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  • MIL-OSI: Lottery Defeater Software Reviews – Is There a Trick to Winning the Lottery? This Software Thinks So!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Akron, Ohio, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Most people wish to strike the lottery, no matter where they are from. The thought that a simple ticket can turn everything around is tempting. But the chances of winning the lottery are against us—approximately one in a million—so most of us don’t win anything. Popular methods such as selecting birthdays or quick picks don’t work. So, what if there is a smarter way to play?

    Here comes the Lottery Defeater, a computer program said to give you an edge. It employs a statistic-based formula to lead your number selection. Rather than blind guessing, you can study historical lottery results and discover patterns associated with success.

    This article will dissect how Lottery Defeater operates, who created it, what is different about it, and whether or not it actually makes you win more. We’ll also examine its features and price, as well as whether or not it’s legit or a scam.

    What Is Lottery Defeater?

    Lottery Defeater is an easy-to-use software application that can assist you in making a win at the lottery using statistics rather than luck. Compared to standard strategies based on superstition or whim, this application employs a large database of historical results over the last 30 years to provide number combinations according to real statistics.

    It utilizes intelligent algorithms to analyze winning numbers from different lotteries from across the globe and applies machine learning to identify patterns that most players overlook. The aim is to give you several selections that have worked in the past, increasing your odds of winning.

    The app also excludes 90% of numbers lost repeatedly, so you can concentrate on the good options. This way, you invest your money judiciously in numbers with a chance.

    This app is easy to use, and you do not have to be a mathematics genius. The interface is quite straightforward and, hence, very suitable for everyone, both experts and newcomers. Whether playing Powerball, Mega Millions, or local lottery, it customizes to meet your requirements.

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    Who Developed Lottery Defeater and Why?

    Kenneth Leffer founded Lottery Defeater because he loves numbers and lottery. Irritated at others throwing money away on tickets with thin winning probabilities, he explored a more intelligent method with numbers.

    He analyzed 126 combinations of lottery numbers and found 27 patterns that regular winners use frequently. With pattern detection, he was able to guess which numbers would reappear. It took him a year of work to create Lottery Defeater software, which is simple to operate and provides useful insights. Today, thousands of people are making educated lottery decisions rather than relying on chance.

    How Does the Lottery Defeater Software Work To Increase Chances of Winning?

    Through an analysis of international and local lottery winning numbers throughout decades, the software detects statistical patterns that the old methods mostly miss.

    Step 1: Once the Lottery Defeater system is logged in, one chooses the desired targeted lottery game—whether it’s Powerball, Mega Millions, or other domestic or overseas lotteries.

    Step 2: The software accesses its enormous, constantly updated database and starts analyzing previous winning combinations. It checks more than 12,400 mathematical factors in the process, covering all possible winning trends thoroughly.

    Step 3: It then eliminates 90% of duplicate or losing number combinations, significantly reducing the number to only those with high potential for success.

    Step 4: From the filtered data, the system then employs its own algorithm to create a group of “smart picks”—statistically more likely-to-win number combinations.

    The process is ongoing 24/7, so users get the latest and most accurate sets of numbers. The amount of analytical rigor applied here is comparable to having a data scientist manually prepare your picks but in much less time.

    The filtering system is particularly important. Numerous players unwittingly repeat number combinations that have failed over and over again. Lottery Defeater removes this flaw by only allowing the most statistically viable options to pass through.

    Through the use of automated advanced calculations and the application of proven lottery techniques, the software dramatically enhances your winning prospects.

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    Key Features of Lottery Defeater

    1. Advanced Algorithm Analysis

    The foundation of Lottery Defeater is its own algorithm. Crafted with 30+ years of international lottery history, this engine picks up on repeated patterns and weeds out historically losing combinations.

    2. Multi-Lottery Compatibility

    Lottery Defeater is compatible with a vast selection of lottery games, such as Powerball, Mega Millions, EuroMillions, and many state lotteries. Its compatibility enables users worldwide to gain an advantage.

    3. Personalization Features

    The users have the ability to personalize their experience through preferences that include ticket form, number range, and game type. This degree of personalization makes it a customized strategy tool.

    4. Immediate Data Refresh

    The software automatically refreshes its internal databases and algorithms. The users always operate with the latest data, a critical aspect of being ahead in number choice.

    5. Mobile & Desktop Accessibility

    Whether you’re on a desktop at home or using a smartphone on the go, Lottery Defeater maintains full functionality across all devices.

    6. User-Friendly Interface

    You don’t need a background in math or tech to use this software. The interface is intuitive, guiding users from start to finish effortlessly.

    7. Step-by-Step Tutorials

    The software also provides step-by-step tutorials to explain every function and feature. This way, each user can use the maximum facility of the tool, regardless of experience.

    With powerful technology merged with convenience, Lottery Defeater covers the gap between analytics and accessibility.

    Benefits of Using Lottery Defeater

    1. Higher Winning Potential

    Through data-driven selection and trend analysis, the software enhances the quality of your number combinations. This statistically increases your chance of winning.

    2. Saves Time and Effort

    No more pouring over past results or creating spreadsheets. Lottery Defeater automates the entire process, delivering results in minutes.

    3. Financial Efficiency

    By filtering out unproductive number sets, the software helps users avoid wasteful ticket purchases, ultimately saving money.

    4. Confidence in Selections

    Users gain peace of mind knowing their picks are backed by decades of data and cutting-edge algorithmic analysis.

    5. Global Lottery Adaptability

    Whether you’re playing in New York, London, or Tokyo, the software supports your game format and adapts accordingly.

    6. Beginner-Friendly

    Thanks to its tutorials and intuitive layout, Lottery Defeater is suitable for users of all skill levels.

    With these benefits, the software is a useful friend for both casual players and lottery fans alike.

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    How to Use Lottery Defeater for Winning A Lottery Jackpot

    To maximize the benefits of Lottery Defeater, please follow these steps:

    Step 1: Access the Software

    Log in to the official Lottery Defeater website and choose your local or desired lottery game.

    Step 2: Personalize Preferences

    Add filters such as number of picks and favorite digits, or omit known patterns if preferred.

    Step 3: Make Smart Picks

    Click on “Smart Pick.” The software will run an analysis and produce a list of number combinations with high winning rates.

    Step 4: Play the Numbers

    Use the numbers produced to buy your tickets either online or at physical locations.

    Step 5: Repeat and Monitor

    Regular use of the software and monitoring of results with time to assess effectiveness.

    Is Lottery Defeater Scam or Genuine Tool?

    The world of lotteries is rife with grandiose claims and dodgy systems, so skepticism towards Lottery Defeater is understandable. But when you examine carefully what it does and what users have to say, you’ll find it has a sound logic behind it instead of hype.

    Here’s the arrangement:

    • There’s a straightforward $197 fee with no extraneous charges whatsoever.
    • There is a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the software risk-free.
    • Customer support is available if you need it.

    As for the reviews, many users have reported better outcomes and more frequent small wins, with some even winning large jackpots. These testimonials indicate that applying data could be a wiser strategy than picking random numbers.

    No tool is going to win every time, but Lottery Defeater appears to be a sound method of playing more intelligently.

    Lottery Defeater vs. Other Lottery Systems

    In comparison to conventional methods or other prediction aids, Lottery Defeater is superior in the following ways:

    • Data-Driven Logic: Anecdotal advice is what other aids usually base their information on; Lottery Defeater has a solid statistical basis.
    • Advanced Filtering: It removes 90% of losing combinations—most aids omit this.
    • Real-Time Updates: Most systems utilize stale or static information; Lottery Defeater updates 24/7.
    • Ease of Use: Other competing systems are too complicated; Lottery Defeater is designed for average players.

    These differences set Lottery Defeater as the best choice for serious lottery players.

    Lottery Defeater Software Reviews

    Many users report winning more often since playing Lottery Defeater. They’re consistently hitting 3-4 numbers and even winning local jackpots, enjoying the game plan aspect.

    Web forums and review pages reflect an increasing community where members exchange tips, tweak settings, and report wins. These testimonials provide potential users with some assurance of success in using the software.

    Where to Buy Lottery Defeater? How Much Does it Cost?

    The software can only be obtained through the official website, guaranteeing product authenticity and support.

    Lottery Defeater costs a one-time fee of $197. Users get:

    • Lifetime access to the software
    • Free future updates
    • Access to bonuses and tutorials
    • 60-day risk-free money-back guarantee

    This pricing structure guarantees that customers aren’t stuck in repeat payments or upsell traps. If you’re not satisfied with the software within 60 days, a refund is offered without questions being asked.

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    Our Final Thoughts

    Lottery Defeater doesn’t guarantee magic. Rather, it provides a logical, analytical strategy for a historically illogical game. You pay $197 for a lifetime tool supported by decades of data, up-to-date algorithms, and an active user community.

    The program won’t win every time—but it will enable you to make more informed choices. Used regularly, it can significantly enhance your chances and turn your lottery experience from a hope to a strategy.

    If you want to change your lottery fortune, Lottery Defeater is a sound investment.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can Lottery Defeater help me win if i’ve never won before?

    Yes. Lottery Defeater is great for those new to winning, as it takes away the guesswork. Its data-based predictions aim to boost your odds, even with no previous wins.

    Is Lottery Defeater good for local or big lotteries?

    It works for both local and national lotteries. Whether it’s a small game or a big draw like Powerball, the software adjusts its strategy.

    Does Lottery Defeater work internationally?

    Yes, it supports international lottery formats. Users worldwide can benefit as long as their lottery has a structured number pattern.

    How much time do I need each week for lottery defeater?

    Just a few minutes. The software runs automatically and gives you number sets quickly after you input your chosen lottery game.

    Is there a limit to using Lottery Defeater?

    No! Once you buy it, you have lifetime access and can use it for multiple entries and game types.

     What if the algorithm updates? Do I need to reinstall it?

    No need to reinstall. Lottery Defeater updates automatically, so you’re always using the latest data.

    What sets Lottery Defeater apart from free tools?

    Free generators usually rely on random picks, while Lottery Defeater uses a special algorithm based on thorough research and successful patterns.

    Does Lottery Defeater work better for certain lotteries?

    Yeah, it works best with number-draw lotteries like Powerball or Mega Millions. The more past data there is, the better it can spot patterns.

    Can multiple people share one Lottery Defeater account?

    The license is meant for one user. Sharing your login info could break the terms of service and might get your access cut off.

    Manufactured under the Technical Guidance of:
    Project name: Lottery Defeater
    Media Contact:
    Company website: lotterydefeater.com
    Email: contact@lotterydefeater.com
    Address : Ste 106 #167
    Akron, OH ,44305 
    United States

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Best Online Casinos Canada: Expert Picks 7Bit as the Top Casino for Canadian Players

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDMONTON, Alberta, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After using several online casinos in our quest for the ultimate gaming platform, we ended up at 7Bit Casino, and its bonuses and rewards were mindblowing. The welcome package, offering up to C$10,800 and 250 free spins, set an incredibly high standard from the start.

    Ongoing promotions, cashback deals, and a rewarding loyalty program kept us engaged, while over 7,000 games and lightning-fast payouts, especially for cryptocurrency users, solidified 7Bit Casino’s place as a top choice among the best online casinos Canada offers.

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    The Rise Of Online Casinos In Canada

    The online gambling industry in Canada has seen tremendous growth, with players increasingly turning to digital platforms for convenience and variety. According to industry reports, the Canadian online casino market is thriving, driven by advancements in technology and a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

    7Bit Casino has capitalized on these trends, positioning itself as a leader among the best online casinos in Canada by offering a crypto-friendly platform alongside traditional payment methods. Its ability to cater to diverse player preferences has made it a go-to destination for Canadians seeking quality entertainment.

    Canadian’s Unique Gambling Landscape

    The introduction of iGaming has transformed the online gambling scene. The province requires casinos to hold an iGaming license to operate legally. While 7Bit Casino is not licensed by iGaming, it remains accessible to players in the province, though with potentially fewer legal protections compared to licensed operators.

    For those seeking the best online casinos in Canada, it’s crucial to understand these regulatory nuances. Players outside Canada can enjoy 7Bit Casino’s offerings with confidence, knowing it operates under a reputable Curacao eGaming license.

    Pros And Cons Of 7Bit Casino

    Before diving into the specifics, let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of playing at 7Bit Casino to help you make an informed decision.

    Pros

    Advantage Description
    Extensive Game Library Over 5,000 games, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and exclusive crypto games, cater to all player preferences.
    Generous Welcome Bonus Up to C$10,800 + 250 free spins across the first four deposits, providing a significant bankroll boost.
    Cryptocurrency Support Accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more, ensuring fast, secure, and private transactions.
    User-Friendly Interface Intuitive website design with mobile optimization for seamless gaming on smartphones and tablets.
    24/7 Customer Support Dedicated support via email and live chat, with a comprehensive FAQ section for quick answers.
    Licensed and Secure Licensed by Curacao eGaming, with 128-bit SSL encryption to protect player data.
    Responsible Gambling Tools Offers deposit limits, loss limits, wagering limits, and self-exclusion to promote safe gaming.


    Cons

    Disadvantage Description
    Restricted Countries Some countries are restricted, but use VPN instead
    Limited Language Options Available only in English, German, French, and Russian.


    Why Choose 7Bit Casino as the Best Online Casino for Canadian Players?

    7Bit Casino’s appeal lies in its ability to combine a vast game selection, robust security, and player-centric features, making it a standout among the best online casinos in Canada.

    Here’s why it’s a top choice:

    • Trusted Licensing and Fairness

    Operating under the Curacao eGaming Control Board, 7Bit Casino ensures a fair and secure gaming environment. All games utilize random number generators (RNG) or provably fair algorithms, guaranteeing unbiased outcomes.

    The Curacao license enforces transparent deposit and withdrawal processes, protecting players from hidden terms. While it lacks eCOGRA certification, regular audits ensure game fairness, providing peace of mind for players.

    • Unmatched Game Variety

    With over 5,000 games from industry giants like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, and Betsoft, 7Bit Casino offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of classic slots, skill-based table games, or immersive live dealer experiences, the casino’s diverse library ensures endless entertainment. The inclusion of exclusive crypto games further enhances its appeal to digital currency users.

