NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Asbestos Awareness Week – Prevention Saves Lives

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 1, 2025

    April 1-7 is Global Asbestos Awareness Week. This is an important time to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos in the workplace.

    “Work related asbestos diseases can be prevented if you are aware of where it is located in a building and how to properly handle it to avoid exposure to its fibers,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said.

    Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was regularly used in buildings until the late 1990s. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, the tiny fibres are released into the air. When they are breathed in, they can become trapped in the lungs and stay there for many years. Over time, these fibres can accumulate and lead to serious health problems.

    In the 2024-25 Provincial Budget, $230,000 in funding was provided to replace the asbestos registry. This funding ensured that workers continue to be protected when doing repairs or renovations to public buildings identified as containing asbestos. The updated registry was launched in February 2025. 

    As of December 31, 2024 more than 5,200 facilities had been registered in the searchable online tool.

    The asbestos registry is publicly available at saskatchewan.ca.

    To learn more about the dangers of asbestos in the workplace, including information about understanding, identifying and handling asbestos visit: saskatchewan.ca/asbestos and WorkSafe Saskatchewan. 

    The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety fosters safe, healthy and productive workplaces for Saskatchewan through education, intervention and enforcement.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, Assemblymember Haney Unveil Legislation to Protect 17 Million Californians From Unfair Rent Fees

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    AB 1248 seeks to protect tenants from unfair and unpredictable fees  

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), and a prominent coalition of organizations today unveiled Assembly Bill 1248 (AB 1248), legislation that seeks to protect tenants from unpredictable and costly housing fees. In recent years, some landlords have adopted the practice of charging separate piecemeal fees in addition to the rent, which can cost tenants hundreds of dollars more each month on top of the base rent. This practice hinders tenants’ financial stability and ability to budget for housing and other needs — and hurts landlords who do not charge these fees by putting them at a competitive disadvantage and creating an unfair marketplace. The practice of charging separate piecemeal fees has become even more rampant since the enactment of California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA), which provides statewide rent-increase protections. AB 1248 aims to prevent landlords from unbundling housing services — many of which have traditionally been covered by rent — and then charging additional, often mandatory, fees for those services. AB 1248 makes clear that landlords cannot play games with state rent caps by charging fees that amount to shadow rent increases or advertise a deceptively low rent. By prohibiting added fees, AB 1248 will help ensure that tenants’ housing payments remain stable and predictable, and that people can compare true costs when searching for housing within their budget. 

    “When landlords tack on fees on top of rent it makes it almost impossible for families to compare housing costs or plan for monthly expenses. As it stands, the scarcity and high cost of housing means California’s 17 million renters spend a significant portion of their paychecks on rent, with an estimated 150,000 people at risk of eviction any given month,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The price of housing should be clear to California tenants in the same way that the cost of a concert ticket or a hotel is clear to California consumers. I thank Assemblymember Haney for introducing legislation to ensure California tenants receive the full protection afforded to them by the Tenant Protection Act. AB 1248 will help Californians’ housing payments remain straightforward, stable, and predictable.”

    “Housing costs in California are already high, and added fees only make it harder for renters to budget and stay financially stable. These unfair and unpredictable costs are nothing more than a scam that drives up housing expenses and leaves tenants paying far more than they expected,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). “AB 1248 ensures fairness by making sure the rent tenants agree to is the rent they actually pay. This bill will help protect Californians from misleading pricing practices and create a more honest and predictable rental market.”

    “Unfair fees in the rental housing market have exploded in recent years — far too many consumers feel the crushing burden of all these unpredictable fees on a monthly basis,” said Robert Herrell, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. “This bill by Assemblymember Haney will dramatically improve consumer protections so renters don’t get taken advantage of. We are proud to co-sponsor this bill with Attorney General Bonta and other leading consumer housing advocates.”

    “Low-income renters need certainty in their monthly rent payments. Most of these tenants are already severely rent-burdened and struggling to retain their housing. The exploitive practice of adding on fees after a lease has already been signed or charging for services that had previously been included in rent makes it even harder for people to stay housed,” said Brian Augusta, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. “We are proud to co-sponsor this measure with the Attorney General and the Consumer Federation and thank Assemblymember Haney for authoring it.” 

