NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas Hospital CEO to Pay Over $5.3M to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Laboratory Testing

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Former hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Jeffrey Madison, of Georgetown, Texas, has agreed to pay $5,343,630 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving illegal payments to physicians for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Madison also has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “The Justice Department will continue to pursue individuals — including C-suite executives — who commit health care fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Kickbacks to physicians from laboratories or other healthcare providers can undermine healthcare decision-making, subject patients to unnecessary medical services and waste taxpayer funds.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations in a lawsuit alleging that Madison, the former CEO of Little River Healthcare (Little River), a critical access hospital in Rockdale, Texas, caused the submission of false claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE from January 2015 to June 2018. Madison allegedly agreed to a kickback scheme in which Little River paid commissions to recruiters who used purported management service organizations (MSOs) to pay kickbacks to doctors to induce their laboratory testing referrals to Little River. The settlement resolves allegations that Madison knowingly signed, and caused others to sign, false certifications in Medicare cost reports regarding Little River’s compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute, and thereby caused the submission of false claims to federal health care programs.

    In addition, the settlement resolves allegations in the same lawsuit that, after defendant Doyce Cartrett Jr., M.D., of Silsbee, Texas, informed Little River of his potential laboratory testing referral volume, Madison agreed to have Little River pay Cartrett $2,000 per month in kickbacks disguised as purported medical director fees from February 2015 to May 2017, to induce Cartrett to shift his laboratory testing referrals to Little River. Madison allegedly agreed for Little River to pay the monthly fees, even though Little River did not receive any genuine medical director services from Dr. Cartrett.

    Madison did not contest, and accepted responsibility for, the allegations against him in the United States’ amended complaint. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Madison was excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs for 25 years. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al. ex rel. STF LLC v. True Health Diagnostics LLC et al., No. 4:16-cv-547 (EDTX).

    “Seeing past a corporate entity and holding individuals responsible for making the decisions to engage marketers to pay providers for their laboratory referrals is what justice requires,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “This settlement is a testament to our continued efforts to combat fraud against our federal healthcare programs and to hold accountable all participants who profited from knowingly violating the laws meant to guard against overutilization of medical services and protect the public fisc.”

    “Illegal kickback payments, even when disguised as medical director fees, undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient benefit from these schemes, but it is ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”

    “Our nation’s uniformed military service members and their families should never have to question the integrity of their healthcare providers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office. “Medical decisions influenced by greed destroy the fundamental element of trust in patient care. This settlement reinforces the commitment the DCIS shares with our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department to pursue all available remedies against those who conspire to commit fraud against our Military Health System.”

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG and DCIS. The United States has recovered over $52 million relating to conduct involving MSO kickbacks to health care providers, which includes recoveries from 46 physicians.

    Trial Attorneys Christopher Terranova and Gavin Thole of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Betty Young for the Eastern District of Texas handled the case.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Settlement

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Maryland Department of State Police to Resolve Allegations of Race and Gender Discrimination in State Trooper Hiring Process

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to resolve the United States’ claims that MDSP’s hiring process for state troopers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the United States alleges that MDSP uses a written test that discriminates against Black candidates and a physical fitness test that discriminates against female candidates. The agreement must still be approved by a federal judge.

    The settlement agreement resolves a civil pattern and practice investigation the Civil Rights Division opened on July 15, 2022. As part of the investigation, the division conducted an in-depth review of MDSP’s hiring practices, the composition of its sworn personnel, applicant data, and information received from the Maryland State Police, and concluded the State’s written and physical fitness tests do not meaningfully distinguish between applicants who can and cannot perform the position of Trooper. These tests also had the effect of disqualifying Black and female applicants from the hiring process at significantly disproportionate rates. The department thus concluded that these tests violate Title VII.

    “Equal employment opportunities in law enforcement are not just a core civil right but essential to ensuring that those who serve reflect the rich racial and gender diversity of the communities they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The underrepresentation of Blacks and women in law enforcement undermines public safety and runs contrary to the principle of equal opportunity which is central in our job market. This agreement requires the Maryland Department of State Police to institute meaningful reforms, remove unlawful barriers in its hiring process, and provide restitution and relief to those already harmed, ensuring that all qualified applicants have a fair chance to serve. The Justice Department will continue working to ensure equal access to employment opportunities for all Americans.”

    “This settlement agreement is a reflection of our continued mission to protect the civil rights of all Marylanders, including those of our sworn law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to protect all citizens equally. We are pleased that MDSP is committed to ensuring that its hiring processes will not discriminate on the basis of race or gender.” 

    The complaint, filed today in the District of Maryland, alleges that MDSP’s use of a written test called the Police Officer Selection Test (POST) disproportionately excludes Black candidates, and its use of a physical fitness test called the Functional Fitness Assessment Test (FFAT) disproportionately excludes female candidates, from employment as troopers. The United States alleges that MDSP’s uses of the POST and the FFAT are not job related or consistent with business necessity, and thus, violate Title VII.

    Under the terms of the consent decree, MDSP will:

    • Adopt written and physical fitness tests that do not discriminate in violation of Title VII;
    • Provide data to the United States on the administration of the new tests to ensure compliance;
    • Pay $2.75 million in back pay to applicants who were disqualified by MDSP’s use of the challenged tests; and
    • Hire up to 25 applicants who were unfairly disqualified by those tests and who successfully complete MDSP’s new trooper screening and selection process.

    Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also employment practices that result in a disparate impact on a protected group, unless such practices are job related and consistent with business necessity.

    You can learn more about the contents of the agreement from this fact sheet and a statement from Assistant Attorney General Clarke here.

    The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. The Division has issued a new fact sheet on Combating Hiring Discrimination by Police and Fire Departments to help applicants for public safety jobs understand their Title VII rights to be free from discriminatory hiring processes. More information about the Civil Rights Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt.

    Senior Trial Attorneys Emily Given and Cheyenne N. Chambers of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Phillips for the District of Maryland are handling this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sixty-Eight Defendants Charged in Indictment of Dozens of Members and Associates of California White Supremacist Gang

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Federal and local law enforcement today arrested 42 members and associates of the SFV Peckerwoods, a San Fernando Valley, California-based white supremacist street gang, on a 76-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they engaged in a years-long pattern of racketeering activity that included trafficking of drugs — including fentanyl — illegal firearms possession, and COVID-19 benefits and loan fraud.

    “The Justice Department has dealt a decisive blow to the San Fernando Valley (SFV) Peckerwoods, a violent white supremacist gang that we charge is responsible for trafficking deadly fentanyl and other drugs, committing robberies, and perpetrating financial fraud to fund both their criminal enterprise and that of the Aryan Brotherhood,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “With today’s charges and arrests, the Justice Department, together with our state, local, and federal partners has targeted the heart of this gang’s operations, and we will continue to zero in on the criminal enterprises that endanger our communities.”

    The indictment unsealed today charges a total of 68 defendants with a score of federal crimes: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices.

    The defendants arrested today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized large quantities of illegal firearms, and dozens of pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, according to the indictment.

    “The Peckerwoods’ violent white-supremacist ideology and wide-ranging criminal activity pose a grave menace to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “By allegedly engaging in everything from drug-trafficking to firearms offenses to identity theft to COVID fraud, and through their alliance with a neo-Nazi prison gang, the Peckerwoods are a destructive force. In prosecuting the members of the Peckerwoods criminal organization, our office is carrying out its mission to protect the public from the most dangerous threats.”

    “This operation, led by our Joint Terrorism Task Force, disrupted a racially motivated violent extremist group who engaged in a wide range of criminal activity,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “This case strikes at the heart of our collective mission to rid our communities of the corrosive elements that fuel violence and extremism that greatly impact our way of life. The FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners, remains strongly committed to working every day to make sure the people of the Southland remain safe.”

    “The San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, the Aryan Brotherhood, and their associates are fused by one thing: hatred,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Allen of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “It appears, however, that the business of hate was not enough for them. Driven by greed, they engaged in other crimes, including drug distribution, pushing out deadly fentanyl onto our streets. Operating from corners of the San Fernando Valley, they conducted their crimes within and beyond the 8-1-8 community. Today’s large-scale indictments and arrests reflect our relentless commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that continue to harm our communities.”

    According to the indictment that a grand jury returned on Sept. 26, the Peckerwoods is a street gang based in communities in the San Fernando Valley whose members engage in a wide variety of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, violent crime, and fraud. As a white supremacist gang, the Peckerwoods at times takes orders from the Aryan Brotherhood, California’s dominant prison-based white supremacist gang, and maintains an alliance with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, which controls most Latino street gangs in California. The Peckerwoods use Nazi tattoos, graffiti, and iconography to indicate their violent white supremacy extremist ideology. These tattoos and iconography include swastikas, the symbol “88”, used by violent white supremacy extremists as code for “Heil Hitler”, and images of Nazi aircraft.

    Members and associates of the gang used social media to share information with each other about their criminal activities and gang rules, to identify gang members in good standing, and to target people who broke the gang’s rules. The social media use included a members-only Facebook group and private, direct messages between the gang’s members and associates.

    From at least December 2016 to September, Peckerwoods members conducted and participated in the affairs of their criminal enterprise by engaging in violence and threats of violence to preserve and expand the gang’s criminal operations, which promoted a climate of fear. Members and associates of the gang illegally maintained firearms and ammunition in furtherance of these aims.

    To generate revenue for the gang, its members trafficked narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Specifically, lead defendant Claire Patricia Haviland, 62, of Chatsworth, California, and co-defendants Brian Glenn Ekelund, 53, of Chatsworth, and Brianne Brewer, 38, of North Hollywood, California, maintained and oversaw drug stash houses where large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs were stored prior to distribution. Haviland and Ekelund allegedly mailed illegal drugs to customers and used applications such as Zelle and CashApp to receive money from drug buyers and send money to their drug sources.

    They also generated revenue via robberies and financial fraud and participated in identity theft schemes. For example, from at least March 2021 to July 2023, defendants Sean Craig Gluckman, 35, of Encino, California; Maria Anna James, 30, of Canyon Country, California; and others submitted false and fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to aid businesses harmed by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants – posing as sole proprietors – signed fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of individuals incarcerated in California state prisons and collected a portion of the fraudulently obtained proceeds from co-conspirators as payment for their assistance.

    In April 2021, Gluckman submitted an application that falsely stated he was a self-employed “artist/writer” with a gross income of nearly $250,000. Later that month, he obtained a PPP loan in the amount of $20,833. In a separate scheme, Gluckman submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) applications in the names of other people to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to fraudulently obtain jobless benefits.

