NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 6 Whangamoa Hill now open

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    UPDATE 9:35 am
    The highway is now clear and has reopened to traffic.
    There may be brief delays for drivers as queued traffic clears.

    9:15 am:

    State Highway 6 is currently closed to traffic on the Whangamoa Hill after trees fell onto the highway this morning.

    Work is underway to remove the trees and reopen the road, but this may take up to two hours to complete.

    This means the highway is closed between Hira and the Rai Valley, and there is no direct route between Nelson and Blenheim.

    Drivers should avoid the area and delay their travel if possible. The only alternative detour is via State Highway 63 – St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley, which can add 30 minutes or more to travel times.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drivers beware: strong winds on radar for central and southern HB and Tararua

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is advising caution on the roads around parts of Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay and Tararua tomorrow with a strong wind warning in place.

    The warning is in force between 8am and 5pm tomorrow.

    It covers Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings and the Tararua district.

    The winds could bring gusts of up to 120 km/h in exposed places, with the potential to damage trees, powerlines and make driving hazardous.

    Truck and van drivers, light vehicles, towing vehicles, and motorcyclists must take extra care in the strong winds and, importantly, drive to the conditions.

    Road users are encouraged to check weather and road conditions before travelling.

    A similar warning is also in place for Wairarapa drivers.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sherrill Attends NJ/NY Gotham FC Championship Celebration at the White House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) – a leading advocate for women’s sports – joined NJ/NY Gotham FC to celebrate their National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title at the White House with President Joe Biden. In 2023, Gotham FC – which practices in Whippany, NJ and plays in Harrison, NJ – won the NWSL championship title after beating the OL Reign in the league finals. Today’s visit marks the first time a NWSL team has been invited to celebrate their championship at the White House. 

    Rep. Sherrill joined Gotham FC after she successfully passed legislation through the House of Representatives last week to award Billie Jean King with the Congressional Gold Medal.

    “It was wonderful to celebrate NJ/NY Gotham FC’s championship today at the White House – congratulations to the players, coaches, and staff who worked incredibly hard to earn the title. With practice facilities in Whippany and game days in Harrison, Gotham FC represents the very best New Jersey has to offer,” said Rep. Sherrill. “The National Women’s Soccer League’s success – and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s fight for equal pay – is in no small part due to Billie Jean King’s decades of advocacy and hard work. I was so proud to lead efforts to award her the Congressional Gold Medal last week and I look forward to seeing how this generation of women carry the torch and grow opportunities for women in sports.”

    Representative Sherrill has been a leader in fighting for Title IX in athletics. She introduced the bipartisan  Women in NCAA Sports (WINS) Act to address the dramatic inequities between men’s and women’s collegiate athletics. Additionally, she helped lead efforts to pass the  Equal Pay for Team USA Act, ensuring that all athletes representing the United States in global amateur athletic competitions receive equal compensation and benefits in their sport, irrespective of gender.  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Leader Level meeting of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti (ECOSOC AHAGH) [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Right Honourable Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Your Excellency Dr. Garry Conille, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

    On behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, I have the honour to join you for this high-level event – and stand together in solidarity with Haiti, during these critical times.

    I would like to thank Canada, the Chair of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, for their active efforts to support a coordinated and coherent approach to Haiti’s stabilization and sustainable development.

    Excellencies,

    The security situation in Haiti remains extremely preoccupying – and poses major threats not only to the people of Haiti but also to peace and security in the region.

    Gang violence continues to ravage the country.

    Heavily armed gangs attack police stations, loot hospitals, occupy courthouses, and destroy other critical installations.

    These are deliberate efforts to erode state authority, sow chaos and make it easier to prey on vulnerable communities.

    Between January and end-August alone, the United Nations has documented more than 3,400 people killed and 1,600 others injured in gang violence – with over a 1,000 people kidnapped by these groups.

    Other shocking human rights abuses have been amply documented, including rape, forced recruitment, and exploitation.

    More than 578,000 people are internally displaced, over half of them children.

    Nearly half of the population are food insecure and lack access to clean drinking water.

    The proliferation of armed gangs in the capital has led to an alarming rise in sexual and gender-based violence mainly against women and girls.

    In some areas, health service providers have reported receiving 40 rape victims a day.

    The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must face justice.

    Many children are victims of crossfire, exploitation and trafficking, forced to join gangs and increasingly used to carry out attacks.

    [UNICEF estimates that 30 to 50 per cent of gang members are children.]

    Haiti’s situation exemplifies a vicious cycle where decades of development deficits are deepened by ongoing insecurity and political instability.

    This cycle has severely hampered any progress towards sustainable development, deeply affecting the socio-economic fabric of the nation.

    Haiti also has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere.

    Excellencies,

    These daily horrors must stop.

    The Haitian National Police face significant shortages of human, material and financial resources.

    They need sustained and generous international support to equip and empower them to tackle the escalating gang violence and to protect Haitians from violence.

    The deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission in June is a welcome development.

    I salute the commitment of Kenya, Belize and Jamaica, who have currently deployed personnel to the MSS.

    The UN Trust Fund for the MSS has received $67 million in voluntary contributions from Member States, out of a total of $84 million pledged.

    Still, much more is needed to ensure the MSS can fulfil its mandate.

    This is why the Secretary-General has consistently urged Member States to contribute to the MSS.

    However, addressing security concerns alone is insufficient.

    Enhancing educational opportunities, healthcare access, social protection and economic development is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and instability and foster a resilient society.

    Distinguished delegates,

    Breaking the cycle of violence requires both political solutions and security measures – in parallel.

    Progress on the establishment of transitional bodies is urgently to ensure that the elections timeline agreed by Haitian stakeholders and the restoration of democratic institutions by February 2026 does not slip.

    I call on all political stakeholders in Haiti to reaffirm their commitment to the political accord and roadmap to re-establishing democratic institutions.

    Finally, continued international support and collaboration are essential to ensure these political milestones are complemented by strong development policies.

    Today, nearly half of the population needs humanitarian assistance.

    Despite this dire situation, only one third [36%] of the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan remains funded.

    I urge donors to step up, contribute to addressing these urgent needs while pledging long term development aid that addresses the root causes of instability.

    Dear friends,

    The Secretary-General and the entire United Nations remain steadfast in our commitment to the people of Haiti.

    Together, let us continue to do everything we can to bring peace, stability, and sustainable development – for all Haitians.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sri Lankans throw out old guard in election upset: What nation’s new Marxist-leaning leader means for economy, IMF loans

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vidhura S. Tennekoon, Assistant Professor of Economics, Indiana University

    Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s celebrates his vote. Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Sri Lankans voted for a new direction in leadership on Sept. 22, 2024, electing a leftist anti-poverty campaigner as president of the South Asian nation.

    The ascent of Anura Kumara Dissanayake marks a break with the past and from the establishment parties and politicians blamed for taking the country to the brink of economic collapse in 2022.

    Dissanayake characterized the victory as a “fresh start” for Sri Lanka – but he will nonetheless need to address the economic baggage left by his predecessors and the impact of an International Monetary Fund loan that came with painful austerity demands. The Conversation turned to Vidhura S. Tennekoon, an expert on Sri Lanka’s economy at Indiana University, to explain the task facing the new president – and how Dissanayake intends to tackle it.

    What do we know about Sri Lanka’s new president?

    Anura Kumara Dissanayake leads both the National People’s Power alliance, or NPP, and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or JVP. Rooted in Marxist ideology, the JVP was founded in the 1960s with the aim of seizing power through a socialist revolution. But after two failed armed uprisings in 1971 and 1987-89 – which resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives – the party shifted toward democratic politics and has remained so for over three decades.

    Until this election, the JVP remained a minor third party in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, while power alternated between the alliances led by the two traditional political parties – the United National Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – or their descendant parties.

    In 2019, under Dissanayake’s leadership, the NPP was formed as a socialist alliance with several other organizations. While the JVP continues to adhere to Marxist principles, the NPP adopted a center-left, social democratic platform – aiming to attract broader public support.

    Despite these efforts, Dissanayake garnered only 3% of the vote in the 2019 presidential election.

    But the political landscape shifted dramatically during the economic crisis of 2022. Many Sri Lankans, frustrated with the two traditional parties that had governed the country for over seven decades, turned to the NPP, seeing it as a credible alternative.