    Co-authored by Attorney General Bonta during his time as a state assemblymember, the Tenant Protection Act (TPA) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. It created significant statewide protections for most tenants, including by limiting rent increases and prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without just cause. Under the TPA, landlords cannot raise the gross rental rate more than 10% total or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living – whichever is lower – over a 12-month period.

    Particularly since enactment of the TPA, an increasing number of landlords, including large corporate landlords, are charging tenants a proliferation of separate fees, including for services that should be and have historically been covered by the rent. For example, some landlords charge monthly fees for pest control, “trash concierge” services, and Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) fees where tenants are charged for a portion of the building’s utilities, like water and sewer, based on a complex formula with little transparency and that landlords can often change at any time, resulting in charges that can vary widely from month to month. These fees can add up to hundreds of dollars each month on top of rent.

    By engaging in this practice, these landlords place significant burdens on tenants, including uncertainty about monthly housing costs due to variable or increasing fees, and create an unfair and confusing marketplace for prospective tenants and honest landlords — particularly small “mom and pop” landlords — who don’t engage in this deceptive pricing practice. If the combination of rent increases and new fees exceed the TPA’s rent cap, these landlords are also violating California law. 

    With the number of various fee and fee increases, it may be difficult for tenants to keep track of their monthly payments. When a landlord applies a tenant’s payment to late fees or other obligations before applying it to the rent and then charges a late fee because they consider the rent to not be fully paid, it can create a spiral of rent debt for the tenant, which increases the risk of eviction for nonpayment of rent.

     AB 1248 would: 

    • Require landlords to include all costs in the rent rather than charging separate fees.
    • Create more predictable housing costs for existing tenants by preventing landlords from adding new fees during a tenancy.
    • Require landlords to apply a tenant’s rent payment to their rent first, which will help prevent landlords from creating a debt spiral for tenants.

    Text of this legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches First LSD Earn Zone, Introducing Flexible Onchain Yield

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched the industry’s first LSD Earn Zone, offering users a new way to earn onchain yields while keeping their crypto assets liquid. This feature introduces Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) into a simplified wallet experience, allowing users to grow their holdings without traditional staking lockups or restrictions.

    LSDs represent a new category of staking assets that combine yield generation with asset flexibility. When users stake tokens such as ETH or SOL on supported DeFi platforms, they receive equivalent derivative tokens in return. These tokens, known as Liquid Staking Derivatives, continue to accrue staking rewards but remain tradable and usable across DeFi protocols. This means users can earn passive income while still being able to trade, swap, provide liquidity or participate in other DeFi activities with the derivative tokens — maximizing both earning potential and asset utility. By eliminating the need to lock assets for fixed periods, LSDs make staking more accessible and efficient.

    At launch, Bitget Wallet’s LSD Earn Zone supports four carefully selected products across Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, offering annual yields ranging from approximately 4% to 8%. These include sUSDe, a USD-pegged stablecoin issued by Ethena; USDY, a real-world asset-backed token linked to U.S. Treasury yields via Ondo Finance; sUSDS, a multi-chain yield aggregator that dynamically allocates capital to top-performing protocols; and JitoSOL, a derivative token from Solana’s largest LSD protocol, enhanced through MEV strategies. All options are accessible via the “Hold to Earn” section of Bitget Wallet’s Earn tab, with real-time yield tracking and instant activation.

    Security and transparency are central to Bitget Wallet’s design. As a fully non-custodial wallet, it ensures that users retain complete control of their funds at all times. Unlike centralized platforms that carry counterparty risk, Bitget Wallet connects users directly to audited, battle-tested DeFi protocols. LSD products integrated into the Earn Zone undergo strict security reviews, and users benefit from real-time earnings visibility and seamless redemption. Bitget Wallet is further supported by a $300 million Protection Fund, offering additional reassurance in the event of unforeseen security risks.

