldiers who tragically died in an accident in Lithuania. The Lithuanian President did a very dignified ceremony for those four U.S. soldiers. And when those four soldiers’ caskets landed at Dover Air Force Base last Friday, at a transfer ceremony, U.S. officials greeted them, elected officials greeted them, but Donald Trump was not there. Donald Trump instead chose to go to a golf tournament, and I’m just going to read to you what one of the persons at this ceremony said. He deployed to Iraq. His name is Blythe Potter. He’s a Military Police Corps veteran. He said, ‘I have never been so embarrassed to be an American.’ President Trump should have been at that transfer ceremony for the four fallen U.S. soldiers, instead of at his golf tournament.

I now want to also echo what Chairman Aguilar said about the tariffs. They are a tax on the American consumer. As all of you know, the way tariffs work is when the foreign products come to our ports, the American company that imported those products pays the tariff, not the foreign country. And what happens when this American company pays that tariff? Well, they’re going to pass on those costs to the consumer and the prices are going to increase. And poll after poll, we see that the overwhelming majority of American people oppose tariffs. There are ways to try to make competition more fair, but let’s not do it by increasing prices on Americans.

And their estimates, it’s going to be about $3,800 per family in terms of increased costs. And then let me also now congratulate Susan Crawford for winning the Wisconsin Supreme Court race last week. What we saw there was the world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, tried to buy the election, spending over $20 million, and the people of Wisconsin figured that out, and they overwhelmingly elected Susan Crawford. So, what was once Elon Musk’s greatest asset, his money, has now become his greatest liability because the people now understand that he’s trying to buy elections, and they overwhelmingly vote against that.

And then the Hands Off protests that we saw this past weekend were amazing. The American people are waking up, that Trump and Republicans’ policies are harming our nation. So now it is my honor to introduce my friend Adam Gray, who I had the honor of serving with in the California State Legislature. So thrilled he is now in Congress and represents the Central Valley.

REP. GRAY: Good morning, and thank you Chairman Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu for inviting me to speak with you this morning. I represent California’s San Joaquin Valley, the world’s largest agricultural region. The President’s recent announcement of tariffs on our global trade partners poses a serious risk to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley and across the country. The last time blanket tariffs went into effect under President Trump’s first administration, California farmers lost an estimated $683 million in crop revenue. The most significant losses were concentrated in tree nuts and dairy products, among others, which are top exports from the San Joaquin Valley.

In fact, the California delegation recently received a letter from ag industry leaders in California pleading with Congress to support common-sense measures that will protect fair competition for their products and defend our nation’s food supply. This group of producers represent more than 400 commodities and billions of dollars of revenue. They warn of uncertain market conditions, disrupted business operations, increased costs associated with retaliatory tariffs. This all poses a significant risk to family-owned farms, which account for over 95% of American agricultural operations. I grew up in the ag industry. My family owned and operated a dairy supply store. My grandparents grew pistachios. Like many Valley families, I know personally how tight budgets are. I know how one bad season can derail an operation for years. These aren’t just individual farmers or business owners who will lose jobs or shutter businesses. These are entire communities like mine in the Central Valley who rely on the ag industry to power their economy.

Rather than work with Congress to make precise, strategic changes to our trade policy, the President has decided to impose sloppy, blanket tariffs and stuck American farmers with the bill. I’m ready to work with anyone and everyone who is serious about rising above partisan politics to protect our ag communities from the impacts of tariffs. We must do something now. Our farmers deserve it. Our communities deserve it. With that, I’m happy to introduce my colleague, Representative Tim Kennedy.

REP. KENNEDY: Morning. First, I want to thank Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu for not only bringing us together this morning, but for their continued leadership on this issue and so many other issues. Before Trump’s tariffs plunged us and the entire world into chaos. Western New Yorkers that I represent were sounding the alarm on the President’s trade war. As a representative of a border community in Buffalo in the Niagara region and the Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus, families in my region know how important our ties are with our Canadian neighbors. In my district, trade with Canada supports tens of thousands of jobs, nearly 30,000 jobs, and brings in over a half a billion dollars in purchases by Canadians every year. Across the border, there’s $1.3 trillion of commerce every single year, billions of dollars a day, supporting states all across the northern border, but all across our great country. Again, in Western New York, Canadians pour over the border, whether it’s going to a Bills game or a Sabres game or shopping or using our restaurants, sleeping at our hotels, over 40 percent of the 5 million enplanements out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport are Canadian citizens.

Our economies are reliant upon each other and benefit from the tremendous relationship that we have, economically, culturally, historically and presently. However, Trump’s tariffs are putting our hardworking families in Western New York at risk, and it’s hurting our entire national and international economy. Cross-border traffic is down by double digits from last year, robbing small businesses across the country of tourism dollars. Tariffs that are being put in place across the borders, these blanket tariffs, including on things like lumber, that are hurting homeownership, especially new homeowners. They’re also stymieing development and other industries, including steel fabrication, auto manufacturing, craft brewing, logistics. Every industry across the board is worrying about supply chain disruption, skyrocketing operating costs and keeping their employees on the payroll. Businesses are going to be hurt by these tariffs. Jobs are going to be lost in our country because of these tariffs, because our economy is so tightly intertwined with Canada’s. People in my district and across the country are being hit right in their pocketbook already. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is golfing at his own club while trillions of dollars are wiped away from American citizens and hardworking families and their retirements that they were dependent upon, as we risk this Republican Recession.

But Trump’s tariffs aren’t just robbing folks of their retirement savings and driving up the cost of housing, groceries, clothes and gas, his indiscriminate blanket tariffs are putting our allies on the same playing field as our adversaries. Trump inherited an improving economy with low unemployment, and he crashed it. He inherited the strong alliance and friendships we have with Canada, with our European allies, with our global allies, and he crushed them. Trump’s tariffs sent a message to our friends and allies that we no longer are the reliable partners that they can depend upon, and hardworking families in Western New York and across the country are paying the price. They are setting our nation down a dangerous path of chaos, stealing from American families and jeopardizing our alliances, all to justify tax cuts for the richest Americans. This is wrong, and we’re not going to stand for it. We’re not going to sit back and hang tough like the president suggests we do. We’re going to continue to use our voices and demand an end to Trump’s tariffs and get back to work creating an economy that benefits all hardworking families across this great country. With that, I yield to a wonderful Representative Salinas.

REP. SALINAS: Well, thank you, Chair Aguilar, Vice Chair Lieu and everyone for being here today. As my colleagues have already pointed out, President Trump’s tariffs have created chaos and uncertainty across the country and around the world. Many Americans have spent the last few days watching their retirement savings go up in smoke and bracing for a recession or possibly worse. But instead of doing something to stop the bleeding, Donald Trump spent the weekend, as has already been mentioned, playing golf with billionaires. In case there was any confusion about where his priorities are, he clearly is more interested in improving his golf game than improving the economy.

Trump’s reckless and harmful approach to tariffs will devastate states like Oregon, where our economy relies heavily on trade. From wine to wood products, Oregon exports billions of dollars worth of homegrown goods every year and we import billions more. All things considered, Trump’s tariffs are going to raise taxes on Oregon businesses and families to a tune of about $7.5 billion per year. So, whether you’re a hazelnut grower in the Willamette Valley or a small business owner in Salem, hardworking Americans, not foreign countries, will end up footing the bill. And those costs add up. Experts have estimated that the average family will pay about $73 more per week, or close to $4,000 more per year for everyday necessities. It’s frankly reprehensible that this President is choosing, and I want to be clear, this is a choice, to play roulette with people’s hard-earned money, and roll the dice on whether our folks can afford food, pay the rent, send their kids to college or even retire right now.

And don’t be fooled, this is not a market correction. It is a market disruption of the highest magnitude. I won’t stand for it. My colleagues will not stand for it. House Democrats are united in our opposition to Trump’s tariff tyranny, and we will continue to speak out against his attacks on working families. What we won’t do is let Republicans in Congress off the hook. They have the power to stop this, these tariffs, right now, and they’re refusing to fulfill their constitutional duty. Our message is clear: Democrats will not bow down to billionaires. We will fight back with everything we have to protect our constituents from the great Republican Rip Off. Thank you.

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

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Joins Colleagues in Expressing Outrage Over Recent Firings of Leaders of U.S. Cyber Command, National Security Agency

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, with oversight of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and the National Security Agency (NSA), joined Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump demanding information on the sudden and unjustified firing of the Director of the NSA and Commander of CYBERCOM, General Timothy Haugh, as well as the abrupt reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble, reportedly at the request of a private individual and online provocateur, who has a long record of peddling in vicious conspiracy theories.
“These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure,” wrote the senators. “In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.”
“As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not ‘pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States,’” they concluded.
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been fighting back against the Trump Administration’s recklessness, which is putting our national security at risk. Last month, she led 15 of her Senate colleagues in a letter calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings to fully investigate this national security breach. Senator Rosen also joined fellow members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in a letter demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the recent abrupt dismissals of several Judge Advocate Generals.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Shaheen Seek Explanation for Alarming Email from Department of Homeland Security to Ukrainians in the United States

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

04.08.25

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday seeking answers following reports that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States had received threatening emails from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stating that their humanitarian parole status had been terminated and that they had seven days to depart the country.

“Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest,” the Senators wrote. “At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin.”

“We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia,” the Senators concluded. “We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.”

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Noem:

We are extremely concerned about notifications that Ukrainians on humanitarian parole in the United States have received official notifications from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—apparently in error—that their parole had been terminated and that they are required to depart the United States within seven days.

Even if this message was sent in error, threatening the abrupt termination of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is alarming and adverse to the U.S. national interest. At a time when a Kremlin official was in the United States negotiating with Administration officials, this mixed message sends the wrong signal: that the U.S. may abandon Ukrainians in need even as Ukraine remains under attack by Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainians who have participated in the Uniting for Ukraine program have entered the U.S. lawfully, passed rigorous screening and vetting requirements and have been required to find financial support from private U.S. sponsors. These are individuals, including children, who have fled a war zone and followed a lawful process. Many are working in our states, paying taxes and contributing to local communities. Abruptly and cruelly telling victims of Russia’s war to leave the country would not reflect American values—and it risks emboldening Putin to continue the war, despite President Trump’s stated objectives to establish peace.

For many Ukrainians, conditions on the ground in Ukraine remain unsafe for them to return, as Putin continues to violate the limited ceasefire Russia pledged it would honor on March 18. Twenty percent of Ukraine remains occupied, the frontline in Donbas remains volatile and Russia has escalated the use of swarms of drones to attack population centers across the country, including Kyiv. We support the Administration’s desire to reach a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, but until that goal is realized, we must continue to offer safe harbor to the Ukrainian families that have found temporary homes in our states.

The fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) drafted such a notification is alarming. DHS has not issued a public announcement about any planned policy change and the agency’s website continues to display information about the availability of parole for Ukrainians. Nor has Congress been notified regarding any proposed changes to the program. Congressional staff inquiries to DHS on Friday resulted in conflicting responses that demonstrated a disturbing lack of interagency coordination or strategy on the status of humanitarian parole for Ukrainians.

We urge the agency to provide immediate clarification to Ukrainians in the United States that their humanitarian parole has not been terminated, and that there are no plans to terminate the program while Ukraine is still under active attack by Russia. We also request a briefing on any future plans regarding humanitarian parole for Ukrainians and an immediate explanation as to how these emails were sent in error.

We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Coins for the 80th anniversary of Victory (04/08/2025)

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Central Bank of Russia –

On April 9, 2025, the Bank of Russia will issue into circulation commemorative coins of the series “Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945”:

– silver coin with a face value of 3 rubles,

– silver coin worth 100 rubles,

– a gold coin worth 50 rubles,

– a gold coin worth 10,000 rubles,

— made of non-precious metals with a face value of 50 rubles.

Description of coins made of precious metals

Silver coins of 3 rubles (pure precious metal content — 31.1 g, fineness — 925) and 100 rubles (pure precious metal content — 1000.0 g, fineness — 925) are round with a diameter of 39.0 and 100.0 mm, respectively. Gold coins of 50 rubles (pure precious metal content — 7.78 g, fineness — 999) and 10,000 rubles (pure precious metal content — 1000.0 g, fineness — 999) are round with a diameter of 22.6 and 100.0 mm, respectively.

There is a raised edge along the circumference of both the front and back sides of the coins.

On the obverse of the coins there is a relief image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, there are inscriptions: “RUSSIAN FEDERATION”, “BANK OF RUSSIA”, coin denomination “3 RUBLES”, “50 RUBLES”, “100 RUBLES”, “10000 RUBLES”, date “2025”, designation of the metal according to the Periodic Table of Elements of D.I. Mendeleyev, alloy fineness (assay value), trademark of the St. Petersburg Mint and pure precious metal weight. On the obverse of the gold coin with a denomination of 10,000 rubles, at the bottom next to the inscription indicating the pure precious metal weight, there is the serial number of the coin with the sign “№”.

On the reverse side:

— a silver coin with a denomination of 3 rubles (catalog No. 5111-0516) features a relief image of the logo of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 against the background of an image of fireworks, made using laser matting technology.

The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

The coin is made in proof quality.

The mintage of the coin is 3.0 thousand pieces;

— the silver coin with a face value of 100 rubles (catalog No. 5117-0069) features a relief image of Soviet soldiers raising a flag over the Reichstag, against the backdrop of a panorama of destroyed Berlin, made using laser matting technology; at the top left is the logo of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, made using laser matting technology.

The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

The coin is made in proof-like quality.

The mintage of the coin is 0.15 thousand pieces;

— a gold coin with a face value of 50 rubles (catalog No. 5216-0128) features a relief image of the logo of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 against the background of an image of fireworks, made using laser matting technology.

The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

The coin is made in proof quality.

The mintage of the coin is 1.0 thousand pieces;

— a gold coin with a face value of 10,000 rubles (catalog No. 5221-0037) features a relief image of Soviet soldiers throwing enemy flags against a background of a fireworks display on Red Square, made using laser matting technology; at the top is a logo celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, made using laser matting technology.

The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

The coin is made in proof-like quality.

The mintage of the coin is 0.05 thousand pieces.

Description of a coin made of base metals

The coin has a circular shape with a diameter of 28.0 mm. The coin is combined and consists of a disk and an outer ring.

The front and back sides of the coin have a raised edge around the circumference.

The side surface of the coin is ribbed with the inscription “50 RUBLES”, repeated twice and separated by asterisks.

On the front side of the coin, there are inscriptions on the ring along the circumference: at the top – “BANK OF RUSSIA”, at the bottom – “2025”. On the left and right on the outer ring there are images of laurel and oak branches, passing onto the disk. In the center of the disk there is the number “50” and the inscription “RUBLES” under it, indicating the denomination of the coin. Inside the number “0” there is a protective element in the form of the number “50” and the inscription “RUB”, visible at different angles to the plane of the coin. At the bottom of the disk there is the trademark of the Moscow Mint.

On the reverse side of the coin (catalogue number 5716-0001) is a relief image of the logo of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945; on the ring along the edge is a relief image of a laurel wreath.

The mintage of the coin is 1.0 million pieces.

The issued coins are legal tender in the Russian Federation and must be accepted at face value for all types of payments without restrictions.

When using the material, a link to the Press Service of the Bank of Russia is required.