    “The proliferation of gang related organized crime deteriorates the core of our society,” said Chief Dominic Choi of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Taking guns out of the hands of gang members and drugs from our streets is just one more step towards reducing this deterioration. Today is yet another example of how local, regional, and federal law enforcement, with a matched dedication, are working together to investigate, apprehend and prosecute criminals.”          

    “When criminal organizations cross jurisdictional lines, it makes conducting investigations and subsequent prosecutions much more difficult,” said Sheriff Jim Fryhoff of the Ventura County, California, Sheriff’s Office. “Having our federal law enforcement partners involvement in such cases greatly enhances our ability to protect not only the citizens of our county, but also those of our region of the state.”

    If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    The FBI, DEA, Los Angeles Police Department, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. The Simi Valley Police Department; California Highway Patrol; Glendale Police Department; Burbank Police Department; Redondo Beach Police Department; Beverly Hills Police Department; Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Department of Veterans Affairs Police; Department of Labor; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Los Angeles County Probation Department; Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services; Pasadena Fire Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and IRS Criminal Investigation provided assistance in the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema M. El-Amamy, Jeremiah M. Levine, and Alexander Su for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit http://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On Sept. 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California to jointly head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Justice Department established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at http://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS’ 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment Indicates the Threat of Domestic and Foreign Terrorism in the Homeland Remains High

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS’ 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment Indicates the Threat of Domestic and Foreign Terrorism in the Homeland Remains High

    “The Homeland Security Assessment provides an important overview of the dynamic and evolving threat landscape, illustrating just how varied and challenging the threats we confront are,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “It is because of the remarkable DHS workforce, and our close collaboration with our federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners, that we are able to meet the challenges and keep the American people safe and secure.” 

    Assessments from the 2025 HTA: 

    • Public Safety and Security: The terrorism threat environment in the Homeland is expected to remain high over the coming year. This is due to a confluence of factors, including potential violent extremist responses to domestic sociopolitical developments — particularly the 2024 election cycle — and international events like the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Lone offenders and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al Qa’ida maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland. 
    • Illegal Drugs: Illegal drugs smuggled into and sold in the United States by transnational and domestic criminal actors continue to pose a lethal threat to communities in the United States. DHS has surged resources to address this threat, seized more fentanyl in the last two fiscal years than in the prior five years combined, and is investing in new technology to increase detection capabilities. Thanks to these and other efforts, the number of overdose deaths have declined by more than 10 percent in the 12 months leading up to April 2024 – the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history. That said, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the most lethal of drugs trafficked into the country and continue to pose a national security threat. Adulterated cocaine and methamphetamine also pose a threat. 
    • Influence Operations and Transnational Repression: We expect the Homeland will face threats to public safety from state actors using subversive tactics in an effort to stroke discord and undermine confidence in U.S. domestic institutions. Malign foreign actors seek to target ethnic and religious minorities, political dissidents, and journalists in the United States to silence and harass its critics abroad. 
    • Border and Immigration Security: Migrant encounters at our border have steadily declined since the beginning of 2024 and have declined even further since the issuance of the Presidential Proclamation and complementary Interim Final Rule (IFR) were announced on June 4 – decreasing more than 55% in the past four months. We nonetheless expect some individuals with criminal connections to seek to continue to exploit migrants. DHS remains acutely focused on identifying those who may present a threat to public safety or national security and stopping them from entering the United States. 
    • Critical Infrastructure Security: Domestic and foreign adversaries are expected to continue to target our critical infrastructure via prepositioning, cyber, and physical attacks. The People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Iran are expected to remain the most pressing foreign threats to our critical infrastructure.  Nation-states, criminal hacktivists, and financially motivated criminals will likely hone their techniques to disrupt U.S. services or to conduct espionage focused on gaining access to U.S. networks and critical infrastructure entities. We assess that domestic and foreign violent extremists will continue to call for physical attacks on critical infrastructure in furtherance of their ideological goals and, in response to international conflicts and crises. 
    • Economic Security: Our adversaries – including the PRC – will continue non-market policies and practices, economic espionage and coercive economic tools, and illicit acquisition of technologies and intellectual property to undercut U.S. and partner competitiveness. 

    Operational components and offices across the Department are involved in combatting threats and working alongside our federal, state, and local partners. Some examples of these efforts include:  

    • DHS conducts screening and vetting of individuals encountered at the border to identify national security or public safety threats and refers any individuals who are identified as posing a threat to public safety or national security to the appropriate law enforcement authority for detention, removal, and potential prosecution. DHS continually monitors available sources of intelligence and law enforcement information to identify new threats and public safety risks. If and when any new information emerges, DHS, including ICE and CBP, works closely with the FBI and other partners to take appropriate action. 
    • In addition to biometric and biographic screening and vetting of every individual encountered, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expanded information sharing agreements with international partners to enhance their ability to prevent, detect, and investigate trafficking and other crimes. CBP’s National Targeting Center continuously works to detect individuals and travelers that threaten our country’s security, while also building a network of partner nations committed to fighting global threats. 
    • DHS, through CBP and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has stopped more illicit fentanyl and 
      arrested more individuals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two fiscal years than in the previous five 
      years combined. 
    • DHS is leading the federal effort to combat fentanyl internationally, through information-sharing, 
      multinational enforcement operations, and global cooperation with federal, state, and local 
      partners and stakeholder to disrupt fentanyl networks within our communities. 
    • DHS has arrested over 3,600 subjects connected to fentanyl-seizure events, which directly 
      degrades the organized criminal networks responsible for bringing fentanyl into our communities, seized over 2,200 pill presses, and seized over 27,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl to stop it at our 
      borders and in our communities before it can hurt the American public. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    WASHINGTON — As search and rescue, power restoration and communications capability remain top priorities throughout the Southeast, FEMA has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $10 million in flexible, upfront funding. 

    More than 4,800 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed and more than 1,000 are from FEMA. To date, FEMA has shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 225,000 tarps to the region.

    Today, President Biden will be in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will be in Georgia meeting with community leaders and first responders. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will remain in North Carolina to oversee response efforts and ensure the federal government provides urgent and extensive support to Asheville and surrounding areas.

    President Biden has approved a Major Disaster declaration for 24 counties and cities in Virginia. This declaration comes in addition to areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Disaster survivors in these areas can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA.

    People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated counties should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. 

    There are three ways apply for FEMA assistance: 

    Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.  

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. They are also helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

    People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist. 

    North Carolina 

    President Biden will visit today to survey damage and meet with community leaders and first responders. So far, FEMA has received over 30,000 applications and provided more than $2.6 million to survivors. 

    As of today, more than 62% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Nearly 8,000 crews continue to assist with remaining power restoration efforts. 

    Cellular restoration continues to improve, with less than 50% of cellular sites down as of today. Ten counties, down from 17, have 50% or more cell sites down. Two Federal Communications Commission surveillance teams are conducting inspection operations on equipment in targeted counties. 

    To date, FEMA has helped provide 67 total Starlink to the state, including 3 Starlinks for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and 4 Starlinks for critical lifeline locations as determined by the state. 

    As of today, search and rescue teams have conducted nearly 1,500 structural evaluations and over 1,660 human and animal interactions including rescues, evacuations and other assistance. Additional federal search and rescue teams are enroute to support the mission.

    Voluntary organizations are supporting mass feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft delivery.

    Four additional shelters opened yesterday, totaling 29 shelters with over 1,000 occupants. 

    The Salvation Army has provided over 1,000 meals, 1,900 snacks and 1,900 beverages to survivors. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in heavily impacted areas.

    The North Carolina National Guard has delivered 12 aircraft pallets, totaling more than 100,000lbs of food and over 38,000lbs of water to Asheville. 

    Information for Residents: 

    • Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews. 
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts. 

    Florida

    Today, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    In Florida, FEMA has received over 85,000 applications for assistance and has provided more than $4.8 million to survivors. 

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting either debris assessments or water/wastewater assessments across seven counties. 

    The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. Sixteen shelters remain open with over 500 occupants. 

    The Salvation Army has 29 active mobile feeding units serving meals and distributing supplies in nine counties. 

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions. 

    Georgia

    Vice President Harris will visit Richmond County today to survey damage and meet with the community. As of today, more than 60% of originally reported power outages have been restored.

    In Georgia, FEMA has received over 60,000 applications for assistance. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    The Salvation Army has 26 active mobile feeding units providing meals and support to 10 counties in the affected areas. 

    The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. One new shelter opened yesterday, totaling 8 shelters with over 500 occupants. 

    Team Rubicon continues route clearance operations in Ray City. 

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.

    South Carolina

    Today, Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will begin canvassing impacted communities across the state, meeting survivors where they are, to register for FEMA assistance. 

    As of today, more than half of originally reported power outages have been restored, including all Trauma 1-level hospitals. 

    In South Carolina, FEMA has received over 70,000 applications and distributed more than $4.4 million to survivors. 

    The state has established a Mass Feeding Task Force to include multiple voluntary agencies. FEMA is supporting the state’s feeding mission with Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water. 

    Information for Residents: 

    • Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133.
    • Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.

    Virginia 

    Last night, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the commonwealth. 

    Residents in Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe counties and the independent city of Galax can begin applying for assistance today. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

    Damage assessments are continuing in other areas and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

    Tennessee

    In Tennessee, shelter and mass feeding operations are ongoing. The Salvation Army has provided over 250 meals, 60 snacks and more than 180 beverages to survivors. 

    Eight shelters remain open with decreasing populations, as people are able to safely return home. 

    Power and cellular restoration continues to improve. Now less than 0.2% of customers are without power and less than 15% of cellular sites are down. As of today, there are no counties with 50% or more cell sites out.

    Information for Residents

    • Residents can call 1-800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to relay as much information as possible including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts. 
    • Counties have started establishing donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Increasing energy efficiency of Elizabeth Métis Settlement community hall will improve this local gathering place

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Press release

    Elizabeth Métis Settlement, Alberta, April 29, 2024 — Upgrades to the local community hall will make this gathering place better and more energy efficient thanks to an investment of nearly $250,000 from the federal government.

    Announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault and Elizabeth Métis Settlement President Kathy Lepine, this project will improve the settlement’s main community centre, where people come together for cultural, recreational and local activities throughout the year.

    Improvements are underway to the Community Hall, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintenance costs through boiler replacements, smart thermostats, low-flow fixtures, and LED and solar-powered lighting. The Community Hall at Elizabeth Métis Settlement is located in the centre of the community and is widely used by local residents as a gathering place for social activities and celebrations. The hall is a communal gathering place for youth and seniors. It features a stage for performances, a kitchen, a nursing station, outdoor play areas, and baseball diamonds. Improvements to this central hub for community members will enhance the quality of life for all members of Elizabeth Métis Settlement.