    Bitget Wallet’s launch of LSD Earn Zone signals Web3 wallet’s evolution into the enhanced yield phase of onchain finance. With upcoming support for networks including Tron, Base, Sonic, and Sui, Bitget Wallet will continue expanding earning opportunities while improving onchain capital efficiency. Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, highlighted “As part of our broader Payfi strategy, we’re building tools that enable assets to earn yield continuously while remaining usable for other utilities. This is how money should work — flexible, efficient, and always active. Bitget Wallet offers a unified experience that combines earning, trading, and payments in one place, building an everyday finance hub for the next generation of users.”

    For more details, please visit Bitget Wallet blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40a2062c-d8f8-4b48-a040-4b2863006843

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Urban cemeteries are at capacity – here’s how they can be more sustainable

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniela Pianezzi, Associate Professor in Work and Organization Studies, University of Verona

    Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock

    Approximately 170,000 people die every day around the world – that’s around 62 million deaths in 2024 alone. The cumulative effect of this has led to what has been termed a “burial crisis”, with most urban areas where burial remains the norm expected to run out of interment space by the 2050s, some much earlier – as in, now.

    Major cities, including London and Sydney anticipate severe space shortages within the next decade. Smaller community cemeteries, such as Nuneaton cemetery in Warwickshire have already reached full capacity and begun directing families elsewhere. Finding culturally acceptable yet ethically responsible, accessible and sustainable ways of laying to rest, mourning and honouring our loved ones has become an urgent global issue.

    However, the cemetery sector has only recently begun to seriously consider the environmental consequences of how we handle our bodies after death. The sense of urgency coincides with a significant cultural shift, as cremation increasingly replaces traditional burial methods. This is due to societal secularisation, shifts in religious doctrines (including Catholicism lifting past bans) and its affordability compared to burial.

    In the UK, the percentage of cremations has risen from 9% of total burials in 1946 to 80.64% in 2023.

    Yet, cremation is far from a sustainable alternative to burial. It releases substantial amounts of pollutants, notably carbon dioxide and mercury emissions, so regulation is necessary. Technologically advanced techniques, such as water cremation – a process that uses an alkali-water-based solution to reduce a body to bones – have only recently begun to emerge as possible alternatives and remain niche.

    For several years, we have been studying cemeteries in Italy and the UK. Despite the deeply different burial traditions in these two countries (unlike the UK, Italy remains a burial culture) both face the same environmental challenges.

    A tale of two cemeteries

    A few sites do offer environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional burial. One is in Liguria, a densely populated region in northwestern Italy that has suffered significant losses due to climate change, particularly from soil erosion caused by decades of reckless coastal construction.

    Here, a group of environmentally conscious volunteers transformed a woodland called Boschi Vivi (the name means living woods) into a cemetery, creating Italy’s first forest cemetery. Though it involves cremation, this initiative is particularly groundbreaking in a country where cemeteries have historically been conceived as monumental or architectural structures.

    Often, they are heavily reliant on marble, a traditional hallmark of Italian craftsmanship, significantly reducing green spaces in urban areas. The mining of marble also creates huge greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity.

    In contrast, the cimitero bosco (forest cemetery) of Boschi Vivi follows a different philosophy. Instead of traditional tombstones, only a small plaque is placed near each tree where ashes have been scattered, marking the final resting place of the deceased.

    A tree tomb in the woodland of Boschi Vivi, Liguria, Italy.
    Daniela Pianezzi, CC BY-NC-ND

    Currently, this remains a grassroots initiative that’s starting to emerge in the US and Canada too. Hopefully, more Italian public administrations will adopt this model as traditional cemeteries become increasingly financially and environmentally unsustainable.

    For three decades, Oakfield burial ground in Wrabness, Essex, UK has adopted a similar approach. Oakfield wood is a seven-acre natural woodland burial site along the banks of the river Stour in north Essex, managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. Instead of headstones or conventional memorials, a native broadleaf tree is planted for each burial, accompanied by a simple wooden plaque at its base. The site forms part of a larger nature reserve, fostering a rich habitat for wildlife.

    Unlike municipal cemeteries or other burial sites, which are often subject to redevelopment or reuse, Oakfield enjoys long-term protection under the Essex Wildlife Trust. This means that burials here are conducted in perpetuity, ensuring that the site remains undisturbed. The trust plans to manage Oakfield solely as a nature reserve once it reaches full capacity, although this will not be for many decades to come.