    • Enhanced Security And Privacy

    Player safety is paramount at 7Bit Casino, with 128-bit SSL encryption safeguarding personal and financial data. The support for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum adds an extra layer of privacy, as players can transact without sharing sensitive banking details. This makes 7Bit Casino appealing to those interested in No KYC Casinos Canada, though KYC is required for withdrawals over C$2,000.

    • Commitment To Responsible Gambling

    7Bit Casino takes responsible gambling in Canada seriously, offering tools to help players stay in control:

    • Deposit Limits: Set a maximum deposit amount for a specific period.
    • Loss Limits: Define a loss threshold to prevent excessive spending.
    • Wagering Limits: Control total wagers over a set timeframe.
    • Self-Exclusion: Temporarily or permanently exclude yourself from the platform.

    These features demonstrate 7Bit Casino’s dedication to creating a safe and enjoyable environment, aligning with Canada’s emphasis on responsible gambling practices.

    • Mobile-Friendly Experience

    The casino’s website is fully optimized for mobile devices, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games on the go without needing a dedicated app. The responsive design adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring a smooth gaming experience on smartphones and tablets. This flexibility is ideal for busy Canadians who want to play anytime, anywhere.

    • Exceptional Customer Support

    7Bit Casino offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email (support@7bit.com). The support team is responsive and knowledgeable, ensuring quick resolution of queries. A detailed FAQ section also provides answers to common questions, enhancing the user experience. Players consistently praise the efficiency and friendliness of the support team, making it a reliable resource for any issues.

    • Fast And Flexible Payments

    7Bit Casino’s payment system is designed for convenience, supporting both cryptocurrencies and traditional methods. Cryptocurrency transactions are processed instantly, while e-wallets like Skrill and iDebit offer near-instant withdrawals. This speed and flexibility make 7Bit a top choice for players who value quick access to their winnings.

    Bonuses, Promotions, And Tournaments

    7Bit Casino is renowned for its generous bonuses and exciting promotions, which add significant value to the gaming experience.

    Welcome Bonus Package

    New players are welcomed with a 325% match bonus up to10800 CAD and 250 free spins, distributed across the first four deposits:

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    Free spins are credited in batches, with the first batch available immediately and subsequent batches over several days.

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    Ongoing Promotions

    7Bit Casino keeps players engaged with regular promotions:

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    • Free Spin Wednesday: Up to 100.
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    • Telegram Offer: 50 Free Spins
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    Tournaments

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    These tournaments add excitement and provide opportunities to win extra cash and bonuses. Players can check the promotions page on the 7Bit Casino website for the latest tournament details.

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    Payment Options Available at 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino offers a diverse range of payment methods, catering to both cryptocurrency enthusiasts and traditional fiat users. While it doesn’t support PayID, it provides plenty of options popular in Canada, making it a convenient choice for players seeking a pay ID casino equivalent.

    Cryptocurrencies

    The casino is crypto-friendly, accepting:

    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Dogecoin (DOGE)
    • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
    • Tether (USDT)

    Cryptocurrency transactions are processed instantly or within an hour, offering speed and privacy.

    Fiat Currencies

    Supported fiat currencies include:

    • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
    • Euro (EUR)
    • US Dollar (USD)
    • Australian Dollar (AUD)
    • Norwegian Krone (NOK)
    • Polish Zloty (PLN)
    • New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

    Traditional Payment Methods

    Additional options include:

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Skrill
    • iDebit
    • Payz
    • Bank Transfer
    • Interac

    Deposit And Withdrawal Details

    Payment Method Min. Deposit Withdrawal Time
    Visa C$1 1-3 business days
    Mastercard C$1 1-3 business days
    Skrill C$1 Instant
    iDebit C$1 Instant
    Payz C$10 Instant
    Bank Transfer C$10 1-3 business days
    Bitcoin C$10 Instant
    Dogecoin C$10 Instant
    Litecoin C$10 Instant

    Players should note the C$10 withdrawal fee and check specific limits for their chosen method. Cryptocurrencies and e-wallets like Skrill and iDebit offer the fastest payouts, ideal for players prioritizing speed.

    Best Games At 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino’s game library is a major highlight, featuring over 5,000 titles from top providers. Below are some of the best games, along with brief definitions for clarity.

    Slots

    Slots are luck-based games where players spin reels to match symbols for payouts.

    • Starburst: A classic slot with a space theme, known for its re-spins feature and vibrant graphics.
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    • Wolf Gold: A wildlife-themed slot with a Hold and Win feature, where players can win up to 2,500x their bet.
    • 7Bit Hot&Hot Fruits: A classic fruit-themed slot with wilds and scatters for added excitement.
    • 7Bit Bonanza: A high-volatility slot with a mining theme, offering free spins and multipliers.
    • Throne of Camelot Hold and Win: A medieval slot with a Hold and Win feature for big payouts.
    • Mega Moolah: A progressive jackpot slot with massive prize potential, themed around an African safari.
    • Johnny Cash: A country-themed slot with a fun soundtrack and bonus rounds.
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    Table Games

    Table games involve strategy and skill, offering a different pace from slots.

    • Blackjack: A card game where players target to get a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over. Variants include Classic, Multihand, and American.
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    • Video Poker: Combines poker and slots, with variants like Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Deuces Wild, and Aces and Eights.
    • Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker: A poker variant where players compete against the house, with bonus bets for higher payouts.
    • Craps: A dice game with multiple betting options, offering high excitement and potential for big wins.

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    Live Dealer Games

    Live dealer games stream real dealers to players, creating an authentic casino experience.

    • Live Blackjack: Play against a real dealer in real time.
    • Live Roulette: Bet on a live spinning wheel with a dealer.
    • Live Baccarat: Wager on the player, banker, or tie in a live setting.
    • Live Blackjack Party: A social version of blackjack with player interaction.
    • Live Dream Catcher: A money wheel game with multipliers for a fast-paced experience.
    • Live Monopoly: A live show based on the board game, combining strategy and luck.

    Exclusive Crypto Games

    These games are tailored for cryptocurrency users, offering the same gameplay as crypto betting.

    • BTC Blackjack: Classic blackjack with Bitcoin betting.
    • BTC Baccarat: Fast-paced baccarat with cryptocurrency.
    • Keno: A lottery-style game where players pick numbers for a chance to win.
    • Bitcoin Roulette: Roulette with Bitcoin bets.
    • Plinko: A game of chance where players drop a ball onto a pegged board, with the ball’s path determining the win.
    • Dice: A simple game where players bet on the outcome of a dice roll.
    • Mines: Players reveal tiles to find treasure, avoiding mines for bigger wins.

    These games are powered by leading providers, ensuring high-quality graphics, smooth gameplay, and fair outcomes. The casino regularly updates its library, adding new titles to keep the experience fresh.

    Responsible Gambling In Canada

    Responsible gambling is a cornerstone of a safe online casino experience. 7Bit Casino aligns with responsible Gambling Canada principles by offering tools to help players manage their habits:

    • Deposit Limits: Control how much you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly.
    • Loss Limits: Set a maximum loss amount to avoid overspending.
    • Wagering Limits: Limit total wagers to stay within budget.
    • Self-Exclusion: Take a break from gambling temporarily or permanently.

    Players are encouraged to set budgets, take regular breaks, and seek help if gambling becomes problematic. Resources like GambleAware are available for support.

    Navigating KYC Requirements

    For players interested in No KYC casinos Canada, 7Bit Casino offers some flexibility. No KYC is required for deposits or withdrawals under $2,000, making it appealing for smaller transactions.

    However, larger withdrawals trigger KYC verification, which involves submitting identification documents. This process ensures compliance with anti-money laundering regulations but may delay payouts for some players.

    Getting Started At 7Bit Casino

    To make the most of your 7Bit Casino experience, follow these steps:

    1. Sign Up: Visit 7Bit Casino, click “Register,” and provide your email, password, and preferred currency. No upfront KYC is required for most players.
    2. Verify Email: Check your email for a verification link and click to activate your account.
    3. Claim the Welcome Bonus: Deposit at least C$20 to activate the welcome bonus and free spins.
    4. Explore Games: Browse the game library to find slots, table games, or live dealer options that suit your style.
    5. Join Tournaments: Check the promotions page for active tournaments like Titans’ Arena or Weekly Tournaments.
    6. Set Limits: Use responsible gambling tools to manage your budget and playtime.
    7. Contact Support: Reach out via live chat or email for any questions or issues.

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    Final Takeaway: 7Bit Best Online Casinos in Canada

    7Bit Casino is a premier destination for Canadian players, earning its place among the best online casinos in Canada. Its extensive game library, generous bonuses, fast payouts, and commitment to security make it a top choice for both casual and serious gamblers.

    Whether you’re spinning slots, playing blackjack, or competing in tournaments, 7Bit Casino delivers excitement and value. Always gamble responsibly and enjoy the thrilling world of 7Bit Casino.

    Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Online Casinos Canada

    1. Is 7Bit Casino one of the best online casinos Canada has to offer?

    7Bit Casino is widely regarded as one of the best online casinos Canada offers due to its extensive library of over 7,000 games and attractive bonuses up to C$10,800. Its support for cryptocurrencies and traditional payments enhances its appeal to Canadian players.

    2. Does 7Bit Casino operate as a No KYC Casinos Canada option?

    7Bit Casino allows transactions under C$2,000 without KYC verification, appealing to those seeking the best online casinos in Canada. However, withdrawals over C$2,000 require KYC, making it not fully KYC-free.

    3. How does 7Bit Casino support responsible gambling in Canada?

    7Bit Casino supports responsible gambling in Canada with tools like deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion options. These features help players maintain control and align with Canada’s responsible gambling standards.

    4. Does 7Bit Casino support pay ID casino payment methods?

    7Bit Casino does not support pay ID casino payment methods. It offers alternatives like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Visa, and Interac, suitable for Canadian players.

    5. What types of games can I find at 7Bit Casino?

    7Bit Casino boasts over 7,000 games, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and crypto games. Top providers like NetEnt and Microgaming ensure a diverse and high-quality gaming experience.

    6. How can I contact customer support at 7Bit Casino?

    Players can reach 7Bit Casino’s 24/7 support via live chat or email at support@7bit.com. A detailed FAQ section also provides quick answers to common queries.

    7. What is the welcome bonus at 7Bit Casino?

    New players can claim a 325% match bonus up to C$10,800 and 250 free spins across four deposits. A minimum deposit of C$20 is required, with a 40x wagering requirement.

    8. Is 7Bit Casino mobile-friendly?

    7Bit Casino’s website is fully optimized for mobile devices, offering a seamless gaming experience without a dedicated app. Players can enjoy games on smartphones and tablets effortlessly.

    9. Are there any withdrawal fees at 7Bit Casino?

    7Bit Casino charges a C$10 fee on all withdrawals, regardless of the payment method. This fee may impact players who frequently withdraw funds.

    10. Does 7Bit Casino offer a loyalty program?

    Yes, 7Bit Casino’s 12-level loyalty program rewards players with comp points for bets, exchangeable for cash or exclusive perks. Higher levels offer better cashback and dedicated VIP support.

    11. Is 7Bit Casino legal for Canadian players?

    7Bit Casino is legal for Canadian players under its Curacao license, ensuring a secure gaming environment.

    12. What are the payment options at 7Bit Casino?

    7Bit Casino supports cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, alongside traditional methods such as Visa, Mastercard, and Interac. This variety caters to diverse player preferences.

    13. How does 7Bit Casino ensure fair gaming?

    7Bit Casino uses RNG and provably fair algorithms to ensure unbiased game outcomes. Regular audits under its Curacao license maintain transparency and fairness.

    Customer Support

    Support is available 24/7 via:

    • Live Chat: Instant assistance on the website.
    • Email: support@7bit.com for detailed inquiries.

    Email: support@7bit.com

    Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure

    Disclaimer: Gambling online comes with financial risks. Make sure you meet the legal age requirement (19+) in your region and follow local laws. Always engage in responsible gambling and check 7Bit’s official site for the latest terms, as promotions and payment methods may be updated.

    General Disclaimer
    This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, not legal or financial advice. Content is based on research and user reviews as of writing. No warranties are made, and users must verify information before acting.

    Casino and Gambling Disclaimer
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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d1aa3ae-f1d7-42ef-b49f-cdeb1a780895

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Best Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Direct Lenders – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  It can be incredibly stressful when life hits you with an unexpected financial problem— an emergency hospital visit, car repair bill, or emergency travel are good examples, especially if you have bad credit. You may be denied a loan from traditional banks, which can feel like you’re going to have no other options. That’s where emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval come in. These are short-term, quick-access loans tailored for people with less-than-perfect credit who don’t have time to wait for their next paycheck.

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    In this article, we’re going to discuss exactly what emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval are, how they work, and most importantly, why IOnline Payday Loans is a credible option for guaranteed approval offers. We’ll also look into the kinds of urgent loans you can get as well as how to apply for one and the benefits of going to a lender such as IOnline Payday Loans. Whether it’s a surprise expense or simply for the peace of mind, here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision. So let’s get started!

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    Emergency Loans for Bad Credit —What is it?

    When you need money right away, emergency personal loans for bad credit, also known as cash advance loans or paycheck loans, are small, short-term personal loans meant to satisfy unexpected expenses. These can be anything from a medical emergency, a repair that can’t wait, to surprise bills.

    These loans are usually approved and disbursed more quickly than standard loans and are intended to serve as an immediate financial aid. Although emergency loans provide fast access to cash, you should keep in mind that they typically have more expensive borrowing costs and shorter repayment cycles.

    >> Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    Before assuming one of these loans, borrowers should carefully read the terms and consider their ability to repay. Multiple financial institutions like IOnline Payday Loans, as well as other online lending platforms, offer bad credit loans in different amounts, interest rates, and tenure options.

    How Do Emergency Loans Work?