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

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

HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/PR/? File = 638797143578701052KOins. CHTM

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why some storms brew up to extreme dimensions in the middle of America – and why it’s happening more often

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton

Floodwaters rise in downtown Hopkinsville, Ky., on April 4, 2025. AP Photo/George Walker IV

A powerful storm system that stalled over states from Texas to Ohio for several days in early April 2025 wreaked havoc across the region, with deadly tornadoes, mudslides and flooding as rivers rose. More than a foot of rain fell in several areas.

As a climate scientist who studies the water cycle, I often get questions about how extreme storms like these form and what climate change has to do with it. There’s a recipe for extreme storms, with two key ingredients.

Recipe for a storm

The essential conditions for storms with heavy downpours to form are moisture and atmospheric instability.

First, in order for a storm to develop, the air needs to contain enough moisture. That moisture comes from water evaporating off oceans, lakes and land, and from trees and other plants.

The amount of moisture the air can hold depends on its temperature. The higher the temperature, the more moisture air can hold, and the greater potential for heavy downpours. This is because at higher temperatures water molecules have more kinetic energy and therefore are more likely to exist in the vapor phase. The maximum amount of moisture possible in the air increases at about 7% per degree Celsius.

Search and rescue firefighters check on residents in a neighborhood in Frankfort, Ky., on April 6. Floodwater filled streets downtown and in several neighborhoods in the state capital.
AP Photo/Jon Cherry

Warm air also supplies storm systems with more energy. When that vapor starts to condense into water or ice as it cools, it releases large amount of energy, known as latent heat. This additional energy fuels the storm system, leading to stronger winds and greater atmospheric instability.

That leads us to the second necessary condition for a storm: atmospheric instability.

Atmospheric instability has two components: rising air and wind shear, which is created as wind speed changes with height. The rising air, or updraft, is essential because air cools as it moves up, and as a result, water vapor condenses to form precipitation.

As the air cools at high altitudes, it starts to sink, forming a downdraft of cool and dry air on the edge of a storm system.

When there is little wind shear, the downdraft can suppress the updraft, and the storm system quickly dissipates as it exhausts the local moisture in the air. However, strong wind shear can tilt the storm system, so that the downdraft occurs at a different location, and the updraft of warm moist air can continue, supplying the storm with moisture and energy. This often leads to strong storm systems that can spawn tornadoes.

Extreme downpours hit the Midwest

It is precisely a combination of these conditions that caused the prolonged, extensive precipitation that the Midwest and Southern states saw in early April.

The Midwest is prone to extreme storms, particularly during spring. Spring is a transition time when the cold and dry air mass from the Arctic, which dominates the region in winter, is gradually being pushed away by warm and moist air from the Gulf that dominates the region in summer.

This clash of air masses creates atmosphere instability at the boundary, where the warm and less dense air is pushed upward above the cold and denser air, creating precipitation.

A cold front forms when a cold air mass pushes away a warm air mass. A warm front forms when the warm air mass pushes to replace the cold air mass. A cold front usually moves faster than a warm front, but the speed is related to the temperature difference between the two air masses.

The warm conditions before the April storm system reduced the temperature difference between these cold and warm air masses, greatly reducing the speed of the frontal movement and allowing it to stall over states from Texas to Ohio.

The result was prolonged precipitation and repeated storms. The warm temperatures also led to high moisture content in the air masses, leading to more precipitation. In addition, strong wind shear led to a continuous supply of moisture into the storm systems, causing strong thunderstorms and dozens of tornadoes to form.

What global warming has to do with storms

As global temperatures rise, the warming air creates conditions that are more conducive to extreme precipitation.

The warmer air can mean more moisture, leading to wetter and stronger storms. And since most significant warming occurs near the surface, while the upper atmosphere is cooling, this can increase wind shear and the atmospheric instability that sets the stage for strong storms.

Polar regions are also warming two to three times as fast as the global average, reducing the temperature gradient between the poles and equator. That can weaken the global winds. Most of the weather systems in the continental U.S. are modulated by the polar jet stream, so a weaker jet stream can slow the movement of storms, creating conditions for prolonged precipitation events.

All of these create conditions that make extreme storms and flooding much more likely in the future.

Shuang-Ye Wu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Why some storms brew up to extreme dimensions in the middle of America – and why it’s happening more often – https://theconversation.com/why-some-storms-brew-up-to-extreme-dimensions-in-the-middle-of-america-and-why-its-happening-more-often-254123

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 9, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: A grab bag of campaign housing policies. But will they fix the affordability crisis beyond the election?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Cull, Associate professor, Western Sydney University

Secure and affordable housing is a fundamental human right for all Australians.

Therefore, it is unsurprising the election campaign is being played out against a backdrop of heightened voter anxiety about rental stress and housing affordability. A growing number of people are unable to access housing that meets their needs.

And it’s not just low-income earners who are affected by housing pressures. It is also the millions of people who make up middle Australia; the very group that will help determine the election outcome.

The solution to Australia’s housing problem is complex. We need to start thinking differently about what reform might look like.

No cheap rents

For most Australians, housing is their biggest and most unavoidable bill.

The average national weekly rent for a unit is A$566 a week. It is even higher in capital cities. To afford this comfortably, renters need an annual income of $130,000.

But for someone on the median income of $72,592 (or $58,575 after tax) half their pay packet is being swallowed by their weekly rent.

This significantly exceeds the 30% benchmark that is a useful measure of housing affordability stress.

Million-dollar homes

The raw numbers are just as eye-watering for home ownership.

The mean price of a residential dwelling in Australia is around $977,000. For house hunters in New South Wales, the figure is even higher at $1.2 million.

Rapidly rising house prices over the past few years have contributed to larger home loans and more people with a mortgage.

Only 13% of homes sold in 2022–23 were affordable for a median income household, with housing prices increasing more rapidly than wages.

The cascading price pressures mean first home buyers are finding it harder to save for a deposit.

Policy options

There is an urgent need for housing reform to overcome the affordability and accessibility challenges. There is no shortage of options available to policymakers.

For starters, planning rules and zoning regulations could be eased to facilitate more construction. Vacant commercial properties and office spaces could be repurposed as housing.

Another option includes removing barriers to constructing prefabricated homes, which are more efficient and affordable to build.

Time to be bold

Housing reform often involves debate around negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions for property investors. There are mixed results regarding how they would impact housing affordability and accessibility. The unpopularity of such policies at the 2016 and 2019 elections have since hindered any changes.

But more radical reforms could be considered. They include applying negative gearing to first home buyers, who would benefit by claiming the mortgage interest on their property against their income. The United States allows home-owner couples to claim mortgage interest on the first US$750,000 (A$1.19 million) of their loan to help them secure a home.

Read more:
The government is reviewing negative gearing and capital gains tax, but this won’t be enough to fix our housing shortage

Overseas experience

The US policy highlights how high housing costs are not exclusive to Australia.

We could learn from other initiatives adopted overseas. For example, a bylaw passed in Montreal, Canada, requires new developments to include 20% social housing, 20% affordable housing and 20% family units.

Further, Vienna is known for its progressive social housing policies, which include rental caps and housing security. The housing is high quality and often includes access to communal pools, child care, libraries and other facilities.

Here in Australia, the major political parties are mindful that the high cost of housing is political kryptonite. They are fighting the May election armed with policies aimed at improving affordability and availability. But will these policies go far enough?

Read more:
The government is reviewing negative gearing and capital gains tax, but this won’t be enough to fix our housing shortage

What the major parties are offering

Labor plans to increase housing supply by 1.2 million homes over five years by changing zoning and planning rules. This includes 20,000 social housing homes and 10,000 affordable rentals for front-line workers such as police and nurses. It will also increase tax incentives for the build-to-rent program to increase rental supply.

These policies are likely to improve affordability and accessibility for lower income earners. However, there will be a wait while homes are constructed. It is also expensive at around $10 billion.

To increase supply, Labor will invest in prefabricated and modular homes, including a national certification system to streamline approvals.

Labor will also expand the Help-to-Buy scheme so more Australians can purchase their first home, although this may push-up prices through increased demand.

The Liberal Party’s policy centrepiece is $5 billion to fast track essential housing infrastructure such as water and sewage, to unlock up to 500,000 homes.

The Coalition is also vowing to free up more housing by reducing immigration by 25% and capping the number of international students.

For first home buyers, the Liberals want to allow early access to superannuation of up to $50,000, but studies suggest this could backfire by increasing house prices and hurting retirement savings.

Dream turns to a nightmare

Voters may find merit in one or more of the proposed policies, but bipartisanship will be essential if we are to solve the housing crisis, regardless of the election outcome.

And genuine reform involves more than sugar-hit policies that might find favour during election campaigns. It requires bold, decisive action with investment in areas that benefit those most in need.

Without genuine reform, even more Australians will struggle to put a roof over their heads. The ramifications will be devastating to Australia’s social and economic future.

The Australian dream of owning a home will be at risk of becoming an even bigger nightmare.

This is the third article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You can read the other articles here and here

Michelle Cull is a member of CPA Australia, the Financial Advice Association Australia and President Elect of the Academy of Financial Services in the United States. Michelle is an academic member of UniSuper’s Consultative Committee. Michelle Cull co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic which has received funding from the Australian Taxation Office as part of the National Tax Clinic Program. Michelle has previously volunteered as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Australia.

– ref. A grab bag of campaign housing policies. But will they fix the affordability crisis beyond the election? – https://theconversation.com/a-grab-bag-of-campaign-housing-policies-but-will-they-fix-the-affordability-crisis-beyond-the-election-252185

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Congratulate Mexico on its Global Pro-Migration Stance, Raise Questions on the Treatment of Unaccompanied Minors and Assistance for Mexicans Abro

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families today concluded its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Mexico, with Committee Experts congratulating the State on its pro-migration stance taken around the world, while raising questions on the treatment of unaccompanied minors and assistance provided to Mexicans abroad in the United States.

Fatimata Diallo, Committee Chair and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, congratulated Mexico on its pro-migration stance taken around the world, including its key role in the Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration. The Committee appreciated that legislation and a support system were in place for migrants across all states of Mexico, and congratulated the State on the adoption of a law on enforced disappearances, and the enactment of specific measures to provide support to migrant children and adolescents.

Mohammed Charef, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked if the delegation could share statistical information following the reform of the migration act in 2022, including the number of children released from holding facilities and the number of children still in these facilities? What tools and measures had been put in place at the border level to ensure there could be a review on children and adolescents before any return was taken? How many cases of refoulment had been avoided due to the risk analysis which should be carried out on every child?

Pablo Ceriani Cernadas, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked what Mexico was doing at the foreign policy and foreign relations level to push for regularisation for people who had been working in the agricultural sector in the United States for years? With the closure of the CBP 1 by Trump, some people had their asylum process for the United States interrupted; what was happening to them?

Ms. Diallo said the “United States Remain in Mexico policy” required migrants to remain at the border while the United States Government processed their cases; what had the Mexican State done to provide for these migrants who were forced to remain in Mexico in the hazardous border areas?

Regarding unaccompanied children and adolescents, the delegation said there was a specific standalone procedure in place to ensure migrants were duly identified, so they could be protected by the child protection system. The National Institute of Migration could be advised to carry out an assisted return of the child or adolescent to their country of origin, if regular migration status was not possible. No deportation order would be given to a child or adolescent. There were more than 120 shelters and reception centres spread across the country for minor migrants. It was here that they would be held with their families until issues regarding their migration status were resolved; 84,927 minors were handled via this process in 2024.

The delegation said since the new United States administration took office on 20 January 2025, there had been a harshening of migration policies and Mexico had strengthened its consular assistance in response. Mexico had been mapping the detention of migrants by the United States’ authorities and was able to immediately respond to them. The 10 repatriation centres which had been set up on the southern border with the United States provided health care services, nutrition, food and education to those who had been repatriated. The Mexican Government had pursued meaningful efforts to promote the regularisation of Mexican migrants in the United States.

Presenting the report, Jennifer Feller, Director General of Human Rights and Democracy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, said Mexico’s geographical position and proximity made it a country of origin, transit, destination and return for migrants, which represented a challenge for authorities. Between January and May 2024 alone, the National Institute of Migration identified 1,393,683 foreigners in an irregular situation. In 2019, the Ministry of Health published the comprehensive health care plan for the migrant population to promote health care under a context of equality and non-discrimination. In compliance with the March 2023 ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation on the unconstitutionality of the detention of migrants, the necessary measures were adopted to ensure that the detention of migrants did not exceed 36 hours.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Ceriani Cernadas thanked Mexico for the constructive dialogue. The Committee was fully aware of the complexity of human movement in Mexico as a phenomenon, due to the location, the sheer number of migrants, and the voluntary or forced returns of Mexican compatriots, coupled with drug trafficking and the fact that Mexico was a neighbour of the world’s largest drug consumer. Mexico had taken some positive steps, and the Committee looked forward to working collaboratively to find solutions to the challenges.

Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Delegation, in concluding remarks, said Mexico continued to be committed to protecting the rights of migrants and upholding its international obligations. Mexico had made progress in protecting the rights of migrant children, adolescents, women and migrant workers, and would strengthen activities in areas where challenges remained, to ensure the full implementation of the Convention.

The delegation of Mexico was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Federal Judiciary Council; and the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

The webcast of Committee meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Committee’s fortieth session can be found here.

The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 April to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Niger (CMW/C/NER/QPR/2).

Report

The Committee has before it the fourth periodic report of Mexico (CMW/C/MEX/4).

Presentation of Report

FRANCISCA E. MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Delegation, said Mexico had always played a leading role at the international level to advance the agenda of the human rights of migrants. It was an active promoter of the Convention, presented periodic resolutions on migration in the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, and served as a co-facilitator of the negotiation process of the Global Compact for Migration. While significant progress had been made, challenges remained. By appearing before the Committee, Mexico reaffirmed its openness to international scrutiny and constructive dialogue. Ms. Escobar then introduced the Mexican delegation.

JENNIFER FELLER, Director General of Human Rights and Democracy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, said Mexico’s geographical position and proximity made it a country of origin, transit, destination and return for migrants, which represented a challenge for authorities. In the last decade, migratory flows had grown exponentially and the transit of undocumented migrants through Mexico had grown significantly. It was estimated that 77 per cent of migratory flows through the country were carried out irregularly. Between January and May 2024 alone, the National Institute of Migration identified 1,393,683 foreigners in an irregular situation. The composition of migration flows had changed significantly, encompassing a diverse range of persons who were migrating for multiple reasons.

This scenario was aggravated by the impacts of increasingly restrictive United States immigration policies, which limited the right to seek refuge, such as the Migrant Protection Protocols, among others. Faced with this context, Mexico facilitated the entry and stay of people in health security conditions, providing them with vaccines and other support. Voluntary return was also facilitated for those who decided to do so.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health published the comprehensive health care plan for the migrant population to promote health care under a context of equality and non-discrimination. In line with the recommendations of the Committee, the law on migration was amended to prohibit the accommodation of migrant children and adolescents in migrant holding centres. In compliance with the March 2023 ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, on the unconstitutionality of the detention of migrants, the necessary measures were adopted to ensure that the detention of migrants did not exceed 36 hours.

Mexico had strengthened legal frameworks by incorporating a comprehensive gender perspective, and designed programmes to combat gender-based violence, human trafficking, and discrimination against women and girls. This included the mechanism for monitoring cases of sexual torture committed against women and the comprehensive programme to prevent, address, punish and eradicate violence against women 2021-2024, which included actions focused on migrant women at risk, campaigns against sexual harassment and harassment, and strategies to encourage reporting.