    Despite these promising initiatives, sites such as Boschi Vivi and Oakwood risk remaining isolated cases unless a radical rethinking of burial takes place. Whether cemeteries are perceived as eerie, macabre spaces (like in Shakespeare’s Hamlet) or as places of peace and reconciliation, as in the final scene of Forrest Gump, they are still dominated by the idea that graves should be organised as a series of permanent markers of individual lives.

    Our research shows that it’s only by considering human beings as part of nature that the growing burial crisis might be averted. That fundamentally involves moving from a human-centred or “ego-logical” ethos to an ecological one.

    The most viable response to the environmental challenges facing not just Nuneaton cemetery, but burial sites across the world, might be simply a new awareness. One that recognises both life and death as integral parts of nature. So, remembrance is not preserved through permanence, but rather through a return to the natural cycle of life.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. Urban cemeteries are at capacity – here’s how they can be more sustainable – https://theconversation.com/urban-cemeteries-are-at-capacity-heres-how-they-can-be-more-sustainable-252711

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why a presidential term limit got written into the Constitution – the story of the 22nd Amendment

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mark Satta, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Law, Wayne State University

    No president other than Franklin D. Roosevelt has held office for more than two terms. Walter Leporati/Getty Images

    Only one person, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, has ever served more than two terms as president of the United States. This is for two reasons.

    First, prior to Roosevelt’s election to a third term in 1940 there was a longstanding American tradition that presidents not serve more than two terms.

    This tradition was established by the decisions of early presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison not to seek a third term. This tradition was later adopted by other presidents.

    Second, after Roosevelt died in office in 1945 during his fourth term, Congress and the people of the United States decided to turn the long-standing tradition that presidents should not serve more than two terms into a part of constitutional law.

    This was done through the passage and ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which became part of the U.S. Constitution in 1951.

    Only after the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, who died in 1945 in his fourth term and whose casket is seen here, did the U.S. codify the two-term limit on presidents.
    AP photo

    Intent is clear

    The key provision of the 22nd Amendment reads as follows: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”

    The intent is clear. No one is supposed to serve more than two full terms as president.

    The only way someone can serve more than two terms is if they served less than two years in a previous term in which they weren’t elected president.

    Here’s an example: If a vice president becomes president during the final year of a term because the president died, that vice president could still run for two terms. But that exception is still meant to bar anyone from serving more than a total of 10 years as president.

    It is worth understanding why the two-term tradition was considered so important that it was turned into constitutional law the first time it was violated.

    Starting the tradition

    Commentators often cite George Washington’s decision not to seek a third term as president as establishing the two-term tradition. Political scientist and term limit scholar Michael Korzi gives a lot more credit to the nation’s third president, Thomas Jefferson.

    Jefferson was outspoken in favor of the two-term tradition. As Korzi notes, this was, in part, because “Jefferson saw little distinction between a long-serving executive in an elective position and a hereditary monarch.” In other words, a president without term limits is too much like a king.

    John Trumbull’s portrait of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, who believed that a president who was willing to break the two-term tradition was too ambitious.
    John Trumbull/GraphicaArtis, Getty Images

    Jefferson saw a president who was willing to break the two-term tradition as power hungry, and he hoped that the American people would not elect such a president. This led him to write in his autobiography in 1821 that “should a President consent to be a candidate for a 3d. election, I trust he would be rejected on this demonstration of ambitious views.”

    Jefferson also worried that without term limits, presidents would stay in office too long into their old age and after they had lost their ability to govern effectively. This led him to write that without term limits, there was a danger that “the indulgence and attachments of the people will keep a man in the chair after he becomes a dotard.”

    Subsequently, presidents tended to abide by the two-term tradition. And in the few cases where presidents decided to seek a third term, their own parties would not give them the nomination.

    That remained true until Roosevelt ran for, and won, both a third and a fourth term as president during World War II.

    The 22nd Amendment

    Roosevelt’s violation of the two-term tradition prompted Congress and the states to turn the tradition into a formal matter of constitutional law.