    An emergency pesonal loan is an immediate source of cash that was specifically designed by Credit to attend to unanticipated events like a medical emergency, urgent home repair, or job loss. These are typically short-term, and in some cases unsecured, loans—meaning they are made without collateral. How Emergency Loans Work:

    1. Application Process: Borrowers start the process by applying, usually online, providing personal and financial information. Lenders use this information to ascertain whether you qualify for a loan.
    2. Approval and Terms: Once a lender approves, they provide the terms of the loan, including the loan amount, interest rate, repayment schedule, and additional fees. These terms are very important to review before accepting.
    3. Funds Transfer: Once agreed, the funds are transferred swiftly, in some cases on the same working day, depending on the lender’s policy.
    4. Repayment: Repayment terms differ. For some loans, the balance is due in a lump sum on the next payday; for others, the loan’s balance may be repaid over a period of months. You will need to repay the loan on time to prevent extra fees or negative marks on your credit.

    Why Choose IOnline PayDay Loans: Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval

    Here you can see all the amazing reasons that will help you to know more about the IOnline Payday loans:

    • Loan sizes available from $100-$5,000: IOnline Payday Loans matches customers who are looking for some quick cash with finance providers who can potentially help with loans of up to $5,000. This flexibility can help with many situations, from paying small bills to covering large financial setbacks.
    • 24 Months Repayment Allotment period: Borrowers will be able to select repayment plans from 2 months to 24 months, thereby enabling them to determine the pace of repayment of the loan. This flexibility lets users choose repayment terms that are more affordable, leading to less financial stress and a greater likelihood of success.
    • Competitive APRs: APRs range from 5.99% up to 35.99% with our partner lenders, and your eligibility and APR may be dependent on your credit, and the lender’s terms. Borrowers with bad credit can access fair rates not regulated by online payday loans, which have high fees and must be repaid quickly.
    • Fast Online Application: You can apply in under two minutes through IOnline Payday Loans. All clients need to do is complete a standard form and they are spared the time and hassle of going into branches or completing complex forms.
    • Fast Decision Within Minutes: Upon application, users are generally provided lending decisions in a matter of minutes. This real-time feedback is especially important in a financial emergency when every second is crucial. Whether it’s a medical bill, car repair, or utility shutoff you’re facing, getting to know your loan status right now can help with planning out your next steps sooner.
    • No Upfront Fees: IOnline Payday Loans will not ask you to pay any upfront fees for applying or linking you to a lender. This makes it possible for users to shop for loans without any risk or the pressure of money. Price transparency also means you deal only with fees the lender reveals at the time it presents a loan.
    • Support for All Credit Types: IOnline Payday Loans works with lenders who accept people with good credit and even those with bad credit. You could qualify here even if you’ve been rejected elsewhere. This open attitude helps ensure those with pressing needs aren’t left out if they’ve made mistakes in the past or have low credit scores.
    • Same-Day Fund Disbursement: If you’re approved, you can often get your cash the same day, deposited directly in your bank account. Also, if small, amount of emergency spending on real emergencies such as rent, medical costs, or utility shut-off prevention.
    • Extensive Lender Network: IOnline Payday Loans collaborates with a wide network of U.S. lenders, which improves the approval rate of even borrowers that have low credit. Rather than restrict you to a single lender, the platform surveys your opportunities and may help you secure advantageous terms and chances of success.

    How To Apply For Emergency Loans At IOnline Payday Loans— Detailed Guide

    The process to apply for a bad credit personal loans guaranteed approval $5,000 at IOnline Payday Loans is simple in itself, and with their short-term repayment plans, you can be certain that they care about their client’s financial prospects, even with a bad credit rating. It brings together borrowers and a community of trustworthy lenders who benefit from a smooth and efficient loaning process. Here is a comprehensive guide to applying:

    1. Go to The Application Website: Start by heading over to the https://IOnlinepaydayloans.com/. Navigate to the homepage and click the “Apply Now” button. This will take you to the online application, a quick form that can be filled out in a matter of minutes.
    2. Personal and Financial Information: Complete the application form with your valid personal and financial information. You’ll need to provide:
      • Full Name: The name that appears on all official documents.
      • Email: A valid e-mail address for contact purposes.
      • Zip Code: Where you currently live.
      • Loan Details: Like the amount you want to apply for ($100 to $5,000) and the time frame ($2 to 24 months).
    3. Application Submission: Once you finish filling in the form, look over every detail to make sure everything was filled correctly. When it’s all correct, click Send the application. The system will then review the details that you provided, and it will try to connect you with a lender in its network.
    4. Get the Decision on Lending: Your loan application will be decided within a few minutes of submission. If you’re approved, you’ll be served loan offers from matched lenders.
    5. Accept the Loan Offer: After choosing the best loan deal, it’s time to accept it. This usually requires an electronic signature on the loan contract. Read and know all terms, like due dates, interest rates, and costs, before signing.
    6. Receive Funds: Once you have agreed to the loan offer the lender will send the loan to you. Loans are funded directly into your bank account, sometimes as soon as the next business day, and are also available the same day as well, if the lender allows this option.

    Eligibility Criteria & Document Requirements—IOnline Payday Loans

    Before you apply for an emergency loan make sure you are eligible for the loan by fulfilling these requirements:

    Eligibility Criteria

    1. Be at least 18 years old: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a loan contract.
    2. Earn $1,000 per month: This can be income from a job, working on a 1099, government benefits, retirement benefits, etc. Lenders look at what you can afford to repay in terms of current income and expenses.
    3. Have a permanent address in the U.S.: You need to have a stable residency that proves your identity and location.
    4. Saving Account: Keep an active checking or savings account with direct deposit. It’s how we can transfer funds electronically for the loan and the payments.

    Required Documentation

    1. Government Photo ID: Like a driver’s license, passport, or state ID, to confirm you are who you say you are.
    2. Income Proof: Recent pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, or records of government benefits to indicate how much money you are making.
    3. Proof of Address: Recent utility bill, lease contract, or any official document with your actual address written on it.

    Different Types of Emergency Loans

    Different types of no credit check installment loans can be the perfect solution when you are confronted with unforeseen financial difficulties. The following are popular emergency loan types each detailed to help you decide:

    1. Personal Loans: Personal loans are unsecured loans provided by banks, credit unions and online lenders. They give you a lump sum you can use when needed for things like medical bills or car repairs. Most loans must be repaid within one to seven years with fixed monthly payments.

    2. Credit Card Cash Advances: With a credit card cash advance, you can take out a cash loan on your credit card up to a certain amount. Even when they are an option, they typically carry higher interest rates and fees, and interest starts accruing right away.

    3. Payday Loans: Payday loans are short-term, high-interest loans designed to cover expenses between paychecks. They’re usually easy to get, even for people with bad credit, but they often have extremely high fees and annual percentage rates that can exceed.

    4. Title Loans: Title loans make you put up your car’s title as collateral. They offer the ability to get cash soon, but they come with the threat of losing your vehicle when you can’t repay. Also, interest rates can be sky high and repayment terms short, making them a gamble.

    5. Paycheck Advances: There will be some employers who will do paycheck advances—allowing people to get a portion of the money that they would have earned before the payday itself. Moreover, this choice may help you afford upfront costs without expensive fees associated with other short-term loans.

    Frequently Asked Questions—Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval

    1. Is there a loan I can get with bad credit on an emergency basis?

    Yes, you can. IOnline Payday Loans is dedicated to providing loans for people with bad credit ratings. They pair people who need any type of loan with trusted and reputable Australian lenders who can provide them with flexible and convenient lending options.

    2. Is emergency loan approval guaranteed?

    There is no such thing as a guaranteed approval, but you can definitely count on IOnline Payday Loans to take honest chances with applications from borrowers who need Payday Loans despite bad credit scores.

    3. What is the minimum income limit?

    Just note that with most lenders on the IOnline Payday Loans network, you’ll need a monthly income of $1,000 from a steady source such as employment, freelance or government benefits.

    5. Will I have to put up collateral for an emergency loan?

    No, IOnline Payday Loans emergency loans are not secured. In other words, you don’t have to offer an asset like a vehicle or home in order to be eligible.

    6. Am I allowed to pay off my emergency loan early?

    Yes, lenders do let borrowers repay their loans early without penalty. We encourage you to carefully review your matched lender’s terms for their prepayment policies.

    7. Which documents are required with the application?

    You’ll typically need a valid I.D., proof of income (like a recent pay stub or letter of benefits), proof of address and an active bank account for direct deposit and repayment.

    Conclusion

    To sum up, online bad credit emergency loans with guaranteed approval are a quick and realistic option for anyone who need immediate cash. No lender can ever promise approval, but platforms such as IOnline do make it easier for you to apply by connecting you with flexible lenders that would rather see your income than your credit history. With an easy online application, fast approvals and transfers, IOnline Payday Loans is a great way to get on top of your finances when you need them and you won’t even have to leave your home!

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: IOnline Payday Loans
    Registered Office Address: 1095 Sugar View Dr Ste 500 Sheridan, WY 82801
    Company Website: https://ionlinepaydayloans.com/
    Email: mria@ionlinepaydayloans.com
    Phone: 307-777-7311
    Contact person name: Mria

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Ionline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d23b359-7c78-4100-8db3-70db9d3863d4

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Neguse Joins Colleagues in Urging Trump to Reverse AmeriCorps Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Lafayette, CO — Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan National Service Caucus, and 148 of their colleagues from the House and Senate in sending a letter to President Donald Trump defending AmeriCorps and NCCC AmeriCorps members and calling on him to reverse cuts to the program made last week by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

    In Colorado, AmeriCorps volunteers help communities respond to and recover from natural disasters, including wildfires. They also address local needs, and their work in the state has been instrumental in connecting veterans to services, combating the opioid epidemic, supporting older adults in aging with dignity, and improving the physical and mental well-being of Americans nationwide. Last year, more than 6,600 AmeriCorps volunteers served at 700 local sites across the state—from schools, food banks, and homeless shelters to health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and more. 

    “We are deeply concerned by reports that a majority of AmeriCorps staff have been placed on administrative leave and that more than 750 NCCC members have already been recalled from their field assignments. Many of these volunteers were working in disaster response roles, including building homes for individuals who lost theirs in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. If not reversed, these recent actions will both stop current programs and prevent timely and efficient execution of the agency’s fiscal year 2025 appropriations, delaying or even halting the recruitment and deployment of new AmeriCorps members around the country. We are deeply concerned that is the goal: to eliminate AmeriCorps, in direct conflict with recently enacted appropriations. However, even delays will disrupt programs Americans rely on for their health, education, and safety. We urge you to reverse these actions and instead work with Congress on bipartisan improvements to AmeriCorps so that more Americans have the opportunity to serve their communities,” wrote the lawmakers.  

    Read the full text of the letter HERE

    Programs such as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors deploy more than 200,000 Americans annually to carry out results-driven projects at over 35,000 locations across the country. Working in partnership with thousands of non-profit, faith-based, and community organizations, these dedicated volunteers and workers help promote employment opportunities, strengthen the workforce, and support those in need.   

    Background

    Congressman Neguse has been a staunch supporter of AmeriCorps and is the proud sponsor of legislation to reimagine a 21st-century Civilian Climate Corps. His proposal draws inspiration from FDR’s New Deal program to recreate the corps of the 1930s, which built Red Rocks, roads, trails, and campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park, and supported other projects throughout Colorado—creating new jobs and driving major investments in wildfire resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation.

    He also joined Americans in celebrating President Joe Biden’s decision to establish the American Climate Corps, a program that mobilizes people in response to the climate crisis and creates a 21st-century, climate-focused workforce—preparing a new generation of workers for good-paying jobs in a clean economy.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Lands Ranking Member Neguse: “In Colorado, we see things very differently. We treasure the public lands that we’re so lucky to have.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, participated in a legislative hearing on a series of bills relating to land restoration, reforestation, and more. Neguse used this opportunity to speak up for the interests of Coloradans and defend this nation’s public lands—namely from efforts led by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to strip land management agencies of their funding and sell said treasured spaces to help pay for the disastrous budget reconciliation package currently making its way through the Congress.

    Watch Congressman Neguse’s remarks HERE

    NEGUSE: “I spent the last few weeks back in Colorado. And as you may know, I represent a very large district in Northern and Western Colorado—spans 12 counties, three national forests—Arapahoe, Roosevelt, White River, which is, of course, the most visited National Forest in the United States. And Routt National Forest. And I can tell you that having traveled my district and holding multiple town halls in every corner of my district, folks are deeply concerned and frustrated by the actions of this administration with respect to the gutting, in their view, and in my view, of the Forest Service. 

    “For years we have worked in partnership with folks at the Forest Service, as we protect our treasured public lands that we’re so blessed to have in our state, and to see the way in which this administration is gutting the federal workforce, not just, of course, with respect to the Forest Service, but the National Park Service, a variety of other agencies in the land management context is unconscionable. And it is having a real-world dramatic effect in Colorado, as I suspect you’re probably aware of. 

    “And I’ll just give you one example. I was in Yampa, in the Yampa Valley and visiting with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council in Routt County. They had a planned collaborative reforestation project for wildfire impacted lands planned for this spring. I know we’re talking about reforestation today with respect to one of the bills that we’re considering. That project was canceled because of the various cuts, and, drawbacks and rollbacks at the Forest Service.  

    “This project would have planted 100,000 seedlings in the burn area. And the future viability of this project is now in question. So, I know, you know, [Ellen Shultzabarger, Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest System], of course, are a career official. And I appreciate your commitment to the Forest Service and to our country.

    “But I have to level with you on behalf of my constituents. And I hope you will convey back to your colleagues at the Forest Service and management at the Forest Service, that what is happening is having real world consequences on the ground across western United States.” 

    Other excerpts from the hearing can be found below: 

    NEGUSE: “Reports indicate that the Republicans, the House Republicans, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, intend to engage in a wholesale fire sale of our public lands to fund, the reconciliation plan that they’re pursuing. In Colorado, we see things very differently. We treasure the public lands that we’re so lucky to have.” 

    NEGUSE:  “I think [Matthew McCombs, Colorado State Forest Service State Forester and Director] articulated so well the ethos that certainly [he] and I share. And frankly, I suspect the vast majority of Americans share. And I would just say, as you noted, conservation, stewardship of our public lands has largely and long been a bipartisan value. It is only recently, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem to have abandoned that principle.

    “We’re going to have an opportunity here in a week’s time, for my colleagues to, I hope, pull back from the brink and not allow the debasement and wholesale sale of our public lands continue, under the plan that House Republicans have, at least thus far, seem to have articulated. Again, we’ll learn more here in the coming days.”