FÁTIMA RÍOS, Director General of Human Mobility and Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Mexico continued to strengthen the capacities of the authorities to combat the smuggling of migrants, from a perspective of shared responsibility, international and regional cooperation, and respect for the human rights of migrants, with the involvement of migration authorities, prosecutors’ offices, victims’ commissions, international organizations, and civil society.

Although there was no specific law on the smuggling of migrants, Mexico was a party to the Palermo Protocols and had a solid regulatory base. In 2023, the national strategy to combat migrant smuggling with a gender perspective was presented to strengthen inter-institutional coordination to prevent, combat and address the crime with a comprehensive approach. The migration law established aggravated penalties when it involved children and adolescents, or the participation of public servants.

To coordinate migration policies and programmes among more than 20 agencies, the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Comprehensive Attention in Migration Matters was created in 2019. In March 2025, the multi-service centre for inclusion and development, designed in collaboration with international organizations, began operating in the city of Tapachula. This centre aimed to bring those international protection needs closer to the services provided by the Mexican State, including documentation, employment, and health services, among others. In the face of the tightening of migration policies and the criminalisation of irregular migration in the United States, the inter-institutional strategy for comprehensive care for repatriated and returning Mexican families was reinforced in January 2025, guaranteeing their social and economic reintegration in the country. Mexico had spearheaded numerous actions to address migration, including integrating civil society into the debate, and was committed to overcoming the challenges which remained.

Questions by Committee Experts

PABLO CERIANI CERNADAS, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, said the Committee was aware that Mexico was currently facing a complex situation in terms of human movement, which made this dialogue even more important. The fact that the national guard reported to the army gave rise to concern. Why had Mexico chosen to deploy the armed forces to play a role in monitoring and verifying migrants? Had the deployment of the national guard and army had any impact on the migration flow? Had this impact been assessed? Six migrants had been killed when the national guard opened fire, and there had been other similar cases. What had been the response of the Mexican Government to these cases? How were the perpetrators identified and punished and what was done to ensure non-repetition?

What had been done to promote regular migration in Mexico? What measures had been enacted to eradicate the automatic recourse to detention and migration? What non-custodial measures were being taken for asylum seekers in a vulnerable position, including pregnant women, to replace detention? There had been a fire in a holding centre at the Mexican border which killed over 30 migrants. Who had the political responsibility for this holding centre and the conditions it was in? What measures would be taken to ensure it did not happen again?

The Committee had received reports that people intercepted in different parts of the territory were sent to the southern border and left there. Could the delegation comment on these practices? Expulsions reportedly occurred from Mexico City and other airports. What remedies were available to these people in airports after a decision to expel them? There had been cases where many migrants were killed by organized crime syndicates. There was a high level of impunity with many cases being unresolved. What measures was the State taking to resolve these cases through investigations, trials and convictions?

What measures were being taken to address the complex matter of enforced disappearance in general and in the context of migration? Was the act on enforced disappearance being regulated? How had the guidelines for providing support to Mexicans abroad being strengthened? What relationship was there between the forensic authorities in Mexico and those in other countries, to identity Mexicans who had died and inform their family members? Was the Mexican consulate still receiving reports from El Salvador on citizens who had disappeared?

Was data still being collected on irregular migrants? Would the way in which data was collected be changed? Which authorities had a say when it came to separating families? Why were families separated? The Committee had received information that in October 2023, the humanitarian grounds permits were suspended. The documentation which replaced them did not have the same value as a resident permit and did not help with social, financial and employment services. Why had the humanitarian permit been suspended? What measures had Mexico taken in response to the suspension of CBP 1? What protective measures were being taken in this regard? Were there any initiatives towards signing a bilateral agreement? What was the latest situation regarding the relationship with the United States?

MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, said Mexico always strove to ensure respect for the rights of migrants and had led the fight in the Group of 77 for the rights of migrants since the start of the 1970’s, which was appreciated. The State was also one of the champions of the implementation of the Marrakech Compact and had enacted a plethora of laws to improve protection for unaccompanied women and minors, which deserved credit. Nevertheless, according to information received by the Committee, despite international commitments and the legal arsenal, there were still violations of the rights of migrants, particularly those in an irregular situation. Mexico shared an emblematic border with the United States which was over 3,500 kilometres long. This was the deadliest land border, with around 10,000 deaths recorded per year.

According to information gathered, many migrants disappeared without a trace; they were abducted, killed, or robbed and thrown out of high-speed trains. Many of those blocked on routes to the United States were highly vulnerable. Were migrants subjected to a detention order by a judge? How long did they stay in centres on average? How did these detention centres function? Who managed them? How many people worked for the “Better Groups”? Were they present throughout the territory? Was their role to provide migrants with advice on their rights? According to information collected, there were huge needs in healthcare, particularly in mental health. Was anything being done for migrants’ mental health? Could information on the deadly fire be provided? The Committee would like more information about the trends and the places migrants went through? Did the State have reliable data on enforced disappearances? Was disaggregated data on nationality, age, sex and type of migration available? How did Mexico manage migration during the COVID-19 period?

FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, congratulated Mexico on its pro-migration stance taken around the world, including its key role in the Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration. The Committee appreciated that legislation and a support system were in place for migrants across all states of Mexico, and congratulated the State on the adoption of a law on enforced disappearances, and the enactment of specific measures to provide support to migrant children and adolescents.

Regarding the ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice on the unconstitutional nature of some of the provisions of the migration act, what steps had been taken to ensure this jurisprudence was present in national legislation? Could the delegation share statistical information following the reform of the migration act in 2022, including the number of children released from holding facilities and the number of children still in these facilities? A unique identification code was provided to migrant children; what was the purpose of this code? What tools and measures had been put in place at the border level to ensure there could be a review on children and adolescents before any return was taken? How many cases of refoulment had been avoided due to the risk analysis which should be carried out on every child? Why did so many children and adolescents abandon the administrative process halfway through it was meant to be an alternative to irregular migration?

How was it ensured that the bilateral agreements with Canada did not leave migrant workers vulnerable? Thirty per cent of women interviewed said they had been subjected to sexual harassment by the national migration guard in detention facilities. What measures had been enacted to prevent this? Had there been investigations and punishment of perpetrators? What concrete measures had been enacted for the protection of domestic workers, particularly migrant domestic workers? The Nicaraguan migration route enabled migrants in sub–Saharan Africa to try and access the United States and there had been several disappearances on this route. Did this also affect Mexico and how was the State dealing with this?

A Committee Expert congratulated Mexico on its ratification of the core International Labour Organization Conventions. Why had Mexico not ratified International Labour Organization Conventions 197 and 143? How many staff were working in the labour inspectorate in Mexico? Did they cover the entirety of Mexico? Did they have the human and financial resources they needed to carry out their duties? Did they have a status which ensured their independence was upheld?

Another Committee Expert said the bilateral agreements, for example between Mexico and Canada, should be examined.

A Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated Mexico’s efforts and its delicate position with the United States and other countries. What type of capacity did Mexico need to bolster its stance on migration?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the National Institute of Migration was charged with implementing the Government’s migration policy. It had overviews of migration checks at land and air border crossings. The institute implemented the protocol for checking migration status. Staff were required to be properly identified as a result of the Supreme Court ruling. Once a person had been identified in a migration check, migration staff could instigate the administrative procedure. It would not be a court which decided, but rather the migration entity, which conducted the migration proceedings.

Migrants were taken to a holding centre and provided all the necessary information to authorities. Due to the ruling of the 36-hour time limit for holding migrants in these centres, the National Institute of Migration completed the administrative procedures within the timeframe. If the individual in question had a genuine immigration status, they would be released quickly; however, if they did not, they would either be provided with a regular migration status if they met the conditions of the law, otherwise they would be returned or deported. This was clearly provided for in the migration act.

Regarding unaccompanied children and adolescents, there was a specific standalone procedure in place to ensure migrants were duly identified, so they could be protected by the child protection system. The National Institute of Migration could be advised to carry out an assisted return of the child or adolescent to their country of origin, if regular migration status was not possible. No deportation order would be given to a child or adolescent. There were more than 120 shelters and reception centres spread across the country for minor migrants. It was here that they would be held with their families until issues regarding their migration status were resolved; 84,927 minors were handled via this process in 2024. It was hoped that up to date data for decision making would be available in April.

Migrants’ caravans, which entered the country via the southern border, had been met by groups providing humanitarian assistance. This was one of the functions played by the “Better Groups”, whose main role was to provide humanitarian support and advice to migrant workers.

The centre for assistance and information for migrant workers had been strengthened to provide assistance to all Mexican residents in the United States. The consular staff had been ordered to make more visits to migration centres and prisons to review cases of Mexican migrants, and to ensure their rights were being upheld and the necessary processes were being followed. A unit monitored how executive orders were impacting the migrant community.

In Mexico, all persons had access to free health care, regardless of their social status. A plan was in place to guarantee that migrants had access to high quality medical health care. Mexico was one of the few countries which chose not to close its borders during the pandemic, which meant that individuals living abroad who could not return to their home countries had remained in Mexico, and benefited from healthcare services and coverage. A system was in place for alternative care models for unaccompanied migrants and adolescents. A handbook on the alternative care options intended to raise awareness on these options. Work was being done to renovate shelters in key hotspots along the migration route.

In 2024, around 439,000 requests for asylum or refugee status were granted, with the vast majority being women. To improve coordination between the authorities at different levels, capacity building workshops had been made available, and work had been carried out with counterparts in Ecuador and in Brazil, among other countries. The Domestic Labour and Social Security Code had been strengthened to uphold the rights of domestic workers. International Labour Organization Convention 189 was ratified in 2020.

The act on enforced disappearance had a system in place which provided relatives of migrant persons with the possibility of submitting requests for action on disappeared persons who could not be found in Mexico. The Mexican consulates abroad were responsible for the implementation of this system.

The intervention of the national guard in public security had not been adopted alone, but in conjunction with other entities. The Constitution was reformed so the national guard would fall under the Ministry of National Defence. The armed forces were involved because Mexico was trying to strengthen the national guard as a security force.

Mexico did not have a systematic practice of enforced disappearance by the State. There was a palpable commitment to tackling the challenges being faced by the country. Regarding the tragic events of the first of October, where a pickup travelling at highspeed was fired on by members of the armed forces, nationals from many countries had been the victims. The majority of the victims decided to return to their countries of origin, but had been informed of compensation processes. Around 32 victims had been affected by the incident.

If a person was deprived of liberty, this was considered detention. The right of all migrants to have a public defender was recognised. This had led to 43 people becoming specialised to allow the federal judiciary to enter the migration centres. Public defenders’ coverage was now better, and there had been Amparo proceedings in cases where the 36-hour holding deadline was exceeded. A humanitarian grounds permit needed to be issued until Amparo proceedings were completed.

Questions by Committee Experts

PABLO CERIANI CERNADAS, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked about the rulings from the Supreme Court; they had not mentioned anything about the Committee. Each year it seemed there was no solution being found to regularise migration; how effective was the State’s response? What happened to persons with disabilities travelling through Mexico? Were resident permits automatically provided to parents of children in Mexico? Migrant children often worked selling sweets or in coffee production; what progress had been made in this regard? What was being done to ensure that the women’s justice centre was aware of women’s vulnerabilities throughout the migration process? How was sexual and reproductive health ensured for women on the move?

MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked how many rulings there had been regarding families who provided shelter to migrants? How had the Supreme Court ruling been implemented in this regard?

FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked for statistical data on children who had left migration holding centres and those who still remained, but who should have been released? How many temporary permits had been issued on humanitarian grounds between 2018 and 2023? Could statistics on the family reunification of migrant workers be provided? What measures had been taken by Mexico to guarantee access to civil registration documents, particularly for unaccompanied minors? What was being done to facilitate access to education for unaccompanied minors? What measures had been taken to combat racism and xenophobia against migrants?

Over 65 per cent of Haitian migrants felt they had been impacted by racial discrimination; what was being done to eradicate this? What measures had been taken to eradicate discrimination in the labour market and combat economic exclusion of migrants? What were the views of migrants on the national guard and on migration policy?

A Committee Expert asked about the Mexican authorities’ plan to deal with the repatriation of Mexican migrants from the United States? How would it be ensured that they would be returned with full respect to their rights? What measures were being taken to prevent the disappearance of migrants on routes of migration to America? What was being done to reduce the smuggling and trafficking of migrants? What steps were being taken to reduce bureaucratic procedures and ensure better access to financial resources for migrants? Approximately how long were migrants detained during the asylum procedure? How could this time period be reduced? Why were the number of claims for asylum in Mexico increasing? Could more information about the conditions in detention centres be provided?

Another Expert asked about reports of abuse of migrants in bilateral agreements with Canada; what was the State doing to combat this?

A Committee Expert said many people from Latin American countries were travelling to the United States, using Mexico as a transit country. Could information about accidents with regard to the national guard be provided? What was being done to improve this situation?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there were two Amparo rulings from 2022, regarding Haitian migrants who had had their migration status checked and revised when trying to board buses. The ruling found the actions of the bus company and the government migration body were unconstitutional. The Convention had been cited in various court rulings, although not many. Mexico would ensure there was judicial training on the provisions of the Convention to ensure it could be cited more frequently moving forward. The State was aiming to adopt a different approach to human trafficking to focus on those who facilitated the human trafficking, rather than those carrying out the trafficking. There had been 95 cases involving enforced disappearances where a search order was enacted. Data gathering efforts in this regard had been improved, thanks to a ruling from the courts.

The State had spent the last three years working on a project to ensure that all international recommendations related to enforced disappearance could be implemented and crafted into policies at the State and federal levels. A decision had been taken in 2011 to ensure decisions on mass graves could be shared with the relatives. The Victims’ Commission sat alongside the court and had dealt with various cases, including the mass grave case, where the remains of 72 persons were found.

Regarding the fire in the migration holding centre, the Federal Public Prosecutor had intervened in real time, offering services to the victims. This fire took place a few weeks after the Supreme Court’s ruling that migration detention could not exceed 36 hours. Those who were in need of medical care had been sent to hospitals and the Victims’ Commission was supporting those seeking compensation. Close work had been done with consular officials to identify those who had died in the event.

The National Institute of Migration had begun to introduce a range of infrastructure improvements to migration centres, including medical clinic facilities, real-time simultaneous interpretation services, enhancements to the physical environment, and the additions of rescue and first aid kits and smoke detectors. Around 2,935 staff had been trained in migration holding centres on civil protection. There were three multiservice centres in the border areas with the United States. Mexico had added 10 centres to provide support for Mexicans who had been repatriated from the United States, which could accommodate 2,500 people each.

The State had seen a fall in the number of humanitarian permits being issued; there should be more mechanisms which were an alternative to requesting asylum or a stay on humanitarian grounds. This would enable more migrants to regularise their situation. A programme was being designed for regularising the situation of migrants, which would help to reduce delays in the asylum system. Mexico was also seeking other channels with third countries to ensure those who reached Mexico did so with a regularised status.

Mexico had been working with third countries, who recognised it was Mexico’s prerogative to admit foreign nationals onto their territory. Mexico had ratified certain procedures in airports and tried to improve the facilities of holding centres. The majority of refusals for entry into the country were due to inconsistency in entry interviews.