    A major concern motivating the amendment was the same one that motivated Jefferson: to prevent a president from becoming a king. Multiple members of Congress identified the same concern during congressional sessions in the 1940s.

    Sen. Chapman Revercomb from West Virginia stated that power given to a president without term limits “would be a definite step in the direction of autocracy, regardless of the name given the office, whether it be president, king, dictator, emperor, or whatever title the office may carry.”

    Similarly, Rep. Edward McCowen from Ohio said that the 22nd Amendment would be “a great step toward preventing a dictatorship or some totalitarian form of government from arising.”

    And Rep. John Jennings Jr. from Tennessee stated that only by adoption of the 22nd Amendment “can the people be assured that we shall never have a dictator in this land.”

    Congress passed the 22nd Amendment on March 21, 1947. It took less than four years for the necessary three-fourths of the states to ratify the amendment, which became law on Feb. 27, 1951.

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about getting a third term as president.
    Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    Tyrants and term limit violations

    In the 1980s, political scientist Juan Linz identified that presidential systems are less stable than other forms of democracy, such as parliamentary systems. The difference seems to be that presidential systems concentrate more power in the hands of a single person, the president. This makes it easier to remove the checks and balances that democracies depend on.

    As scholars have noted, violation of presidential term limits and other methods of increasing executive power are a common form of democratic backsliding – state-led debilitation or elimination of the political institutions that sustain a democracy.

    Law professor Mila Versteeg and her colleagues have shown that in recent years presidents around the globe have used various tactics to try to violate presidential term limits. These tactics include trying to amend their country’s constitution, trying to get the courts to reinterpret the constitution, finding a replacement leader who the former president can control once out of office and attempting to delay elections.

    They note that most of the time when a president’s attempt to violate term limits fails it is “because the attempt encountered widespread popular resistance.” They conclude that this finding implies that “broad resistance movements” may be the best means to prevent violation of presidential term limits.

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

    – ref. Why a presidential term limit got written into the Constitution – the story of the 22nd Amendment – https://theconversation.com/why-a-presidential-term-limit-got-written-into-the-constitution-the-story-of-the-22nd-amendment-253421

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ezell, Carbajal Stand Strong for the Jones Act in New Opinion Piece

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

    Last week, Congressmen Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) penned an opinion piece for The Washington Times emphasizing the bipartisan support for the Jones Act and its critical role in protecting America’s shipbuilding industry, national security, and maritime workforce.

    In the piece, Ezell and Carbajal make it clear:

    “The Jones Act is quite literally the bedrock and foundation of our nation’s commercial shipbuilding industrial base, and we proudly support it.”

    The Jones Act ensures that American-built, -owned, and -crewed vessels transport goods between U.S. ports, safeguarding both our economy and our security. As a strong advocate for the maritime industry, Reps. Ezell and Carbajal remain committed to defending this longstanding law against efforts to weaken it.

    Read the full op-ed here or below:

    Republicans and Democrats Agree… We Must Defend the Jones Act

    As leaders of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we are committed to fostering a strong and reliable American maritime base that supports our national defense and strengthens our economy.  The Jones Act—a century-old law that remains as crucial today as when it was enacted in 1920—requires that goods transported between two points in the U.S.  be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships. The Jones Act is quite literally the bedrock and foundation of our nation’s commercial shipbuilding industrial base, and we proudly support it.

    While we acknowledge the Jones Act has its detractors, the reality is that the law supports sustainable jobs, strengthens our national security, and safeguards our economy from foreign influence.

    First, the Jones Act safeguards American jobs. The maritime industry supports nearly 650,000 jobs nationwide, providing stable, well-paying work for shipbuilders, mariners, dockworkers, and others. Without the Jones Act, these jobs would be outsourced to foreign shipyards and foreign mariners, harming American workers and weakening our economy.

    Additionally, the Jones Act is critical to national security. A strong domestic maritime industry ensures we have the ships and workforce necessary to support our military and respond to national emergencies. The Jones Act helps maintain domestic shipyards and ship repair facilities keeping our country from being reliant on foreign yards to build, repair, and maintain our military and merchant marine vessels. These vessels provide a strategic capability to the United States military during conflict allowing the expeditious transport of troops and supplies anywhere in the world.  