    The party’s anti-corruption stance, in particular, resonated strongly because many people blamed political corruption for the economic collapse.

    It helped deliver 42% of the vote to Dissanayake.

    While a significant achievement, it also marks a historic first for Sri Lanka — Dissanayake is the first president to be elected without majority support; the remaining 58% of votes were split between candidates from the two traditional parties.

    His immediate challenge will be to secure a parliamentary majority in the upcoming elections, a crucial step for his administration to govern effectively.

    What kind of economy is Dissanayake inheriting?

    Two and a half years ago, Sri Lanka experienced the worst economic crisis in its history. With foreign reserves nearly depleted, the country struggled to pay its bills, leading to severe shortages of essential goods. People waited in long lines for cooking gas and fuel, while regular blackouts became part of daily life. The Sri Lankan rupee plummeted to a record low, driving inflation to 70%. The economy was contracting, and the country defaulted on its international sovereign bonds for the first time.

    This sparked a massive protest movement that ultimately forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. In July 2022, Parliament appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe to complete the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term.

    Sri Lankans protest near the official residence of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 28, 2022.
    Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    In the two years that followed, Sri Lanka’s economy made an unexpectedly rapid recovery under Wickremesinghe’s leadership. After securing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the currency stabilized, the central bank rebuilt foreign reserves, and inflation fell to single digits. By the first half of 2024, the economy had grown by 5%.

    The government successfully restructured its domestic debt, followed by a restructuring of its bilateral debt – that is, government-to-government loans, mostly from China but also from India and Western counties, including the United States. Just days before the election, an agreement was reached with international bondholders to restructure the remaining sovereign debt.

    Despite these achievements, Wickremesinghe was overtaken in the presidential race by both Dissanayake and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. Wickremesinghe’s unpopularity stemmed largely from the harsh austerity measures implemented under the IMF-backed stabilization program.

    Dissanayake now inherits an economy that, while more stable, remains vulnerable. He will have limited room to maneuver away from the carefully planned economic path laid out by his predecessor, even as voters expect him to fulfill popular demands.

    How does Dissanayake plan to improve Sri Lanka’s economy?

    As a leader from a Marxist party, Dissanayake will likely pursue policies to reflect collective decisions made by the politburos and central committees of the NPP and JVP, rather than his individual views. He advocates for an economic system where activities are coordinated through a central government plan, emphasizing the importance of “economic democracy.”

    His party believes prosperity should be measured not just by economic growth but by the overall quality of life. They argue that people need more than just basic necessities — they require secure housing, food, health care, education, access to technology and leisure.

    Dissanayake’s long-term vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a production-based economy, focusing on sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and information technology rather than service industries. One of the key policies is to promote local production of all viable food products to reduce reliance on imports. To support these activities, the NPP plans to establish a development bank. Additionally, they NPP proposes increasing government spending on education and health care, in line with Sri Lanka’s tradition of providing free, universal access to both.

    Where does this leave the IMF loans?

    Historically, Dissanayake’s party has been critical of the IMF and its policy recommendations. Given the severity of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Dissanayake has acknowledged the need to stay within the IMF program for now. But he has vowed to renegotiate with the IMF to make the program more “people-friendly.” Dissanayake’s proposals include raising the personal income tax exemption threshold to double its current level and removing taxes on essential goods. Dissanayake’s party also plans adding jobs to the public sector, despite the ongoing effort to reduce the government workforce to manage the deficit.

    Dissanayake’s populist policies, aimed at attracting mass support during the campaign, will inevitably strain government revenues while increasing expenses. However, the IMF program requires Sri Lanka to maintain a primary budget surplus of at least 2.3% of gross domestic product to ensure debt sustainability. Dissanayake has promised not to jeopardize the country’s economic stability by deviating from this target. His strategy is to improve the efficiency of tax collection, which he believes will generate enough revenue to fund his policies.

    Additionally, his party has criticized the deal struck by Wickremesinghe’s government with international lenders, calling it unfavorable to the country. Dissanayake has promised to seek better terms. However, since these agreements are already in place, it remains uncertain whether the new government will attempt to renegotiate them.

    Vidhura Tennekoon was a former employee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

    – ref. Sri Lankans throw out old guard in election upset: What nation’s new Marxist-leaning leader means for economy, IMF loans – https://theconversation.com/sri-lankans-throw-out-old-guard-in-election-upset-what-nations-new-marxist-leaning-leader-means-for-economy-imf-loans-239649

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Property audit delivers more sites for over 1,100 new homes

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 24 September 2024

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Housing, Minister for Lands and Property

    The Minns Labor Government is today announcing a further 10 government-owned properties have been confirmed to deliver almost 1100 new homes as part of the government’s land audit.

    The NSW Government is identifying surplus land no longer required by government in both metropolitan and regional areas that will now be made available for much needed housing.

    This is part of the NSW Government’s commitment in the recent budget to deliver up to 30,000 well-located homes, close to infrastructure and transport including through a historic $5.1 billion investment in new public housing.

    The latest sites identified as suitable for housing include 9 sites across Sydney and one site in Newcastle.

    Three sites across Woolloomooloo, Sydney Olympic Park, and Hurstville will be transferred to Homes NSW and will deliver nearly 600 homes with more than 50 per cent anticipated to be social homes.

    Sites at Marsfield, Seaforth, Minto, Newcastle and three sites at Arncliffe, will be developed into housing by either Landcom or in partnership with the private sector.

    The final mix and quantity of housing on these sites, as well as the development partner, will be confirmed following further due diligence and market sounding, which will take place over the coming months.

    Housing is the single largest cost of living issue faced by the people of NSW and a recent Productivity Commission report found between 2016 and 2021, Sydney lost twice as many people aged 30 to 40 as it gained.

    The release of these sites is in addition to action already taken by the government to build more homes for families who need them, including the largest ever investments in social and affordable housing, as well as the largest rezoning in our state’s history.

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “Getting more homes built for families in well located areas is top priority for our government and releasing surplus land for housing is a key part of our plan to make this a reality.”

    “Housing costs are the single largest cost of living pressure faced by people across NSW and we are committed to confronting this head on.

    “Young people will continue to up and leave our state because they can’t afford to buy or even rent a home here, if we don’t take action.”

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “The Minns Labor Government is pulling every lever to unlock the delivery of housing because we understand we need to increase supply. Through the property audit, we are undertaking a process that has never been done before by the state government.

    “The property audit is working across departments and agencies to activate surplus government land to deliver the homes our communities need.”

    Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

    “Unlocking government-owned land for housing is a crucial step in tackling the housing crisis head-on. We’re making sure these homes are built in areas with the infrastructure people need—near transport, schools, and essential services.

    “For too long, finding affordable homes in well-located areas has been out of reach for many. This land release is a clear sign that we are committed to delivering real housing solutions for families across NSW.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In White Plains, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Address Epidemic of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Service Members and Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Following a disturbing report showing that service members are sustaining crippling traumatic brain injuries as a result of firing their own weapons, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Westchester County Michaelian Office Building in White Plains to announce legislation to address traumatic brain injuries among service members and veterans. 

    Service members who regularly fire heavy weapons are at increased risk of brain injury as a result of repeated exposure to explosions or blasts from their own weapons and explosives – otherwise known as blast overpressure. These brain injuries can cause depression, anxiety, cognitive problems, hallucinations, panic attacks, violent outbursts, suicidal tendencies, psychiatric disorders, dementia, and a variety of other serious health problems. At least a dozen Navy SEALs who have died by suicide over the past decade were later found to have suffered blast injuries, and many more service members have complained of health issues after blast exposure. Despite this, the Pentagon has struggled to properly investigate the impact of blast overpressure, effectively track the prevalence of blast overpressure-related injuries, or offer appropriate care to service members and veterans. Gillibrand is calling for more research and better treatment for those affected.

    Gillibrand was joined by Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, New York State Assemblyman Chris Burdick, City of White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi, Director of the Westchester County Veterans Service Agency Ronald Tocci, City of Mount Vernon Director of Veteran’s Services Andrea Molina, and local veterans.

    “After repeatedly being exposed to blasts from their own weapons during both training and combat, our service members are sustaining severe and crippling brain trauma,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill will require the DoD to investigate the prevalence and causes of these brain injuries; to track each service member’s exposure to blasts; and to help service members access care. This is a critical bill and I look forward to getting it passed in the NDAA.” 