Since January this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could issue identity documents to refugees, stateless persons and those who did not have a consular office in Mexico. This would allow more documents to be provided to migrants. A memorandum had been signed in 2023 to try and foster family reunification, which was currently being revised, to see if it could be continued with the current United States administration. There was permanent communication between Mexico and the Canadian Government and there was an annual review of the bilateral agreements to bring about improvements. Mexico would review the information provided by civil society to raise any problems.

Mexico had not and would never enter into an agreement about the refoulment of third-party nationals. These expulsions were unilateral, and Mexico would respect the Supreme Court’s rulings on guidelines for receiving and supporting these people. A dialogue had been held with civil society organizations in the United States to step up the support provided by Mexico through its consular network. Since 2010, justice centres had been vital to providing services to women victims of violence transiting through Mexico. Between 2019 and 2023, a budget of 400 million pesos was provided to these centres to improve the facilities and training.

Last year, the Ministry of Labour established a platform which provided services for job seekers in Mexico who were from other countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had been working with the Mexican Government to implement local integration programmes, which had provided 50,000 jobs for refugees so far in Mexico. All programmes supported the issuance of necessary documents, such as banking services. The Government had been working with the banking association to ensure they would provide services to refugees and migrants.

Mexico recognised that education was a vital pillar for development, and there were programmes allowing the continuation of studies, including for those who had been repatriated back to Mexico. Vocational courses were provided for returnee and repatriated Mexicans. A raft of educational material had been designed, including handbooks which focused on the needs of migrant children and looked at ways to encourage them to pursue education. The process for granting refugee status to Haitian migrants had been accelerated.

Questions by Committee Experts

PABLO CERIANI CERNADAS, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked what mechanisms and tools existed to ensure the recommendations of the treaty bodies were implemented? What authorities were involved in migration checks and verifications? Had the recommendation to create a register of detained migrants been followed up on? What was being done to follow up on the Amparo court ruling regarding the maximum detention period of 36 hours?

The Committee had heard that in some cases people were held for up to 15 days before their migration cases were reviewed. What resources were made available to detainees during the 36-hour time frame? How were the cases of children heard and deferred? How was the child protection office in Mexico coordinating with its counterparts abroad in Honduras, Haiti and the United States to better serve children and make a decision on their case?

What was being done to promote the registration of the births of Mexicans abroad? Did they automatically have the right to Mexican nationality? What consular support services were in place for Mexicans who had been detained on migration grounds? What was Mexico doing at the foreign policy and foreign relations level to push for regularisation for people who had been working in the agricultural sector in the United States for years? With the closure of the CBP 1 by Trump, some people had their asylum process for the United States interrupted; what was happening to them? Were the centres for comprehensive support and advice intended to replace the holding facilities, or would they sit alongside them?

MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, asked what resources were made available to the national human rights institution and the Better Group? What was being done to plug gaps with regard to data and statistics? The number of seasonal workers in Canada was constantly increasing; these workers had to pay their own tickets to Canada and their own rent. Were the long-term health impacts of the work on these workers taken into account, due to the handling of pesticides etc?

FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, noted that the “United States Remain in Mexico policy”, required migrants to remain at the border while the United States Governments processed their cases; what had the Mexican State done to provide for these migrants who were forced to remain in Mexico in the hazardous border areas?

A Committee Expert said Mexico was at the very heart of migration and was a migration champion, which was honourable. The country’s geographic location placed it at the heart of migration to the United States, which was not a State party to the Convention. What would Mexico do to encourage the United States to regularise Mexican migrants in the United States?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a register had been established for children and adolescents who were being processed by the migration authorities. There was a register for adults held in migration holding centres. The Ministry of Home Affairs was working on migration regularisation on family reunification grounds. The migration holding centres were established and improved to address the needs of those people who had been identified by the National Migration Institute as being in an irregular status. They had been taken there to be processed within 36 hours. The multiservice centres, on the other hand, had been designed for people who were on the move and had international protection needs. People on the move were provided with shelter, health services, and the opportunity to take up job offers.

Since the new United States administration took office on 20 January 2025 and there had been a harshening of migration policies, Mexico had strengthened its consular assistance in response. More than 5,000 legal advice meetings had been held under this programme, bolstered through the services of legal aid officers and partnerships with civil society organizations, who could provide services to Mexicans abroad. All the consular offices in the United States were linked to the electronic case management system; more than 1,600 cases were still active and were being followed through to their conclusion. An app was available which had direct interaction, as well as the Mexican Assistance and Support Office, which operated 24/7.

Consular visits to places of deprivation of liberty had also been bolstered under the new strategy, and in the first quarter of the year there had been an average of 30 visits per day. Mexico had been mapping the detention of migrants by the United States authorities and was able to immediately respond to them. Advice was being given to Mexican compatriots abroad, so they could stay informed and ensure they had the proper legal protections. The 10 repatriation centres which had been set up on the southern border with the United States provided health care services, nutrition, food and education to those who had been repatriated.

Mexico had pursued actions to simplify the number of hoops which had to be jumped through to ensure that the birth of a Mexican abroad could be registered. Mexico had amended the national civil status code to ensure statelessness could be avoided. There had been an investigation into the fire at the migration centre and various State institutions had been held responsible for failings. There had been a 70 per cent increase in the number of Americans migrating to Mexico in recent years, partially due to the lower cost of living.

The Mexican Government had pursued meaningful efforts to promote the regularisation of Mexican migrants in the United States. This included contributing to the Dreamers Programme, and forging partnerships and alliances with members of Congress and State officials to promote recognition of the positive impact of migrants.

The recommendations of human rights treaty bodies were channelled by a variety of thematic working groups. Mexico had played a key role in championing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Mexico had learned that tolerance and inclusion could be an effective response to a crisis like COVID-19.

Closing Remarks

PABLO CERIANI CERNADAS, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, thanked Mexico for the constructive dialogue. The Committee was fully aware of the complexity of human movement in Mexico as a phenomenon, due to the location, the sheer number of migrants, and the voluntary or forced returns of Mexican compatriots, coupled with drug trafficking and the fact that Mexico was a neighbour of the world’s largest drug consumer. Mexico had taken some positive steps, and the Committee looked forward to working collaboratively to find solutions to the challenges.

MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur for Mexico, said Mexico was one of the champions of migration around the world. The State was in a challenging situation due to being an origin, transit and destination country. It was hoped that Mexico would be a key promoter of general comment no. 6 and that it would continue to champion the Convention. Mr. Charef wished the State every success in delivering on migrants’ rights.

FRANCISCA E. MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Delegation, said Mexico continued to be committed to protecting the rights of migrants and upholding its international obligations. Mobility involved challenges, and the State should have a responsible attitude based on rights which adapted to a changing context. Mexico had made progress in protecting the rights of migrant children, adolescents, women and migrant workers, and would strengthen activities in areas where challenges remained to ensure the full implementation of the Convention. There were several ways in which the Committee could assist Mexico, including for the Committee to keep note of a compendium of best practices within the recommendations provided.

___________

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

CMW25.002E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

Source: United Nations – Geneva

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Meteorological Organization, and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat.

Myanmar recovery

Titon Mitra, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative in Myanmar, speaking from Mandalay, said that the death count in the country had exceeded 3,000 people, with thousands of people injured. The search-and-rescue operations had now turned into recovery efforts. With short medical supplies and urban waterpipe systems broken, water-borne diseases were a growing threat. Numerous people were defecating in the open, and many people were still sleeping on the streets, afraid to go back home. Eighty percent of buildings in Sagaing were reduced to rubble, and critical infrastructure, including sections of the railway bridge over the Irrawaddy River, was severely damaged. People were living on the streets in extreme temperatures, with scarce clean water and outdoor defecation leading to outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid. Hospitals, already strained by civil war, were overwhelmed, understaffed and operating in car parks, explained Mr. Titon. Local markets were mostly closed, inflation was rapidly growing, and transport links were severely affected, making food both scarce and expensive.

UNDP, in collaboration with UN partners, was working to address both immediate and early recovery needs. Cash-for-work programs were supporting the poor, and efforts were underway to safely remove debris and clear access for response. In addition to immediate shelter material support, UNDP teams were assessing the damaged homes and preparing to initiate their repair in collaboration with local tradespeople. The focus was also on laying the groundwork for recovery. Mr. Mitra stressed that this crisis had a major impact on urban areas, and the relief phase had to turn into a sustainable recovery phase as soon as possible. Aid had to be provided impartially, he emphasized. The declared ceasefire should provide conditions to reach everyone in need. It had to be recognized that Myanmar was a compounded crisis, with many people having already been food insecure because of the conflict, civil disobedience and hyperinflation. The earthquake had simply compounded the already existing crisis. He hoped that Myanmar would not turn into a neglected crisis once cameras turned off.

Answering questions from the journalists, Mr. Mitra said that in many crises first responders came from community groups, which was unfortunately often done in an uncoordinated way. In Myanmar, road traffic was hard to manage, and coordinating both official assistance and local charitable organizations remained a challenge. Military authorities were in control of many affected areas, and the UN was very dependent on those authorities for aid coordination. Efforts had to be made to ensure that aid was not politicized. On another question, Mr. Mitra said that the day after the earthquake and the unilateral ceasefire announcement, some air strikes had still continued, but there had been a significant slowdown, nonetheless. Bias in aid distribution was not obvious, he said. UN was doing its best to make sure that aid would be delivered to those who needed it the most.

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), sad that United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar, Julie Bishop, was in Myanmar, and more information would be available soon.

Influx of Congolese refugees in Uganda

Matthew Crentsil, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative in Uganda, speaking from Kampala, said that the situation in Uganda was becoming increasingly dire with refugee reception centres overcrowded and funding cuts. Some 41,000 refugees had arrived from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Uganda this year. UNHCR was speeding up transportation of refugees from the reception centres, which hosted six times the number of people over their capacity. Critical shortages of water, latrines and bathing facilities, particularly at the Matanda and Nyakabande transit centres, were putting people at dire risk of deadly diseases, warned Mr. Crentsil.

More details can be found in UNHCR’s press release.

Answering questions from the media, Mr. Crentsil explained that 41,000 refugees had arrived from DRC to Uganda in 2025, 80 percent of whom were women and children. The total number of Congolese refugees in Uganda now stood at over 580,000. Some nine children had died since the beginning of the year because of the malnutrition they had suffered from in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many refugees were reporting extreme violence, including sexual violence and killings. On some days, there could be as many 1,000 new arrivals, a significant increase compared to 2024, and fully attributable to the conflict in Goma.

On another question, Olga Sarrado, also for UNHCR, explained that the numbers of arrivals from DRC to Burundi had decreased in recent weeks, and the stadium in Rugombo was now serving primarily as a registration centre. Between Burundi and Uganda, there were currently 113,000 registered refugee arrivals from the DRC, of which over 70,000 in Burundi and some 41,000 in Uganda. Mr. Crentsil explained that, because of the funding cuts, UNHCR had had to give up on some services it used to provide, such as decreasing numbers of childcare givers and teachers. Refugee reception centres, water, sanitation and health were now being prioritized at the expense of some other activities. The funding was going down at a time when they needs were increasing. The budget planned for the entire year was being already used because of the high influx of refugees. Uganda hosted a total of 1.8 million refugees and was Africa’s largest refugee hosting country, reminded Ms. Sarrado.

Conferences of Parties of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

María Cristina Cárdenas-Fischer, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor at the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions Secretariat, informed that the BRS Conference of Parties (COP) 2025 would be held in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May, under the theme “Make visible the invisible”. She reminded that the three Conventions addressed some of the most serious pollutants and provided a framework for a lifecycle management of waste. BRS Secretariat wanted to increase the awareness of the Conventions and their ever-important role. The 2025 meetings would, inter alia, focus on the illegal traffic of waste; waste containing nanomaterials; listing of hazardous characteristics; listing of certain chemicals as hazardous; technical assistance; and listing three additional chemicals as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This year, the BRS COP would have a high-level segment from 30 April to 1 May, with over 30 ministers registered and probably more coming. The high-level segment would focus on circularity, means of implementation, and interlinkages with climate change and biodiversity. Finally, the speaker informed about the exhibition by the lake in Geneva which showed the impact of the three Conventions on daily life.

More information about the BRS COP 2025 is available here.

Replying to questions, Ms. Cárdenas-Fischer explained that the United States was not a party to either of the three BRS Conventions. Many of the chemicals under the Stockholm Convention were used in cell phones or furniture’s upholstery, for example. She emphasized that the chemicals under consideration had undergone a thorough technical review, after which they had been nominated for consideration by the COP. Countries were allowed to opt in or opt out, she explained; some countries needed to go through a ratification process. Parties had two years after the amendments entered into force to come up with practical implementation strategies. Under the Stockholm Convention, there was a deadline to eliminate polychlorinated phenols (PCPs) by 2028, reminded Ms. Cárdenas-Fischer, which were used in electrical transformers, which could cause harm to human health and nature over time. On another question, she explained that the Basel Convention covered electrical vehicle (EV) batteries and provided guidance on how to handle transboundary movement on any kind of waste. Consumer organizations would be represented as observers in the upcoming events, said Ms. Cárdenas-Fischer. BRS Secretariat did not keep the list of pollutant countries as such.

Announcements

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), informed that the report European State of the Climate 2024, compiled by the European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service and the WMO, would be launched on 15 April at 1 pm. An embargoed press conference would be held online on 10 April at 1 pm; WMO Secretary-General would be among the speakers. Journalists could register by 9 April by sending a message to copernicus-press@ecmwf.int. Ms. Nullis said that 2025 was unfortunately continuing where 2024 had left off. Figures for March, just released by Copernicus, showed that March 2025 had been the warmest ever March in Europe, and the second warmest March globally. The Arctic Sea ice maximum was the lowest on record, she said.

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the UN Secretary-General was expected to speak on Gaza at a stakeout following a Security Council meeting this afternoon.

Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families would end this morning its review of the report submitted by Mexico, while the review of the report of Niger would begin at 3 pm.

This week, the Committee Against Torture was reviewing the reports of Monaco and Mauritius.

Finally, the Conference on Disarmament would resume its 2025 session on 12 May.

Responding to a question, Mr. Gómez confirmed that the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva Director-General, Tatiana Valovaya, had briefed Member States on the impact of the budget and liquidity crisis on UNOG. The list of cost-saving measures was available here. While there were no current plans to abolish any posts, the liquidity crisis did indisputably affect UNOG’s operations. Various factors, including the COVID19 pandemic and the liquidity crisis, had all affected the ongoing Strategic Heritage Plan, explained Mr. Gómez.

***

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Charles City Man Sent to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and domestic abuser was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison.

Dashaune Terrell Burns-Johnson, age 32, from Charles City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 23, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on May 22, 2024, Burns‑Johnson brought drugs and a loaded firearm to his neighbor’s house in Charles City. Burns-Johnson pulled the firearm out of his backpack and pointed it at someone in the house. Burns-Johnson had previously been convicted of felony and misdemeanor crimes related to domestic abuse assault.

Burns-Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Burns-Johnson was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Burns-Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Charles City Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-2033.

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MIL Security OSI –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Fannie Mae Fires Over 100 Employees for Unethical Conduct, Including the Facilitation of Fraud

Source: Fannie Mae

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (U.S. Federal Housing FHFA) and Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) issued the following statement:

“In President Trump’s housing market, there is no room for fraud, mortgage fraud, or any other deceitful act that can jeopardize the safety and soundness of the housing industry,” said William J. Pulte, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fannie Mae. “Since my swearing-in, we fired over 100 employees from Fannie Mae who we caught engaging in unethical conduct, including facilitating fraud, against our great company. Anyone who commits fraud against Fannie Mae does so against the American people.”