    You can also watch Rep. Neguse’s line of questioning with Colorado State Forest Service State Forester and Director, Matthew McCombs, HERE.  

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: RANGE ROAD, WOODSIDE (Grass Fire)

    Source: South Australia County Fire Service

    WOODSIDE

    Issued on
    03 May 2025 15:22

    Harrogate Fire

    Issued for WOODSIDE in The Adelaide hills.

    The CFS is responding to a grass and scrub fire at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

    Approximately 60 CFS volunteers on 12 trucks, supported by 4 aircraft, have contained the fire to approximately 22 hectares.

    CFS firefighters will remain on scene to make the area safe with additional crews coming from nearby brigades to support.

    Emergency services may be working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised to stay away. If you need to travel on roads in the area, please take care and drive to the local conditions.

    Message ID 0008555

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests after stolen vehicle tracked to Salisbury East

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Two people were arrested after allegedly driving a stolen car across the state at high speed.

    Just before 7am on Saturday 3 May, police were alerted that a car stolen from a Cummins property, on the Eyre Peninsula, was being tracked by the owner.

    The silver Kia was tracked as it travelled at extreme speeds across the Eyre Peninsula and through the Mid North of the State.

    PolAir responded and headed to the area while police on the ground attempted to spike the vehicles tyres numerous times as it continued to head towards Adelaide.

    The stolen Kia was located in Lysander Place, Salisbury East about midday and the two occupants ran from the vehicle.

    It will be alleged the man discharged a small calibre firearm but was quickly apprehended by police.  The man was taken to hospital for assessment prior to charging.

    No shots were fired by police.

    Fortunately, no police officers were injured during the incident.

    The firearm has been seized by police.

    A 31-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested and will be interviewed by police.  Investigations are continuing.

    Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of this vehicle that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Gillibrand Raises Alarm On Secretary Of Education McMahon’s Decision To Withold Income Of Federal Student Loan Borrowers In Default

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Following reports that the United States Department of Education plans to involuntarily withhold the incomes of federal student loan borrowers, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand expressed deep concern towards Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s decision to garnish the wages and benefits of federal student loan borrowers whose payments are in default. Nearly 10 million borrowers across the nation are at risk of forced collections.
    The senator noted, this will “unnecessarily exacerbate economic strains in local economies while New Yorkers worry about a tenuous economy and potential recession.” In New York State alone, one in eight individuals have student loan debt. Borrowers work in all professions like teachers and public servants, providing New York communities with critical services. The senator continued that many seniors who take out loans to help family members pay for their education are also at risk of being impacted.
    Gillibrand called on Secretary McMahon to further elaborate and describe an outreach plan for at risk borrowers:
    1. Please describe in detail any outreach campaign being planned, including what languages it will be conducted in and through what means.
    2. What immediate actions have been or will be taken to resolve recent and ongoing disruptions to federal student loan services?
    3. Many borrowers have waited for years to exercise alternative payment arrangements through income-based repayment options; please provide details as to how the Administration will accommodate borrowers who remain unable to make full repayment?
    4. How will the Administration define financial hardship and what will be done to accommodate borrowers requesting a review based on financial hardship? What actions will be taken to address hardship requests in time to avoid additional financial consequences for borrowers in default, such as eviction or canceled medical procedures?
    5. How is the Administration planning for the increased administrative burden of this policy amidst the RIFs at the Department of Education.
    The full letter can be read here and below.
    Secretary McMahon,
    I write to you with concern over the Department of Education’s plans to begin involuntarily withholding the incomes of federal student loan borrowers in default on May 5, 2025. As you note, in a few months, nearly 10 million borrowers are in danger of having their wages, pensions, Social Security benefits, and tax refunds garnished. Withholding income from borrowers will unnecessarily exacerbate economic strains in local economies while New Yorkers worry about a tenuous economy and potential recession.
    One in eight New Yorkers have student loan debt, totaling approximately $93 billion and federal student loan borrowers who work in all industries are vulnerable to these unnecessary actions – my office has heard from K-12 teachers, computer science engineers, pharmacists, and doctors. These professions provide New York communities with vital services and many are public servants. Yet this Administration so far has made the federal student loan process a nightmare. These workers report their payments increasing by as much as 450% as a result of issues on the Federal Student Aid website. Some New Yorkers have had their federal student loans put into forbearance without their request.
    Many borrowers have dreams of opening their own businesses or working directly with
    people in their community, but perfectly put by one constituent, “believe there will be no help for me or others who are drowning in debt.” These New Yorkers want to make their student loan payments, and they deserve a fair system that rewards what they have worked for and earned.
    Seniors who take out loans to help family members pay for college are impacted too, and
    some are still in debt from their own education. My office has heard from seniors who are nearing retirement but still remain unable to move forward with any confidence or security until their loans are fully paid or forgiven.
    I’m concerned that the timing could not be worse for any changes in student loan repayment policies for constituents bracing for an economic downturn, but also because of continuing staff cuts at the Department of Education. An expanded administrative burden on reduced staff aimed at garnishing wages and benefits in a tenuous economic environment is not in the best interest of New Yorkers. To be very clear, wage garnishment should always be considered a last resort, and this Administration’s staffing cuts have impacted existing programs to such an extent that this new policy exacerbates a problem and undermines a purpose.
    I request answers to the questions below by May 16, 2025.
    1. Please describe in detail any outreach campaign being planned, including what languages it will be conducted in and through what means.
    2. What immediate actions have been or will be taken to resolve recent and ongoing disruptions to federal student loan services?
    3. Many borrowers have waited for years to exercise alternative payment arrangements through income-based repayment options; please provide details as to how the Administration will accommodate borrowers who remain unable to make full repayment?
    4. How will the Administration define financial hardship and what will be done to accommodate borrowers requesting a review based on financial hardship? What actions will be taken to address hardship requests in time to avoid additional financial consequences for borrowers in default, such as eviction or canceled medical procedures?
    5. How is the Administration planning for the increased administrative burden of this policy amidst the RIFs at the Department of Education.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Syracuse, Gillibrand Condemns President Trump’s Actions To Dismantle Head Start

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Proposal Would Deprive 50,000 Low-Income Children In New York State Of Critical Early Childhood Education 
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the PEACE, Inc. Merrick Head Start in Syracuse to condemn President Trump’s actions to dismantle Head Start. Federal funding allows PEACE Inc. to operate Head Start centers across Onondaga County that serve over 900 children. Without this funding, Head Start centers across New York and around the country will be forced to close their doors, which will deprive low-income children of critical early childhood education that gives them the tools to succeed both in and out of the classroom. President Trump has attempted to diminish Head Start through a number of executive actions that are making it harder for Head Start centers to stay up and running, including closing regional offices that help administer the program, laying off staff, and withholding already authorized funding.
    Head Start programs provide low-income children from birth to age five with comprehensive child development programs, as well as support and services for families. The services Head Start and Early Head Start offer include early education, health screenings, promoting social and emotional health, nutrition, connection to other social services, and services for children with disabilities. Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve over 50,000 children in New York State.  
    “Head Start helps make sure that every child has a chance to thrive,“ said Senator Gillibrand. “It is an investment in our kids and our future that has been proven time and time again to be highly effective at preparing children for school and improving both their social and physical health outcomes. President Trump’s actions to dismantle Head Start would hurt the kids and families most in need – including the 50,000 Head Start attendees in New York alone. I will do everything in my power to fight this effort and preserve funding for this vital program through the next fiscal year and beyond.”
    “Our Head Start program in Syracuse is an essential resource for families with young children. It provides a nurturing environment focused on learning, fun, and overall development. Many parents rely on it as a safe space for their children while they work. Unfortunately, the Trump administration plans to cut funding for this program in Syracuse and nationwide. These cuts will have a devastating impact on the families who depend on it. We must fight to keep Head Start in Syracuse, and I commend Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for leading the effort to ensure it remains here,” said Senator Rachel May.
    “With 7 of its own sites and an additional 14 partnering sites in Onondaga County, PEACE, Inc.’s Head Start program successfully assists 918 low-income families and their children under 5 to access holistic early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family development interventions,” said Peace, Inc. Executive Director Carolyn Brown. “Especially critical are the more than 700 families who are assisted in Syracuse, where early childhood education/childcare options are limited and nearly 1 out of 2 children live in poverty. PEACE, Inc. Head Start levels the playing field for low-income families and their children. In 2024, 81% of our Head Start children entered Kindergarten having reached their math development milestones; 90% of them reached their literacy development milestones. Eliminating Head Start would prove disastrous for our working families and their children. We are grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s passionate support of Head Start, its staff, and its families.”
    “As a mother to a young child in this program, I am so grateful for the resources Head Start provides,” said Mitayah Donerlson, President of the Head Start Parent Policy Council. “Beyond early education, this program has connected me with critical social and mental health support—like access to parenting workshops, family advocates, and behavioral support for children . These services have helped me manage stress, strengthen my relationship with my child, and build a supportive community with other parents. Without Head Start, I wouldn’t have the tools or support network I need to care for both myself and my family. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for fighting for this vital funding.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s Preliminary Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request, which proposes slashing critical investments in programs related to education, health, affordable housing, scientific research, environmental protection, and much more. The Trump administration says this proposal will cut domestic funding by $163 billion (-23%); however, the real cut may exceed $200 billion.
    “President Trump’s budget is playing games with American lives. By attempting to defund the programs that help communities stay safe, families pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads, and doctors treat their patients, this administration is abandoning the people who have built our country. Make no mistake — this budget proposal will not ‘make America great again’ — it will set us back decades and make life harder for working families.
    By slashing funding for basic needs like health programs, medical research, and nutrition aid, this proposal will make America sicker. By cutting billions of dollars for the Department of Education, removing investments to prevent violent crime, and divesting from agencies that protect our environment, it will make our country a worse place to live. And by eliminating affordable housing and energy assistance programs, divesting from small businesses, and gutting the funds that help economically distressed communities, it will make it harder for American families to survive.
    This administration has made it clear: they’re willing to cut at least $163 billion in vital investments that benefit everyday Americans just to deliver trillions in tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. That’s not just misguided policy; it’s an insult to every hardworking, tax-paying American.
    I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to firmly reject this dangerous proposal. We cannot stand idly by while the Trump administration eviscerates the programs that keep our country safe, healthy, and prosperous.”
    Among other things, President Trump’s preliminary FY2026 budget request:
    EDUCATION: Guts funding for the Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%). Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding. Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
    HOUSING: Eviscerates the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
    Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
    Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country.
    Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
    HEALTH: Slashes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
    Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40%—decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
    Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion—hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
    Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
    Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
    The limited budget materials do not detail President Trump’s proposed funding level for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is essential for protecting the safety of our food and drugs.
    TITLE X: Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
    LIHEAP: Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
    PRE-K: Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need. The limited budget materials released today don’t mention Head Start or the Child Care and Development Block Grant, but leaked budget documents show Trump wants to eliminate Head Start.
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Slashes funding for DOL by $4.6 billion (-35%). Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs, by roughly a third. Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Slashes the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
    Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
    Cuts funding for FBI salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering our Americans’ safety.
    Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
    Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
    TRIBES: Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. This cut would decimate core Tribal programs including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families. The proposal would nearly eliminate funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and it cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
    SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). These proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that will drive future economic growth.
    EPA: Cuts funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites.  The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals.  
    NATIONAL PARKS: Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks that the administration says should suddenly be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
    AGRICULTURE: Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
    RURAL AMERICA: Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
    NUTRITION: Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
    VETERANS: Without more details, it is unclear whether the President is proposing to shift tens of billions of dollars in funding for veterans’ care to mandatory funding (which Republicans have long vociferously opposed) or to decimate funding for non-medical care.
    FOREST SERVICE: Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the Administration’s stated goals of improving forest management and increasing domestic timber production.
    ARMY CORPS: Cuts funding for the Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Cuts funding for the Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
    NOAA: Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience. Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
    ENERGY: Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%). Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
    SMALL BUSINESSES: Slashes funding for SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
    FEMA GRANTS: Cuts funding for FEMA non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
    STATE DEPARTMENT & FOREIGN ASSISTANCE: Guts funding for the State Department and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
    The United States already spends less than 0.2% of our GDP on diplomacy and foreign assistance, which is less than a third of the percent we spent under President Reagan’s peace through strength approach, and Trump is proposing to halve these critical investments.
    Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
    Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
    Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of USAID.
    Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
    Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (UN), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
    COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT: Eliminates all funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help low income individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current CDFI financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes. 
    AMERICORPS: Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
    CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING: Eliminates funding for CPB, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations. 
    INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES: Eliminates funding for IMLS and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
    BUREAU OF RECLAMATION: Cuts funding for the Bureau by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
    CULTURAL GRANTS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
    NASA: Cuts NASA funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.
    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more. 
    INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE: Likely cuts IRS enforcement by nearly $2.5 billion (-89%). This significant reduction will help billionaire tax cheats game the system while working families continue to pay their fair share.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is the biggest gaffe, blooper or blunder that a recent president has made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University

    Lots of presidents have said things they regret. Or most of them have. Carol Yepes/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.

    Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.

    “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”

    The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.

    Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”

    This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.

    Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.

    “I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.

    The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.

    Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.

    Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.

    Donald Trump auditions for Grinch-who-stole-Christmas role.

    Richard Nixon is a law-abiding guy

    On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.

    “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”

    Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.

    Gerald Ford forgets the Cold War

    Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.

    During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.

    “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”

    To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”

    Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.

    Gerald Ford says it’s really a Warm, not Cold, War.

    Jimmy Carter gets advice from his teen

    Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.

    “She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”

    Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.

    Jimmy Carter has a smart 13-year-old daughter.

    Ronald Reagan attacks Russia

    Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.

    A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.

    Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

    The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.

    George H.W. Bush eats word salad

    Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.

    “I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”

    Bill Clinton is or isn’t, maybe

    Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.

    Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.

    “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”

    Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
    “Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”

    George W. Bush’s shame

    George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.

    “There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”

    Barack Obama strikes out

    Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.

    While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.

    Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”

    Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.

    Obama made a bad joke about the Special Olympics during an interview with Jay Leno; he quickly apologized for it.
    Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images

    Joe Biden’s bad day

    Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.

    During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.

    Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.

    “And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.

    “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”

    The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.

    Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.

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

    ref. What is the biggest gaffe, blooper or blunder that a recent president has made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-biggest-gaffe-blooper-or-blunder-that-a-recent-president-has-made-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 3, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 3, 2025.