    “With research showing an increased risk of traumatic brain injuries for our service members who regularly fire off heavy weapons, it is imperative we work together at all levels of government to start addressing the health implications they are being exposed to from the blasts of their own weapons. We know that doing so can truly save lives as blast overpressure has already been linked to the development of suicidal inclinations and cognitive issues,” said New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “The Blast Overpressure Safety Act will provide tools to investigate the scope and root causes of TBIs while also tracking service members’ exposure to blasts. The act will also promote access to care. I highly commend Senator Gillibrand for introducing this proactive piece of legislation, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate on initiatives to further protect our active service members and veterans who put their lives on the line to protect us.”

    New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am honored to join Senator Gillibrand in showing our steadfast support for our veterans, both abroad and when they return home. Traumatic brain injuries can be life altering and early assessment is critical to ensure that veterans have the resources and support they need to continue living life to the fullest. As a state and nation, we must do better to support our veterans.”

    “I am very pleased to see Senator Gillibrand’s support for the Blast Overpressure Safety Act,” said New York State Assemblymember Chris Burdick. “This is a great step in taking care of our active service members and veterans, who have already sacrificed so much for our country. As a society we are making progress in addressing traumatic brain injuries in sports, so it is not only appropriate but crucial that we also make progress concerning those who are putting their lives on the line for our democracy.”

    Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “The brave men and women who serve our country deserve comprehensive care for the injuries they endure in the line of duty – that is the very least that we owe them. Traumatic brain injuries caused by blast overpressure are devastating and all too common, yet we’ve seen a lack of sufficient research and support for those affected. I applaud Senator Gillibrand’s outstanding leadership on this legislation. It is a critical step toward ensuring those we send to the front lines receive the care and understanding they need to heal.”

    “Our service members have sacrificed so much for our country, and it is our responsibility to ensure they receive the highest level of care when they return home,” said Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. “The effects of blast overpressure are a silent threat, leading to traumatic brain injuries that can severely impact their quality of life. Senator Gillibrand’s legislation is a vital move towards better understanding, tracking, and treating these injuries.”

    Specifically, the Blast Overpressure Safety Act would: 

    1. Mandate regular neurocognitive assessments over a service member’s career, including a baseline neurocognitive assessment before training. 
    2. Create blast overpressure exposure and TBI logs for all service members.
    3. Increase transparency regarding blast overpressure safety in the weapons acquisition process. DoD must consider the minimization of blast overpressure during the acquisition process, require contracting entities to provide blast overpressure safety data, and publish blast overpressure safety data for weapons systems and its plans to better protect service members from in-use weapons systems. 
    4. Improve data on concussive and subconcussive brain injuries service members sustain. This includes information on discharges related to and medical providers trained in these injuries, as well as efforts with allies and partners to better address these injuries. 
    5. Enhance efforts to mitigate exposure and help service members access care. This includes retaliation protections for those who seek care; modifying existing weapons system to reduce blast exposure; updating and making publicly available blast overpressure thresholds and creating a waiver system for exceeding these thresholds; training high-risk service members to help them recognize exposure symptoms and creating strategies to mitigate their risk; and expanding the types of technologies in the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative pilot blast monitoring program. 
    6. Support service member treatment by establishing a Special Operations Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma program, making the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) a program of record and requiring DoD to provide child care services to those seeking treatment there, and mandating training for medical and training personnel on blast overpressure and exposure and TBI. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Marshall Joins Grassley and Bicameral Colleagues in Calling Out Abuses in the Biden-Harris Unaccompanied Migrant Children Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s cover-up of the crisis. HHS has failed to comply with two out of three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subpoenas and other information requests issued amid its investigation into more than 100 suspicious sponsors identified.
    Program Abuse
    More than 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southwest border under the Biden-Harris administration, while cartel trafficking activity surged an estimated 2,500 percent. Amid this crisis, the lawmakers note that the Biden-Harris administration limited background checks for sponsors of unaccompanied children, cut back on familial DNA testing at the border and decreased information sharing with law enforcement.
    Seeking Solutions
    The lawmakers are urging Biden and Harris to “make changes to [their] policies and procedures” in order to “end this public safety crisis.” They are specifically calling on the Biden-Harris administration to enhance information sharing with law enforcement and Congress, fully cooperate with DHS’s child exploitation investigation and thoroughly respond to all congressional oversight requests.
    “[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded.
    Read the full letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scanlon Condemns Project 2025 Plot To Take Over Government, Criminalize Abortion Nationwide

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)


    Washington, D.C.     — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) spoke on the House floor about Project 2025, the extreme MAGA Republican agenda that gives the President unprecedented powers to control the government and our lives and then uses that power to hurt the middle class, end Social Security and Medicare as we know it, and criminalize abortion nationwide.

    Watch Rep. Scanlon’s remarks HERE or read them as prepared for delivery below.

    “Thank you very much.

    “We’re here to discuss Project 2025, the extremist playbook to impose a radical right-wing agenda upon Americans.

    “It’s called Project 2025 because it’s designed to be implemented by Trump and his allies if he returns to the White House next year.

    “The authors of Project 2025 have even begun recruiting people to apply for jobs to help implement this scheme because – as they detail in Project 2025 – they plan to fire career civil servants and replace them with partisans who swear loyalty to Trump, rather than our country or Constitution. A move, by the way, that the former president tried to implement by executive order before he left office.

    “When the authors of Project 2025 decided to publish their radical agenda, they must not have realized that their ideas are so extreme that Americans would reject them as being – frankly – un-American.

    “That’s why the former president and many of his allies are now trying to distance themselves from Project 2025. But they can’t, because their fingerprints are all over Project 2025. And nowhere is that clearer than in Project 2025’s plan to ban abortion and restrict women’s reproductive freedom. Because the truth is – the extremists who plotted with Trump to overturn Roe v. Wade were never going to stop there.

    “Chapter 14 of Project 2025 outlines their plans. It was written by a member of the Trump administration, and you can read it yourself at pages 449 through 502.

    “Project 2025 would impose a nationwide ban on medication abortion by revoking FDA approval of that drug. It would resurrect a 19th century law, the Comstock Act, to ban the mailing of abortion care materials and criminalize their use. Project 2025 would rip away access to basic contraception. It would end emergency room reproductive healthcare for women whose health and lives are at risk. Project 2025 would end IVF as it’s currently practiced. It would require the government to monitor women’s pregnancies and miscarriages.

    “Project 2025 is beyond extreme. It’s dangerous.

    “Democrats will continue to stand firm and united against this radical agenda, and to stand up for Americans’ reproductive freedom because we trust women to make decisions about their own bodies, not politicians.

    “I yield back.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Congratulates Lincoln Elementary, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Public, and Red Trail Elementary Schools on Designation as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    09.23.24

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Lincoln Elementary School in Beach, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Public School in Mohall and Red Trail Elementary School in Mandan on being designated by the U.S. Department of Education as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Since 1982, the Blue Ribbon School award has honored public and private schools across the country that display overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps.

    “This Blue Ribbon designation recognizes the hard work of students, teachers and faculty, and the entire school community as examples of academic success,” said Hoeven. “We congratulate these schools on this honor and are grateful for their investment in the success and well-being of their students.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Child-care centre guidance on Police vetting for workers

    Source: Worksafe New Zealand

    We have updated our guidance on the requirements for vetting workers at limited-attendance child-care centres.

    The new Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Act 2024 means updates have been made to the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 (Regulation 51).

    A key point is that Police vetting must be completed for non-teaching and unregistered employees at unlicensed child-care centres before the person begins work. This vetting must be used to assess any risks to the safety of children. 

    What are limited-attendance child-care centres?

    These are any premises that are:

    • used regularly for the care of three or more children under six years old (not including the children of the persons providing the care) and
    • where the children do not stay for more than two hours per day and
    • where the children’s parents or caregivers are in close proximity to the children, and are able to be contacted and resume responsibility for the children at short notice. 

    For example, a crèche at a gym or shopping mall.

    It does not include being provided with care before or after school.

    Read more information in the fact sheet: What to know when employing or engaging limited-attendance child-care centre workers

    Related information:

    Governance of education sector boosted | Beehive.govt.nz (external link)

    Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Act 2024 – Education in New Zealand | Education.govt.nz (external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Safe Access Zones

    Source: Scottish Government

    Protected zones around abortion services now in place.