    The funding announced today by the federal government through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program aims to improve the places where Canadians work, learn, play, live, and gather by reducing pollution, reducing costs, and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green and other retrofits to existing public community buildings and new construction in underserved communities, these investments will help ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

    Quotes

    “Transforming recreational spaces into green and accessible places is important if we are to support Canadians. Energy efficiency in the Prairies is essential to the economic development of communities. By improving parts of the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, our government is working to create a better quality of life through investments that will last for generations to come.”

    The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The natural environment has always been an important aspect of Métis culture. The Elizabeth Métis Settlement is proud to be part of Canada’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On behalf of our people and future generations, we thank you for your work and the steps you have taken to keep our beautiful country clean, hee hee.”

    Kathy Lepine, President, Elizabeth Métis Settlement

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $249,999 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, and the Elizabeth Métis Settlement is providing $39,719.

    These improvements should allow annual fuel savings of around 47.30% for the facility and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 79.30 tonnes.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and helping to build resilience to climate change.

    The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for modernization, repair or improvement work that promotes the environment and accessibility.

    At least 10 percent of the funds are allocated to projects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which includes Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    The application period for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is now closed.

    On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Prairie Green Economy Framework, which highlights the need for a collaborative, regional approach to sustainability, focused on strengthening the coordination of federal programs and initiatives with significant investments. The Framework is the first step in a journey that will bring together many stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department responsible for diversifying the economy in Canada’s Prairies, is providing $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to create a stronger, more sustainable and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.

    Infrastructure Canada supports the Prairie Green Economy Framework to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding and attract new investment to the Prairies to better meet their needs.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal Ahmed Manager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Deloris Courtepatte Project ManagerElizabeth Métis Settlement587-986 0020courtepatteconsulting@gmail.com

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Escalating Violence in Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

    October 02, 2024

    Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding escalating violence in the Middle East:

    “I’m praying for the innocent civilians in harm’s way in Tel Aviv, and across Israel. I’m grateful that it appears relatively few were harmed by last night’s attack. The defense of innocent life must be the primary goal of U.S. foreign policy. 

    “We must ensure Israel has the defensive weapons it needs to defend its people from attacks from Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Defensive systems undoubtedly saved countless lives last night.  At the same time, to further supply the reckless Netanyahu government, which has shown little interest in de-escalation, with offensive weapons risks a large-scale regional war which the United States could quickly be drawn into. 

    “The American people don’t want to be drawn into a regional war in the Middle East. It’s time for the United States to show its leadership and demand an end to escalation of this conflict. For the sake of the lives of millions of people caught in the crossfire I implore President Biden to take action to prevent further escalation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Steinberg cautions against disaster fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    SAVANNAH, GA:  Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg reminds residents to be wary of disaster-related fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destructive path.

    “Like moths to a flame, scam artists and profit-chasing individuals too often prey on vulnerable victims of natural disasters, such as those devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Vigilance is the first defense against fraudsters who would compound the misery of a natural disaster by stealing from those in desperate need of assistance in recovery, and our office stands ready to assist in holding accountable individuals who would take advantage of disaster victims.”

    President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Georgia, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Of the 43 counties in the Southern District of Georgia, 30 are included in the disaster declaration.

    Established in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement and regulatory agencies that coordinates detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of fraud.

    Of more than 200,000 disaster fraud complaints submitted to the NCDF, here are some examples of common complaints:

    • Fake charities soliciting donations either using the names of well-known charities or appearing to be related to the disaster.
    • Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money.
    • Individuals posing as insurance provider representatives to collect payments or personal information.
    • Fraudsters promising expedient home repairs requiring upfront or partial payment.
    • Price-gouging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster.

    Take these measures to protect yourself from disaster fraud:

    • Donate only to well-known charities after verifying them through trusted sources.
    • Do not respond to unsolicited requests for donations via email, phone, or text, and do not click on links in unsolicited messages.
    • Do not assume that online or social media charity solicitations are legitimate.
    • Use credit cards or checks for donations. Don’t send cash, or use wire transfers or mobile payment apps.
    • Remember that government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money or personal information via phone or email.
    • Beware of contractors who knock on your door or make unsolicited contact, and/or make promises that sound too good to be true.
    • Cautiously rely on recommendations from family and friends.
    • Do not be forced into making repair decisions by a high-pressure contractor.

    Protect yourself and your neighbors. To report disaster-related fraud, contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at http://www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Calgary’s South Fish Creek Complex Receives Funding for Green Improvements

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Press release

    Calgary, Alberta, May 2, 2024 — Energy upgrades are coming to the South Fish Creek complex thanks to a joint investment of more than $1.2 million from the federal government, the YMCA of Calgary and the complex’s partners.

    Announced by MP George Chahal and Shannon Doram, President and CEO of the YMCA of Calgary, this project will extend the life of the facility and improve energy efficiency. The South Fish Creek complex has served the needs of Calgarians for over twenty years. These renovations will extend the life of the facility, improve air quality and energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing the systems that keep the complex running, the YMCA will be able to continue to provide important services and programs that meet the needs of children, youth, newcomers and residents of all ages and backgrounds.

    The YMCA of Calgary will replace its current heating systems with more efficient models and upgrade air handling units. These upgrades are expected to generate cost savings that can be reallocated to meet the community’s future needs. The upgrades will allow the systems that help operate the complex to adapt to a changing environment, maintaining a comfortable atmosphere and improved air quality during the cold winter months and the scorching summer months.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program aims to improve the places where Canadians work, learn, play, live and gather by reducing pollution and costs, while supporting thousands of good jobs. By making green and other improvements to existing public community buildings and constructing new buildings in underserved communities, the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program helps ensure the inclusivity, accessibility and longevity of community facilities, while helping Canada achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

    Quotes

    “The Shawnessy YMCA plays an important role in our community by preparing our children, youth, newcomer neighbours and people of all ages and backgrounds for success. The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program encourages innovative and clean solutions to help Canada adapt to a greener, lower-carbon economy. With the funding announced today, the South Fish Creek complex will be able to continue to meet the needs of Calgarians for years to come.”

    George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The Shawnessy YMCA is an important community hub that provides Calgary’s rapidly growing southwest quadrant with a place to play, grow and connect. The Government of Canada’s investment through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program will enable the YMCA Calgary to be more energy efficient and help us deliver the programs and services that are essential to building vibrant communities for years to come. We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to address climate change and build community resilience.”

    Shannon Doram, President and CEO of the YMCA of Calgary

    “As the building owner of the South Fish Creek Recreation Centre, the City of Calgary is pleased with the energy efficiency upgrades made by the YMCA of Calgary. Not only will these upgrades ensure the facility will be available for future generations of Calgarians, they will also reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Addressing climate change is a strategic priority for the City of Calgary, and supporting our partners to reduce emissions is a key part of delivering on City Council’s commitment.”

    Tim Mowrey, Manager, Recreation, Sports and Community Partners, City of Calgary

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $979,800 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, and the YMCA of Calgary is providing $244,950.

    These improvements are expected to result in annual fuel savings of approximately 20.5% for the facility and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 268 tonnes.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency, and by helping to build resilience to climate change.

    The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for modernization, repair or improvement work that promotes the environment and accessibility.

    At least 10% of the funds are allocated to projects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which includes Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    The application period for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is now closed.

    On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Prairie Green Economy Framework, which highlights the need for a collaborative, regional approach to sustainability, focused on strengthening the coordination of federal programs and initiatives with significant investments. The Framework is the first step in a journey that will bring together many stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department responsible for diversifying Canada’s Prairie economy, has committed $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to create a stronger, more sustainable and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.

    Infrastructure Canada supports the Prairie Green Economy Framework to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding and attract new investment to the Prairies to better meet needs.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal Ahmed Manager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Dean Paddock Vice President, Community EngagementYMCA of CalgaryDean.Paddock@calgary.ymca.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Champagne to Participate in Conversation on Canada’s Leadership in Artificial Intelligence at Elevate Festival

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    October 2, 2024 – Toronto, Ontario

    The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will join AmberMac Media President Amber Mac for a conversation during the Elevate Festival (English). Minister Champagne will discuss the government’s plans to strengthen Canada’s leadership, including a focus on artificial intelligence, which has the potential to transform industries, fuel economic growth and strengthen Canada’s global position in technology. Elevate Festival brings together leading innovators, industry leaders and members of the technology ecosystem to showcase Canada’s technology and innovation ecosystem on the international stage.

    Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024

    Time: 2:55 p.m. (Eastern Time)

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Media representatives are requested to register to confirm their attendance and obtain event location details:Rachael D’AmoreElevate Festival PR | Senior Director, Category Communicationsrd@categorycomms.com

    Contact persons

    Audrey MilettePress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industryaudrey.milette@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Media RelationsInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canadamedia@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Stay Connected

    For more information or to learn about the services offered by the Ministry, visit the websiteInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

    Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.X (Twitter): @ISDE_CA | Facebook: Canadian Innovation | Instagram: @innovationcdn | LinkedIn: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: OECD comparisons reveal an unflattering picture of inequality in NZ – could that change?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Campbell-Hunt, Emeritus Professor in Business, University of Otago

    Getty Images

    Recent research showing the richest New Zealanders pay less tax than their counterparts in nine similar OECD countries raises, yet again, serious questions about wealth, equality and fairness.

    How unequal is the distribution of income in New Zealand? How do we compare with some of the countries we might benchmark against? And, if we don’t like what we see, can we change it?

    The metric most widely used by economists to measure inequality in incomes is called the Gini coefficient (named after the Italian statistician Corrado Gini who developed it).

    It brings together income data across all households, typically divided into groupings of 10% or 20% of the total. When there is no inequality of incomes between groups, Gini equals zero. When the top group captures all income, Gini equals 1.

    Measuring inequality

    The graph below shows Gini coefficients, before taxes and welfare payments (known as “transfers”), for all 37 countries in the OECD in 2019 (before the COVID pandemic disrupted household surveys). Ginis are ranked left to right, from least to most unequal.

    The Gini before taxes and transfers is a measure of the inequality produced by the structures of a country’s economy: the way value chains operate, the markets for products and services, the scarcity of certain skills, rates of unionisation, and so on.

    This gives us a measure of structural inequalities in a country. Governments, however, use taxes and transfers to shift income between households. They take taxes from some and boost incomes of the more disadvantaged.

    Ginis of incomes after taxes and transfers give us a measure of how well members of a society can support similar standards of living. They are shown in the following graph, again from least to most unequal. These give us a measure of social inequalities.

    Focusing just on social inequality, it is no surprise Scandinavian countries are among the least unequal, as well as Canada and Ireland. Neither is it surprising the UK and US approach the highest levels of social inequality in the OECD.