“I would like to thank Director Pulte for his empowering of Fannie Mae to root out unethical conduct, including anyone facilitating fraud. We hold our employees to the highest standards, and we will continue to do so,” said Priscilla Almodovar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae.

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Fannie Mae Newsroom
https://www.fanniemae.com/news

Fannie Mae Resource Center
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MIL OSI Global Banks –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: In “Era of Savage Cuts’, UN Aid Chief Urges Security Council to Provide Security, Resources for Saving as Many Survivors Possible of Russian Airstrikes in Ukraine

Source: United Nations 4

Strike in Dnipro Region Last Friday Marks Deadliest Attack Involving Children

Russian Federation airstrikes in Ukraine continue to kill and maim civilians — including children at a playground last week — the United Nations top humanitarian official told the Security Council today. In what he called an “era of savage cuts”, he also appealed to Council members to provide at least the security and resources needed to save as many survivors of this war as possible.

“A massive strike in the densely populated city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro region last Friday resulted in multiple civilian casualties,” said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator addressing the 15-member Council.

According to local authorities, 18 civilians were killed — including nine children — and 75 others injured when a children’s playground and nearby residential area were struck. The Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) in Ukraine, which verified many of the casualties, confirmed it was the single deadliest attack involving children since the start of the war in February 2022.

Fighting has also continued unabated in the frontline regions of Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk and in the border areas of Sumy, where more than 90 civilian casualties were recorded last week alone. From 24 February 2022 to 31 March 2025, OHCHR has verified at least 12,910 civilian deaths, including 682 children, and nearly 30,700 injuries across Ukraine, he said. Meanwhile, 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, with new waves of displacement in the country’s north-east, and nearly 7 million Ukrainian refugees recorded worldwide. The UN remains unable to access an estimated 1.5 million civilians in Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

Underscoring the plight of women in this war, he said that since February 2022, pre-term births have accounted for nearly half of all deliveries, putting both mothers and newborns at high risk. Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, has surged by 36 per cent, with displaced and refugee women suffering the most severe mental health challenges and facing critical gaps in protection and care, he warned.

Despite Scale of Crisis, $2.6 Billion Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan for 2025 Only 17 Per Cent Funded

Despite the scale of this crisis, only 17 per cent of the $2.6 billion required for the 2025 Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has been secured. As a result, the UN is prioritizing limited resources for frontline support, emergency response, evacuations, and aid for the displaced — but more funding is urgently needed.

“We welcome the announcement of a ceasefire focused on energy infrastructure, as well as negotiations to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea,” Fletcher said. But as talks continue, so do the bombardments. Indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited under international law, he recalled. “Even wars have rules,” he also stressed, urging the Council to ensure that “this era of increasingly belligerent, transactional, self-defeating, nationalism is not also remembered as one of callous impunity and brutal indifference, in which the rights of civilians are discarded again and again with a shrug”.

Russian Federation’s Representative: Strike on Kryvyi Rih was Precision Missile strike on Military Meeting of Unit Commanders and Western Instructors

In the ensuing discussion, the Russian Federation’s delegate said the strike on Kryvyi Rih was a precision missile strike on a military meeting of unit commanders and Western instructors. The strike succeeded in damaging the command of the Ukrainian forces, he said, adding that a gathering of service members and Western officers is a legitimate target for his country’s army. The fact that a military meeting was happening in a civilian area shows that the Ukrainian army is using civilians as human shields, he said, adding that Ukrainian eyewitnesses have confirmed that a cluster munition was not used. Dismissing the efforts of the “Ukrainian propaganda machine” regarding this and other strikes, he said video clips by ordinary citizens refute their claims.

Civilians must stay far away from gatherings of military officers, he said, adding that Ukrainians are not being told the truth — Kyiv is milking the tragedy that it is responsible for. Nor will the Ukrainians be told of the continuous shelling of Russian border towns, he said. The goal of Ukraine and Western countries is to undermine the Russian Federation-United States dialogue, he said, adding: “What you are doing is far too obvious.” The ceasefire cannot be misused so “Ukraine can lick its wounds and resume its war”, he said, adding that it is essential to do away with the root causes. No one will be allowed to use the negotiation process to strengthen Ukraine’s military — the demilitarization of that country is essential, he stressed.

United States Representative: Russian President Vladimir Putin Does Not Want to End War

The United States representative said that in its bilateral engagements between both Russian Federation and Ukraine, the United States had tabled a proposal in March. While Ukraine was ready to accept, she recalled, Russian Federation representatives insisted on a more limited agreement which would cover only strikes on energy infrastructure and the elimination of the use of force in the Black Sea. She called on both the Russian Federation and Ukraine to exercise restraint and demonstrate their commitment to peace. The Russian Federation must bear in mind that strikes like the one on Kryvyi Rih and executions of prisoners of war have the potential to damage peace efforts. “We will ultimately judge President Putin’s commitment to peace by Russia’s actions,” she stated.

“We can see that Putin does not want to end the war; he is looking for ways to preserve the option of reigniting it in any moment with even greater force,” Ukraine’s delegate said. Moscow has “not moved one inch away from its genocidal and maximalist war aims”. On the other hand, Ukraine has taken concrete steps towards peace, while the Russian Federation “continues to drag its feet and commit atrocities”. “Every missile, every strike killing people every day proves that Russia only wants war,” she went on to say. Moscow has not only failed to cease its attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but it has also significantly escalated the scale of its assaults.

On 4 April, a missile landed near a playground, tearing through homes, schools and restaurants, killing 20 people, including nine children. She rejected Moscow’s falsehoods about alleged military targets in the area. “All witnesses and footages from cameras inside and outside the local restaurant debunk Russian representatives’ lies and disinformation,” she said. It confirms that there was no military presence in the restaurant or in the surrounding area at the time of the strike. Staying silent about the fact that the Russian Federation is killing children with ballistic missiles is wrong and dangerous. “It only emboldens the scum in Moscow to continue the war and keep ignoring diplomacy,” she said.

Several European Speakers Criticize Russian Federation

Several speakers from Europe strongly criticized the Russian Federation, with Denmark’s delegate stating that Moscow’s deliberate delays and new preconditions raised for even a partial ceasefire seem particularly cynical given reports that the missile that struck Kryvyi Rih was fired from the Black Sea. “Russia has said it only attacks military targets”, but the missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on 4 April hit residential buildings and a playground. “We heard claims that a high precision strike has been launched to target a military group that was meeting at a restaurant at the time — trying to justify it as a military target,” Slovenia’s delegate said. But these claims have been disproved.

“Russia is not negotiating in good faith; it’s procrastinating, and its goal continues to be the capitulation of Ukraine,” echoed France’s delegate, Council President for April. But France and other Europeans “are not sitting on our hands” and continue to work to secure a just and lasting peace. “It is time for the Kremlin to end its aggression against Ukraine and to uphold its obligations under the UN Charter and it is time for President Putin to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire,” added the United Kingdom’s representative.

The representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, stressed that “there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no negotiations that affect European security without Europe”. He reaffirmed the bloc’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. There is no doubt “who truly seeks peace and who instead is determined to prolong a ruthless war of territorial conquest”, Czechia’s delegate added. “Moscow is trying to falsely present itself as a victim” and expecting the world to provide security assurances, “preferably at the expense of legitimate security interests of its neighbours”, Poland’s representative also stated.

Focus on Plight of Children

Estonia’s delegate, speaking also for Latvia and Lithuania, said that Moscow has killed over 600 Ukrainian children since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, while the real numbers might be higher. That country deserves to be listed in the annexes of the annual Children and Armed Conflicts report for carrying out grave violations against children in Ukraine. Other Council members, including the delegates of Pakistan, Guyana and Panama, echoed concerns for children living under conflict in Ukraine, with the latter underscoring that “children must never be targets in a war”.

Global Impact of War in Ukraine: Food Insecurity, Energy Crises

Some speakers shared ways the war in Ukraine was affecting them with Algeria’s delegate stating that the food insecurity and energy crises resulting from this conflict also hits the civilian population in other regions around the world. Greece’s delegate pointed out that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea will be a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains. The representative of the Republic of Korea expressed concern that the military cooperation between the Russian Federation and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea “is intensifying rather than waning”, as exemplified by last month’s high-level reaffirmation in Pyongyang to implement their Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Momentum for Peace Talks

Other Council members, including the delegate from China, said that although the situation on the battlefield remains complicated, the momentum for peace talks has emerged. “The window of peace is opening,” he stated, adding that talks must address the root causes of the crisis. The Ukraine conflict is complex and restoring peace will require persistent efforts.

“The path forward requires sustained commitment to diplomatic solutions and unwavering adherence to intentional humanitarian law,” echoed Somalia’s delegate. His counterpart from Sierra Leone urged negotiators and intermediators to approach ceasefire discussions objectively, mindful of the contextual underpinnings of this conflict. “We call on all parties to negotiate in good faith in the US-led talks, taking into consideration the legitimate concerns involving both parties,” she said.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 2267, NICS Data Reporting Act of 2025

Source: US Congressional Budget Office

H.R. 2267 would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report annually to the Congress on the demographic data of people who were found to be ineligible to purchase a firearm during a background check by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to the extent that data is available. The federal government and states use the NICS to conduct background checks on prospective buyers of firearms to determine whether they are ineligible under federal or state law to make such a purchase.

Under current policy, DOJ collects some demographic information for each prospective buyer of a firearm as part of the background check. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that completing the report would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeremy Crimm. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office

MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Cities across Europe plan to bolster climate action and social infrastructure, EIB survey shows
Source: European Investment Bank
- Most EU cities plan to invest more to fight global warming and expand public housing, schools and hospitals, new EIB survey shows.
- Of the EU municipalities surveyed, 56% report planning higher spending on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and 53% on social infrastructure over next three years.
- Cities across Europe increasingly want to tap new sources of financing for development, on top of conventional national and EU grants.
Most cities in Europe plan to spend more on fighting climate change and increasing public housing, schools and hospitals, according to the new European Investment Bank (EIB) Municipalities Survey 2025. The survey shows that 56% of EU municipalities aim to increase investments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and 53% intend to boost budgets for social infrastructure over the coming three years.

The EIB published a report on the survey today, to coincide with a conference in Brussels by the European Committee of the Regions to discuss urban investment needs in Europe and support the EU policy agenda for cities.

The survey sample includes 1 002 EU municipalities whose populations range in size from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands, for a total sample population of around 26 million (about 6% of the population of all 27 Member States). Every Member State is represented, with municipalities surveyed per country ranging from 131 in Germany and 107 in Italy, to five each in Cyprus and Luxembourg. Like the 2022 wave of the survey, the 2025 wave contains no country capitals, but does include some island and non-European territories. Municipalities’ responses were anonymised.

While national and EU grants remain the main sources of infrastructure funding for municipalities, more than half of them (61%) are interested in exploring other financing options, according to the survey report. This could, for example, include turning grants into guarantees that would then be used to attract higher levels of funding from institutions like banks.

“In a time of growing challenges, we must ensure that every euro invested delivers maximum impact,” EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris said. “This means leveraging innovative financing solutions to support municipalities in accelerating climate action and other key priorities. The EIB remains committed to working alongside European cities to develop and implement the tools they need to build a more sustainable and resilient future.”

The EIB Municipalities Survey 2025 provides a broad and detailed picture of development plans by municipal authorities, which account for about 54% of public investments in the European Union. In the area of climate action, this figure is about 60%.

In addition to finding that most EU cities plan to invest more in cutting emissions, the latest survey shows that around half also aim for greater spending on measures to adapt to climate change, including protection against threats like floods and fires.

“Municipalities across Europe are showing strong commitments to the green transition,” said EIB Chief Economist Debora Revoltella. “Turning these commitments into tangible results will require continued political and policy support at all levels.”

A persistent challenge for many EU cities is the shortage of experts needed to perform environmental assessments and of engineers to carry out projects, according to the 2025 wave of the survey. Up to 30% of municipalities reported a lack of technical expertise in these areas.

The EIB is helping meet this challenge by providing technical, financial and strategic expertise to cities. EIB engineers and economists appraise every project financed by the Bank. This expertise is also available in the form of advisory support for project promoters, national, regional or local authorities and financial intermediaries.

Background information

EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.

The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high -impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

European Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions is the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives from all 27 Member States. Created in 1994 following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, its mission is to involve regional and local authorities in the EU’s decision-making process and to inform them about EU policies. The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission consult the Committee in policy areas affecting regions and cities. To sit on the European Committee of the Regions, all of its 329 members and 329 alternates must either hold an electoral mandate or be politically accountable to an elected assembly in their home regions and cities.
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Colleagues Question HHS Secretary RFK Jr. on Decision to Fire Workers Tasked with Protecting Coal Miner Health and Safety
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), joined by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushing back on his decision to gut the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firing nearly 900 employees. Recent reporting has indicated that these firings include all employees tasked with protecting the health and safety of coal miners.

“According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” the senators wrote. “According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, WA and Pittsburgh, PA, offices are being let go. , The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program. Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, WV, office, who also work to protect miner health, among other occupational safety and health activities.”

The senators also highlighted the immediate impacts of this move, explaining that mining communities are already being left without key health services.

They continued, “We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost. NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.”

In their letter, the senators demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy, questioning how these crucial services will continue with a significantly reduced workforce. The senators requested a written response to the following:
1. How many HHS employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the VERA/VSIP offer since January 20, 2025? Provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. For each category of employee at each agency, provide information on GS level and veteran status, and clearly state the justification for termination. Include employees who have since been reinstated or placed on administrative leave, noting that change in status. Please provide the latest data available.
2. How many HHS employees remain who work on mining health and safety? Please provide a complete breakdown by agency and position.
3. How many additional employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety do you intend to fire following the announcement made on March 27, 2025?
4. Provide all analyses conducted prior to the reorganization and firings of HHS employees who work in offices that focus on mining safety and health to determine the immediate and long-term impact these firings will have on programs and activities that those employees are tasked with administering. In particular, provide all analyses relating to 1) ensuring statutory obligations will be met, and 2) the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.
A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We write today with alarming concern about reports that nearly the entire workforce that works to improve the health of miners was laid off and the office that oversees this work was eliminated. We urge you to reverse course immediately and ensure the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues its important work in our states to protect and serve our constituents.

According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, WA and Pittsburgh, PA, offices are being let go. , The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program. Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, WV, office, who also work to protect miner health, among other occupational safety and health activities.

We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost. NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.

Never has there been a more critical time to do this work. A 2023 study conducted jointly by researchers at NIOSH and at the University of Illinois Chicago found that coal miners in central Appalachia—Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky—were eight times more likely to die from respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and black lung than American men who are not miners. Our constituents are getting more severe disease at younger ages in recent decades, and we might never had known that without the expertise of NIOSH’s work on coal miner health.