    Protected zones of 200 meters around all abortion services in Scotland are now in place.

    Within these zones, it is now a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access services; impede their access; or otherwise cause alarm, harassment or distress.

    Police Scotland are responsible for enforcing the legislation. People who break the law can be fined up to £10,000, or be given an unlimited fine, depending on the court procedure.

    Determining whether an offence has been committed will be a matter for Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Courts. Depending on the facts and circumstances of each case, some examples of criminal behaviour may include: approaching someone to try and persuade them not to access abortion services, surrounding people as they try to go in or out of the clinic or hospital, handing out leaflets, religious preaching and silent vigils.

    Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said:

    “The introduction of Safe Access Zones is a crucial milestone in protecting women’s abortion rights – no one has the right to interfere in women’s personal medical decisions and the law now makes that abundantly clear.

    “I thank Gillian Mackay and all those involved for their work to progress this legislation. I would like especially recognise the women who showed incredible courage in speaking up and sharing their experiences during the Bill process.

    “The new zones of 200 meters around all abortion services will help ensure women have safe access to healthcare – free from intimidation. This law is about protection for women at a time when many will feel incredibly vulnerable around taking a deeply personal and difficult decision.”

    Background

    Full details of the penalties that apply for committing an offence.

    Full list of the locations of zones:

    University Hospital Crosshouse – Kilmarnock

    Borders General Hospital – Melrose

    Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

    Galashiels Health Centre

    Oak Tree Family Health Centre – Stranraer

    Queen Margaret Hospital – Dunfermline

    Victoria Hospital – Kirkcaldy

    Forth Valley Royal Hospital – Larbert

    Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

    Aberdeen Community Hospital

    Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

    Dr Gray’s Hospital – Elgin

    Inverclyde Hospital – Greenock

    Royal Alexandra Hospital – Paisley

    Sandyford Sexual Health Clinic – Glasgow

    Princess Royal Maternity Hospital – Glasgow

    Ross Hall – Glasgow

    New Victoria Hospital – Glasgow

    Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – Glasgow

    Stobhill Hospital – Glasgow

    Vale of Leven Hospital – West Dunbartonshire

    Raigmore Hospital – Inverness

    University Hospital Wishaw

    Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

    Chalmers Sexual Health Centre – Edinburgh

    St John’s Hospital – Livingston

    The Balfour – Livingston

    Gilbert Bain Hospital – Lerwick

    Ninewells Hospital – Dundee

    Western Isles Hospital – Stornoway

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Statement On the War In Gaza and Escalation Between Israel and Hezbollah In Lebanon

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement regarding the ongoing war in Gaza, and recent escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

    “This weekend’s escalation in combat between Israel and 140,000 Hezbollah forces supported in southern Lebanon by Iran creates a powder keg. If not contained, this conflict could widen and adversely impact thousands more innocent people of adjacent nations, as well as destabilize global markets.

    “This war must end. A ‘ceasefire’ is not enough. There must be a UN negotiated truce subject to multinational enforcement. The constituents I represent include thousands who trace their ancestry to Israel, Lebanon, Palestinian communities, and other impacted adjacent nations across the Middle East. I release this statement out of deep concern for them and the people of their ancestral lands. The road to peace must begin with the United Nations and its Security Council whose primary charge is the “maintenance of international peace and security.”  

    “The UN must demonstrate leadership and backbone in resolving this festering conflagration. With no intervention, the widening war of utter destruction across that war-torn region will escalate. It must end. An immediate truce is fundamental. It will require multinational enforced military lines of demarcation. Terrorist organizations cannot be voting parties to ongoing negotiations. States sponsoring terrorist organizations should face a strictly enforced multinational sanctions regime. 

    “I urge the Speaker and Minority Leader of the US House to bring forward this week, as the House reassembles, a first order of business House Privileged Resolution urging the United Nations be called into Special Session. The UN must address deescalating this widening carnage and ongoing war. In 1948, the United Nations following World War II acted with dispatch to address vast rebuilding and resettlement issues arising in post war regions of the Middle East and elsewhere.

    “Today, the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza and the West Bank — inflamed by the Hamas terrorist organization in alliance with other terrorist organizations and supported by arms from Iran — continues to plague the people of that region. Ethnic and religious cleansing forms a brutal and nonviable substitute for a truce and contemporary compact among neighboring States. It is long overdue. The United Nations must step up to this crucial, modern-day challenge which the people of all sovereign nations know is necessary. The bloody fighting in the Middle East must be brought to a negotiated truce. 

    “The hatred unleashed by the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel will reverberate across future generations of families on all sides of this conflict. Surely the people of the region and world seek a better road forward. The United Nations must rise to this compelling occasion.”

    Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, Congresswoman Kaptur has remained actively engaged in urging an aggressive diplomatic path forward to address the ongoing conflict and work toward a negotiated two-state solution. On October 8th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement condemning the Hamas terror attacks. On November 3rd, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement following a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Zahran calling for a humanitarian pause so aid could be delivered and those seeking safety could reach it. On November 16th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement following a dialogue with Jordanian Ambassador Kawar in diplomatic efforts to secure a durable peace. On December 13th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement following a meeting with Lebanese Charge D’Affaires Hachem. On December 15th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement following a meeting with Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Pierre. On January 19th, Congresswoman Kaptur urged the State Department to affirm US opposition to forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. On January 31st, Congresswoman Kaptur published an opinion article in the Toledo Blade. On March 28th, Congresswoman Kaptur reaffirmed her support for a two-state solution. On April 4th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement following a call between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden. On May 6th, Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement on the ongoing developments in Gaza. On June 3rd, Congresswoman Kaptur affirmed her support for a two-state solution, and applauded the peace plan for Israel and Gaza. On June 11th  Congresswoman Kaptur released a statement reaffirming her support for a Two-State Solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people, and applauding the United Nations Security Council vote to support the US diplomatic peace plan for Israel and Gaza.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Program for Greater Bendigo Seniors Festival available now!

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    The program for the 2024 Greater Bendigo Seniors Festival which runs from October 6 – 13 is now available at local libraries, neighbourhood houses, Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor Centres, the City of Greater Bendigo’s customer service centres at Heathcote and Galkangu Bendigo Gov Hub and on the City’s website.

    A standout event of this year’s festival is the Showcase Concert featuring Amber Joy Poulton in her show – Honky Tonk Queens which takes place at 11am on Friday October 11 at the Capital, View Street, Bendigo.

    Amber Joy Poulton is renowned for her hit theatre show the Coal Miner’s Daughter, which brings to life the legacy of country music’s first queens—Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn. This show features classic hits like Jolene and Stand By Your Man while celebrating the spirit of ageing well. Tickets are on sale now at the Capital Box Office or by visiting the Gotix website.

    The concert is presented by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government and will also include a Welcome to Country and didgeridoo performance as well as the launch of the Ageing Well in Greater Bendigo video that highlights the vibrant lives and contributions of older adults in our community.

    For those looking to explore services and resources for older adults and people living with disability, the Be Well Be Connected Expo – Heathcote Roadshow is a must-visit. This free expo, funded by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government, brings together a wide range of exhibitors showcasing aged care, community, and disability products and services. It is a great opportunity to meet with service providers and advisors who can offer valuable insights and support.

    The Try Before You Ride events at Bendigo Railway Station are perfect for those wanting to gain confidence in using public transport. This inclusive initiative, supported by the Victorian Government, allows people of all abilities to familiarise themselves with public transport options in a supportive environment.

    The program also features a range of other events including morning and afternoon teas, exhibitions, performances, exercise programs, come and try days, dancing, live music and more.

    City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager Andie West said the annual Seniors Festival is a fantastic opportunity for older adults to celebrate, connect, be active and involved in the many activities available during the festival week.

    “This year’s program is packed full of great events with something for everyone and with many events either free or low cost it’s a great time to get out and about and try new things,” Ms West said.

    “The theme for this year’s festival is Explore, Engage, Evolve and we encourage older adults to grab a program, get involved and enjoy the activities on offer.”