    Inequalities in Australia and New Zealand lie between these, but further from the Scandinavians and closer to the Anglo-Americans.

    Social inequality in NZ

    When we look at the difference between structural and social inequalities, we can see the extent to which taxes and transfers – government redistribution of income – reduce inequality.

    As we can see, New Zealand’s structural inequality, shaped by the economic reforms of the mid-1980s, is middling by comparison to other OECD countries.

    But New Zealand’s social inequality lies near the bottom third of OECD measures. A halving of top income tax rates in the mid-1980s and the rollback of the welfare state in the 1990s (after then finance minister Ruth Richardson’s 1991 “mother of all budgets”) significantly contributed to this.

    The downward columns in the following graph show the effect of government redistributive measures, ranked from most to least active. The result of these government redistributions in New Zealand is weaker even than in the laissez-faire economies of the United Kingdom and United States.

    Where does NZ sit?

    How do New Zealand’s inequalities compare with countries we might choose to benchmark against?

    Below, the Scandinavian countries famous for their egalitarian social systems are shown in orange. In green are countries that tolerate slightly higher social inequality: Sweden, Canada and Ireland.

    And the UK and US – exemplars of free-market capitalism that were the models for New Zealand’s reforms of the mid-1980s – are highlighted in grey.

    Reducing inequality

    How hard would it be to change? Could New Zealand, for example, reduce its level of social inequality to match Canada? Absolutely, yes.

    Other OECD data show Canada significantly cut its inequalities between 2010 and 2019. The country moved from a position identical to Luxembourg (haven for Europe’s wealthy) to be roughly level with Sweden.

    To match Canada’s level now, New Zealand would need to reduce structural inequalities further, or redistribute about as much as Norway and Denmark do. It can be done, in other words.

    Indeed, Finland shows government redistributions can transform some of the worst levels of structural inequality to produce outcomes comparable to other Scandinavian countries.

    New Zealand can aspire to goals for social equality matching those in the upper half of OECD countries. Beyond revisions to taxation and transfers, inequalities in health and education would also need to come down to reduce the social and economic costs of poverty and disadvantage that should bring shame to us all.

    The author acknowledges the contribution of data provided by Max Rashbrooke.

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

    – ref. OECD comparisons reveal an unflattering picture of inequality in NZ – could that change? – https://theconversation.com/oecd-comparisons-reveal-an-unflattering-picture-of-inequality-in-nz-could-that-change-239306

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: Education key to open banking success, BNZ survey finds

    Source: BNZ statements

    While many New Zealanders have heard of open banking, few understand its benefits, according to new research from BNZ.*

    Open banking gives bank customers the power to control and securely share their financial data with trusted third parties like fintechs.

    Access to that data means banks and fintechs can create highly tailored products and services, such as apps that offer insights into spending habits, budget planning and savings goals, or that instantly share financial information with multiple lenders, making it easier and faster to apply for a loan.

    “Our survey found that while 60% of respondents have heard of open banking, only a quarter (26%) have some understanding of what it means,” says Karna Luke, BNZ Executive, Customer Products and Services.

    “However, after learning more about its capabilities, nearly three-quarters (73%) expressed an interest in using open banking services.

    “This shows that New Zealanders are very open to new ways of managing their finances but need the right information to feel confident about using the technology,” says Luke.

    The survey also shed light on some risky practices highlighting a need for greater education. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents reported having used payment services that rely on screen scraping. This practice puts users’ data at risk by requiring them to share their online banking login credentials with third parties to access certain services.

    “Open banking provides a safe and secure way to share your financial data with trusted third parties without ever having to disclose your banking login details. It’s much more secure than screen scraping, but our survey shows a big gap between awareness and understanding of open banking’s benefits, particularly around security,” says Luke.

    Bridging the knowledge gap

    Luke says education is key to building the trust and confidence needed to drive greater adoption of open banking and realise its benefits.

    “At BNZ, we’ve been collaborating with fintechs since 2018 to develop innovative products and services that showcase open banking’s potential, and we’ve developed content and resources to inform and engage our customers about the benefits. Already, more than 250,000 BNZ customers are using apps and other services made possible through open banking.”

    “While we’ve made good progress, there’s still more work to be done to educate New Zealanders about the benefits of open banking and build trust in its capabilities. This will be crucial to ensure that everyone can take advantage of the huge potential open banking offers.”

    Luke highlighted the importance of the Consumer Data Right (CDR), which is currently progressing through Parliament as part of the Customer and Product Data Bill. The CDR sets rules around how customer data is shared and managed and ensures legal safeguards are in place to protect New Zealanders.

    “While banks have been working hard to build the technology needed for open banking, the CDR will provide the rules and protections necessary to ensure people feel secure and confident using these new services,” Luke says.

    “The Government’s commitment to investigate opportunities for early adoption of open banking by government agencies, in line with recommendations from the Commerce Commission, is also a welcome move which could significantly boost public trust and understanding.

    “We’re committed to working alongside regulators and the wider industry to ensure that open banking delivers on its promise of greater financial empowerment and choice for all New Zealanders.”

    For more information about open banking and BNZ’s initiatives, visit bnz.co.nz/openbanking.

    *Source:  BNZ Voice customer panel survey, 18th to 28th July 2024. Total responses: n=355. The profile of participating customers was not controlled for this survey.

    The post Education key to open banking success, BNZ survey finds appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can we improve public health communication for the next pandemic? Tackling distrust and misinformation is key

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Hurley, PhD candidate, School of Public Health, Monash University

    Pexels/The Conversation

    There’s a common thread linking our experience of pandemics over the past 700 years. From the black death in the 14th century to COVID in the 21st, public health authorities have put emergency measures such as isolation and quarantine in place to stop infectious diseases spreading.

    As we know from COVID, these measures upend lives in an effort to save them. In both the recent and distant past they’ve also given rise to collective unrest, confusion and resistance.

    So after all this time, what do we know about the role public health communication plays in helping people understand and adhere to protective measures in a crisis? And more importantly, in an age of misinformation and distrust, how can we improve public health messaging for any future pandemics?

    Last year, we published a Cochrane review exploring the global evidence on public health communication during COVID and other infectious disease outbreaks including SARS, MERS, influenza and Ebola. Here’s a snapshot of what we found.



    Read more:
    Why are we seeing more pandemics? Our impact on the planet has a lot to do with it

    The importance of public trust

    A key theme emerging in analysis of the COVID pandemic globally is public trust – or lack thereof – in governments, public institutions and science.

    Mounting evidence suggests levels of trust in government were directly proportional to fewer COVID infections and higher vaccination rates across the world. It was a crucial factor in people’s willingness to follow public health directives, and is now a key focus for future pandemic preparedness.

    Here in Australia, public trust in governments and health authorities steadily eroded over time.

    Initial information from governments and health authorities about the unfolding COVID crisis, personal risk and mandated protective measures was generally clear and consistent across the country. The establishment of the National Cabinet in 2020 signalled a commitment from state, territory and federal governments to consensus-based policy and public health messaging.

    During this early phase of relative unity, Australians reported higher levels of belonging and trust in government.

    But as the pandemic wore on, public trust and confidence fell on the back of conflicting state-federal pandemic strategies, blame games and the confusing fragmentation of public health messaging. The divergence between lockdown policies and public health messaging adopted by Victoria and New South Wales is one example, but there are plenty of others.

    When state, territory and federal governments have conflicting policies on protective measures, people are easily confused, lose trust and become harder to engage with or persuade. Many tune out from partisan politics. Adherence to mandated public health measures falls.

    Our research found clarity and consistency of information were key features of effective public health communication throughout the COVID pandemic.

    We also found public health communication is most effective when authorities work in partnership with different target audiences. In Victoria, the case brought against the state government for the snap public housing tower lockdowns is a cautionary tale underscoring how essential considered, tailored and two-way communication is with diverse communities.



    Read more:
    What pathogen might spark the next pandemic? How scientists are preparing for ‘disease X’

    Countering misinformation

    Misinformation is not a new problem, but has been supercharged by the advent of social media.

    The much-touted “miracle” drug ivermectin typifies the extraordinary traction unproven treatments gained locally and globally. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug, lacking evidence for viruses like COVID.

    Australia’s drug regulator was forced to ban ivermectin presciptions for anything other than its intended use after a sharp increase in people seeking the drug sparked national shortages. Hospitals also reported patients overdosing on ivermectin and cocktails of COVID “cures” promoted online.

    The Lancet Commission on lessons from the COVID pandemic has called for a coordinated international response to countering misinformation.

    As part of this, it has called for more accessible, accurate information and investment in scientific literacy to protect against misinformation, including that shared across social media platforms. The World Health Organization is developing resources and recommendations for health authorities to address this “infodemic”.

    National efforts to directly tackle misinformation are vital, in combination with concerted efforts to raise health literacy. The Australian Medical Association has called on the federal government to invest in long-term online advertising to counter health misinformation and boost health literacy.

    People of all ages need to be equipped to think critically about who and where their health information comes from. With the rise of AI, this is an increasingly urgent priority.

    Many people turned to unproven treatments for COVID.
    Alina Kruk/Shutterstock

    Looking ahead

    Australian health ministers recently reaffirmed their commitment to the new Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

    From a science communications perspective, the Australian CDC could provide an independent voice of evidence and consensus-based information. This is exactly what’s needed during a pandemic. But full details about the CDC’s funding and remit have been the subject of some conjecture.

    Many of our key findings on effective public health communication during COVID are not new or surprising. They reinforce what we know works from previous disease outbreaks across different places and points in time: tailored, timely, clear, consistent and accurate information.

    The rapid rise, reach and influence of misinformation and distrust in public authorities bring a new level of complexity to this picture. Countering both must become a central focus of all public health crisis communication, now and in the future.

    This article is part of a series on the next pandemic.

    Rebecca Ryan receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council through funding to Australian Cochrane entities, and was previously commissioned by the World Health Organization to undertake a rapid evidence review on communication for COVID-19 prevention and control (2020).

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

    – ref. How can we improve public health communication for the next pandemic? Tackling distrust and misinformation is key – https://theconversation.com/how-can-we-improve-public-health-communication-for-the-next-pandemic-tackling-distrust-and-misinformation-is-key-226718

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: France/Azerbaijan: Killing of President Aliyev’s critic exposes failures to protect exiled activists

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the fatal stabbing of Azerbaijani human rights defender Vidadi Isgandarli in France, where he had been living in exile, Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s Researcher for South Caucasus, said:

    “The violent death of Vidadi Isgandarli must be effectively and promptly investigated. We call on the French authorities to consider all possible motives for his killing, including his criticism of the Azeri president and government, which was the reason for his exile. This heinous crime must be addressed urgently, and all those suspected of criminal responsibility are brought to justice in fair trials.