    ‘Super antibodies’ for snake toxins: how a dangerous DIY experiment helped scientists make a new antivenom
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina N. Zdenek, Associate Researcher, The University of Queensland Scientists in the United States have created a new snake antivenom using the blood of a man who deliberately built up immunity to snakebites by injecting himself with many different kinds of venom more than 800 times over

    Human rights group calls for probe into attack on Freedom Flotilla ship
    Asia Pacific Report A human rights agency has called for an investigation into the drone attacks on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid ship Conscience with Israel suspected of being responsible. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a statement that the deliberate targeting of a civilian aid ship in international waters was a “flagrant violation”

    RSF condemns Israeli targeting of Gaza journalists – then slandering them in death
    Pacific Media Watch After a year and a half of war, nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by the Israeli army — including at least 43 slain on the job. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has brought multiple complaints before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and continues to tirelessly support Gazan journalists, working to halt

    Final polls give Labor a clear lead before the election
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne With those who haven’t already cast a pre-poll vote ready to hit the polling places tomorrow, a final batch of polls give Labor a firm lead. The

    Culture wars and costings: election special podcast with Michelle Grattan and Amanda Dunn
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As we roll into the dying hours of the election campaign, the polls are suggesting a Labor win, although it is not yet clear if it will be in minority or majority. Chief Political Correspondent Michelle Grattan and Politics Editor

    Keith Rankin Analysis – The Great World War 1914-1945: Germany, Russia, Ukraine
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. On Anzac Day we remembered World War One and World War Two, or at least the peripheral little bits of those imperial wars that New Zealand was involved in. There was and is little context given to how New Zealand got involved with such far-away wars which need never have become

    What is iNaturalist? The citizen science app playing an unlikely role in Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlyn Forster, Associate Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Death cap mushrooms (_Amanita phalloides_) Jolanda Aalbers/Shutterstock The world has been gripped by the case of Australian woman Erin Patterson, who was charged with the murder of three people after allegedly serving them a

    Fake news and the election campaign – how worried should voters be?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, 2024 Oxford University visiting research fellow RIJS; Professor of Political Communication., La Trobe University shutterstock JRdes/Shutterstock The spread of electoral misinformation and disinformation is undermining democracies around the world. The World Economic Forum has identified the proliferation of false content as the leading short-term global

    The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the United States’ top public health official, recently claimed some religious groups avoid the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it contains “aborted fetus debris” and “DNA particles”. The US is facing its worst measles

    Scientists surprised to discover mayflies and shrimp making their bodies out of ancient gas
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McInerney, Senior Research Scientist in Ecosystem Ecology, CSIRO The native shrimp _Paratya australiensis_ was among the species found to incorporate carbon from natural gas into their bodies in the Condamine River. Chris Van Wyk/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND What’s the currency for all life on Earth? Carbon. Every

    Archibald Packing Room Prize goes to Abdul Abdullah for Jason Phu portrait, among broader set of bold and deeply personal works
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne Winner Packing Room Prize 2025, Abdul Abdullah ‘No mountain high enough’, oil on linen, 162.4 x 136.7cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery

    New Zealand condemned for failing to make ICJ humanitarian case over Gaza genocide
    Asia Pacific Report The advocacy group Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has condemned the New Zealand government fpr failing to make a humanitarian submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings at The Hague this week into Israel blocking vital supplies entering Gaza. The ICJ’s ongoing investigation into Israeli genocide in the besieged enclave is

    The Liberals’ women problem may seem intractable, but here’s what they could learn from the Teals
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hayman, PhD Candidate and Casual Academic in Politics, La Trobe University The impression of the Liberal Party as out of touch with women persists in this year’s election. The party’s “women problem” was brought into sharp focus by the backlash to its now-abandoned policy to stop

    This NZ law aims to give people with criminal convictions a ‘clean slate’. It’s not working
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Plum, Senior Research Fellow, Auckland University of Technology Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock If you own a business, would you be willing to hire a person who has been convicted for a crime? Give them a chance when a background check shows they have a criminal record? The answers matter

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 2, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 2, 2025.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: India: Authorities should urgently rehabilitate thousands displaced in two years of ethnic violence in Manipur

    Source: Amnesty International

    The Government of India must prioritize humanitarian aid and immediately implement a clear, inclusive and time-bound plan for the safe and voluntary return of communities displaced by ethnic violence in Manipur, said Amnesty International, ahead of the second anniversary of the outbreak of violence.

    Since violence erupted on 3 May 2023 between the Meitei community and Kuki and other tribal hill communities, more than 50,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) from both communities continue to remain in relief camps across the state, living in inhumane conditions with limited access to healthcare, sanitation, and adequate nutrition.

    “It is unacceptable that the Indian government has failed to address the humanitarian needs and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for displaced communities who remain in relief camps two years since the start of the ethnic violence in Manipur. This inaction has left tens of thousands in limbo, forced to endure life in inhumane conditions with no end in sight,” said Aakar Patel, chair of board, Amnesty International India.

    “Despite the devastating impact of the violence, including the loss of 260 lives, there has been no meaningful progress toward justice and accountability. The rehabilitation policy must also prioritize accountability for the grave human rights violations and abuses committed since May 2023.”

    According to the latest government data as per sources, more than 58,000 people are living in 281 relief camps across the state. Many others have fled to states like Mizoram and Meghalaya. Despite the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur in February 2025 which suspended the state government and extended central government’s rule in the state, the conditions have not improved.

    Fear and insecurity preventing return

    Key stakeholders in Manipur told Amnesty International that while many IDPs are desperate to return home because of the terrible living conditions, fear and insecurity persist. Numerous homes have been destroyed, while others remain occupied by vigilante groups, making return impossible without proper state intervention and guarantees of safety.

    Babloo Loitongbam, a human rights defender and lawyer from Imphal, said: “Thousands are still unable to return home – not by choice, but due to ongoing fear and insecurity.  As delays persist, frustration and resentment continue to grow among those affected… potentially creating a far more volatile and dangerous situation.”

    A community worker told Amnesty International: “If they go back to their homes, how can they sleep peacefully in a house where the roof and the walls are riddled with bullet holes? They need security and protection. And not many can afford to reconstruct their homes without assistance from the authorities.”

    Inhuman conditions in relief camps

    While the Union Home Ministry announced that it has provided INR 21,700,000 (256470 USD) for relief and rehabilitation during the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Home Minister Amit Shah on 3 April said that ‘discussions are ongoing’ regarding a rehabilitation package for the internally displaced people.

    A community worker from a relief camp, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Amnesty International: “The health facilities in these camps are very bad. We regularly see outbreaks of measles, dysentery and fever…There are also people with illnesses like cancer and tuberculosis and many who need dialysis treatment. The only government hospital nearby doesn’t have the capacity to treat these patients and there aren’t many specialist doctors, which is worrying. We are getting some assistance from civil society and philanthropic organizations but nothing much from the state.”

    Another community worker told Amnesty International: “Sanitation is a big problem in these camps. More than 100 families are using two to three makeshift toilets right now. The living conditions are pathetic, cramped and very suffocating. My concern is also that they are provided with two meals a day and the quality of the food is not good.”

    Under international law, IDPs have the right to access to adequate housing, water, sanitation, health and other essential services, without discrimination, as anyone else living in India. The denial of access to these essential rights is a violation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which India ratified in 1979 and the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

    Failure to ensure accountability

    Since May 2023, homes, businesses, villages, and places of worship have been burned, attacked, looted, and vandalized in the ongoing ethnic violence. Two years on, the authorities have failed to bring the suspected perpetrators of the human rights violations to account, and to provide access to justice and effective remedies for victims, thereby contributing to impunity.

    Benjamin Mate, Chairman of the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, said: “To ensure true progress in Manipur, the Government of India must appoint an independent commission to thoroughly investigate the role of senior officials, state bureaucrats, police officials, and armed groups during the ethnic violence over the past two years. Accountability is essential, and only through such a transparent and impartial inquiry can justice be delivered to the victims.”

    “The BJP-led administrations at both the state and central levels have not succeeded in bringing an end to the ongoing violence in Manipur. By consistently failing to hold those suspected of serious human rights violations accountable, the government risks signaling that such impunity will persist – ultimately paving the way for further abuses which unfortunately will impede any proposed rehabilitation policy in the coming days,” said Aakar Patel.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Global: What are the biggest gaffes, bloopers and blunders that recent presidents have made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University

    Lots of presidents have said things they regret. Or most of them have. Carol Yepes/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.

    Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.

    “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”

    The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.

    Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”

    This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.

    Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.

    “I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.

    The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.

    Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.

    Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.

    Donald Trump auditions for Grinch-who-stole-Christmas role.

    Richard Nixon is a law-abiding guy

    On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.

    “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”

    Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.

    Gerald Ford forgets the Cold War

    Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.

    During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.

    “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”

    To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”

    Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.

    Gerald Ford says it’s really a Warm, not Cold, War.

    Jimmy Carter gets advice from his teen

    Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.

    “She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”

    Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.

    Jimmy Carter has a smart 13-year-old daughter.

    Ronald Reagan attacks Russia

    Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.

    A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.

    Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

    The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.

    George H.W. Bush eats word salad

    Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.

    “I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”

    Bill Clinton is or isn’t, maybe

    Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.

    Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.

    “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”

    Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
    “Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”

    George W. Bush’s shame

    George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.

    “There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”

    Barack Obama strikes out

    Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.

    While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.

    Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”

    Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.

    Obama made a bad joke about the Special Olympics during an interview with Jay Leno; he quickly apologized for it.
    Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images

    Joe Biden’s bad day

    Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.

    During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.

    Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.

    “And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.

    “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”

    The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.

    Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.

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

    ref. What are the biggest gaffes, bloopers and blunders that recent presidents have made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-biggest-gaffes-bloopers-and-blunders-that-recent-presidents-have-made-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Atlantic Council delegation

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-05-01
    President Lai meets Japan’s LDP Youth Division delegation
    On the morning of May 1, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division. In remarks, President Lai thanked the guests for demonstrating support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to conduct exchanges in such areas as national defense, the economy, education, culture, sports, and the arts so that bilateral relations reach even greater heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to welcome our distinguished guests, who include Diet members in the LDP Youth Division and guests from Junior Chamber International (JCI) Japan, to the Presidential Office. It is also a pleasure to see LDP Youth Division Director Nakasone Yasutaka, House of Representatives Member Hiranuma Shojiro, and House of Councillors Member Kamiya Masayuki again today. I look forward to discussions with all our distinguished guests. The LDP Youth Division and JCI Japan have once again demonstrated support for deepening Taiwan-Japan ties through concrete actions. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I also want to thank the LDP Youth Division for launching a fundraising campaign to help those affected by the earthquake in Hualien County on April 3 last year. LDP Youth Division members will be important leaders in Japan’s political arena in the future. Taiwan deeply values our exchanges with the Youth Division and hopes to bring about concrete results from such exchanges. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are critical to the security and prosperity of the world, and Taiwan and Japan can work together to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo and Kishida Fumio, and current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru have repeatedly stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Taiwan is deeply grateful to Japan’s current and former prime ministers for their concern and support for this issue. Taiwan and Japan can also cooperate in industry and the economy. As our industries are complementary, further cooperation can create win-win outcomes. In the semiconductor industry, for instance, Taiwan’s strengths lie in manufacturing, while Japan’s strengths lie in materials, equipment, and technology. If we work together, the semiconductor industry is sure to see even more robust development. In addition to the economy and national defense, Taiwan and Japan can also conduct exchanges in such areas as education, culture, sports, and the arts. Our countries have long shared deep ties – Director Nakasone’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro, was stationed in Taiwan and lived in what is now the Mingde New Residential Quarter of Kaohsiung City’s Zuoying District. I am confident that on the basis of our already solid foundations, Taiwan-Japan relations can reach even greater heights. Director Nakasone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for finding time in his busy schedule to meet with the visiting delegation. He said that the LDP Youth Division sends a visiting delegation to Taiwan each year and is always granted the opportunity to meet with the president, demonstrating his high regard for the delegation, for which the director again expressed his gratitude. He remarked that he, together with House of Representatives Member Suzuki Keisuke, visited Taiwan last July, and that whenever he visits Taiwan, it feels as if he is returning home. Director Nakasone recalled President Lai’s earlier remarks, saying that he hopes the young people of Taiwan and Japan can fully engage in exchanges in the areas of national defense, the economy, culture, education, and the arts. The director said he believes that in today’s complex and difficult international situation, such directives are necessary. This is especially so, he emphasized, during United States President Donald Trump’s second term, when things once taken for granted are no longer so, and when the global economy is undergoing significant changes. Director Nakasone expressed his full support for strengthening Taiwan and Japan’s practical and strategic cooperation. He said he believes each side will be able to benefit from such cooperation and hopes that exchanges will progress toward shared goals. He pointed out that, as maritime nations, Taiwan and Japan share the goals of protecting the ocean and using marine resources wisely, goals that we ought to cooperate on and devote our full efforts to. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are critical to the peace and stability of East Asia and even the world, he said, so we must ensure that the world and its leaders recognize this point, and Japan will do its utmost to advocate for it. Director Nakasone said, on the topic of semiconductors, that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s new fab in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has made the area very lively, adding that the Japanese government is providing more than 1.25 trillion yen in subsidies. Moving forward, the Japanese government plans to inject an additional 10 trillion yen, he said, to aid in the development of AI and other fields. Noting that Taiwan and Japan both excel in semiconductors, he expressed his hope that each can give free rein to its strengths to produce an even greater effect. Director Nakasone said that despite Taiwan’s facing formidable internal and external circumstances, it saw 4.6 percent economic growth last year under President Lai’s strong leadership, and it continued to promote measures to enhance overall societal resilience, all of which is admirable. In closing, the director thanked President Lai once again for taking the time to meet with them. Also in attendance were Japanese House of Representatives Members Nemoto Taku and Fukuda Kaoru, and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-04-29
    President Lai meets NBR delegation  
    On the morning of April 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). In remarks, President Lai stated that as Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defense of global democracy, we are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, demonstrating our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. The president said he hopes to further advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. He also expressed hope that this will help boost economic resilience for both sides and establish each as a key pillar of regional security, elevating our relations to even higher levels. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with Admiral John Aquilino again today. I also warmly welcome NBR President Michael Wills and our distinguished guests from the bureau to Taiwan. I look forward to exchanging views with you all on Taiwan-US relations and the regional situation. During his tenure as commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Aquilino placed much attention on the Taiwan Strait issue. And the NBR has conducted a wealth of research and analysis focusing on matters of regional security. Thanks to all of your outstanding contributions and efforts, the international community has gained a better understanding of the role Taiwan plays in the Indo-Pacific region and in global democratic development. For this, I want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defending global democracy and is located at a strategically important location in the first island chain. We are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, building economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and standing side-by-side with the democratic community to jointly demonstrate the strength of deterrence and safeguard regional peace and stability. At the beginning of this month, I announced an increase in military allowances for volunteer service members and combat troops. The government will also continue to reform national defense and enhance self-sufficiency in defense. In addition, we will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. These efforts continue to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. As we mark the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, we thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan and strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership over the years. We believe that, in addition to engaging in military exchanges and cooperation, Taiwan and the US can build an even closer economic and trade relationship, boosting each other’s economic resilience and establishing each as a key pillar of regional security. I expect that your continued assistance will help advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the US, elevating our relations to even higher levels. Once again, I welcome our distinguished guests to Taiwan and wish you a pleasant and successful trip. I hope that through this visit, you gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s economy and national defense. Admiral Aquilino then delivered remarks, thanking the Ministry of National Defense for the invitation and President Lai for receiving and spending time with them. Mentioning that this is his second visit in five months, he said he continues to be incredibly impressed with the president’s leadership and the actions he has taken to secure Taiwan and defend its people. Admiral Aquilino said that he has watched the efforts of the ministers on whole-of-society defense to demonstrate deterrence and added that the pace of the work is nothing short of inspiring. Admiral Aquilino noted that Taiwan’s thriving democracy is incredibly important to the peace and stability of the region. He stated that he, alongside the NBR, will continue to offer support, noting that President Wills and his team are an asset to Taiwan and the US that helps continue our close relationship and ensure peace and stability in the region.  