    Victorian Seniors Card holders can also take advantage of free public transport on all regional bus services, V-Line bus and train services and all Metropolitan train, tram and bus services from Sunday October 6 to Sunday October 13.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Demands Action to Stop Iranian Crime on U.S. Soil

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – Following reports indicating Iran is paying criminal organizations to carry out violent plots—including assassinations—against their critics within the United States, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) stop this criminal activity.  
    “We write to request information regarding how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is prosecuting criminals who commit or attempt to commit acts of violence in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries, and what statutory changes to the criminal code would help DOJ to robustly prosecute these crimes,” wrote the senators.
    “An…example includes a plot, allegedly ordered by individuals in Iran, to use members of an Eastern European criminal organization who refer to themselves as ‘Thieves-In-Law’ in an attempt to murder a prominent critic of Iran—who is a United States citizen—within the United States,” continued the senators. “The attempted assassination followed a prior plot by Iranian intelligence officials to abduct the same critic from within the United States for rendition to Iran.”
    The senators requested DOJ share efforts that foreign governments have undertaken to enlist criminal actors to commit crimes in the United States, identify if there has been any increase in these activities, explain their strategy in thwarting foreign government activity, and answer whether there would be changes to the criminal code to deter these illicit actors.
    Read the full letter here.
    Background:
    Ernst introduced the PUNISH Act to enforce “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran until the State Department can certify that Iran has not supported any attempt in the last five years to kill a U.S. citizen or a former or current U.S. official. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier calls for application of Green Rural Revival Program experience

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

    Chinese vice premier calls for application of Green Rural Revival Program experience

    HEFEI, Sept. 23 — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Monday said that learning from and applying the experience gained through the Green Rural Revival Program will give full play to the main role of farmers and improve work efficiency in the nation’s efforts to promote comprehensive rural revitalization.

    Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting held in Hefei, the capital of east China’s Anhui Province, on the experience gained from the Green Rural Revival Program.

    Liu said that the program has involved many innovations in theory, mechanisms and practice, and that applying the experience gained through the program will bring tangible benefits to farmers.

    He also called for more efforts to upgrade entire rural industry chains, carry out rural planning and construction according to local conditions, promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas in counties, and improve the level of governance in rural regions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Drug Analogues

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to reintroduce the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act. The legislation is led by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

    Specifically, the SIMSA Act targets deadly drugs that are substantially similar to already-controlled substances, but carefully engineered—often in China or Mexico—to slip into the U.S. undetected.  

    “Preliminary data from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources shows that fentanyl and fentanyl analogues were involved in approximately 82% of all drug overdose deaths in West Virginia in 2023,” Senator Capito said. “These deadly substances are flowing into our communities from China and across our southern border, and criminals know that they can get around existing law by slightly changing the chemical makeup of a drug while still having the same negative effect on the human body. This legislation will allow for law enforcement to crack down on synthetic drugs and save lives.”

    BACKGROUND:

    U.S. law prohibits the unauthorized use of certain controlled substances. However, illicit drug makers and importers circumvent those laws by altering single atoms in controlled substances to create tweaked drugs that are not yet outlawed, but have similar effects on users. Currently, uncontrolled substances must undergo a time-consuming analysis before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can permanently schedule them. 

    Full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey’s Major Alzheimer’s Legislation Passes Through House, Moves to President Biden’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Then-Representative Markey authored the National Alzheimer’s Project Act in 2011 and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act in 2014
    Washington (September 23, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security and founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s, applauded passage by the House of Representatives of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, legislation that would cement and build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA) now head to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.  
    “Since my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1985, I have fought to ensure the federal government has the funding, resources, and coordination necessary to find a cure for this disease,” said Senator Markey. “The National Alzheimer’s Plan Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act have transformed our understanding of the disease and its risk factors for more than a decade. But our work is not yet done. Today’s extension of these bills until 2035 is a commitment from Congress that we will not stop fighting until Alzheimer’s is a disease only found in history books. I thank Senator Collins and my colleagues for their support in delivering hope to millions of families just like mine across the country as these two bills head to the President’s desk.”
    “We have made tremendous progress in recent years to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which holds great promise to end this disease that has had a devastating effect on millions of Americans and their families,” said Senator Susan Collins, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “These two bills will maintain our momentum and make sure that we do not take our foot off the pedal just as our investments in basic research are beginning to translate into potential new treatments. We must not let Alzheimer’s to be one of the defining diseases of our children’s generation as it has ours.”
    “I know from firsthand experience what a devastating illness Alzheimer’s disease is, as I watched my mother battle with it for a decade before her passing,” said Senator Mark Warner, co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “While we’ve made great strides in research, there is still so much work to be done to find effective ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s. On behalf of the millions of American families who have been touched by Alzheimer’s, I’m glad to see these two bills head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.”
    The NAPA Reauthorization Act — co-led by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Collins (R-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.),  Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) — would reauthorize NAPA through 2035 and modernize the legislation to reflect strides that have been made to understand the disease, such as including a new focus on promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors. The bill also includes updated language to reduce health disparities for underserved communities, including Black, Brown and disabled communities, who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s as they age.
    The NAPA Reauthorization Act is endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, National Down Syndrobe Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, and LuMind IDSC Foundation.
    The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act — authored by Senators Markey, Collins, Capito, Warner, Moran, Menendez, Murkowski, and Stabenow — would continue through 2035 a requirement that the Director of the National Institutes of Health submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals. Only two other areas of biomedical research – cancer and HIV/AIDS – have been the subject of special budget development aimed at speeding discovery.
    The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act is endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.
    Senator Markey is a leader in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and to support family caregivers. In July 2024, Senator Markey applauded the HELP Committee’s passage of Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, which included provisions based on his Respite Care And Resources for Everyone (CARE) Act and Convenient Care for Caregivers Act to expand respite care for family caregivers of older adults that need long-term care, including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Earlier that month, Senator Markey unveiled his “Caring for Caregivers” family caregiving agenda, which included his Convenient Care for Caregivers Act to support family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s receiving health care services at the same time and location to improve health outcomes. As a member of the House of Representatives, Senator Markey founded the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s to develop a whole-of-government approach to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. He created the Independence at Home program to provide seniors, including individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, the option to receive primary care in their home. Senator Markey authored the bipartisan Spending Reductions Through Innovations in Therapies (SPRINT) Act, which would encourage drug development for high-cost, chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer’s, the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) Act to improve early detection and diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and support caregivers, and the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act, which would require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) work to improve treatment outcomes and engage federal agencies in the effort to combat Alzheimer’s.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Warren, Healey, Wu, Massachusetts Leaders Secure $472 Million in Federal Funding to Replace Draw One Bridge, Renovate North Station T Stop