    We call on the French authorities to consider all possible motives for his killing, including his criticism of the Azeri president and government, which was the reason for his exile

    Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s Researcher for South Caucasus

    “This is the second time in recent years that an Azerbaijani living in exile in France has been the victim of a knife attack. The French government must ensure effective protection of individuals at risk who are seeking international protection in France. The world needs to know who is responsible for these attacks against Azerbaijani emigres on French soil and steps taken to prevent this happening again.”

    Background

    Vidadi Isgandarli, a human rights defender known for his outspoken criticism of Azerbaijan’s government and of President Ilham Aliyev, was attacked at his apartment in Mulhouse, France, on 29 September and died of his injuries in hospital two days later. He had been violently assaulted and stabbed more than 20 times.

    Vidadi Isgandarli sought international protection in France in 2015 after facing persecution in his home country.

    In March 2021, Mahammad Mirzali, an Azerbaijani blogger and opposition figure, was stabbed 16 times in Nantes, France, but survived. The French authorities launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of six suspects. The mastermind behind the attack has not been named. Mahammad Mirzali has since been put under a protection scheme.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Wray, PhD Candidate in Geography, Western University

    In recent months, many Canadian employers in both the public and private sectors have implemented return-to-office mandates, requiring workers that transitioned to remote or hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic to work in-person again.

    Employers are justifying these mandates by arguing they improve productivity, build more collaborative teams and improve mentorship for junior employees.

    Employers are not the only group ecstatic about these mandates. Municipalities and business owners are also expressing hope that the presence of office workers will spin off into greater consumer spending at restaurants and other businesses near office buildings. The expectation is that office workers will once again start spending money on coffee, lunch or after-work beverages.

    In 2022, the mayor of Ottawa partially blamed the downtown core’s economic struggles on the fact that federal public service workers were still largely working remotely. Federal workers have since been mandated to return to work in-person three days a week in late fall.

    The Canadian Federation of Independent Business similarly criticized the slow return to offices as a leading factor behind why small and medium-size businesses, especially restaurants and bars, are facing challenges in downtown areas.

    Insight into restaurant success

    During the pandemic, there were predictions that more than half of Canada’s independent restaurants would fail as part of their customer base — office workers — shifted to working from home.

    Our recent study investigated which operational, demographic and land use factors affected restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic in London, Ont.

    We found no significant differences between restaurants that failed and restaurants that survived based on proximity to office uses. Instead, operational decisions made by restaurants individually were much more predictive of their survival than any geographic factor, including the presence of offices.

    Restaurants are seen along Richmond Street in downtown London, Ontario, in June 2021.
    (Alexander Wray), CC BY-NC-SA

    We found that restaurants located in areas receiving more CERB (Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) payments, and with a higher density of entertainment venues around them, were less likely to survive.

    Restaurants that adapted by offering pickup and delivery options were more likely to survive, though only for those that did their own delivery in-house rather than relying on platforms like UberEats and SkipTheDishes. Restaurants that had drive-thrus, held liquor licenses, or had been established for more than five years were more likely to survive. These older, more established restaurants were likely more resilient because of financial stability and customer loyalty.

    Table-service restaurants fared better than fast food outlets, likely because they could offer large patio dining spaces during the summer. Restaurants with liquor licenses substantially benefited, especially after a regulatory change by the Ontario government that allowed alcohol sales with takeout and delivery — a first for the province.

    In short, restaurant success was driven more by individual business decisions rather than being in a specific location. People working remotely instead of in the office did not significantly affect restaurant survival during the first year of the pandemic.

    Downtown struggles

    As Canadian downtowns look to recover, many face ongoing challenges. Activity levels are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many places, lagging behind many similarly sized downtowns in the United States.

    This downturn has been partially attributed to a combination of higher office building vacancies and fewer workers downtown. For the first time, downtown office vacancy rates have exceeded suburban rates in the Greater Toronto Area. There has also been tremendous housing growth within many downtown cores.

    At the same time, downtowns have become a highly visible focal point of Canada’s growing addictions, mental health and housing crises. The pandemic fully revealed the deeper social, economic and health challenges happening in Canadian society.

    While violent incidents are rare, the social incivilities and disorder on display — public urination and defecation, open drug use, visible tents and property crime — contributes to a perception that Canadian downtowns are unsafe. This perception, whether accurate or not, has an impact on the willingness of people to engage with their downtowns.

    A way forward

    The damage to the reputation of Canada’s downtowns has been done. Downtown London now has the highest office vacancy rate in the country. The Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario, for instance, recently chose to consolidate its offices in the outskirts of London, rather than downtown.

    Many people now elect to spend their time and money in areas that have embraced the “experience economy.” These are places that provide highly manicured entertainment and shopping destinations, with restaurants being the bedrock of enabling high quality experiences in these areas.

    Foot traffic is at an all-time high in suburban shopping centres. The downtowns of cities that are widely known as global tourist destinations — Las Vegas, Miami and Nashville — have activity levels close to or higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

    These are places that are developing highly attractive economies that provide people with the safe, fun and exciting experiences they are looking for locally and internationally. Instead of trying to force unwilling workers back to the office, Canadian cities should instead focus on developing downtowns that people genuinely want to visit and experience.

    One potential way to do this is to provide wrap-around support services and direct pathways to stable housing across the entire community, as the City of London has done. By spreading care and outreach services across the entire city, rather than concentrating them exclusively in downtown areas, the negative effects from Canada’s homelessness crisis can be reduced on urban cores.

    This type of strategy will direct those who need help away from downtowns, and may even permanently lift them out of poverty. In turn, Canadian downtowns can return to being places for everyone to shop, eat, relax, and work in comfort.

    Alexander Wray is President of the Town and Gown Association of Ontario, and a Board Member of Mainstreet London.

    Jamie Seabrook, Jason Gilliland, and Sean Doherty do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Return-to-office mandates may not be the solution to downtown struggles that Canadian cities are banking on – https://theconversation.com/return-to-office-mandates-may-not-be-the-solution-to-downtown-struggles-that-canadian-cities-are-banking-on-239682

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NRCC Launches “Majority Makers” Video Highlighting Gabe Evans

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

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

    October 2, 2024

    The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a Majority Makers video highlighting Gabe Evans’ military and immigrant background and how his experience will guide his work in Congress.

    WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

    “Gabe Evans’ unique background as a grandson of Mexican immigrants, Black Hawk helicopter pilot, combat Army veteran and former police officer has prepared him to fight back against tough challenges. When he gets to Congress, he can be counted on to put people over politics and continue working for Coloradans.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Provides Critical Disaster Assistance to Help Georgians Recover from Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Georgia following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25.

    “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in Georgia impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

    The disaster declaration covers Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler; which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Baldwin, Bleckley, Brantley, Bryan, Charlton, Dodge, Effingham, Elbert, Hancock, Long, McIntosh, Mitchell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Twiggs, Warren, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth counties in Georgia; Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison in Florida; Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, Hampton, Jasper and McCormick in South Carolina.

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

    Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  

    For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.” 

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 29, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Tops $60 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans for Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds and Tornadoes

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, announced today that SBA has approved more than $60 million in federal disaster loans for Iowabusinesses and residents impacted by severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred June 16–July 23. According to Sánchez, SBA has approved $10,075,000 for businesses and $49,984,200 for residents to help rebuild and recover from this disaster.

    “SBA’s disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible,” said Sánchez. Businesses and residents in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Scott, Sioux and Woodbury counties who sustained damages are encouraged to apply prior to the Oct. 22 deadline at SBA.gov/disaster. “Don’t miss out on any assistance you may be entitled to by not registering for help. You don’t need to wait for your insurance to settle or obtain a contractor’s estimate,” he continued.

    SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at all the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers and the SBA Business Recovery Center throughout the affected areas to explain SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners and residents close their approved disaster loans.

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    For small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. The deadline to apply for economic injury is March 24, 2025.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez added. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

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

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Announces $3,125,000 in Federal Funding to Hire 25 New Police Officers in Laredo

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) announced $3,125,000 in federal funding to hire 25 new police officers in Laredo. This federal funding was awarded to the City of Laredo from the Office of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and is administered through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP).

    “It is essential that our local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to protect our community,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. “These federal dollars are vital for Laredo by enabling the city to hire more police officers – which will increase public safety, help prevent crime and add to the local economy. I would like to thank Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino and Chief of Police Miguel A. Rodriquez Jr., for working with me to deliver essential funding to Laredo. I would also like to thank Laredo law enforcement for the important work they do day in and day out to keep our community safe.”

    “We are deeply grateful for the Department of Justice’s support through the COPS grant, which will allow us to add 25 new officers to our ranks. This significant investment in our community’s safety underscores our commitment to enhancing public safety and fostering strong community relationships. With these additional resources, we are better equipped to address the needs of our growing city and ensure a safer environment for all residents. Additionally, I would like to thank and give credit to our city management, council, and mayor that supported this,” said Miguel A. Rodriguez Jr, Chief of Laredo Police

    The COPS program provides grants, training, and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies across the country as they work to reduce violent crime. 

    The COPS Hiring Program pays up to 75% of entry-level officer salary and up to $125,000 per position, with three years of funding over a five-year period. Local agencies must match at least 25% of the funding awarded. 

    These officers will be strategically placed in high-activity areas based on data. Their presence will disrupt criminal activity and make our streets safer.  Laredo PD will use a data-driven approach to adjust resources as needed. This flexibility ensures that we respond quickly to emerging issues. 

    Dr. Cuellar has long fought for Laredo law enforcement. Last year, Laredo received $1.875 million to hire 15 officers – totaling 40 new officers for the City of Laredo through the COPS Program in the past two years and 234 officers that the City of Laredo has been able to hire through the COPS Hiring Program from current and past program awards.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Award Empowers Semiconductor Supply Chain

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated a federal award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for the Semiconductor Growth Access Program (SGAP), a new State-run initiative that will help existing Upstate businesses pivot or expand into New York’s booming semiconductor supply chain ecosystem. The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded New York State $9.45 million, with a match of $1.5 million from Empire State Development (ESD), to implement the program through the Treasury’s Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). SGAP will provide dedicated legal, financial, business planning and accounting technical assistance to targeted businesses to help them plan for growth and access capital to facilitate necessary upgrades and expansions. The program will cover the I-90 corridor from Western New York to the Capital Region and will be administered by ESD in partnership with Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corporation (EDGE), the Capital Region Center for Economic Growth (CEG), and the NY SMART-I Corridor Tech Hub. To date, SSBCI has been awarded to states on a formula basis, and this is the first time the federal government has made the process competitive.