    Details
    2025-04-28
    President Lai meets Japanese Diet Member and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae
    On the afternoon of April 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. The president expressed hope that in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, Taiwan and Japan can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides, and jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Representative Takaichi as she returns for another visit to Taiwan. I am also very happy to have Members of the House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi and Ozaki Masanao, and Member of the House of Councillors Sato Kei all gathered together here to engage in these very important exchanges. Our visitors will be taking part in many exchange activities during this trip. Earlier today at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank’s International Political and Economic Forum, Representative Takaichi delivered a speech in which she clearly demonstrated the great importance she places upon the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. For this I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of our guests. The peoples of Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship and mutual trust. We have a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, but beyond that, we both have striven to contribute to regional peace and stability. I also want to thank the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Tomorrow you will all make a trip to Kaohsiung to visit a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who once said, “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” We will always remember the firm support and friendship he showed Taiwan. Since taking office last year, I have worked hard to improve Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and implement our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. By strengthening our national defense capabilities, building up economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries including Japan, we can together maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, we hope that Taiwan and Japan, as important economic and trade partners, can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that further enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides. Going forward, Taiwan will work hard to play an important role in the international community and contribute its key strengths. I hope that, with the support of our guests, Taiwan can soon accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan so that we can jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, I thank each of you once again for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. I am confident that your visit will help deepen Taiwan-Japan ties and create even greater opportunities for cooperation. Let us all strive together to keep propelling Taiwan-Japan relations forward.  Representative Takaichi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and Taiwanese political leaders for the warm hospitality they extended to the delegation, and mentioning that the visiting delegation members are all like-minded partners carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. July 8 this year will mark the third anniversary of the passing of former Prime Minister Abe, she said, and when the former prime minister unfortunately passed away, President Lai, then serving as vice president, was among the first to come offer condolences, for which she expressed sincere admiration and gratitude. Representative Takaichi stated that Taiwan and Japan are island nations that face the same circumstances and problems, and that Japan’s trade activities rely heavily on ocean transport, so once a problem arises nearby that threatens maritime shipping lanes, it will be a matter of life and death for Japan. Taiwan and Japan are similar, as once a problem arises, both will face food and energy security issues, and supply chains may even be threatened, she said. Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Representative Takaichi stated that both sides must first protect and strengthen supply chain resilience. President Lai has previously said that he wants to turn Taiwan into an AI island, she said, and in semiconductors, Taiwan has the world’s leading technology. Representative Takaichi went on to say that Taiwan and Japan can collaborate in the fields of AI and semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use industries, as well as in areas such as drones and new energy technologies to build more resilient supply chains, so that if problems arise, we can maintain our current standard of living with peace of mind. Representative Takaichi indicated that cooperation in the defense sector is also crucial, and that by uniting like-minded countries including Taiwan, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and even countries in Europe, we can build a stronger network to jointly maintain our security guarantees. Representative Takaichi expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen substantive non-governmental relations, including personnel exchange visits and information sharing, so that we can jointly face and respond to crises when they arise. Regarding the hope to sign a Taiwan-Japan EPA that President Lai had mentioned earlier, she also expressed support and said she looks forward to upcoming exchanges and talks. The visiting delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai delivers remarks at International Holocaust Remembrance Day event
    On the afternoon of April 23, President Lai Ching-te attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event and delivered remarks, in which he emphasized that peace is priceless, and war has no winners, while morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, defending democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said we must never forget history, and must overcome our differences and join in solidarity to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Upon arriving at the event, President Lai heard a testimony from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of the prayer “El Maleh Rachamim.” He then joined other distinguished guests in lighting candles in memory of the victims. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to thank the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-organizing this deeply significant memorial ceremony again this year. I also want to thank everyone for attending. We are here today to remember the victims of the Holocaust, express sympathy for the survivors, honor the brave individuals who protected the victims, and acknowledge all who were impacted by this atrocity. It was deeply moving to hear Ms. [Orly] Sela share the story of how her grandmother, Yehudit Biksz, escaped the Nazi regime. I want to thank her specially for traveling so far to attend this event. From the 1930s through World War II, the Nazi regime sought to exclude Jewish people from society. In their campaign, they perpetrated systematic genocide driven by their ideology. Policies and directives under the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. Millions of others were persecuted, including Romani people, persons with disabilities, the gay community, and anyone who disagreed with Nazi ideology. It is one of the darkest chapters in human history. Many countries, including Taiwan, have enacted anti-massacre legislation, and observe a remembrance day each year. Those occasions help us remember the victims, preserve historical memory, and most importantly, reinforce our resolve to fight against hatred and discrimination. Twenty-three years ago, Chelujan (車路墘) Church in Tainan founded the Taiwan Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is the first Jewish museum in Taiwan, and the second Holocaust museum in Asia. Its founding mission urges us to forget hatred and love one another; put an end to war and advocate peace. Many of the exhibition items come from Jewish people, connecting Taiwan closer with Israel and helping Taiwanese better understand the experiences of Jewish people. In this way, we grow to more deeply cherish peace. When I was mayor of Tainan, I took part in an exhibition event at Chelujan Church. I was also invited by the Israeli government to join the International Mayors Conference in Israel, where I visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. I will never forget how deeply that experience moved me, and as a result, peace and human rights became even more important issues for me. These issues are valued by Taiwan and our friends and allies. They are also important links connecting Taiwan with the world. Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. We will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. We will also continue to make greater contributions and work with the international community to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. However, we still see wars raging around the world. We see a resurgence of authoritarian powers, which could severely impact global democracy, peace, and prosperous development. Today’s event allows for more than reflection on the past; it also serves as a warning for the future. We are reminded of the threats that hatred, prejudice, and extremism pose to humanity. But we are also reminded that morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. We must never forget history. We must overcome our differences and join in solidarity for a better future. Let’s work together to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Also in attendance at the event were Member of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and Taiwan friendship group Chair Boaz Toporovsky, ISECO Representative Maya Yaron, and German Institute Taipei Deputy Director General Andreas Hofem.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai pays respects to Pope Francis  
    On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te visited the Taipei Archdiocesan Curia to pay respects in a memorial ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. As officiant of the ceremony, President Lai burned incense and presented flowers, fruits, and wine to pay his respects to Pope Francis. At the direction of the master of ceremonies, the president then bowed three times in front of Pope Francis’s memorial portrait, conveying his grief and deep respect for the late pope. After hearing of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, President Lai promptly requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express sincere condolences from the people and government of Taiwan to the Vatican. The president also instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Urges Colleagues to Support Bisignano for SSA Commissioner

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered remarks on the Senate Floor urging his colleagues to support the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA).

    As delivered:
    “I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the confirmation of Mr. Frank Bisignano, who is nominated to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). 
    “The Social Security Administration has the significant responsibility of overseeing the Social Security program, which provides monthly benefits to millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families.  The SSA also oversees the Supplemental Security Income program and issues Social Security numbers and cards, among other workloads. 
    “I am confident Mr. Bisignano has the experience needed to lead this important agency.  He has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in banks and financial institutions.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, Inc., a leader in payments and financial technology. 
    “During his nomination hearing, Mr. Bisignano committed to improving customer service at the Social Security Administration, including by bringing down wait times for the agency’s National 800 Number and for claims decisions; ensuring that individuals can interact with the SSA in the way they prefer, whether in-person, by phone or online; and improving the SSA’s payment accuracy. 
    “During Mr. Bisignano’s nomination hearing, concerns were raised regarding his alleged connections to DOGE’s work at the SSA.  These allegations were raised in an anonymous letter, dated March 24, 2025, the day before Mr. Bisignano’s nomination hearing. 
    “The allegations focused on the frequency and details of communications between the nominee and SSA officials.  Mr. Bisignano addressed the allegations during the hearing and responded in writing as part of the questions for the record.  He has stated that he does not currently have a role at the SSA and was not part of the decision-making process led by the Acting Commissioner, Lee Dudek, about SSA operations, personnel or management. 
    “The Social Security Administration needs steady, Senate-confirmed leadership.  Mr. Bisignano would bring his decades-long focus on customer service and operational excellence to the SSA.  I strongly encourage my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Bisignano to serve as the next Commissioner of Social Security.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at CBP Commissioner Nomination Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Rodney Scott to be U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner.
    As prepared for delivery:
    “Today, we will hear from Rodney Scott, who is nominated to serve as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection—or CBP. 
    “Mr. Scott, congratulations on your nomination, and thank you for your willingness to serve.
    “Mr. Scott’s twenty-nine years of service at the U.S. Border Patrol provides him with the hands-on experience to oversee one the world’s largest—and most important—law enforcement agencies. 
    “The men and women of CBP are on the frontlines of keeping America safe while ensuring lawful commerce and travel still move efficiently. 
    “The CBP has a broad, challenging mission of countering terrorism; combatting transnational crime; securing the border, facilitating lawful trade and protecting revenue; and facilitating lawful travel.  
    “Consequently, CBP needs strong and committed leadership to ensure it can fulfill its dual responsibilities of allowing law-abiding travelers and businesses to get on their way while combatting grave threats to our security, such as the cartels smuggling fentanyl and other contraband into the United States. 
    “Mr. Scott’s extensive background experience makes him more than fit to lead such a sprawling agency. 
    “Mr. Scott has served on the front lines as Chief Patrol Agent with the Border Patrol, but has also gained valuable experience at CBP headquarters.  
    “In 2005, he served as an Assistant Chief within the Office of the CBP Commissioner’s Office of Anti-terrorism. 
    “In 2019, he served as the Acting Deputy Chief of the U.S Border Patrol, and went on to become Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol the following year. 
    “President Trump rightfully prioritizes border security and recognizes the need for effective leadership at CBP.  Mr. Scott is highly qualified for the job at hand, and the President made an excellent choice in nominating him for this position. 
    “Mr. Scott understands what makes CBP effective, including the strong partnerships it will need with various federal agencies and Congress.   If confirmed, I have no doubt he will be able to hit the ground running.
    “Thank you again for your willingness to return to government, and I look forward to working with you, if confirmed.
    “Before I turn it over to the Ranking Member, I am going to enter a document into the record.  Last Wednesday, Homeland Security was requested to provide further information regarding the 2010 death of Mr. Hernandez Rojas, who died at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and the actions of Mr. Scott—who served at Sector Headquarters in San Diego. 
    “Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem responded to the request and cited official investigations and statutes to note that Mr. Scott’s ministerial work following the death—including authorizing a subpoena to request medical records that were provided to the San Diego police department—was in accordance with his duties, the law and professional standards.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Africa – Turkey Strengthens Global Energy Influence with Strategic African Partnerships

    SOURCE: African Energy Chamber

    Turkey is deepening its energy ties across Africa, launching new projects in Libya, Somalia and Senegal as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its role in the continent’s evolving energy landscape.

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 2, 2025/ — Turkey is making bold strides in expanding its energy footprint, with a series of strategic moves aimed at securing long-term energy resources and boosting its global influence. The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), the country’s state-owned energy giant, is set to launch oil and gas exploration projects in Libya, aligning with Turkey’s broader strategy to diversify its energy supplies and tap into Africa’s vast resources. Turkey, which currently imports over 90% of its energy, is actively working to reduce its energy import bill by tapping into new domestic and international resources – making markets like Libya a key part of its long-term energy security agenda.

    Turkey’s energy diplomacy is also gaining momentum in other parts of Africa, with recent agreements signed in Somalia and Senegal. As Africa continues to build stronger energy ties with G20 nations, Turkey is positioning itself as a reliable partner and growing pillar of energy security. The upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, set to take place in Cape Town later this year, offers a key platform  for Turkey to expand its engagement with African energy markets and foster collaboration on exploration, infrastructure and investment.

    Turkey and Somalia Deepen Energy Cooperation

    Earlier this month, Turkey and Somalia signed a new hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement covering 16,000 km² of onshore territory. Under the deal, TPAO will conduct 2D and 3D seismic studies across three blocks, followed by drilling activities based on the findings. Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, has described the agreement as a strategic milestone in bilateral cooperation, building on a previous offshore production-sharing agreement signed last year.