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Largest federal award MBTA has won to date
    Funding will increase ridership, streamline operations, and improve resiliency along Amtrak’s Downeaster route and regional rail lines
    Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng announced a grant of $472 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to fully replace the North Station Draw One Bridge and renovate Platform F at North Station. The grant is the largest federal award the MBTA has won to date.
    The nearly half a billion dollar grant will provide critical support for one of MBTA’s top priority projects and a vital transportation asset to MBTA’s north-side operations. It will also support more than 14,500 jobs, make the bridge more climate resilient by bringing it above projected sea-level rise, and lower emissions. 
    Specifically, the new funding for MBTA’s North Station Renovation and the Draw One Bridge Replacement Project will support the full replacement of the existing drawbridge, the extension and activation of a platform with two tracks at North Station, and the replacement of track, signals, and switches to modernize and improve station infrastructure.
    “With $472 million to replace the North Station drawbridge, we’re drawing up a new future for rail transit north of Boston. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, Governor Healey, General Manager Eng, Senator Warren, and our whole federal delegation for securing this funding. Together, we are delivering critical federal dollars to the T and building a modern, safe, and reliable public transit system for all,” said Senator Markey.
    “This $472 million investment is a game-changer for the thousands of passengers who pass through North Station every day — and will build a safer, more reliable public transit system for the Commonwealth. Massachusetts leaders worked together to secure the largest ever federal award for the T, and I won’t stop fighting to bring home even more investment to improve transit across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Warren.
    “We know that improving our transportation infrastructure is critical for improving quality of life and making sure Massachusetts remains the best place to live, work, raise a family and build a future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why our administration is competing so aggressively to win federal funding that can be put toward our roads, bridges and public transportation. Congratulations to General Manager Eng and the MBTA team for this award that will improve train service for millions of riders. We’re grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation for their continued investment in Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure.” 
    The Draw One railbridge carries the MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains, serving approximately 11,250,000 passengers per year. It is particularly critical for Amtrak’s Downeaster, an intercity passenger rail service that travels from Maine and New Hampshire into Boston, which is projected to have some of the highest ridership in New England. Draw One is also a vital connection for all of MBTA’s north-side regional rail lines, including Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, and Newburyport/Rockport. The new federal investment will improve service reliability and operations, reduce congestion along a known bottleneck, and increase capacity across the bridge. Additionally, the funding will allow for upgraded signaling and expanded track capabilities, further improving traffic flow.
    “I am pleased to join my colleagues in government to announce the State of Massachusetts was awarded over $472 million in federal funding that will help improve MBTA and Amtrak services,” said Rep. Lynch. “This funding is the result of our hard work and partnership with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure we invest into our nation’s transportation and infrastructure. People all over the Commonwealth rely on public transportation every day, and this DOT grant is critical to make the necessary repairs and replacements that will make train service more safe and reliable.”
    “This bridge is a critical connection point for the communities north of Boston. This federal investment will improve the quality of life for commuters, reduce traffic for everyone, and bring opportunity to the Commonwealth. We will have a faster, more modern, and more user-friendly public transportation system, and that’s exactly the direction we need to move in,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark.
    “Transit justice is a racial and economic justice issue, and a matter of public safety – and this massive federal investment helps make the Commonwealth more connected and our transportation system safer and more reliable for commuters,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I’m glad that families in the Massachusetts 7th who depend on the commuter rail will be better able to access jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services in other parts of the state, and we won’t stop fighting to build the more just, equitable, and accessible transit system our communities deserve. I thank my delegation colleagues and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their partnership, and the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to invest in Massachusetts.”
    “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver unprecedented federal investments to make our transit systems safer and more efficient,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This massive award is proof that, thanks to the strong partnership between our federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration, Massachusetts continues to punch above our weight when competing for federal funding.”
    “North Station Draw One is a connection point between Boston and Cambridge, and the many cities and towns north who rely on this train bridge to visit and work in our city. Thanks to the leadership of the MA federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration in securing this funding, the Greater Boston area will see benefits from updated infrastructure and more reliable transportation. This funding for a bridge replacement represents our region’s commitment to our local economy and green transit,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.
    “I’m proud of the MBTA team that worked diligently to put this project in a strong position to win this highly competitive federal award. I thank the USDOT Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, and our partners at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, FTA Region 1 Administrator Pete Butler, and their entire team, for this incredible award allowing us to deliver the North Station Draw 1 project, freeing up state capital dollars for other essential needs,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “This award continues to demonstrate our aggressive approach to pursuing all funding opportunities under the lead of the Healey-Driscoll Administration as we pursue every available federal grant. Our Grants and North Station Drawbridge teams deserve all the credit for their exceptional work to secure this funding which allows us to ensure the efficient and reliable movement of all North Station train lines while greatly improving our ability to provide more frequent, regional rail-style service across the entire northside corridor to serve future generations to come.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Urges Administration, Colleagues Not To Make Israel’s Job Harder

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities:

    “In May, 2000, Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon. But while the occupation ended, Hizballah’s appetite for waging war on Israel only grew. And its further deadly attacks on Israel invited the 2006 conflict.

    “The history of Israel’s fight to defend its northern border and innocent civilians against Hizballah terrorists bears eerie parallels to the story of brutal violence Hamas has perpetrated from Gaza.

    “Israel withdrew there in August, 2005. And by 2007, Iran-backed terrorists had bent the enclave to its all-consuming mission: war on Israel.

    “But the most glaring through-lines in Israel’s north and south are not the relentless bloodlust of terrorists. They’re the predictable delusion of Israel’s ‘friends’… And the shameful cowardice of international authorities that claim to stand for peace.

    “Take, for starters, how the Biden-Harris Administration chose to welcome the U.N. General Assembly by signaling its openness to resuming funding for UNRWA. And how it apparently still clings to the fiction that an organization so thoroughly corrupted by Hamas that nearly a dozen of its staff directly participated in the October 7th attacks is somehow reform-able.

    “But while the civilized world gathers in one place, the General Assembly might productively spend its time contemplating other pressing questions. For example:

    “Why hasn’t the U.N. Security Council managed to enforce resolutions 1559 and 1701 in Lebanon? These resolutions were passed to end and prevent further conflict between Israel and Lebanon by removing the threat Hizballah posed on Israel’s border, and to end the threat Hizballah posed to the state of Lebanon itself.

    “And why has the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon allowed Hizballah to build up massive stockpiles on Israel’s border in clear preparation for war? Why has the UN looked the other way as Hizballah has expanded its corrosive influence over the institutions of Lebanon’s government?

    “But setting aside the failures of the so-called international community, this past weekend once again cast a spotlight on America’s own naivete toward the glaring facts of Iran-backed war on our friend, Israel.

    “In an interview that might rightly attract scrutiny for its host’s obfuscation of the facts on Israel’s latest responses to Hizballah terrorism, the White House national security communications advisor said out loud what the Biden-Harris Administration has been saying by its actions for nearly a year.

    “Quote: ‘We’ve been working since the beginning of this conflict, October 8th… to try to prevent an escalation…’

    “Think about it, Madam President. The only way to claim credit for working to ‘prevent an escalation’ is by pretending like Hizballah’s October 8th attacks – or Hamas’ October 7th massacre – weren’t actually escalations, themselves!

    “Unfortunately, the Administration official also seemed to suggest a moral equivalence between Israel and Hizballah. He suggested that ‘military action, by either side’ would not be ‘in either side’s best interest,’ and implied that an Israeli response would itself be escalation.

    “Second-guessing Israel’s interests.  Micromanaging their defensive efforts.  Blaming Israel for escalation when it’s clear Hamas and Hizballah have been the instigators of this conflict. It’s a tired playbook.

    “The Administration is telling the world that what America wants is a return to October 6th, as if the status quo ante was sustainable or peaceful. This, of course, is pure fantasy. Hamas broke a cease-fire on October 7th.

    “Or consider Hizballah’s history as the centerpiece of Iran’s ‘ring of fire’ around Israel:

    “Just since the 2006 conflict, Hizballah terrorists have imported tens of thousands of rockets to target Israel, deployed forces directly to Israel’s border, and constructed tunnels that would allow them to emulate Hamas’ October 7th invasion.

    “Recent estimates suggest the terrorists posses up to 200,000 rockets, missiles, drones, and precision-guided munitions, along with 25,000 active-duty militants. All of it is pointed south at Israel. And all of it, as Hizballah’s leader has boasted, is from Iran.

    “Or consider Lebanon itself. Hizballah is a cancer on the Lebanese state. It wields its power as a sectarian terror squad, and leaves a long trail of blood through the highest ranks of civilian government and civil society. Sunnis, Christians, Druze, and fellow Shiites – none are immune from Hizballah’s wrath.

    “Then again, National Public Radio refers to Hizballah as a ‘political’ group. Perhaps the Administration officials’ confusion is a symptom of their media diet. Or, more likely, the foundations of their foreign policy are fundamentally flawed:

    “Remember the declaration by the President’s national security advisor early last fall that the Middle East was ‘quieter than it has been for decades’.

    “The absurdity of this boast in light of October 7th is striking enough. But even when it was written, it betrayed the Administration’s naivete toward glaring and abiding threats to Israel and America’s national security interests in the region.

    “Iran’s agents in Syria and Iraq had already fired hundreds of rockets at American forces on this Administration’s watch. Since last October, these attacks have only metastasized, including into the Red Sea. Was this an acceptable status quo?

    “Was Hizballah’s steady preparation for war? Was Hamas’ expropriation of humanitarian assistance in order to build terror tunnels?

    “The United States ought to stand with our friend, Israel, as it faces these terrorists down. The goal should not be simply to avoid escalation or to return to the status quo ante, but to help Israel defend itself against terrorists bent on Israel’s destruction.

    “We have a stake in ensuring Israel emerges from this conflict stronger and these terrorist organizations and their Iranian patron weaker. These same terrorists want to expel the United States from the region. We are the Great Satan, in their own parlance.

    “Instead, by their misplaced obsession with escalation, the Administration and Washington Democrats are making Israel’s job harder.

    “If the President and Vice President want to see an end to war in Gaza and prevent greater hostilities in Lebanon, then it’s time to switch the focus of their diplomatic pressure.