    “New York has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing – and we’re just getting started,” Governor Hochul said. “This $9.4 million investment from the State Small Business Credit Initiative will be critical as we work to connect underserved and very small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, we’re creating even more jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

    U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda is driving historic investments, creating new opportunities for small businesses to grow and hire. With this funding, New York will help entrepreneurs across the state access capital and scale their operations in these critical industries that are key to strengthening our supply chains and national security.”

    SGAP will deliver high-quality, tailored support to strengthen the regional semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing supply chain, while empowering diverse New York businesses to access lucrative opportunities in upstate New York’s booming semiconductor ecosystem through technical assistance programs that provide legal, accounting, and financial services. The program builds on state, federal, local, and private sector programs and resources to build a more inclusive Upstate semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

    The program will bring together three key partners spanning New York’s I-90 corridor to deliver critical assistance to local small or disadvantaged businesses in underserved communities that can support successful implementation of CHIPS and Science Act investments – the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, Mohawk Valley EDGE and CEG. SGAP builds on the Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), a core component of the federally designated NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub aimed at supporting local firms to enter the rapidly expanding semiconductor and microelectronics market.

    With over $112 billion in new capital investments announced, New York State is leading the nation in new semiconductor investments. The main drivers of this growth, Micron in Central New York and GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region, will spend billions in operating expenses and have pledged to achieve significant supplier diversity goals. These investments represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift up New Yorkers from communities that have historically been left out of economic growth. SGAP will empower Very Small Businesses (VSBs) and underserved businesses to seize this unique opportunity and grow or pivot into New York’s chip industry, ensuring a shared prosperity in Upstate New York.

    Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Growing New York’s Semiconductor Industry
    Governor Hochul has maintained a strong commitment to building a modern economy in New York State by growing a dynamic and innovative semiconductor industry. In 2022, the Governor signed New York’s historic Green CHIPS legislation to make New York a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, creating 21st century jobs and kick-starting economic growth while maintaining important environmental protections. As part of the FY24 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $45 million investment to create the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI), which leads statewide efforts to develop the chipmaking sector. In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced a $10 billion public-private partnership – including $9 billion in private investment from IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and other semiconductor leaders – to bring the future of advanced semiconductor research to New York’s Capital region by creating the nation’s first and only industry accessible, High NA EUV Lithography Center at the Albany NanoTech Complex. All of these efforts are positioning New York as an innovation leader ready to support one of three National Semiconductor Technology Center facilities that will be established under the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act.

    New York is home to a robust semiconductor industry which supports more than 150 semiconductor and supply chain companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s efforts, the industry is continuing to grow with major investments from semiconductor businesses and supply chain companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD, Edwards Vacuum, MenloMicro and TTM Technologies to expand their presence in New York. In fact, in the last two years, chip companies have announced over $112 billion in planned capital investments in New York – more than any other state – and one in four U.S. made chips will be produced within 350 miles of Upstate New York. No other region in the country will account for a greater share of domestic production.

    Semiconductors are vital to the nation’s economic strength, serving as the brains of modern electronics, and enabling technologies critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness. The industry directly employs over 300,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.8 million additional domestic jobs. Semiconductors are a top five U.S. export, and the industry is the number one contributor to labor productivity, supporting improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of virtually every economic sector – from farming to manufacturing.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul, New York is leading the nation in new semiconductor industry investment, and now, with additional federal support, we are poised to further scale up the state’s broader billion-dollar advanced manufacturing ecosystem. US Treasury’s award enables ESD to expand the economic opportunities created by Upstate’s booming semiconductor sector to small businesses in underserved communities through our innovative Semiconductor Growth Access Program, which offers critical capital access and technical assistance so entrepreneurs can focus on the important work growing their businesses and creating jobs.”

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “This major $9.4 million in federal funding will help provide critical technical assistance to small businesses across Upstate NY who want to grow in the semiconductor industry but can’t do it alone. This is how we maximize the benefit of companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed’s expansions in Upstate NY, helping existing businesses grow and adapt to lead in the next frontier of technology. This will help boost efforts along the I-90 Tech Hub I secured and help Upstate NY build a robust supply chain from Buffalo to Utica to Albany that further positions Upstate NY as a global center for chip manufacturing. I fought to secure historic funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative in the American Rescue Plan and urged Secretary Yellen to prioritize funding for supply chain development, including in the semiconductor industry, because I know that support for small businesses is critical to our efforts to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Today’s federal investment further supercharges Upstate NY’s growing semiconductor superhighway!”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “This federal award will be transformative for small and underserved businesses across New York. It will strengthen our economy and cement New York’s reputation as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. I’m proud to have fought to pass the American Rescue Plan that provided the funds to make this grant possible, and I’ll continue working for federal investments that support small businesses, create good jobs, and develop our workforce.”

    State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This federal award reflects New York’s leading role in the growing national semiconductor industry. This $9.45 investment will be a boost to New York’s local small businesses as it will help entrepreneurs in underserved communities access opportunities to grow within the semiconductor supply chain. This award is recognition of our robust efforts to ensure that the Empire State remains at the forefront of technological innovation. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership in fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement across the State.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “This award helps to secure New York’s position as the domestic epicenter of semiconductor manufacturing. But as we build New York’s future, we must ensure that the impact of this investment spreads across all our communities. By expanding manufacturing and technical program access to small businesses, we’re ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the continued growth of the industry.”

    About State Small Business Credit Initiative

    More than $500 million in federal funding has been allocated to support the resurgence of small businesses across New York State through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program through the American Rescue Plan Act. Managed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses, including underserved businesses and very small businesses (VSB), to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them the opportunity to succeed in the post-pandemic economy. With this funding, Empire State Development (ESD) has developed a suite of capital access and equity programs to help New York State small businesses grow and succeed. Learn about the SSBCI programs that Empire State Development has established.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Over 1,000 Acres Returned to Onondaga Nation

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams, Onondaga Nation Tadodaho Sidney Hill and New York State Attorney General Letitia James today announced the finalized return of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral homelands in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation. The completed title transfer of open space to an Indigenous Nation is one of the largest of its kind by any state and fulfills a critical part of the Onondaga Lake Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program settlement with parties including Honeywell International Inc.

    “Onondaga Creek’s headwaters hold profound significance for the Onondaga Nation, and I am thrilled New York State and the U.S. Department of the Interior succeeded in taking an innovative path to address damages from legacy contamination and return a beautiful ecological resource to the Nation’s stewardship,” Governor Hochul said. “Establishing this preserve is a remarkable collaboration to restore access to ancestral lands and waters and serves as a historic milestone in New York State’s ongoing recognition of the cultural and environmental heritage of Indigenous Peoples.”

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said, “Today, we recognize the Onondaga Nation as the rightful caretakers of their homelands. We look forward to continuing our government-to-government relationship with the Nation as they work to heal and preserve these lands and waters for future generations.”

    Onondaga Tadodaho Sid Hill said, “The headwaters of Onondaga Creek in the Tully Valley are part of the system of waterways leading into Onondaga Lake that have sustained our Nation for millennia, and we are grateful that the Department of the Interior and New York State have worked with us to return to our stewardship the first 1,000 acres of the 2.5 million acres of treaty-guaranteed land taken from us over the centuries. This is a small but important step for us, and for the Indigenous land back movement across the United States.”

    New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Today is a historic day for New York and for the Onondaga Nation. For too long, Indigenous communities have been forced from their ancestral homelands, and I am proud that we can begin to right some of those wrongs by returning this resource-rich land to its rightful caretakers. Thank you to Governor Hochul, the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and DEC for their partnership in shepherding the return of this land to the Onondaga Nation.”

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), serving as the Natural Resource Trustee agencies for the settlement, signed a resolution in 2022 related to the Onondaga Lake Superfund site. The resolution directed Honeywell to transfer the title to more than 1,000 acres of open space in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation to restore and steward the property.

    The Onondaga Nation has accepted and holds fee title to a 758.1-acre South Forest Nature Preserve and a 264.9-acre North Forest Nature Preserve in the Tully Valley that include the headwaters of Onondaga Creek, more than 45 acres of wetland and floodplains, and approximately 980 acres of forest and successional fields. The cold waters of Onondaga Creek support a small population of brook trout, a population that may be fully restored with proper stewardship. The wetlands, floodplains, forests, and fields are home to wildlife such as great blue heron, songbirds, waterfowl, hawks, bald eagles, frogs, bats, and other mammals including white-tailed deer.

    The Nation will protect, restore, heal, and caretake the property in accordance with Indigenous Knowledge; Onondaga cultural, spiritual, and educational practices; and science.

    State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “The degradation of the Onondaga Nation’s lands and waters by a legacy of industrial contamination can never be fully repaired, but today’s historic announcement celebrates a key milestone in the journey to reconnect culturally, spiritually, and ecologically significant lands to the healing, caretaking, and permanent stewardship of Onondaga People. Guided by Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC worked closely with the Onondaga Nation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of Attorney General James, and thanks these partners and the many other stakeholders who sought to return these Tully Valley parcels to the Onondaga Nation.”

    The funding and implementation of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) projects by the Trustees is a result of the legal settlement with Honeywell following past releases of mercury and other hazardous substances to Onondaga Lake, its tributaries, and uplands that include Indigenous homelands that are deeply sacred to the Onondaga Nation. As part of the Onondaga Lake NRDAR process, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DEC assessed contaminant-related injuries to natural resources such as waterfowl and turtles and quantified the lost use of natural resources to the public, such as fishing. The agencies then solicited restoration project ideas from a wide variety of stakeholders and the Onondaga Nation to identify the types and scale of restoration needed to compensate for those natural resource injuries, as well as projects that could help address cultural losses to the Nation and its citizens.

    Copies of the Restoration Plan for Onondaga Lake can be found on the USFWS website. For more information about the cleanup of Onondaga Lake, visit here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates various projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore in Hazaribag, Jharkhand

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates various projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore in Hazaribag, Jharkhand

    Launches Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan to benefit 63000 tribal villages in about 550 districts

    Inaugurates 40 Eklavya Schools and also lays foundation stone for 25 Eklavya Schools

    Inaugurates and lays foundation stone for multiple projects under PM-JANMAN

    “Today’s projects are proof of the Government’s priority towards tribal society”

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 3:56PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore in Hazaribag, Jharkhand today. Shri Modi launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, inaugurated 40 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and laid the foundation stone for 25 EMRS, and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

    Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for becoming a part of Jharkhand’s development journey and recalled visiting Jamshedpur a few days ago to inaugurate development projects worth hundreds of crores. Shri Modi mentioned handing over pucca houses to thousands of poor from Jharkhand under PM Awas Yojna. Referring to today’s projects related to the empowerment and welfare of tribal communities worth more than Rs 80,000 crore, the Prime Minister said that it is proof of the government’s priority towards tribal communities. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the people of Jharkhand and India for the projects of today.