We require more than a fact sheet indicating these duties will be reorganized into an Administration for a Healthy America given the extensive cuts to personnel. In order for us to better understand how the same amount of work can be done with hundreds fewer individuals, please provide responses to the following questions by April 9, 2025:
1. How many HHS employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the VERA/VSIP offer since January 20, 2025? Provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. For each category of employee at each agency, provide information on GS level and veteran status, and clearly state the justification for termination. Include employees who have since been reinstated or placed on administrative leave, noting that change in status. Please provide the latest data available.
2. How many HHS employees remain who work on mining health and safety? Please provide a complete breakdown by agency and position.
3. How many additional employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety do you intend to fire following the announcement made on March 27, 2025?
4. Provide all analyses conducted prior to the reorganization and firings of HHS employees who work in offices that focus on mining safety and health to determine the immediate and long-term impact these firings will have on programs and activities that those employees are tasked with administering. In particular, provide all analyses relating to 1) ensuring statutory obligations will be met, and 2) the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.
Art Miller, an expert in mine air quality who has been working for NIOSH since 1996 and for its predecessor before this, was part of the Spokane-area firings. He noted that no one else does this kind of research and that “every worker in this country deserves to go home safe.” We agree, and urge you to reverse these cuts before it’s too late.

Sincerely,
MIL OSI USA News –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses News18 Rising Bharat Summit

Source: Government of India

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses News18 Rising Bharat Summit

The world’s eyes and expectations are on India: PM

India has sprinted ahead at double the speed, doubling the size of its economy in just one decade: PM

Those who thought that India would progress slow and steady, will now witness a fast and fearless India: PM

Delay is the enemy of development: PM

When growth is driven by aspirations, it becomes inclusive and sustainable: PM

Waqf legislations ensure dignity for all, especially the marginalised: PM

WAVES will empower Indian artists to create and take their content to the global stage: PM

Posted On: 08 APR 2025 10:26PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the News18 Rising Bharat Summit in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering, he expressed gratitude to Network18 for providing him the opportunity to connect with esteemed guests from India and around the world through this summit. He appreciated the focus of this year’s summit on the aspirations of India’s youth. Underlining the significance of the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ held earlier this year on Swami Vivekananda Jayanti at Bharat Mandapam, he remarked on the dreams, determination, and passion of the youth to make India a developed nation. He emphasized the roadmap for India’s progress by 2047, stating that continuous deliberation at every step will yield valuable insights. He noted that these insights will energize, guide, and accelerate the Amrit Kaal generation. He extended his congratulations and best wishes for the success of the summit.

“The world’s eyes and expectations are on India”, said Shri Modi, highlighting that within a span of a few years, India has risen from being the 11th to the 5th largest economy. He emphasized, “despite numerous global challenges, India has sprinted ahead at double the speed, doubling the size of its economy in just one decade”. He remarked that those who once believed India would progress slowly and steadily are now witnessing a ‘Fast and Fearless India’. He expressed confidence that India will soon become the world’s third-largest economy. “This unprecedented growth is being driven by the ambitions and aspirations of India’s youth”, he said, emphasising that addressing these ambitions and aspirations is now a national priority.

Noting that as of today, April 8, 2025, the first 100 days of the year are nearing completion in a couple of days, the Prime Minister highlighted that the decisions made during this period reflect the aspirations of India’s youth. “These 100 days were not just about decisions but about laying the foundation for the future”, he emphasised. He stated that policies have been transformed into pathways for possibilities. He highlighted key initiatives, including zero tax on income up to ₹12 lakh, benefiting young professionals and entrepreneurs. He noted the addition of 10,000 new medical seats and 6,500 new IIT seats, marking an expansion in education and acceleration in innovation. Shri Modi also mentioned the establishment of 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs, ensuring innovation reaches every corner of the country. He remarked that these labs will ignite a chain reaction of innovation. Highlighting the creation of Centers of Excellence for AI and skill development, providing youth with opportunities to become future-ready, Shri Modi also announced 10,000 new PM Research Fellowships to simplify the journey from ideas to impact. He remarked that just as the space sector was opened, the nuclear energy sector will now also be opened, removing boundaries and fostering innovation. He mentioned the introduction of social security for youth engaged in the gig economy, ensuring that those previously invisible are now at the center of policies. He also highlighted term loans of up to ₹2 crore for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs, emphasizing that inclusivity is now a policy, not just a promise. These decisions will directly benefit India’s youth, as the progress of the nation is tied to the progress of its youth, he added.

“The achievements of the past 100 days demonstrate that India is unstoppable, unyielding, and unwavering in its progress”, said Shri Modi underscoring that during this period, India became the fourth country in the world to achieve satellite docking and undocking capabilities. He noted the successful testing of the semi-cryogenic engine and the milestone of surpassing 100 gigawatts of solar capacity. He also emphasized the record coal production of 1,000 million tons and the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission. Shri Modi also mentioned the decision to establish the 8th Pay Commission for Central Government employees and the increase in fertilizer subsidies for farmers, underscoring the government’s priority for the welfare of farmers. He highlighted the mass housewarming ceremony for over 3 lakh families in Chhattisgarh and the distribution of more than 65 lakh property cards under the Swamitva scheme. The Prime Minister remarked that in these 100 days, one of the world’s highest tunnels, the Sonamarg Tunnel, was dedicated to the nation. He noted the addition of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer to the Indian Navy’s strength. He also cited the approval for the purchase of ‘Made in India’ light combat helicopters for the Army. He highlighted the passage of the Waqf amendment bill as a significant step toward social justice. He added that these 100 days represent not just 100 decisions but the fulfillment of 100 resolutions.

“This mantra of performance is the true energy behind a rising India”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, sharing his recent visit to Rameswaram, where he had the opportunity to inaugurate the historic Pamban Bridge. He highlighted that over 125 years ago, the British constructed a bridge there, which witnessed history, endured storms, and suffered significant damage from a cyclone. Despite years of public demand, previous governments failed to act. He emphasized that it was under his government that work on the new Pamban Bridge began and the nation now has its first vertical lift rail-sea bridge.

Emphasising that delaying projects hampers the nation’s progress, while performance and swift action drive development, the PM said, “delay is the enemy of development, and our government is committed to defeating this enemy”. He cited the example of Assam’s Bogibeel Bridge, whose foundation was laid by former Prime Minister Shri Deve Gowda in 1997 and initiated by Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, the project stalled under subsequent governments, causing hardships for millions in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, he added. He highlighted that his government restarted the project in 2014 and completed it within four years, in 2018. He also mentioned Kerala’s Kollam Bypass Road project, which had been pending since 1972. He noted that the previous governments worked on it for 50 years, while the project was completed within five years, under his government.

Shri Modi remarked that discussions on Navi Mumbai Airport began in 1997, and it received approval in 2007. However, he highlighted that the Congress government did not take action on the project. He stressed that his government expedited the project, and the day is not far when commercial flights will commence from Navi Mumbai Airport.

Highlighting the significance of April 8, marking the 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, the Prime Minister remarked that earlier, even opening a bank account without a guarantor was a challenge, and bank loans were a distant dream for ordinary families. He emphasized that the Mudra Yojana addressed the aspirations of marginalized groups, including SC/ST, OBC, landless laborers, and women, who had nothing to pledge but their hard work. Questioning whether their dreams, aspirations, and efforts were any less valuable, Shri Modi highlighted that over the past decade, 52 crore loans have been disbursed under the Mudra Yojana without any guarantee. He noted the remarkable scale and speed of the scheme, stating that 100 Mudra loans are cleared in the time it takes for a traffic light to turn green, 200 loans are approved while brushing one’s teeth, and 400 loans are sanctioned during a favorite song on the radio. He further remarked that in the time taken for an instant delivery app to fulfill an order, 1,000 Mudra loans are sanctioned. Similarly, by the time one finishes an episode on an OTT platform, 5,000 Mudra businesses are established.

“Mudra Yojana did not demand guarantees but placed trust in the people”, said Shri Modi, highlighting that the scheme has enabled 11 crore individuals to receive loans for self-employment for the first time, transforming them into first-time entrepreneurs. He emphasized that over the past decade, 11 crore dreams have been given wings through the Mudra Yojana. He noted that approximately ₹33 lakh crore has been disbursed under the scheme, reaching villages and small towns—a figure surpassing the GDP of many countries. “This is not merely micro-finance but a mega transformation at the grassroots level”, he stressed.

Highlighting the transformative example of Aspirational Districts and Blocks, the Prime Minister remarked that previous governments had declared over 100 districts as backward and left them neglected, many of which were in the Northeast and tribal belts. Instead of deploying the best talent to these districts, officials were sent there as punishment postings, reflecting the outdated mindset of keeping the “backward” regions stagnant. He emphasized that their government changed this approach by designating these areas as Aspirational Districts. He stated that the administration in these districts was prioritized, flagship schemes were implemented in mission mode, and growth was monitored across various parameters. He highlighted that these Aspirational Districts have now surpassed several states and national averages in performance, benefiting the local youth the most. He noted that the youth in these districts now confidently say, “We can also achieve, we can also progress.” The Prime Minister remarked that the Aspirational Districts Program has received global recognition from reputed institutions and journals. Inspired by its success, the government is now working on 500 Aspirational Blocks. “The growth driven by aspirations is both inclusive and sustainable”, he emphasised.

Emphasising that peace, stability, and a sense of security are essential for a nation’s rapid development, the PM quoted Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of a fearless and confident mind, stating, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.” He stated that for decades, India faced an atmosphere of fear, terror, and violence, which caused the greatest harm to the youth. He highlighted that in Jammu and Kashmir, generations of young people were consumed by bombings, gunfire, and stone-pelting, while previous governments lacked the courage to extinguish this fire. He emphasized that their government’s strong political will and sensitivity have transformed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that today, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are actively engaged in development.

Underscoring the significant progress made in combating Naxalism and fostering peace in the Northeast, the Prime Minister remarked that over 125 districts were once engulfed in violence, with government boundaries effectively ending where Naxalism began. He noted that a large number of youth were victims of Naxalism. He emphasized his government’s efforts to bring these youth into the mainstream. Over the past decade, more than 8,000 Naxalites have surrendered and abandoned the path of violence, he added, highlighting that the number of Naxal-affected districts has now reduced to fewer than 20. Shri Modi remarked that the Northeast had also endured decades of separatism and violence. Over the last 10 years, his government has signed 10 peace agreements, leading to over 10,000 youth laying down arms and joining the path of development. He emphasized that the success lies not only in thousands of youth abandoning weapons but also in saving their present and future.

Shri Modi remarked that for decades, national challenges were swept under the political carpet instead of being addressed. He emphasized that it is time to confront such issues and not burden the 21st-century generations with the political mistakes of the 20th century. He highlighted that appeasement politics has been a significant challenge to India’s growth. Referring to the recent amendment to the Waqf-related laws, the Prime Minister noted that the debate surrounding Waqf stems from the politics of appeasement, which is not a new phenomenon. “The seeds of appeasement were sown during India’s freedom struggle”, he added. He questioned why India, unlike other nations that gained independence, had to face partition as a condition for freedom. He attributed this to the prioritization of power over national interest at the time. He stated that the idea of a separate nation was not rooted in the aspirations of ordinary Muslim families but was propagated by a few extremists, supported by certain Congress leaders to secure sole claims to power.

The Prime Minister said that appeasement politics granted power to Congress and strength and wealth to certain extremist leaders. However, he questioned what the common Muslim received in return. He highlighted that poor and marginalized Muslims were left with neglect, illiteracy, and unemployment. He emphasized that Muslim women faced injustice, citing the Shah Bano case where their constitutional rights were sacrificed to appeasement. He noted that women were silenced and pressured not to question, while extremists were given free rein to suppress their rights.

“Appeasement politics is fundamentally against the core concept of social justice in India”, said Shri Modi criticizing some parties for using it as a tool for vote-bank politics. He highlighted that the 2013 amendment to the Waqf Act was an attempt to appease extremist elements and land mafias. He noted that the amendment created an illusion of being above the Constitution, restricting the very pathways to justice that the Constitution had opened. He emphasized the adverse consequences of this amendment, which emboldened extremists and land mafias. He cited examples such as Waqf claims on Christian community lands in Kerala, disputes over Gurudwara lands in Haryana, and claims on farmers’ lands in Karnataka. He pointed out that entire villages and thousands of hectares of land across states are now entangled in NOC and legal complexities. The Prime Minister remarked that whether it was temples, churches, gurudwaras, farms, or government lands, people lost confidence in retaining ownership of their properties. A single notice would leave individuals scrambling for documents to prove ownership of their own homes and fields. He questioned the nature of such a law, which was meant to deliver justice but instead became a source of fear.

Congratulating the Parliament for enacting a remarkable law that serves the interests of all communities, including the Muslim community, Shri Modi emphasized that the sanctity of Waqf will now be preserved, and the rights of marginalized Muslims, women, and children will be safeguarded. He highlighted that the debate on the Waqf Bill was the second-longest in India’s parliamentary history, with 16 hours of discussion across both houses. He noted that the Joint Parliamentary Committee held 38 meetings and engaged in 128 hours of deliberation. Additionally, nearly one crore online suggestions were received from across the country. “This demonstrates that democracy in India is no longer confined to Parliament alone but is being strengthened through public participation”, he added.

Emphasizing the importance of focusing on art, music, culture, and creativity—elements that distinguish humans from machines—as the world rapidly advances in technology and AI, Shri Modi highlighted that entertainment is one of the largest global industries and is set to expand further. He announced the creation of WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit), a global platform to encourage and celebrate art and culture. He shared that a major event for WAVES will be held in May 2025 in Mumbai. He spoke about India’s vibrant and creative industries, including movies, podcasts, gaming, music, AR, and VR. He highlighted the “Create in India” initiative, aimed at taking these industries to the next level. WAVES will encourage Indian artists to create content and make it global, while also inviting artists from around the world to collaborate in India, he added. The Prime Minister urged Network 18 to popularize the WAVES platform and encouraged young professionals from creative domains to join this movement. “WAVES should reach every home and every heart”, he emphasised.

The Prime Minister commended Network 18 for showcasing the creativity, ideas, and determination of the nation’s youth through this summit. He lauded the platform for engaging young minds, encouraging them to think about national challenges, provide suggestions, and find solutions. He highlighted that the summit transformed youth from mere listeners to active participants in change. The Prime Minister urged universities, colleges, and research institutions to take the engagement from this summit forward. He emphasized the importance of documenting, studying, and channeling the insights and suggestions into policymaking to ensure the summit becomes a lasting impact rather than just an event. He remarked that the enthusiasm, ideas, and participation of the youth are the driving force behind India’s resolve to become a developed nation. He concluded by extending his best wishes to all those associated with the summit, especially the young participants.

The Prime Minister also unveiled the ‘Samadhan’ document, a compendium of solutions and proof of concepts developed by the selected youths and colleges across India on challenges like air pollution, waste management, cleaning up of rivers, education for all and decongestion of streets of India.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ₹67.7 Cr Projects in IMU Campuses; Lays Foundation for Girls’ Hostel at Kochi

Source: Government of India

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ₹67.7 Cr Projects in IMU Campuses; Lays Foundation for Girls’ Hostel at Kochi

“India Aims for 5 Lakh Seafarers by 2030, laying the anchor for India’s Pursuance to be Top Global Maritime Nation”: Sarbananda Sonowal

“Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti to Propel India Towards Viksit Bharat:” Sarbananda Sonowal

Posted On: 08 APR 2025 8:39PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated 26 projects worth ₹67.77 crore across six Indian Maritime University (IMU) campuses nationwide, marking a significant push toward strengthening maritime education and empowering women in the sector. The ceremony also included the foundation stone laying for a Girls’ Hostel-cum=Library building at IMU’s Kochi campus.