    “Every time Administration officials try to tie Israel’s hands in public comments… And every time a U.S. Senator threatens to hold critical security assistance hostage… Hamas, Hizballah, and their patrons in Tehran are emboldened.

    “If our colleagues want peace, it’s time to show support for a nation founded on peace… And resolve toward terrorists whose reason for existence is chaos and violence.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Invites Students in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District to Participate in 2024 Congressional App Challenge

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)

    Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Invites Students in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District to Participate in 2024 Congressional App Challenge

    Houston, TX, September 23, 2024

    Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced the launch of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.  The competition, which is open to middle school and high school students, encourages students to learn to code and inspires them to pursue careers in computer science.  

    “I am excited to launch this year’s Congressional App Challenge for students across our district and to provide them with an opportunity to demonstrate and develop their STEM skills,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I look forward to seeing the submissions from our talented young neighbors.”

    The Congressional App Challenge is open to middle school and high school students in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.  The deadline to submit an app is October 24, 2024.  The winner for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District will be selected by a panel of judges from the district.  For more information about the competition, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government’s desperate decree to stop public servants working from home won’t work

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    “The Minister of Public Service Nicola Willis is expecting public servants to stop working from home to help bolster the flagging local economy is micromanaging gone mad and counterproductive.” NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff said.

    “This Government has already tried to control staffing ratios in terms of ‘front line’ and ‘back office, and now it is trying to control where people should work.”

    “Minister Willis should concentrate on the big picture issues confronting Aotearoa New Zealand, instead of trying to manage the day-to-day operations of the public service.”

    “Though flexible hours and working from home options vary across organisations, it’s understood that people are more productive and happier with flexible arrangements. In a cost-of-living crisis it also reduces the financial and environmental impact of transport and parking. This is an operational matter, one the minister shouldn’t be involved in.” Wagstaff said.

    “Working from home practices have benefited from new technology, making it easier to connect remotely. The advent of COVID speed up the adoption of these tools and practices, demonstrating value to employers and employees alike.”

    “Employers offering a hybrid model of working from home for part of the week has become very attractive for some workplaces, both in terms of convenience and productivity.”

    “It’s crucial that the public service offers good work that attracts and retains the workers we need. This decision will just make that goal much harder in an already difficult environment.”

    “Despite the Government doing its best to portray itself as modern, innovative thinkers, this decree demonstrates that in reality they don’t understand the value of a modern, positive, high-trust workplace culture. Micromanaging and stopping staff from working some of their time at home is all about an old-fashioned command and control mentality.”

    “The Minister of Finance is fooling herself if she thinks forcing people to stop working from home will correct the damage done to the economy by the massive job cuts.” Wagstaff said.

    “Public servants only have so much money to spend. Now they will have to spend more on public transport and less on their local communities. It is a zero-sum game,” said Wagstaff. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Two Bills to Combat Alzheimer’s Head to President’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins applauded the passage by the House of Representatives of two bipartisan bills she authored that would cement and build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA) now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
    “We have made tremendous progress in recent years to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which holds great promise to end this disease that has had a devastating effect on millions of Americans and their families,” said Senator Collins, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “These two bills will maintain our momentum and make sure that we do not take our foot off the pedal just as our investments in basic research are beginning to translate into potential new treatments. We must not let Alzheimer’s to be one of the defining diseases of our children’s generation as it has ours.”
    More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s costs our nation an astonishing $360 billion per year, including $231 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. If we continue along this trajectory, Alzheimer’s is projected to claim the minds of 13.8 million seniors by 2060 and nearly surpass $1 trillion in annual costs by 2050. In 2022, family caregivers provided 18 billion hours of unpaid care for loved ones with dementia.
    In 2011, Senator Susan Collins authored the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) with then-Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN).  NAPA convened a panel of experts, who created a coordinated strategic national plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. The law is set to expire soon and must be reauthorized to ensure that research investments remain coordinated, and their impact is maximized.
    The NAPA Reauthorization Act would:
    Reauthorize NAPA through 2035 and modernize the legislation to reflect strides that have been made to understand the disease, such as including a new focus on promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors.
    Update language in recognition of the need to include underserved populations, including individuals with Down syndrome, who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s as they age.
    This bill is now endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and LuMind IDSC Foundation.
    The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act would:
    Continue through 2035 a requirement that the Director of the National Institutes of Health submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals.
    Only two other areas of biomedical research – cancer and HIV/AIDS – have been the subject of special budget development aimed at speeding discovery.

    Senator Collins authored the NAPA Reauthorization Act with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). Both bills are cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
    The NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act are endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The fixed-term contract concluded before a permanent contract is deducted from the employee’s trial period.

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:

    Image 1Credits: lichtmeister – stock.adobe.com

    An employee hired on a permanent contract after having completed 3 fixed-term contracts is dismissed during her trial period. She contests the termination of the contract before the judge and requests that the trial period be declared null and void given the 3 fixed-term contracts she previously completed.

    The Court of Appeal dismissed the employee’s application. In its view, the first two fixed-term contracts (which took place in May and June) were not a continuation of the third fixed-term contract (which took place in August) and the permanent contract concluded afterwards. According to the Court of Appeal, there was therefore no continuous employment relationship between the employee and her employer. It considered that the employer was still within the time limit to terminate the permanent contract.

    The Court of Cassation overturns and annuls the decision rendered by the Court of Appeal. According to it, the employee carried out her duties without any functional discontinuity. Thus, she had the same working relationship with the employer during these different contracts.

    The duration of the 3 fixed-term contracts must therefore be deducted from the trial period provided for in the permanent contract. The dismissal is unfair.

    Please note

    The Court of Cassation here confirms its previous case law (October 9, 2013, no. 12-12.113).

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Announces Over $220 Million for I-680 Improvements and Central Valley High-Speed Rail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Announces Over $220 Million for I-680 Improvements and Central Valley High-Speed Rail

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will receive a combined $220.6 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to improve mobility along the Interstate 680 (I-680) corridor and to construct a high-speed rail station in Madera. The investments were made through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program.
    Over $166 million will go toward Contra Costa’s INNOVATE 680 Program to complete the northbound I-680 express lane gap from California State Route (SR) 24 to SR-242 and to convert the existing northbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane from SR-242 to north of Arthur Road into an express lane. The project will also construct a braided ramp system between the North Main Street and Treat Boulevard interchanges in Walnut Creek to address an existing bottleneck caused by weaving, implement Coordinated Adaptive Ramp Metering for a 19-mile segment of Northbound I-680, and include a Caltrans truck scale/weigh station.
    The Madera High-Speed Rail Station Project will receive over $54 million to construct a high-speed rail station for the Merced-Bakersfield California High-Speed Rail Interim Service. The project will design and construct the Madera Station through improvements at the relocated Madera Amtrak Station, including new platforms, trackwork, an overhead contact system, a bus depot, expanded auto parking, an access roadway network, a multi-use path, and a station building.
    “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, California commuters will get where they need to go faster, and we will improve connectivity across the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley,” said Senator Padilla. “Decongesting I-680 is essential to preventing delays and bolstering driver safety and efficiency along this busy corridor. The Madera high-speed rail station is a key component of the upcoming Merced-Bakersfield high-speed rail service and will create better transportation options, good-paying construction jobs, and cleaner air for Central Valley residents.”
    “This is a monumental award for Contra Costa County and the greater Bay Area. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Senator Alex Padilla and our federal delegation for their invaluable support in securing this crucial federal grant. Interstate 680 (I-680) is critical to the region’s economy and prosperity. It provides for the movement of goods, services, and people throughout northern California and beyond. Thousands rely on this corridor and increased congestion has led to unacceptable delays. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is excited to advance the I-680 corridor through focused modernizations that will maximize efficiency and promote shared transportation,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
    “Partnering with state and local agencies, California is using its transportation dollars to provide travelers with more options that will help us reduce planet-warming pollution, improve air quality, and combat climate change,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
    “This award is crucial for the San Joaquin Valley and California. We are extremely grateful to Senator Alex Padilla and our federal delegation for supporting this integral and transformational grant funding. The Madera station project would improve the connection to the Madera community and serve as a multi-modal connection hub, allowing transfers between the San Joaquins service and the future high-speed rail line. In addition, this project will help aid the region and the state in its goals to reduce transportation-related pollution and allow for the continued development of passenger rail in California,” said Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA).
    The highly competitive Mega Grant program funds major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. More information on the program is available here.
    Senator Padilla has secured billions for California infrastructure improvements from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including for high-speed rail. Last year, Padilla supported the Department of Transportation’s announcement of $3.1 billion for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, as well as over $200 million for the agency from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program. He and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein previously announced $25 million for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Merced Extension Design Project through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. Additionally, Padilla announced $28.94 million last year for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to implement five safety projects in areas with the largest concentration of pedestrian crashes. He also championed more than $283 million from the Mega Program for the Port of Long Beach to complete the final phase of the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility by expanding the North and South Rail Yards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police Urge Drivers to Adhere to Speed Limits Following RBT Station in Adelaide River

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police conducted an early morning Random Breath Testing (RBT) station on the Stuart Highway at Adelaide River yesterday, where 139 drivers were tested over a two-hour period, all returning negative results for alcohol.