    In addition, seismic activities in Somalia’s maritime zones are underway, with Turkey’s Oruç Reis vessel having completed 78% of a 3D seismic survey over 15,000 km². The survey is expected to conclude by May 2025, after which drilling decisions will follow. Turkey is also eyeing cooperation in the mining sector, and further collaboration will be discussed at a Natural Resources Summit in Istanbul next month.

    Energy Diplomacy Extends to West Africa

    Last October, Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Senegal to cooperate on oil and gas exploration, production and trade. The agreement, signed during a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, includes Turkish participation in both onshore and offshore seismic surveys and extends to renewable energy, critical minerals and rare earths. This deal follows similar agreements with Somalia and Niger, as Ankara strengthens its energy ties across the continent.

    Ankara’s Growing Influence Across Africa

    Through these initiatives, Turkey is positioning itself as a leading partner to Africa, distinguishing itself from traditional Western powers by prioritizing co-development and mutual benefit. Under President Erdoğan, Turkey has quadrupled its diplomatic presence on the continent, expanded defense cooperation with countries including Somalia, Libya, Nigeria and Ethiopia, and boosted trade through major infrastructure investments. In 2023 alone, Turkish contractors completed $85.5 billion worth of projects across Africa. Turkish Airlines now serves 62 destinations on the continent, including Mogadishu, where Turkey has played a pivotal role in rebuilding the capital’s airport.

    AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, will serve as a valuable platform for Turkey to strengthen its energy partnerships across the continent. The event convenes African producers, global investors and policymakers to drive new deals and shape Africa’s energy future. As Turkey expands its engagement with African energy markets, AEW 2025 is expected to be a pivotal venue for forging partnerships, launching projects and advancing long-term collaboration.

    About AEW: Invest in African Energies:
    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – RACS calls on all levels of government for reform

    Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

    The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) today issued an urgent call to governments across Australia to engage in genuine negotiations to resolve the pressing issues facing the NSW Health surgical workforce.

    Australians are now waiting almost twice as long on average for elective surgery than they were 20 years ago. Workforce pressures and chronic understaffing have contributed to a decline in performance across the country, putting immense strain on both clinicians and patients.

    “Our surgeons are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for patients across NSW Health public hospitals, however, they cannot continue to do so under the current conditions,” said outgoing RACS President, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding.

    “We are increasingly seeing bureaucratic overreach and planning without senior clinician input, which has escalated over the past year. This has significantly impacted surgeon work practices, workforce wellbeing, surgical training, and most importantly, patient safety.”

    Associate Professor Fielding warned that the current conditions have led to resignations and industrial action across multiple jurisdictions, exemplified by recent strikes in NSW and the resignations in ACT.

    “The industrial action reflects the consequences of chronic understaffing, unmanageable workloads, and poor working conditions. These issues threaten the quality of patient care and jeopardise the sustainability of our healthcare system both in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand,” Associate Professor Fielding said.

    In addition to advocating for systemic reform, surgeons will come together this weekend at the College’s Annual Scientific Congress to discuss strategies for working with governments to reduce elective surgery waiting lists. The gathering aims to foster collaborative solutions to improve access and reduce delays for patients awaiting vital procedures.

    The College’s concerns are backed by a recent national survey conducted by the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation, which revealed mounting fears of a widespread exodus of medical professionals from public hospitals across Australia.

    “Without meaningful reform and collaboration, the system is under serious threat, many surgeons will leave the public sector, costing the government millions in training and support. We must work together now to turn this situation around before it’s too late.”

    The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons urges all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and action to ensure a sustainable, safe, and high-quality surgical care system across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

    About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

    RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. www.surgeons.org

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smith, Schneider, Harshbarger, Matsui, Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Seniors’ Healthcare Options

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

    Washington, DC — Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Doris Matsui (D-CA), introduced the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. The members released the following statements:

    “Giving seniors more options to meet their healthcare needs is a valuable way to improve outcomes for patients,” said Rep. Smith. “Pharmacists are trusted, key partners in seniors’ care, particularly in rural communities where health provider availability is limited. Allowing greater flexibility for treatment of common respiratory illnesses is a commonsense solution to increase access to care. I thank Reps. Schneider, Harshbarger, and Matsui for partnering with me on this important legislation.”

    “Pharmacists have long played a crucial role delivering quality health care to Americans, including helping prevent the spread of infectious disease,” said Rep. Schneider. “We need to empower pharmacists to continue providing care to seniors and receiving reimbursement for services related to COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat. I’m proud to work on this important initiative with my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Adrian Smith.”

    “This bipartisan legislation will modernize Medicare and help ensure our seniors — especially those in rural and medically underserved communities — have timely access to healthcare from the most trusted health professionals in their communities,” said Rep. Harshbarger.

    “Our pharmacies are directly in the heart of our communities, providing frontline care and services to those who need it most,” said Rep. Matsui. “Time and again, pharmacists have stepped up to meet public health threats and administer vaccines, tests, and other critical services that keep Americans healthy. That’s why we must make sure they have the federal support they need to continue this work. The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act would ensure that Medicare patients can continue to access these services well into the future.”

    The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act would provide for Medicare coverage of pharmacist-administered tests for common respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), strep throat, and COVID-19. It would also allow pharmacists to prescribe treatments for these illnesses when properly indicated. These flexibilities were initially provided during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) through various emergency waivers but have since lapsed. The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act would not preempt existing state scope of practice laws regarding the ability of pharmacists to legally perform these services. 

    The legislation is supported by the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition. Coalition members include the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Abbott, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, CVS Health, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Health Mart, Kroger, McKesson, Medicine Shoppe, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Walgreens, and Walmart. The coalition released the following statement on the legislation:

    “The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition commends Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) for introducing the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) to ensure seniors, including those living in rural areas and vulnerable communities, can turn to their local pharmacists for testing and treatment services that can protect them from certain common respiratory conditions. Congress must move quickly and provide seniors with Medicare coverage in states where pharmacists can offer testing and treatment services for conditions that, although common, can quickly become life-threatening if not properly managed.” 

    Read the bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman’s Statement on the Reported Detention of Union Organizers in Western New York

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “I am deeply disturbed about reports out of Western New York today that federal immigration agents stopped a bus carrying farm workers to target and detain union organizers.  

    “According to the reports, the agents carried a list of names of United Farm Workers union organizers who were then removed and detained while the bus and its remaining passengers were allowed to proceed to the worksite. 

    “The prospect that the federal government is using its immigration authority to target, silence and intimidate labor leaders is a chilling abuse of power, reminiscent of a dark time decades ago when the FBI used fear, surveillance, and xenophobia in an attempt to crush the labor movement and smear Cesar Chavez. 

    “I call on the Trump administration to immediately inform Congress and the American people of the lawful basis for detaining these workers. If there is none, they must be released immediately.” 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: How Idaho is Fighting for Constitutional Rights Nationwide

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: How Idaho is Fighting for Constitutional Rights Nationwide

    Dear Friends,
    Most people don’t spend their days reading court filings or coalition letters from attorneys general—and I don’t blame them. But behind those filings is where we do some of our most important work defending Idaho’s values, protecting our freedoms, and standing up to overreach. So in this week’s Labrador Letter, I want to take a moment to explain how this work happens, what we’ve been doing, and why it matters for Idaho.
    One of the tools we use as attorneys general is the amicus brief—a legal document filed in a court case where a state isn’t directly involved, but where the outcome affects our rights or our laws. “Amicus” means “friend” in Latin, and these briefs allow us to stand up as a “friend of the court”—and more importantly, a friend of the people—on issues that matter beyond just Idaho’s border.
    We also join coalition letters with other attorneys general to demand accountability, warn of legal consequences, and push back on policies that overstep constitutional boundaries. These aren’t just symbolic gestures. They are the united voice of states, telling corporations, federal agencies, and international bodies that we will not be silent—or that we’re prepared to fight back against unlawful policies.
    In the past few months, we’ve used both of these tools to defend parental rights, merit-based hiring, Second Amendment freedoms, veteran’s benefits, and the rule of law.
    Some of the clearest examples of this work are playing out in the business and financial sectors—where the push for political conformity is increasingly replacing accountability, and sometimes, the law. We recently joined a 15-state coalition urging the Business Roundtable—an organization made up of CEOs from some of the most powerful companies in America—to abandon discriminatory DEI mandates. These race-based hiring quotas and ideological trainings violate both state and federal law, replacing merit with identity politics. We joined this effort because Idahoans deserve to compete and be hired based on ability, not immutable characteristics.
    At the same time, we also joined a coalition letter asking major Wall Street firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and others about their investments in Chinese companies tied to forced labor, genocide, and the Chinese Communist Party. These asset managers handle trillions of dollars on behalf of pensioners, retirees, and working Americans. When they hide the risks of investing in an adversarial regime, it’s not just bad business—it may be fraud. Idaho public employees, retirees, and private investors have a right to know whether their money is being funneled into unstable or unethical markets, especially when those markets are propped up by a hostile foreign government.
    We’re also confronting another ideological push—this one coming from within our own institutions and aimed squarely at the foundations of biology, parental rights, and public spending. We’re pushing back against one of the most troubling trends in our country today: the effort to force radical gender ideology into every institution—including our prison system. I recently co-led a 24-state amicus brief in support of a Trump-era executive order that prohibits taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for inmates in federal custody. The case, Kingdom v. Trump, asks whether prisoners can claim a constitutional right under the Eighth Amendment to receive these procedures at public expense. Our brief makes clear: denying elective, irreversible procedures is not cruel or unusual punishment. These decisions about medical care in prisons should be made by elected policymakers—not imposed by courts. Idahoans should not be forced to subsidize medical practices are experimental and go against basic biology. This case is about protecting taxpayers and restoring common sense to public policy.
    We’re seeing the same kind of overreach in states attempting to rewrite the Second Amendment—and Idaho is fighting back. This past September, I led a multistate amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Maryland’s unconstitutional ban on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles. These firearms are used by law-abiding Americans every day for self-defense, sport, and tradition. Our brief stated that Maryland’s law violates the Second Amendment and defies Supreme Court precedent. Idahoans value their freedom—and when another state tries to criminalize the exercise of a constitutional right, we will lead the charge to stop it. The case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, and we are awaiting a decision on whether the justices will take it up.
    That same commitment to defending what’s right applies to how we treat those who served our country. In March, our office joined every state in the country in a bipartisan amicus brief defending the earned benefits of two decorated servicemembers denied their full GI Bill education benefits. The VA took a narrow view of the law, even after the U.S. Supreme Court made clear in Rudisill v. McDonough that these benefits are owed. This wasn’t a partisan issue. It was a failure by a federal agency to keep its word to our veterans. That’s why we stepped in. Veterans in Idaho and across America deserve every benefit they were promised.
    Just as we fight for our veterans, we’re also working to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis that has harmed communities across America. We recently helped secure up to $335 million in a bipartisan, multistate settlement with Mylan Pharmaceuticals. The company marketed opioid products, including fentanyl patches, while minimizing known risks of abuse. These practices contributed to a crisis that has touched nearly every state—including Idaho. While no settlement can undo the damage, these funds will support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in communities across our state.
    All of this is more than just legal action—it’s a commitment to protecting Idaho’s future and pushing back against those who would undermine it. We don’t wait for permission to defend our values, and we won’t stay quiet while others try to dictate the direction of this country. Whether it’s Wall Street, Washington, or states trying to export their failed policies nationwide, Idaho will continue to lead—fighting in the courts, building strong coalitions, and standing firm for the rule of law. We will protect our rights, our sovereignty, and our way of life—no matter who tries to take them.
    Best regards,

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Emmanuel College Assistant Admissions Director Arrested for Allegedly Soliciting a College Applicant to Engage in Commercial Sex

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – An Assistant Admissions Director for Emmanuel College in Boston was arrested this evening and charged with soliciting an underage college applicant to engage in commercial sex with him.

    Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday May 5, 2025.  

    According to the charging document, Henriques used his position as an Assistant Admissions Director to allegedly gain access to the personal information of various admitted or prospective students, who he later contacted to solicit to engage in commercial sex with him. Specifically, on April 25, 2025, Henriques met with multiple admitted or prospective students.   After meeting with  at least three such students, Henriques allegedly gained access to their personal information and began contacting them, offering to “pay them for some fun,” offering to provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images. It is alleged that Henriques began contacting a fourth victim after she formally committed to attend the college on April 25, 2025. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” and began sending pornographic videos to her.

    Henriques is charged with attempting to traffic a 17-year-old victim, who was a prospective student. Henriques allegedly reviewed the victim’s tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college on or about April 25, 2025. Henriques asked the victim what grade she was in and the victim told Henriques what local high school she attended. Within hours of finishing the tour, it is alleged that Henriques began texting the victim on her phone number provided on her admissions form. Henriques allegedly offered to pay the victim $400 for “some fun” right now and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her. Henriques continued to contact the minor victim that night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he got her number.  He allegedly told the victim that “porn” and “$” was ready for her. Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a “gangbang” and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him. It is further alleged that despite the victim rejecting Henriques’s offer multiple times, Henrique continued to text her telling her to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted. Between April 25, 2025 and April 28, 2025, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times. After the victim blocked his phone number, Henriques allegedly began soliciting the victim via email.

    The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.

    If you believe that you may be a victim of the alleged crime, please reach out to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force by filling out this short short form.

    If you have information or questions about this investigation, or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bill to Ban Assault Weapons, Protect Nevada Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce a bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and protect Nevada communities. The bill would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and import of military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other high-capacity ammunition feeding devices that have repeatedly been used in mass shootings across the nation. While the 1994 assault weapons ban was in place, the United States saw gun massacres decline by 37%, and mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely. When the ban expired in 2005, gun deaths rose 239%.
    “Senseless acts of gun violence have destroyed communities and torn families apart in Nevada and all across our nation,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce this bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and take commonsense steps to get weapons of war off of our streets. I will continue taking action to end gun violence while respecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.”
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight against gun violence. Earlier this year, Rosen helped introduce commonsense, bipartisan legislation to ban bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons. Bump stocks were used in the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. Last Congress, Rosen helped pass the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to enhance background checks on firearm purchases for individuals under 21, fund the implementation of red flag laws, combat firearms trafficking, and invest in school safety and mental health programs. Rosen also helped introduce the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act to provide all victims of gun violence and their loved ones with the resources to help meet medical, legal, financial, and other needs. Senator Rosen also helped introduce the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all commercial gun sales, including those made online and at gun shows. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces Release of Nearly $50 Million in Reimbursement Funding for Northern Light Health for COVID Pandemic Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that $49 million in delayed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding has been released to Northern Light Health by the Maine Emergency Management Agency to reimburse costs associated with its COVID-19 pandemic response. Northern Light Health was among the health care providers that faced significant delays in receiving FEMA disaster relief funding following the pandemic, despite the substantial financial burden it incurred while caring for patients.