Calling the event a “very special occasion,” the Union Minister said it reflected the Government’s collective commitment to transform maritime education. “The maritime sector is the backbone of global trade and economic growth. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is making rapid strides to emerge as a global maritime powerhouse. These 17 projects mark a significant step in our mission to strengthen India’s maritime education landscape. With modern infrastructure and advanced facilities, we are enabling students to excel and meet global maritime standards,” Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Shri Sonowal inaugurated 17 key infrastructure projects across IMU campuses in Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Port, and Visakhapatnam, including advanced simulators, solar power plants, improved sports facilities, and hostel upgrades—aimed at enriching academic and campus life. The ₹13.11 crore Girls’ Hostel at IMU Kochi will enhance residential facilities for female students, reinforcing Government’s commitment to gender inclusion in maritime education.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted flagship initiatives like the Maritime India Vision 2030, the Sagarmala Programme, and the ‘Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047’, describing them as central to modernising ports and developing sustainable infrastructure. He pointed out that between 2014-15 and 2023-24, India’s major ports doubled their cargo-handling capacity.

Highlighting India’s Maritime sector’s growth, the Union Minister said, “Nine Indian ports are now ranked among the top 100 globally”. He also emphasised the rise in maritime employment, stating that the number of Indian seafarers increased by 170% in the past decade — from 1.17 lakh in 2014 to over 3.17 lakh in 2024. “Our target is to reach five lakh active seafarers by 2030, and we are firmly on that path,” Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said.

The Union Minister further hailed the progress made in women’s participation in maritime careers, noting a 700% increase in women seafarers—from 1,699 in 2014 to 13,756 in 2024. “This foundation stone for the Girls’ Hostel at IMU Kochi is a step forward in promoting gender equity in the maritime sector. ‘Nari Shakti’ and ‘Yuva Shakti’ are the backbone of our nation as well as for our aspiration to become a global maritime major. Their active role as nation builders will propel our country to become ‘Viksit Bharat’,” Shri Sonowal said, adding that the IMU actively supports women students through scholarships offered by corporate houses and government agencies.

The Indian Maritime University (IMU) also received praise from the Minister for expanding its footprint and contributions to workforce development. “With a current enrolment of 7,156 students and over 21,000 alumni since its inception in 2008, IMU has seen an 80% rise in admissions over the past decade. With our rich talent pool, our endeavour to become a global maritime nation is going to be a reality soon. This is very inspiring towards realisation of Atmanirbhar Bharat — the vision of PM Narendra Modi ji,” the Union Minister said.

Among the newly inaugurated projects are flood mitigation structures, RFID-enabled libraries, solar power installations, and simulators at multiple campuses. These upgrades aim to provide students with a holistic, environmentally sustainable, and technologically advanced learning environment. “The future of global shipping lies in automation, Artificial Intelligence, and green technologies. IMU must incorporate these innovations into its curriculum to prepare our youth for a rapidly evolving industry,” suggested Shri Sonowal, during the event at IMU. He further urged IMU to integrate emerging domains such as shipbuilding, ship recycling, inland water transport, and advanced sailing technologies like hydrofoils into its training programmes. “We want a dedicated, professional human resource base to drive India’s maritime ecosystem forward. IMU must lead this transformation,” he added.

The Union Minister also commended the faculty and staff of IMU for their unwavering commitment. “Your efforts are invaluable in shaping the future of India’s maritime sector and ensuring we remain at the forefront of global maritime education,” the Union Minister said. In a message to students, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “You are the future of India’s maritime vision. The knowledge and skills you gain here will not only shape your careers but also contribute to the growth and prosperity of the nation. With the guidance and experience of our educators, combined with the passion and dedication of our youth, India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, is on course to become a leading global maritime power by 2030,” said Sarbananda Sonowal.

Expressing hope that the newly inaugurated infrastructure would catalyse further excellence in training, research, and industry collaboration, the Union Minister concluded, saying, “this is just the beginning, may this milestone lead to many more achievements for India’s maritime sector”.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Ernakulam, and Dr. Malini V. Shankar, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University (IMU). The event concluded with an engaging interactive session that brought together experts, faculty, and policymakers to explore the future of maritime education, innovations in seafarer training, and the development of sustainable infrastructure across IMU campuses.

***

GDH/HR

(Release ID: 2120209) Visitor Counter : 47

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Loaded Semi-Automatic Pistol

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Tyrone Goforth, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (66 months and one day), to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2025, Goforth pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Goforth was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020.

On July 31, 2020, officers responded to a call for a person with a gun at a bookstore in Roxbury, Mass. Goforth was inside the bookstore and fit the description of a man wearing a black shirt and olive pants. Goforth was found to be in possession of a Sig Sauer P938 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Due to a 2000 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court, Goforth is prohibited from possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priority, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

MIL Security OSI –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK remains a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping as a vital tool in global peace and security: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

The UK remains a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping as a vital tool in global peace and security: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on UN peacekeeping operations

The UK remains a steadfast supporter of UN peacekeeping and of the unique contribution it makes to international peace and security.

Mr President, implementing and monitoring ceasefires has been a key function of UN peacekeeping from its very beginning and UN peacekeeping operations continue to effectively support ceasefire agreements around the world.

The UN will not always be the right body for this, but in many cases it is, with a unique status and legitimacy for monitoring ceasefires effectively.

This has historically been an important part of UN mandates across the world, for example in Cyprus or the Golan Heights.

We must consider each mandate on a case-by-case basis.

Today, we would like in particular to address the situations in Lebanon and the DRC given the briefings we’ve had.

In Lebanon, the UK has welcomed the US’ announcement of talks to resolve key issues between Lebanon and Israel.

This is a big step forward.

We urge all parties to use the talks as a pathway towards securing lasting peace and security for the citizens of Israel and Lebanon, rather than returning to conflict.

UNIFIL is playing a key role in deescalating tension and monitoring the cessation of hostilities across the Blue Line.

The UK welcomes UNIFIL’s role in supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces deployment to southern Lebanon, consistent with the November ceasefire agreement and with resolution 1701.

We welcome UNIFIL’s adaptation plan and urge it to be ambitious in implementing it.

The UK encourages consideration by this Council on conditions under which MONUSCO should be tasked to monitor a ceasefire.

The UK encourages an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue via the EAC-SADC process, in line with resolution 2773.

Once agreed, we believe that MONUSCO would be well-placed to provide ceasefire monitoring as part of its mandate.

However, this also requires restoration of MONUSCO’s freedom of movement.

The UK condemns continued restrictions on MONUSCO which have constrained the mission’s ability to deliver key tasks mandated by this Council, including on the protection of civilians and the facilitation of aid.

Mr President, let me finish with two more general comments.

First, the safety and security of peacekeepers is essential to the successful monitoring of any ceasefire agreement.

The UK strongly condemns all attacks on UN peacekeepers, who must never be targeted.

Second, enhanced technology such as early warning systems and improved surveillance can help mitigate threats, including those arising from misinformation and disinformation, while allowing peacekeepers to carry out their mandates safely.

And technology must be harnessed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ceasefire monitoring capabilities.

So as we look ahead to the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin next month, and building on the Pact of the Future, the UK reaffirms our commitment to strengthening peacekeeping operations, so that they remain capable of addressing the challenges they face in a changing world.

Updates to this page

Published 8 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: Fortinet Wins 2025 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year Award
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced it has won the 2025 Google Cloud Infrastructure Modernization Partner of the Year Award for Networking. As a five-time Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year Award winner, Fortinet continues to be recognized by Google for creating industry-leading solutions and strong customer experiences with Google Cloud.

“We’re honored to once again be recognized as a Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year. This award highlights the strength of our application and infrastructure security solutions and reinforces our deep integration with Google Cloud services through the Fortinet Security Fabric, powered by our single operating system, FortiOS. As organizations navigate increasingly complex cloud environments, our commitment to security innovation ensures IT and security teams have the tools they need to scale securely, optimize performance, and stay ahead of evolving threats.” Jaime Romero, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Fortinet

“Google Cloud’s Partner Awards recognize partners who have created outsized value for customers through the delivery of innovative solutions and a high level of expertise. We’re proud to announce Fortinet as a 2025 Google Cloud Partner Award winner and celebrate their impact enabling customer success over the past year.” Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem, Google Cloud

Fortinet’s integration with Google Cloud delivers enterprise-grade security, enabling businesses to scale, optimize performance, and defend against evolving threats. FortiGate VM, Fortinet’s virtual next-generation firewall (NGFW), enforces consistent security policies across private, public, and telco clouds, forming the foundation of a hybrid mesh firewall infrastructure.

As part of a broader cloud security platform that includes application security and cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) solutions, Fortinet delivers comprehensive, integrated code-to-security with 360-degree defense-in-depth protection for applications and data living in cloud and hybrid cloud environments.

Fortinet also boasts a robust network of secure access service edge (SASE) locations that are scalable and globally available through Fortinet and Google Cloud. Fortinet Unified SASE simplifies operations while enabling low latency secure remote and on-prem access and protects networks, applications, data, network edges, and thin edges.

Additionally, Fortinet offers a flexible, usage-based licensing program called FortiFlex that allows Google Cloud customers to optimize their deployments and investments in Google Cloud to perfectly match their dynamic needs. With FortiFlex, organizations can readily scale Fortinet solutions for Google Cloud at any time. Unused credit can be rolled over to subsequent years, further helping customers maximize their dollars. For customers with Google Cloud Committed Use Discount (CUD) agreements, FortiFlex also offers a quick and easy way to meet their committed spend obligations.

This recognition reinforces Fortinet’s long-standing partnership with Google Cloud and its commitment to delivering innovative, enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions.

Additional Resources
- Visit Google Marketplace for a complete list of Fortinet products on Google Cloud.
- Visit fortinet.com/trust to learn more about Fortinet innovation, collaboration partners, product security processes, and enterprise-grade products.
- Learn more about Fortinet’s commitment to product security and integrity, including its responsible product development and vulnerability disclosure approach and policies.
- Learn about Fortinet’s free cybersecurity training, which includes broad cyber awareness and product training. The Fortinet Training Institute also provides training and certification through the Network Security Expert (NSE) Certification, Academic Partner, and Education Outreach programs.
- Learn more about FortiGuard Labs threat intelligence and research and Outbreak Alerts, which provide timely steps to mitigate breaking cybersecurity attacks.
- Learn more about Fortinet’s FortiGuard Security Services portfolio.
- Read about how Fortinet customers are securing their organizations.
- Follow Fortinet on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to Fortinet on our blog or YouTube.
About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)
Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

Copyright © 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAgent, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAgent, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiCNP, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCSPM, FortiCWP, FortiDAST, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiDLP, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiEndpoint FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPAM, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiScanner, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSEC, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSRA, FortiStack, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM, FortiXDR and Lacework FortiCNAPP. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

The MIL Network –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Annapolis Murder Suspect in DC

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) April 7 arrested a man wanted by the Annapolis Police Department (APD) for a murder and related offenses.

Roscoe Jerome Jones, 31, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, was identified as a suspect in a March 19 homicide in the 100 block of Clay Street after APD officers responding to reported gunshots found the victim with apparent gunshot wounds.

The homicide occurred at a school bus stop with numerous children present, and one child was struck by a bullet and injured.

The CARFTF received the warrant on March 19 and initiated the fugitive investigation to determine Jones’ whereabouts.

Investigators discovered Jones was residing in an apartment in the 1400 block of 1st St SW, in Washington, D.C., and on April 7, in the early morning hours, members of the CARFTF conducted an enforcement operation to arrest Jones at that address. Jones failed to comply with law enforcement commands initially but was eventually taken into custody without further incident.

Subsequent to a search conducted at the same address, two firearms were located and seized.

The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force began operations in June of 2004 and was among the first regional fugitive task forces to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with over 100 federal, state, and local agencies and has eight fully operational offices.

The CARFTF has successfully apprehended over 102,700 fugitives since its inception and has made an extraordinary impact on the apprehension of the region’s most dangerous and violent fugitives, always striving to make their communities safer.

MIL Security OSI –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: UPDATE – ESO Releases Fire Service Index: Reports 28% Increase in Wildland Fire Incidents, Calls for Improvements in Decontamination Efforts
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESO, a leading data services and software provider for EMS, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal agencies, released its 2025 Fire Service Index, which illustrates the staggering impact of nationwide wildland fires as well as the demand for broader decontamination efforts. Now in its sixth year, the index analyzed 7,919,600 incidents from calendar year 2024 from 2,739 participating agencies nationwide that use ESO services.

“The Fire Service Index represents our commitment to protecting those who protect us,” said Antonio Fernandez, PhD, NRP, principal research scientist for ESO. “The insights we uncover can guide agencies to direct prevention resources where they’re needed most. By making these data freely accessible, we’re empowering fire departments nationwide to benchmark performance, identify critical trends and take proactive measures in their communities.”

Notable findings from the analysis include:
- 54,489 wildland fire incidents were reported in 2024 (up 28% year over year), totaling 1.78 million total acres burned—a 650% increase in acreage from 2023.
- Wildland fire incidents were frequent throughout most of the year—not just in warmer months.
- Fire departments continue to respond to more EMS calls than fire incidents. EMS and rescue incidents accounted for the majority of all incidents (65%), while fire responses accounted for just 3% of all calls.
- 25% of firefighters did not document a decontamination procedure (e.g. cleaning exposed areas, dry-brushing gear, using wet wipes, etc.) after fire exposure, which can drastically increase long-term health risks such as cancer.
“The intensifying frequency of wildland fires across the country is yet another reason why proper decontamination has become critical to safeguarding the health and lives of our nation’s firefighters,” said Bill Gardner, executive director of fire and EMS for ESO. “We’re encouraged that 75% of firefighters are documenting one decontamination method after exposure, but we cannot stress enough the importance of increasing that number to 100% and establishing multiple decontamination procedures as the gold standard.”

Decontamination metrics are now available in ESO’s static benchmarking dashboards. This enhancement allows fire departments nationwide to compare themselves with peers and enables ESO to better monitor prevention effectiveness.

The release of the 2025 Fire Service Index follows ESO’s receipt of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) V1 Compatible Badge, which ensures Fire Incident customers remain compliant with the new standard. To access the 2025 ESO Fire Service Index, click here. To learn more about ESO, visit www.eso.com.

Methodology and Limitations
The dataset for the 2025 ESO Fire Service Index report is real-world data, compiled and aggregated from 7,919,600 incidents that occurred in calendar year 2024 across the United States. There are no universal rules designed around these trends. The purpose of the Index is to be informative and directional, but it is not intended to be a scientific study—nor is it intended to be comprehensive in nature. ESO hopes this Index serves as a body of literature that adds to the discussion and conversation around best practices for each of the selected metrics to help improve community health and safety.

About ESO
ESO (ESO Solutions, Inc.) is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal offices. ESO currently serves thousands of customers across the globe with a broad software portfolio, including the state-of-the-art Logis IDS CAD solution, industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next-generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind health care interoperability platform; ESO Fire RMS, the modern fire Record Management System; ESO Patient Registry (trauma, burn and stroke registry software); and ESO State Repository. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.eso.com.

Media Contact:
For ESO,
Hope Sander
Red Fan Communications
eso@redfancommunications.com
737-280-8783

The MIL Network –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Smith Press EPA Not to Close Duluth Lab
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are pressing Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on reports of a reduction in staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED) Lab in Duluth, Minnesota. The Senators called for the critical lab, which helps keep our Great Lakes water clean and safe and contributes $15 million to Minnesota’s economy every year, not to be closed and for career scientists not to be fired.