    While Batchelor police were pleased with the responsible behaviour regarding drink driving, concerns remain about the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit in the area. Nine drivers were issued infringement notices for speeding, highlighting the ongoing issue of reckless driving.

    Acting Remote Sergeant Brittany Stuart expressed concern, stating, “Once again, Northern Territory Police can be anywhere, at any time. Drivers need to slow down, keep their focus on the road, and avoid distractions like electronic devices. Too many drivers this morning demonstrated a poor attitude towards speed limits.

    “Adelaide River is a built-up area with a 60km/h speed limit, and there’s sufficient signage in place to warn drivers. Early in the morning, the community sees increased pedestrian traffic as residents are out for their exercise. Speeding through this area puts lives at risk. We’ve already lost too many lives on our roads this year—50 so far—and we do not want to see that number rise due to poor choices behind the wheel.”

    Northern Territory Police continue to remind all drivers that adherence to speed limits is crucial to ensuring the safety of all road users.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Grassley demand Biden-Harris admin hold HHS accountable for unaccompanied migrant children

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bicameral group of more than 42 colleagues in urging Pres. Joe Biden to hold the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) accountable for the mismanagement and misplacement of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children.

    “As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with ‘stemming the migration’ at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations. . . . Your Administration also fails them when they arrive in the United States by rushing them out of the custody of your Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often continue to exploit and abuse them,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “Even as the trafficking business and the number of children entering the U.S. surged, HHS ORR cut back significantly on background checks and vetting procedures to speed up the process, despite knowing children were being trafficked through HHS ORR’s UAC program. Your Administration likewise continued Vice President Harris’s longtime priority of cutting back on information sharing between HHS ORR and law enforcement related to unaccompanied children and sponsors,” they continued.

    The lawmakers also detailed a list of the ORR’s negligence in handling migrant children, including its failure to comply with Congressional subpoenas or provide information, such as the whereabouts of UACs, to the Department of Homeland Security.

    “HHS’s failure to ensure UACs are in appropriate placements and to adequately vet sponsors is harmful not only to the UACs, but also to American citizens. . . . HHS must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    In Dec. 2023, Sen. Kennedy urged the Biden-Harris administration’s HHS to protect vulnerable migrant children by abandoning its planned rule to allow minors to be placed with sponsors who did not undergo background checks or other safeguards.

    Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),  John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and 15 members of the House of Representatives also signed the letter.

    The full letter is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rockfall closes SH6 Haast Pass today

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Rock Shelter Otira Gorge, SH73 – open overnight now, work at McGrath Creek Bridge postponed a week.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) re-opened SH73 between Otira and Arthur’s Pass overnight from the past weekend. An additional project at McGrath Creek bridge, which would have affected night travellers this week, has been pushed out to next week.

    Rock Shelter remediation continues for four more weeks

    SH73 has been closed overnight and with restricted hours daytimes since the end of August after rockfall began overspilling the Rock Shelter in the Otira Gorge onto the traffic lane. The daytime travel delays continue for the next four weeks, with traffic passing between Otira and Arthur’s Pass at the top of each hour 9 am to 5 pm.

    • On weekends and overnights SH73 between Otira and Arthur’s Pass will be open unrestricted unless other work or weather conditions cause a change.
    • Work at McGrath Creek bridge has been rescheduled to next week at night, Sunday 29 September to Monday, 7 October.  There will be up to one-hour delays between 8pm and 6am.  The road will be open on the hour to clear traffic, with vehicles queued either side of the bridge work site.
    • This work is subject to weather and may be rescheduled.

    The Lewis Pass via Waipara and Reefton, SH7, is the alternative route adding around an hour to the journey between Canterbury and the West Coast.

    • Any changes to route availability will be updated on the Journey Planner at all times.
      Journey Planner – Highway conditions(external link)
    • Electronic signs at each end of SH73 in places like Kumara Junction and Springfield will let people know the open hours that day.
    • An update will be provided each Friday to confirm the closures for the following week.

    NZTA understands that this work at the Rock Shelter and coming up at McGrath Creek Bridge is disruptive and appreciates people’s understanding and patience while we make this route safe and get the highway back to normal operations for the summer.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police lay arson charges over Auckland fires

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A man has been remanded in custody after being charged over a series of vehicle fires in central Auckland.

    Police have been investigating the suspicious fires in the vicinity of the Auckland Domain since 18 September.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, from Auckland City’s Crime Squad, says at least four fires have been under investigation.

    The most recent incident, on 20 September, occurred when two vehicles were targeted on Park Road at around 9.15pm.

    Earlier fires occurred within the vicinity of the Auckland Domain on 18, 19 and 20 September.

    “The vehicles suffered varying degrees of damage, and it’s fortunate that no one was seriously injured as a result of these brazen acts,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says.

    “It’s clear though that this has caused great inconvenience to the victims.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says a 50-year-old man was arrested in the Auckland Domain on Sunday evening.

    “The man appeared in the Auckland District Court on Monday, charged with three counts of arson,” he says.

    “He has been remanded in custody until his next appearance on 25 September.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says enquiries are ongoing and further charges cannot be ruled out.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to further promote ties with Maldives: Chinese FM

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

    NEW YORK, Sept. 23 — Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New York, during which Wang expressed China’s willingness to continuously promote bilateral relations to new levels.

    Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping’s cordial greetings to Muizzu at the start of the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted the fact that China and the Maldives are friendly neighbors across the Indian Ocean, recalling the successful state visit by Muizzu to China in January.

    During the state visit, the heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and the two countries will work together to build a community with a shared future, Wang said.

    Thanks to the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and the Maldives have conducted close exchanges at all levels and promoted practical cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the Maldivian people, Wang said.

    China and the Maldives have always understood, trusted and supported each other despite the many uncertainties in the region and around the world, and the development of bilateral ties have remained steady and healthy, Wang said.

    China, Wang told Muizzu, is willing to work with the Maldivian side to thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and continuously promote the China-Maldives relations to new levels.

    China’s development will enhance the force for peace in the world and augment the strength of developing countries, and will hence bring new opportunities for developing countries like the Maldives, Wang said.

    China-Maldives relations have become an example of countries large and small treating each other equally, helping and supporting each other, and striving for mutual benefits and win-win results, Wang said, adding that it is the wish of China to carry forward its traditional friendship with the Maldives and march alongside the Maldives at the forefront of the endeavor to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    China will always support the Maldives’ effort to protect its sovereignty independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, and support the Maldives’ search for a development path that suits the country’s reality, Wang said.

    Wang mentioned in particular the development of small island countries, saying that China is willing to lend a helping hand through the Chinese proposal known as the Global Development Initiative, meanwhile coping with challenges such as climate change together with small island countries.

    Muizzu, for his part, asked Wang to convey his best regards to President Xi, expressing his warm congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding the People’s Republic of China.

    Muizzu said his historic state visit to China in January was not only a total success that injected vigor into the development of Maldives-China relations, but also a personal honor for himself, as he was the first foreign head of state invited to China by President Xi this year.

    The Maldives, Muizzu stressed, firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports a series of prominent international cooperation initiatives proposed by the Chinese president.

    Noting the visits by multiple Maldivian ministers to China since the start of this year and the smooth cooperation between the two countries, Muizzu said the Maldivian government and people wholeheartedly thank China for its selfless assistance in the economic and social development of the Maldives.

    The Maldives looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in the fields of finance, housing, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism, and promoting greater development of bilateral relations.

    MIL OSI China News –