    Noting the occasion of Mahatma Gandhiji’s birth anniversary, the Prime Minister said that his vision and ideas towards tribal welfare are India’s capital. Mahatma Gandhi believed, the Prime Minister said, that India can only progress when the tribal societies progress at a fast pace. Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that the present government is paying maximum attention to tribal upliftment and mentioned launching Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan today where 63,000 tribal-dominated villages will be developed in about 550 districts at a cost of about Rs 80,000 crore. Prime Minister Modi informed that work would be done to improve the socio-economic life in these tribal-dominated villages and the benefits would reach more than 5 crore tribal brothers and sisters of the country. “The tribal society of Jharkhand will also benefit greatly from this”, he added.

    The Prime Minister expressed happiness that Dharti Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan was being started from the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. PM also recalled that on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, PM-Janman Yojana was launched from Jharkhand. He announced that on 15th November 2024, on Janjati Gaurav Diwas, India will celebrate the first anniversary of PM-Janman Yojana. He added that through the PM-Janman Yojana, the fruits of development were reaching those tribal areas of the country which were left behind. Shri Modi highlighted that under PM-Janman Yojana, the foundation stone of development works worth about 1350 crore rupees was laid today. Speaking about the scheme, he underlined that facilities like education, health and roads will be built for a better life in the most backward tribal areas.

    Highlighting the multiple achievements of PM-Janman Yojana in Jharkhand in its first year itself, Shri Modi said that the work of providing water to every house in more than 950 very backward villages was completed. He added that 35 Vandhan Vikas Kendras were also approved in the state. The Prime Minister also highlighted the work being done to connect remote tribal areas with mobile connectivity which would help transform the tribal society by providing equal opportunity for progress.

    The Prime Minister emphasized that the tribal society will progress when tribal youth get education and opportunities. For this, Shri Modi said, the Government is engaged in a campaign to build Eklavya residential schools in tribal areas. Referring to the inauguration of 40 Eklavya residential schools and laying the foundation of 25 new ones today, the Prime Minister affirmed that Eklavya schools should be equipped with all modern facilities and impart a high standard of education. For this, he added, Government has also almost doubled the budget of every school.

    The Prime Minister underlined that positive results are achieved when correct efforts are made. He expressed confidence that the tribal youth would move forward and the country would benefit from their capabilities.

    Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Santosh Gangwar and Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram were present on the occasion among others.

    Background

    In line with his commitment to ensure comprehensive and holistic development of the tribal communities across the country, the Prime Minister launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan with a total outlay of over Rs 80,000 crore. The Abhiyan will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts and 2,740 blocks across 30 States and UTs. It aims to attain saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education and livelihood through 25 interventions implemented by various 17 Ministries and Department of Government of India.

    In order to boost the educational infrastructure for the tribal communities, the Prime Minister inaugurated 40 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and laid the foundation stone for 25 EMRS worth over Rs 2,800 crore.

    The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) worth over Rs 1360 crore. It includes more than 1380 km of road, 120 Anganwadis, 250 multi-purpose centers and 10 school hostels. Further, he also unveiled a series of landmark achievements under PM JANMAN, which include electrification of more than 75,800 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) households in around 3,000 Villages, operationalization of 275 Mobile medical units, operationalization of 500 Anganwadi centers, establishment of 250 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras and saturation of more than 5,550 PVTG Villages with ‘Nal se Jal’.

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign”, says Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    “Unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign”, says Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

    Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches Special Campaign 4.0, Pledges to Institutionalize Cleanliness on Gandhi Jayanti

    Over 355.5 Lakh Sq. Ft of Office Space Freed in Previous Campaigns; Rs. 1162.49 Crore Earned from E-Waste and scrap Disposal

    Minister Acknowledges Prime Minister’s Leadership in Making Swachhata a Behavioural Revolution

    Leads Shramdaan and Plantation Drives, Honors SafaiMitras for Their Crucial Role in Cleanliness Movement

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 6:16PM by PIB Delhi

    “It is a unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign, which motivated a spontaneous voluntary effort to maintain cleanliness and brought about a behavioural revolution among people across the country”.

    This was stated here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh while launching, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Special Campaign 4.0 under the Government of India’s “Swachhata Hi Sewa” programme, reiterating the Government’s deep commitment to cleanliness, public hygiene, and service.

    Leading two events at the national capital here, one at Nehru Park, organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and another at Prithvi Bhawan hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences ,  Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised the Government’s efforts to institutionalise cleanliness and reduce administrative pendency.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the success of the previous campaigns and shared the remarkable achievements of the previous three campaigns, which have led to significant gains which include Rs. 1162.49 crore generated through the disposal of e-waste and scrap,  355.6 lakh sq. ft. of office space cleared for productive use, 96.1 lakh files closed or weeded out, 4.05 lakh cleanliness sites identified and cleaned etc.     

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh participating in Swachh Bharat Diwas programme at New Delhi on Wednesday.

    The Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing the foundational issue of cleanliness through the Swachhata campaign. He emphasised that the Prime Minister’s vision has transformed Swachhata from a government-led initiative into a behavioural revolution. “The Swachhata campaign has become ingrained in the psyche of the people,” Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked, noting how rarely a government campaign becomes a mass movement that changes public attitudes. “Today, cleanliness is not just a government directive, but a core value embraced by citizens.”

    Dr. Jitendra Singh further stated that the ongoing Special Campaign 4.0 aims to institutionalise these behavioural changes across government offices, with a focus on reducing administrative pendency and optimising public service.

    Human-Centric Highlights of the Day include 1) Swachh Anjali: Dr. Jitendra Singh, along with senior officials, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by offering ‘Swachh aanjali,’ reaffirming the Government’s commitment to Gandhi’s vision of a clean India. “Today’s tribute to the Father of the Nation is a reminder of the legacy we are carrying forward through these cleanliness drives,” 2) Plantation Drive – Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: At both Nehru Park and Prithvi Bhawan, Dr. Jitendra Singh planted saplings as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, symbolising the Government’s focus on environmental sustainability. “Each sapling planted today stands for a future rooted in sustainability,” he shared.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also honoured “Safai Mitras” by distributing safety kits and sweets, acknowledging their crucial role in the campaign’s success. “Our SafaiMitrasare at the heart of this campaign. Their dedication is an example of true public service,” Dr. Singh noted.

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh participating in Swachh Bharat Diwas programme at New Delhi on Wednesday.

    In addition, the Minister led the “Shramdaan” activities at Nehru Park and Prithvi Bhawan, joined by officials from DARPG and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Their hands-on participation reinforced the message of civic responsibility and the importance of collective action in keeping public spaces clean.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh commended the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for achieving remarkable success in the earlier campaigns, leading to the freeing up of over 355 lakh sq. ft. of office space and generating revenue from scrap disposal. He also lauded the Ministry of Earth Sciences for its efforts in cleaning 96 beaches across the country, an initiative that reflects the Government’s commitment to keeping not only office spaces but also public spaces clean.

    In his closing remarks, Dr. JitendraSingh reiterated how the Swachhata Campaign had empowered women in its early stages by constructing over 4 lakh toilets, and how the movement has now grown to tackle issues like wealth generation from waste. “Special Campaign 4.0 is about turning waste into wealth, and making cleanliness a permanent feature of public life,” he added.Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG, and Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with senior officials from both ministries, actively participated in the events.

    ***

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address at the laying of foundation stone, inauguration and dedication of various projects at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 4:37PM by PIB Delhi

    Johar!

    Honorable Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Santosh Gangwar ji, my colleague in the Union Cabinet, Shri Jual Oram ji, my fellow minister and daughter of this land, Annapurna Devi ji, Sanjay Seth ji, Shri Durgadas Uikey ji, MP from this constituency, Shri Manish Jaiswal ji, all public representatives, and my brothers and sisters present here!

    Today, I have once again been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of Jharkhand’s developmental journey. Just a few days ago, I visited Jamshedpur. I inaugurated development projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees for Jharkhand from Jamshedpur. Thousands of poor people in Jharkhand received their own permanent homes under the PM-Awas Yojana. And I am here again within just a few days. Today, over 80,000 crore worth of development projects have been either inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid in Jharkhand. These projects are associated with the welfare and upliftment of the tribal community. These projects are a testament to the priority of the Government of Bharat for the tribal community across the nation. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the people of Jharkhand and the entire country for these development initiatives.

    Friends,

    Today is the birth anniversary of Pujya Bapu Mahatma Gandhi. His vision and ideas for tribal development are a treasure for us. Gandhi ji believed that Bharat’s development could only be achieved when the tribal community progressed rapidly. I am happy that today our government is focusing more than ever on the upliftment of the tribal community. I have just launched a major program, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Around 80,000 crore rupees will be spent on this scheme. The development of around 63,000 tribal-majority villages across 550 districts will be carried out under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Efforts will be made to improve the socio-economic conditions and the quality of life in these tribal-dominated villages. This initiative will benefit over 5 crore of my tribal brothers and sisters across the country. The tribal community of Jharkhand will also reap significant benefits from this initiative.

    Friends,

    I am delighted that the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is being launched from the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The PM-JANMAN Yojana was also launched in Jharkhand on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Next month, we will celebrate the first anniversary of the PM-JANMAN Yojana on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) on November 15. Through the PM-JANMAN Yojana, development is now reaching those tribal areas that were once left behind, where no one paid attention. Today, development works worth around 1,300 crore rupees have also been inaugurated under the PM-JANMAN Yojana. Education, healthcare, and road facilities will be built to improve life in these most backward tribal areas under this scheme.

    Brothers and sisters,

    In just one year, the PM-JANMAN Yojana has achieved many milestones in Jharkhand. In over 950 of the most backward villages, the task of providing water to every household has been completed. Thirty-five Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have also been approved in the state. Additionally, work is underway to connect remote tribal areas with mobile connectivity. This development, this change, will provide equal opportunities for progress to our tribal community.

    Friends,

    Our tribal society will progress when its youth are provided with quality educational opportunities. Our government is working diligently on the mission to build Eklavya Residential Schools in tribal areas in this regard. Today, 40 Eklavya Residential Schools have been inaugurated from here. The foundation stones for 25 new Eklavya schools have also been laid. We have doubled the budget for each school to ensure they are equipped with modern facilities and offer high-standard education.

    Brothers and sisters,

    When the right efforts are made, the right results follow. I believe that our tribal youths will make progress, and the nation will benefit from their potential.