“We are very concerned about reports of impending staff reductions within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), potentially including the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED) Lab in Duluth, Minnesota,” wrote the Senators. “Firing career scientists and shutting down a lab that leads the nation in freshwater toxicology research would have huge impacts on Minnesotans and all Americans.”

“Our entire country depends on the premier water testing protocols developed at this lab,” the Senators continued. “In addition to testing, the dedicated scientists in Duluth have developed effective tools to combat polluted water and protect human health. This dedication to science as a public service has directly led to cleaner, safer drinking water for our kids and grandkids, and these efforts will continue to be critical for years to come. Simply put, closing the lab or firing its staff without proper cause would endanger future generations of Americans.”

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin,

We are very concerned about reports of impending staff reductions within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), potentially including the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED) Lab in Duluth, Minnesota.

Firing career scientists and shutting down a lab that leads the nation in freshwater toxicology research would have huge impacts on Minnesotans and all Americans. Recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that the Department plans to fire up to 1,155 scientists from the ORD, potentially including some or all of the over 130 in the Duluth GLTED Lab who conduct critical research on risks to our water and ways to keep it clean and safe.

The research at the GLTED Lab directly supports EPA’s top stated priority of providing “clean air, land, and water for every American” and is central to the Duluth community. Locally, it contributes over $15 million to the economy and helps keep Lake Superior healthy. As one of the cleanest freshwater sources in the world, Lake Superior provides drinking water to cities from Duluth to Grand Marais, supports processing operations for our Iron Range taconite mines, and sustains tourism businesses along the North Shore. Minnesotans depend on Lake Superior’s health to live, work, and enjoy recreation every day.

Because of the GLTED Lab’s unique access to Lake Superior, it is well situated to address widespread water quality issues. Our entire country depends on the premier water testing protocols developed at this lab. In addition to testing, the dedicated scientists in Duluth have developed effective tools to combat polluted water and protect human health. This dedication to science as a public service has directly led to cleaner, safer drinking water for our kids and grandkids, and these efforts will continue to be critical for years to come. Simply put, closing the lab or firing its staff without proper cause would endanger future generations of Americans.

As such, we request you provide written answers to the following questions by April 11, 2025:
1. Will staff in Minnesota’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Lab be included in the EPA’s reduction in force plans? If so:
2. Is EPA assessing the public health and environmental impacts of these firings? Please share any assessments EPA has conducted or describe the methods in which EPA is conducting this assessment.
3. How will layoffs in EPA’s Office of Research and Development impact long-term water quality, including its public health and ecological impacts? Please be specific.
4. What is EPA’s plan to maintain clean air and water into the future should fewer scientists be dedicated to the issue? Please be specific.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Urge Trump Admin to Address Health Impacts of Mass Layoffs at HHS
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reportedly fired 20,000 workers

Layoffs will hurt vulnerable populations, undermine lifesaving research, and weaken American public health

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 37 of his Senate colleagues to call on the Trump administration to address the devastating impacts that the administration’s mass layoffs at HHS will have on Americans’ health and well-being.

“Your plan to eliminate 20,000 HHS employees and consolidate core agencies is an unprecedented and baseless assault on the federal workforce and the hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on the Department’s services,” wrote the senators. “If you do not reverse course, you will do irreparable damage to our nation’s human services, health care delivery, public health, and scientific infrastructure – making Americans sicker and leaving our communities ill-prepared for future threats.”

The letter comes after the announcement that HHS began to dismantle the agency and fire over 20,000 HHS workers, including workers responsible for the well-being of seniors and people with disabilities and research to promote health care quality.

The senators highlighted the devastating impact these reckless HHS layoffs would have on critical services that Americans depend on, including:
- Care for seniors, people with disabilities, and children
- Development of life-saving drugs and treatments
- Basic access to primary care
- Public health programs and pandemic preparedness
- Access to mental health services
- Timely Medicare and Medicaid payments
- Rural health care
The full text of the letter is available HERE.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ohio County Man Admits to Firearms Charge

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jakob Barnes, age 39, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Barnes is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony conviction. During a drug-related robbery investigation, officers executed a search warrant at Barnes’ apartment on Wheeling Island and seized two firearms and ammunition.

Barnes is facing up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.

MIL Security OSI –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Three Plead Guilty to Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BOSTON – Three men pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in connection with their participation in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine and laundered the proceeds.

Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., 34, of Saugus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams of more of methamphetamine; five counts of possession with intent to distribute various weights of fentanyl, methamphetamine and oxycodone; one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; and one count of money laundering conspiracy U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Aug. 5, 2025.

Gino Castillo, 34, of Salem, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 8, 2025.

Samuel Saillant, 38, of Lynn, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit money laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2025.

Nagle, Jr., Castillo and Saillant were among 27 individuals charged, beginning in October 2022, in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy to traffic counterfeit prescription pills. Nagle, Jr. was charged by complaint in October 2022 and later indicted. Castillo and Saillant were charged by indictment on April 24, 2024. All 27 individuals have pleaded guilty.

The DTO, led by Nagle, Jr. and his brother, Christopher Nagle, distributed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, among other drugs, to individuals in the Lynn area. In January 2022, a search of Christopher Nagle’s apartment recovered more than 74,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, weighing more than 24 kilograms. On Oct. 25, 2022, a search of Nagle, Jr.’s home in Saugus and two homes he used to store narcotics—one of which was inhabited by Castillo—resulted in the seizure of more than 7.8 kilograms of fentanyl and more than 650 grams of methamphetamine. In addition, two Glock firearms and ammunition were recovered from Nagle, Jr.’s house in close proximity to oxycodone pills. At the time, Nagle, Jr. was a felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Nagle, Jr. purchased the home in Saugus in August 2020 with the cash proceeds of his drug trafficking activities. Saillant was Nagle’s real estate agent in connection with the purchase. On the morning of Aug. 21, 2020, Nagle, Jr., Saillant and a coconspirator traveled to banks and money-transmitting services in the Lynn area to exchange Nagle’s drug money for money orders and cashier’s checks. Saillant attended a property closing later that day at which the money orders and cashier’s checks were used to fund the downpayment on the house.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Nathaniel Yeager, Samuel R. Feldman and John O. Wray of the Criminal Division and Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Forfeiture Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

MIL Security OSI –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Budd Kicks Off Third 100 County Tour with Visit to Western North Carolina

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) kicked off his 100 County Tour last week with visits to the following counties in Western North Carolina: Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, and Polk. On the first leg of his statewide tour, Senator Budd surveyed the storm damage and heard from local officials, small business owners, and community members about their needs on the road to recovery.
“It has been a long six months since Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, leaving a trail of devastation—leveling homes, flooding schools, destroying businesses, and crippling critical infrastructure. As I began planning my third 100 County Tour, I knew there was no question: I had to start out West.
“Since the storm struck last September, I’ve returned to these communities time and time again to survey the damage and offer support to local officials in their recovery efforts. During my most recent visit to the region, I was deeply moved by the resilience and determination I witnessed from the victims of Helene. In the face of unimaginable hardship, families, small business owners, local officials, law enforcement, and neighbors are going out of their way to lift one another up and reach out a helping hand.
“I am fully committed to doing everything in my power in the U.S. Senate to secure the resources and relief these communities desperately need. Together, we will rebuild and create a stronger and more prosperous Western North Carolina,” said Senator Budd.
Follow Senator Budd on Flickr to see photos from the 100 County Tour HERE or click below to view individual albums.
Background on Senator Budd’s Visits to WNC:
Ashe County—Senator Budd made the first stop on his third 100 County Tour in the Town of Lansing, where he met with Mayor Mack Powers to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene and speak with impacted members of the community.
Watauga County—Senator Budd toured the flooded Valle Crucis Elementary School to assess the damage caused after the building was submerged in four feet of water during the storm, displacing hundreds of students. Additionally, Senator Budd viewed the wreckage at the Valle Crucis United Methodist Church, which also withstood severe flooding.
Avery County—Senator Budd met with local officials at the county’s debris processing site to gain an understanding of the obstacles facing local contractors removing debris caused by the hurricane to expedite the rebuilding process.
Mitchell County—Senator Budd visited the Deyton School, where he met with county officials and received a briefing from the Baptists On Mission on operations to rebuild damaged homes for families who suffered property loss.
Yancey County—Senator Budd spent time with the West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department, personally thanking emergency personnel for their critical role in providing aid during and after the storm to local residents. He also spoke with individuals spearheading Operation Helo, a volunteer organization supporting victims of Helene, and met with displaced North Carolinians who are continuing to work through the FEMA approval process.
Madison County—Senator Budd discussed rebuilding assistance with the leadership of the Rebuild Hot Springs Area, including small business owners, local officials, and residents, to reaffirm his commitment to securing disaster relief aid to repair damage to the downtown commercial district, key tourist areas, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Buncombe County—Senator Budd spoke with the students and faculty of Excel College on the progress of their non-profit—a homebuilding operation to rebuild over three hundred homes in the next two-and-a-half years.
Henderson County—Senator Budd recognized the efforts of first responders who relocated to the Gerton Volunteer Fire Department to support recovery operations following Helene. Alongside local officials, Senator Budd also surveyed the damage at the community’s Post Office and the road repairs between Bat Cave and Slick Rock along the Rocky Broad River.
Rutherford County—Senator Budd met with local officials from Lake Lure and Chimney Rock to discuss the community’s rebuilding process and debris removal status with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Polk County—Senator Budd visited with small business owners and vendors from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, and Asheville, currently using the Tryon Equestrian Center as their base of operations following the aftermath of the hurricane. The partnership, otherwise known as the “WNC Main Street” program, has been successful in attracting economic support for local businesses from tourism.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: Guterres calls on Israel to ensure life-saving aid reaches civilians

Source: United Nations 2

8 April 2025 Humanitarian Aid

With no aid allowed into Gaza for more than a month, the UN Secretary-General appealed on Tuesday for guaranteed humanitarian access to the enclave.

Speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters, António Guterres also repeated his call for a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the release of all hostages still being held inside the shattered enclave.

No food, fuel, medicine and commercial items have entered Gaza since 2 March following the Israeli blockade, and supplies are piling up at crossing points.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire announced in January following 15 months of war has collapsed, amid airstrikes, renewed ground operations and rocket launches into Israel by Palestinian militants.

‘An endless death loop’

“As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened,” Mr. Guterres said.

“Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop.”

He noted that “certain truths are clear since the atrocious October 7 attacks by Hamas,” chiefly that ceasefires work.

The truce allowed for the release of hostages, as well as the distribution of lifesaving aid, and proved that the humanitarian community can deliver.

Shattered hope

He recalled that “for weeks, guns fell silent, obstacles were removed, looting ended – and we were able to deliver lifesaving supplies to virtually every part of the Gaza Strip,” which ended with the “shattering” of the deal.

“Hope sank for Palestinian families in Gaza and families of hostages in Israel – as I was reminded when I met again with hostage families yesterday,” he added.

For this reason, the Secretary-General has consistently been pushing for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and full humanitarian access to the territory.

“In times like this, we must be crystal clear,” he said, noting that with crossing points shut and aid blockaded, there is no effective security and the ability to deliver assistance has been strangled.

He also cited a joint statement by UN humanitarian chiefs, issued on Monday, which refuted assertions that there is enough food in Gaza to feed everyone there. 

International obligations

“We must also be clear about the obligations,” Mr. Guterres continued, emphasizing the “unequivocal obligations” of Israel, as the occupying power, in line with international law.

He pointed to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which outlines the duty to ensure food and medical supplies for the population, as well as ensuring and maintaining medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene.

Additionally, medical personnel shall be allowed to carry out their duties.

“And Article 59, paragraph 1, of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides that ‘if the whole or part of the population of an occupied territory is inadequately supplied, the Occupying Power shall agree to relief schemes on behalf of the said population, and shall facilitate them by all means at its disposal,’” he quoted.

International humanitarian law also includes the obligation to respect humanitarian relief personnel, he added, paying tribute to the “humanitarian heroes” under fire in Gaza.

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Against new ‘authorization mechanisms’

While UN agencies and partners stand ready and determined to deliver, “the Israeli authorities newly proposed ‘authorization mechanisms’ for aid delivery risk further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour,” the Secretary-General said.

“Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.”

Mr. Guterres said unimpeded humanitarian access must be guaranteed, and humanitarian personnel must be given protection, in line with international law.

He stressed that “the inviolability of United Nations premises and assets must be respected,” and again called for an independent investigation into the killing of humanitarians, including UN personnel.

Dead end ahead

The Secretary-General concluded the briefing by underlining the need to stick to core principles. He urged UN Member States to adhere to their obligations, adding that there must be justice and accountability when they do not.

“The world may be running out of words to describe the situation in Gaza, but we will never run away from the truth,” he said.

He warned that “the current path is a dead end – totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history,” while the risk of the occupied West Bank transforming into another Gaza makes the situation even worse.

“It is time to end the dehumanization, protect civilians, release the hostages, ensure lifesaving aid, and renew the ceasefire,” he said.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine crisis: ‘Even wars have rules,’ UN relief chief tells Security Council

Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

8 April 2025 Peace and Security

Nearly 13 million people in Ukraine urgently need humanitarian aid as displacement, psychological trauma and the destruction of essential services continues to take a devastating toll, the UN relief chief warned on Tuesday.

Briefing the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher called on the international community to step up support and do more to protect civilians under fire.

In recent weeks, continued Russian strikes on cities have seen civilian casualties rise – including children – and damaged critical infrastructure including healthcare facilities, apartments, schools and playgrounds.

Mr. Fletcher noted the strike on Friday in the densely populated city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro region, in which at least nine children were killed, according to Ukrainian authorities.

“This brutal pattern of civilian death and destruction in populated areas must stop,” he said.

He said parties to the conflict must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure as required under international humanitarian law.

“Indiscriminate attacks on them are strictly prohibited: there must be limits to how war is waged.”

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs the Security Council.

Displacement and desperation

The war continues to drive mass displacement, with nearly 3.7 million Ukrainians uprooted from their homes inside the country, and a further seven million now living as refugees.

Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage has also been reported in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions of Russia. In addition, humanitarians are unable to reach an estimated 1.5 million civilians in Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

“International humanitarian law demands that the parties facilitate the rapid, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, wherever they are,” Mr. Fletcher emphasised.

The impact on women has been particularly severe.

Critical aid programmes at risk

There has been a staggering 36 per cent increase in gender-based violence, alongside rising maternal health risks. Alarmingly, nearly half of all births in Ukraine since 2022 have been pre-term, a sign of the immense stress and hardship endured by expecting mothers.

Despite the soaring needs, the $2.6 billion UN-led humanitarian response plan in Ukraine has received only about 17 per cent of funds needed.

Mr. Fletcher warned that without additional financial support, critical aid programmes will be scaled back, leaving millions without food, healthcare or shelter.

In response to funding shortfalls, humanitarians are prioritising four key areas: supporting frontline communities, emergency response, facilitating evacuations, and assisting the displaced.

Mr. Fletcher stressed the need for increased financial support to ensure humanitarian operations can continue reaching those most in need.

“If you cannot stop the attacks on civilians – in Ukraine and elsewhere – at least give us the security we need and resources to save as many survivors as we can,” he urged.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

A wide view of the UN Security Council chamber as members meet to discuss the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

More to follow…

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 9, 2025