    “This funding will help ensure that Northern Light Health is reimbursed for the vital health care it provided to Mainers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Collins. “From expanding patient capacity, to securing personal protective equipment, and increasing staffing in critical care units, Maine’s hospitals stepped up to care for Maine communities during an unprecedented time of crisis. I strongly advocated for the release of these FEMA funds, and I am pleased to see them finally delivered.”

    “Northern Light Health is incredibly grateful to Senator Collins for securing critical FEMA reimbursements for the expenses related to the care we delivered to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said James Rohrbaugh, Northern Light Health executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We understand FEMA disaster relief funding requires detail and scrutiny to ensure the funds are appropriately directed and that caused a significant delay to our receiving these reimbursements and thank the Senator for never losing sight of this.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Enhance 9-1-1 Emergency Response System Advances Through Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    The legislation would ensure Americans reach help when dialing 9-1-1, including during natural disasters, and make important updates to the classification of 9-1-1 dispatchers
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) announced that their bipartisan Enhancing First Response Act, which would make important updates to our 9-1-1 emergency reporting system to ensure Americans can reach help when they dial 9-1-1 during natural disasters and improve implementation of Kari’s law, has advanced out of the Commerce Committee.
    The legislation will also ensure 9-1-1 dispatchers are recognized as protective service workers to ensure their job classification appropriately recognizes the lifesaving nature of their work. This legislation is also co-sponsored by Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
    “Americans need reliable communications networks, especially 9-1-1, and this is a crucial step toward ensuring that reliability,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will save lives by ensuring Americans can connect to 9-1-1 during major disasters and improving the resiliency of our 9-1-1 system against outages and disruptions. It also recognizes 9-1-1 dispatchers for their critical roles during times of crisis by ensuring they are classified as the first responders that they are.”
    “Ensuring Americans can reach help when they dial 9-1-1 during natural disasters is paramount,” said Blackburn. “The Emergency Reporting Act takes necessary steps to prevent 9-1-1 service disruptions, properly recognize dispatchers for their lifesaving work, and further study how we can make improvements to the 9-1-1 emergency response system.”
    Specifically, the Enhancing First Response Act would:
    Require the FCC to issue a report after major natural disasters on the extent to which people were unable to reach 9-1-1 during the disaster and subsequent recovery efforts, and make recommendations to improve the resiliency of 9-1-1 systems to prevent future service disruptions;
    Require the FCC to study the unreported 9-1-1 outages and develop recommendations to improve outage reporting and communication between mobile carriers experiencing network outages and 9-1-1 centers;
    Update the classification of 9-1-1 dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service workers in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to better reflect the life-saving work they perform each day. The SOC is a tool used by federal agencies to classify the workforce into useful, occupational categories;
    Require the FCC to report on the extent to which multi-line telephone system manufacturers and vendors have complied with Kari’s Law, which Senator Klobuchar worked to pass into law in 2018 and requires the manufacturers of multi-line telephone systems to create systems that allow callers to reach 9-1-1 without dialing a prefix or postfix.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan, Van Hollen Recognize U.S. Foreign Service Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
    05.02.25
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus, announced a resolution celebrating May 2, 2025 as “Foreign Service Day.” The day recognizes the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States and honors the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Foreign Service Day has been celebrated on the first Friday in May for generations. Last year, the Senators celebrated the Foreign Service’s 100th anniversary on May 24, 2024. The institution, as it is organized today, was established through the Rogers Act of 1924, which consolidated and reorganized the existing Diplomatic and Consular Services into a single entity. Since then, the Foreign Service has led U.S. diplomatic efforts across the globe and is critical to securing U.S. foreign policy interests.
    “America’s Foreign Service officers are tasked with promoting America’s interests, strengthening national security, and assisting U.S. citizens in the far corners of the globe, often with little fanfare or recognition.” said Sen. Sullivan, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus. “I’m glad to have worked with Senator Van Hollen once again to salute the courageous, dedicated members of the United States Foreign Service.”
    “Our Foreign Service officers and State Department officials carry out the vital functions of advancing American diplomacy, promoting our values, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad. The work they do is essential to our national security and our standing on the world stage, and we are deeply grateful for the sacrifice they and their families make,” said Sen. Van Hollen, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus. “This bipartisan resolution honors the immense contributions and critical importance of the Foreign Service to our nation and underscores why we must continue working to support our diplomatic corps.” 
    “Each year on the first Friday in May, we commemorate Foreign Service Day to honor those who gave their lives in service to their nation, defending the security, prosperity, and fundamental values of the United States,” said Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association. “Members of the Foreign Service remain ready to defend, to take necessary risks and accept the hardships that come with serving as the first line of defense for our nation. I thank our caucus co-chairs for their commemoration of this day and the resolution recognizing the important work of the Foreign Service.”
    The Foreign Service is comprised of tens of thousands of personnel who serve at hundreds of embassies and consulates overseas. They are employees of the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
    In 2017, Senators Van Hollen and Sullivan formed the Foreign Service Caucus to provide a bipartisan platform for addressing the challenges facing those who serve in the U.S. Foreign Service around the world and to develop policy solutions to support the U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. As part of their leadership of this Caucus, the Senators worked to pass their Foreign Service Families Act, which became law through the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senators’ legislation ensures that the Foreign Service is able to attract and retain a world-class diplomatic corps by providing expanded career options and support to eligible family members – similar to those provided to military families.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Kim Lead Members of NJ Congressional Delegation in Letter to PJM Interconnection (PJM) Raising Serious Concerns over Rate Increase Impacting New Jersey Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    NEWARK, N.J. – This afternoon, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) led a letter alongside seven members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation to PJM Interconnection (PJM), New Jersey’s regional transmission organization (RTO). Ahead of an anticipated 17% rate increase on June 1, the legislators urged PJM to provide updates on the steps it is taking to lower rates for New Jersey families and those across the thirteen states PJM operates.
    The legislators wrote: “We write to express concerns over the expected electricity price increase in New Jersey, along with other states across the PJM Interconnection (PJM) territory, in the months ahead, and to request information regarding steps PJM is taking to mitigate these increases. As the regional transmission organization (RTO) for the electric grid across a 13-state region that includes New Jersey, PJM plays an essential role in ensuring capacity to maintain affordable rates for electricity customers.
    “The results of your most recent capacity auction in 2024 reflect the growing demand on the grid from data centers and advanced computer technology, along with an insufficient increase in new generation. As you know, there is a $14.7 billion cost to ratepayers, which is in large part driving an expected 17 percent or greater increase in electric utilityhttps://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pjm_letter_5225final.pdf bills in New Jersey beginning June 1, 2025.”
    The legislators conclude: “We know that unlocking the interconnection queue and lowering electricity prices will require efforts from a range of entities, including federal and state partners, in concert with PJM’s ongoing work. However, given PJM’s central role in processing interconnection requests and the impact of the project backlog on the recent capacity auction price spike, we request prompt responses to the following series of questions related to lowering costs for New Jersey families:”
    The full questions the lawmakers pose can be found below:
    PJM’s 2022 interconnection reforms do not appear to be delivering the new capacity the region needs. What are the latest updates on efforts to reform and speed up interconnection processes and efficiently connect resources to PJM’s system?
    We know that PJM’s interconnection queue is increasingly made up of a higher number of smaller-capacity projects. As PJM is still required to allow open access to the grid, what steps can PJM take to speed up the processing of this changing resource mix?
    What reforms are PJM exploring related to expanding transmission capacity, including recognizing the capacity value of neighboring regions and removing barriers to importing capacity?
    Prior to the upcoming capacity auction that will impact rates for New Jerseyans in 2026 and 2027, what changes has PJM effectuated to ensure that unnecessary price spikes are avoided in the near future and in the long-term? 
    Will PJM’s FERC Order 1920 implementation fully incorporate New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan? What steps is PJM taking to ensure that New Jersey does not pay an unfair share of transmission that benefits other states?
    In addition to New Jersey, PJM Interconnection serves as the RTO across Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. 
    A full copy of the May 2 letter can be found here and below:
    Dear Mr. Takahashi and Mr. Asthana,
    We write to express concerns over the expected electricity price increase in New Jersey, along with other states across the PJM Interconnection (PJM) territory, in the months ahead, and to request information regarding steps PJM is taking to mitigate these increases. As the regional transmission organization (RTO) for the electric grid across a 13-state region that includes New Jersey, PJM plays an essential role in ensuring capacity to maintain affordable rates for electricity customers.
    The results of your most recent capacity auction in 2024 reflect the growing demand on the grid from data centers and advanced computer technology, along with an insufficient increase in new generation. As you know, there is a $14.7 billion cost to ratepayers, which is in large part driving an expected 17 percent or greater increase in electric utility bills in New Jersey beginning June 1, 2025.
    According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), data centers will account for up to 12 percent of total national electricity consumption by 2028, nearly tripling from 2023 levels. Clean energy projects and battery storage are urgently needed to meet demand, lower electricity prices, and continue to reduce our carbon emissions to combat climate change. Currently, there are 268 GW of new resources ready to be added to the PJM grid—95 percent of them clean energy resources—according to analysis conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, also present significant opportunities for New Jersey to expand baseload carbon-free energy generation capacity.
    While there are a number of complex challenges facing our region as we work together to make energy more affordable for New Jersey families, one of the most pressing is the growing backlog of energy projects to boost supply and the reforms necessary to expedite grid interconnection. We know that unlocking the interconnection queue and lowering electricity prices will require efforts from a range of entities, including federal and state partners, in concert with PJM’s ongoing work. However, given PJM’s central role in processing interconnection requests and the impact of the project backlog on the recent capacity auction price spike, we request prompt responses to the following series of questions related to lowering costs for New Jersey families:
    PJM’s 2022 interconnection reforms do not appear to be delivering the new capacity the region needs. What are the latest updates on efforts to reform and speed up interconnection processes and efficiently connect resources to PJM’s system?
    We know that PJM’s interconnection queue is increasingly made up of a higher number of smaller-capacity projects. As PJM is still required to allow open access to the grid, what steps can PJM take to speed up the processing of this changing resource mix?
    What reforms are PJM exploring related to expanding transmission capacity, including recognizing the capacity value of neighboring regions and removing barriers to importing capacity?
    Prior to the upcoming capacity auction that will impact rates for New Jerseyans in 2026 and 2027, what changes has PJM effectuated to ensure that unnecessary price spikes are avoided in the near future and in the long-term? 
    Will PJM’s FERC Order 1920 implementation fully incorporate New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan? What steps is PJM taking to ensure that New Jersey does not pay an unfair share of transmission that benefits other states?
    We appreciate your attention to this letter, and we look forward to continuing to work together on these important issues.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/2/2025 Blackburn Statement on Nomination to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement praising President Trump’s nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit:
    “I am so pleased that President Trump has nominated Whitney Hermandorfer to fill the vacancy on the Sixth Circuit. Whitney’s legal career has been nothing short of outstanding, and she is a rising star in Tennessee. Her experience makes her eminently qualified to serve on the Sixth Circuit – clerking for Supreme Court Justice Alito and others before joining the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as Director of Strategic Litigation. Throughout Whitney’s esteemed career, she has demonstrated that she will be a fair-minded, principled jurist who will apply our nation’s laws as they are written and protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. The President could not have selected a better individual to be his first judicial nomination this term, and I look forward to swiftly advancing Whitney’s nomination through the Senate Judiciary Committee and onto the Senate floor to get her confirmed.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Senators Young and Cantwell Introducing Legislation to Address Housing Affordability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) in introducing the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and provide more affordable housing options for American families.
    Over 11 million families must allocate more than 50% of their household income to rent, cutting down on other critical expenditures like medication, groceries, childcare, and transportation. The LIHTC has built or restored more than 4 million affordable housing units – benefiting nearly nine million American households, generating 6.6 million jobs, and spurring more than $746 billion in wages. In Kansas, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act has funded 33,866 housing units since 1987.
    “At a time when Americans are still recovering from the failures of the Biden-Harris Administration, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act provides much-needed relief to hardworking families and expands access to affordable housing,” said Senator Marshall. “I was proud to champion this tax policy during my time in the House of Representatives, and I am proud to continue supporting it in the Senate. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is a public-private partnership with a proven track record of success.”
    “Affordable housing is needed in Indiana and across the country,” said Senator Young. “The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will leverage private sector investment to increase the stock of affordable housing in both urban and rural communities.  As a result, this will help to tackle the housing affordability crisis head on to help Hoosier families, expand our workforce, and strengthen our communities.” 
    In addition to Senators Young and Cantwell, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) led the Senate version of the bill. 
    The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-Illinois-16), Suzan DelBene (D-Washington-01), Claudia Tenney (R-New York-24), Don Beyer (D-Virginia-08), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa-04), and Jimmy Panetta (D-California-19).
    “Ensuring access to affordable housing is a critical component in helping Tennessee continue to grow and prosper,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, an important tool that helps to drive private sector investment in affordable housing for all Americans, including our nation’s veterans and seniors.”
    “It’s time for Congress to meet the housing crisis with the bold solutions it demands and that starts with increasing housing supply,” said Senator Wyden. “Our bill will deliver some much-needed relief to families by supporting existing, successful federal housing programs and building over one million new units of affordable housing. I am all in to bring down costs and make housing more affordable for everyone no matter your zip code.” 
    The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition endorsed the bill.
    “The overwhelming bipartisan support for the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 underscores the critical need to increase the supply of affordable rental homes,” said Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Chief Executive Officer Emily Cadik. “We thank Senator Todd Young, Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Senator Ron Wyden for their leadership and the 30 bipartisan cosponsors for supporting this commonsense solution to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, a proven, pro-growth tool with a nearly 40-year record of leveraging private investment to fill a critical need.”
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News