    Friends,

    I am not going to give a long speech here, as I will soon be heading to a big fair of the tribal community about 3-4 kilometers away from here. I will speak my heart out, and I will speak passionately. So, respecting the decorum of this government program, I will not make this speech long. However, even in such a government program, if there are so many people gathered, they will say, “Oh… the program was huge.” But this was just a small arrangement for the government program; the bigger event will happen shortly. If this program is this big, just imagine how grand the other program will be. Today, as soon as I landed, I saw the amazing love and support of my brothers and sisters of Jharkhand. This love and blessing will give me the strength to serve the tribal community even more. With this spirit, once again, I congratulate you all on these development works, and I thank you very much. I also hope that you all will definitely come there, and I will have the opportunity to speak about many more issues.

    Jai Johar!

    ***

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Steel Celebrates the Culmination of #SwachhataHiSeva2024 Campaign and Launches Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Steel Celebrates the Culmination of #SwachhataHiSeva2024 Campaign and Launches Special Campaign 4.0

    Ministry of Steel Felicitates Safai Mitras for Their Exemplary Service

    Ministry of Steel Honors Prithak Foundation for Outstanding Grassroots Efforts

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 7:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Steel today marked the successful culmination of the #SwachhataHiSeva2024 campaign in a ceremony held at the Steel Room, Udyog Bhawan. The event was graced by senior officials, including Joint Secretary Shri Sanjay Roy, Joint Secretary Shri Abhijit Narendra, and Deputy Secretary Shri Subhash Kumar. Several other officers and employees of the Ministry of Steel were also present to commemorate this special occasion.

    The highlight of the ceremony was the felicitation of the Ministry’s Safai Mitras for their invaluable contribution in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across the office premises. These individuals were honored for their dedicated efforts in creating a healthy and clean work environment.

    In a special segment of the event, the Ministry of Steel also recognized the efforts of Shri Abhay Raj Singh, Chairman of Prithak Foundation, and Ms. Sheetal, Principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS), for their outstanding work at the grassroots level. Their contributions in fostering cleanliness and sanitation awareness, particularly among underprivileged children, were applauded. The Ministry highlighted the significance of instilling such values in the younger generation, recognizing them as the future of the nation.

    With the culmination of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 campaign, the Ministry of Steel also announced the commencement of its next cleanliness initiative, *Special Campaign 4.0*. This month-long campaign, running from October 2 to October 31, 2024, will focus on reducing pendency within government operations while further promoting cleanliness across its offices and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Through this initiative, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to efficient governance and a cleaner working environment.

    The Ministry of Steel remains committed to its goal of promoting cleanliness and environmental sustainability in all its initiatives. The Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 campaign has not only brought awareness but also inspired action across various levels, ensuring a cleaner and healthier India for future generations.

    *****

    MG/SK

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Dedicates Extension of Platforms at Sealdah Station, Inaugurates New Rail Services and Nashipur Railway Bridge

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Dedicates Extension of Platforms at Sealdah Station, Inaugurates New Rail Services and Nashipur Railway Bridge

    Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Visits Braithwaite & Co. Ltd., Participates in “Swachchta Hi Seva” Campaign and Commemorates Gandhi Jayanti at Gandhi Bhawan

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 8:46PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, union Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology, today visited Braithwaite & Co. Ltd., Kolkata.He also inspected a modified Guard Van at Braithwaite & Co. Ltd. Shri Vaishnaw, alongside Shri Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, and other dignitaries participated in cleanliness activities as part of the “Swachchta Hi Seva” campaign, operated a mechanized cleaning machine, and contributed to Shramdaan at Braithwaite & Co. Ltd., Kolkata. Further, Shri Vaishnaw visited Gandhi Bhawan, Beleghata, and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and joined in prayer chants to commemorate the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

    In an event held at Sealdah Railway Station today, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, dedicated to the nation the extension of five platforms (Platform No. 1 to 5) to accommodate 12-coach EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) local trains. This upgrade will increase the station’s capacity by enabling an additional 3 lakh passengers to travel daily, as more EMU trains are upgraded from 9-coach to 12-coach rakes, providing greater convenience for suburban commuters. The Minister also inaugurated passenger train services over the newly commissioned Nashipur Railway Bridge in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. This bridge establishes a vital rail link between both sides of the Bhagirathi River, fulfilling the long-standing demand of the local residents. To mark the occasion, Shri Vaishnaw flagged off the Sealdah-Ranaghat EMU,Azimganj-Cossimbazar MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train and the Krishnanagar-Azimganj passenger train through video conferencing. Additionally, he inaugurated the Radhikapur–Anand Vihar Terminal Express, establishing the first direct rail connection between Radhikapur in Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, and Delhi. This new service will significantly benefit students, patients, traders, and residents from the surrounding districts, including Malda in West Bengal and Katihar in Bihar.

    Adding a unique dining experience to the station, Shri Vaishnaw inaugurated a Rail Coach Restaurant at Sealdah, bringing the charm of railway-themed decor combined with delectable cuisine for passengers. Shri Vaishnaw also visited an exhibition of old movie posters on display at Sealdah, which depicted scenes from iconic Indian films shot on Indian Railways. He also visited the One Station One Product (OSOP) stall at Sealdah and purchased indigenous products using a digital payment system, promoting local entrepreneurship.

    The Minister took the opportunity to highlight the tremendous progress made in Kolkata Metro’s expansion under the Union Government. He stated that between 1972 and 2014, only 28 km of Kolkata Metro track length was developed. However, in the last decade, from 2014 to 2024, an additional 38 km has been laid, showcasing the government’s commitment to enhancing the metro network in the state. Further, he mentioned the operation of 9 Vande Bharat Express trains in the state, marking a new era of high-speed rail connectivity for the people of West Bengal.

    He also acknowledged the Union Government’s substantial increase in budgetary allocation for railway development in West Bengal, reflecting the “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas” vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.Urging the State Government to cooperate in resolving land-related issues, Shri Vaishnaw pointed out that 61 railway projects in West Bengal are currently pending due to land acquisition challenges. He reiterated that the Union Government is prepared to invest in these projects, but cooperation from the State Government is essential to achieve timely completion.

    Shri Sukanta Majumdar,Member of Parliament, Balurghat, Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, Shri Santanu Thakur,Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Member of Parliament, Bangaon, Shri Samik Bhattacharya,Member of Legislative Assembly, West Bengal, Shri Jagannath Sarkar,Member of Parliament, Ranaghat, Smt. Debashree Chowdhury,former Member of Parliament, Raiganj, Padmashri Shri Prahalad Rai Agarwala, and Shri Milind Deouskar,General Manager, Eastern Railway were also present on the occasion.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Public procurements audit reveals inefficiency – action needed – E-001507/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission welcomed the European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) special report on public procurement[1] and accepted all the recommendations it formulated[2].

    As mentioned in its reply, the Commission will analyse the causes of substantial shortcomings in public procurement markets, including obstacles to the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tenders and will work towards the revision of the directives announced by the President-elect of the Commission in the political guidelines 2024-2029[3]. In this complex process, all stakeholders will be given the opportunity to express their views and provide input.

    Additionally, the Commission will continue to pursue initiatives to support the use of sustainability and innovation considerations in public procurement.

    These include fostering communities of practice of public buyers across the EU[4] and organising government dialogues in the Member States for the creation of national strategies to implement strategic procurement.

    • [1] https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications?ref=SR-2023-28
    • [2] https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECAReplies/COM-Replies-SR-2023-28/COM-Replies-SR-2023-28_EN.pdf
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf, page 11.
    • [4] https://public-buyers-community.ec.europa.eu/
    Last updated: 2 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Difficult end to term for Thierry Breton – E-001753/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001753/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Virginie Joron (PfE)

    On 13 August 2024, the Commission criticised[1] Thierry Breton, Internal Market Commissioner, for speaking out[2] without permission against X (formerly known as Twitter) before the social network broadcast an interview by its boss, Elon Musk, of US presidential candidate Donald Trump during the election campaign. Thierry Breton resigned from the Commission on 16 September 2024.

    The dispute is evidence that some decisions taken by former Commissioners spark controversy and are not ‘business as usual’.

    • 1.Was Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager aware of Thierry Breton’s initative in advance and did she give it the green light[3]?
    • 2.Does the Commission consider that initiative interference in the electoral process of a third country?

    Submitted: 18.9.2024

    Last updated: 2 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Germany: travel document control measures and (non-)enforcement of the Pact on Migration and Asylum – E-001796/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001796/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)

    Very recently, Germany implemented new measures, in principle for six months, for control of travel documents along its land borders, including the borders with Schengen countries (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark).

    In addition, according to official statements, the German government is planning, in the near future, to step up asylum rejections, urgent returns to the EU countries of first entry, and deportations to third countries.

    The implementation of such practices amounts to:

    a) de facto suspension of the Schengen rules on the pretext of exceptional circumstances, although there is no emergency situation and, quite obviously, in terms of migration flows, there has been no recent change in international developments that would raise the issue of force majeure or emergency circumstances;

    b) direct political and practical undermining of the very recent new Union rules on migration and asylum which, as stated by the Commission itself, constitute a ‘comprehensive approach that aims at strengthening and integrating key Union policies on migration, asylum, border management and integration’ and ‘allow the EU to address complex issues in a decisive and resourceful manner’[1];

    c) unacceptable indifference and lack of solidarity towards the Member States of first reception, particularly Greece.

    In the light of this,

    • 1.Do the above measures lie within the bounds of Union legality and cohesion?
    • 2.Do the ‘decisiveness’ and ‘resourcefulness’ of the new pact give Member States, in effect, the power to dissolve it?

    Submitted: 24.9.2024

    • [1] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_el?prefLang=el

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Azerbaijan’s invitation to the Turkish Cypriot leader as a ‘head of state’ to attend the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States – E-001799/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001799/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE)

    On 6 July 2024, Azerbaijan hosted an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which was attended by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The Azerbaijani government also invited the so-called president of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity that is not internationally recognised. The summit was held, coincidentally, on the 50th anniversary of the 1974 invasion by Türkiye.

    Inviting the Turkish Cypriot leader as a ‘head of state’ is provocative and suggests indirect recognition of the secessionist entity. It also contravenes relevant UN Security Council resolutions, international law and the democratic principles on which the European Union is founded.

    The EU remains Azerbaijan’s largest foreign donor and investor in both governmental and civil society sectors, despite Azerbaijan’s human rights record, particularly concerning Armenia. Nonetheless, the EU continues to emphasise the importance of upholding human rights and protecting freedoms of expression, assembly and the media in Azerbaijan.

    In view of this:

    • 1.What actions will the Commission take, given Azerbaijan’s violations of international law and disregard for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus, an EU Member State?
    • 2.Will the Commission assess and/or suspend its aid to and investment in Azerbaijan?

    Submitted: 24.9.2024

    Last updated: 2 October 2024

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