    Our nation’s strategic sealift capabilities depend on a robust commercial fleet to maintain readiness in times of war or crisis. If we further weaken our maritime industry, we risk compromising our sovereignty and security. Keeping our shipping lanes under United States control isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a matter of national security.

    The Jones Act also plays a key role in disaster response and recovery. When hurricanes or other natural disasters strike, Jones Act-compliant vessels deliver emergency supplies quickly and efficiently. Without a strong domestic fleet, we would be forced to rely on foreign carriers, who may not prioritize American communities in crisis. Keeping our fleet in American hands guarantees reliable and immediate access to critical resources when disasters occur.

    Finally, the Jones Act ensures we have a stable supply chain.  In 2024, the U.S. imported and exported $7.3 trillion in goods. The Jones Act plays a vital role in keeping our domestic maritime supply chain that American farmer’s and businesses rely on under American control.

    This law is not just about protecting one industry—it ensures America remains a maritime power, capable of defending itself and maintaining economic stability. On the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, we are focused on policies that protect American workers, strengthen national security, and bolster our economy.

    Supporting the Jones Act is one of the best ways to achieve those goals, and we stand with the hardworking men and women of our maritime industry to defend it. The long-term benefits of this policy go beyond creating jobs—it is a pillar of American strength and resilience.

    Republicans and Democrats Agree: We must defend the Jones Act. America’s future depends on it.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Burlison: Artificial Intelligence Technology Has the Potential to Transform America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON—Today, Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered an opening statement at the hearing on “America’s AI Moonshot: The Economics of AI, Data Centers, and Power Consumption.” During his remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison stated that the U.S. is actively seeking to redefine the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) technology around the world. He noted that investment in the country’s AI infrastructure and strategic partnerships in the private sector will propel innovation and progress in critical U.S. industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, defense, education, and finance. He highlighted President Trump’s recent Executive Order that aims to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance. He concluded that Congress must now work alongside the Trump Administration’s bold ambition to unlock next-generation AI capabilities and ensure the nation’s leadership in the field on the global stage.

    Click here to watch Rep. Burlison’s opening remarks. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks Joins Congressional Ag Trade Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) announced she has officially joined the bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus to advocate for trade policies that benefit Iowa’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.

    “Iowa leads the nation in corn, pork, and soybean production, and expanding access to international markets is essential for our rural communities to thrive,” said Miller-Meeks. “Overregulation from Washington have held our producers back for too long. By joining this caucus, I will fight to remove unfair trade barriers, open new markets for Iowa’s agricultural products, and ensure our farmers and ranchers can compete on a level playing field. Agriculture isn’t just a way of life in Iowa—it’s the backbone of our economy, and I will always stand with the hardworking men and women who feed and fuel our nation.”

    The Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus, co-founded by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), is a bipartisan effort to advance trade policies that expand market access, boost agricultural exports, and eliminate unnecessary trade restrictions.

    The caucus will focus on strengthening international competitiveness, increasing market access for U.S. agricultural products, improving supply chains, and restoring U.S. leadership in global trade negotiations.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra-led Legislation to Keep Partisan Politics out of IRS Unanimously Passes U.S. House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act – introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) – unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “American taxpayers expect and deserve the best customer service and case outcomes when filing their federal taxes. However, an outdated restriction imposed on the National Taxpayer Advocate prevents her from hiring the team that she needs to do her job. My bill clarifies that it is within the purview of the National Taxpayer Advocate to hire attorneys that report specifically to her,” said Rep. Feenstra. “These attorneys help conduct oversight, ensure taxpayers are being treated fairly, and inform Congress of taxpayer challenges at the IRS. With this improvement, American families will benefit from fewer headaches when dealing with the IRS and a more accountable government. We must keep partisan politics out of the IRS and focus solely on positive outcomes for taxpayers.”

    “At a time when the IRS has singlehandedly undermined its own credibility in the eyes of taxpayers, it is vital that we protect the independence and the integrity of the Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate. This legislation ensures the American people can have faith in that entity to represent their best interests and can trust that its legal advice is not unduly influenced by the IRS,” said Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Jason Smith. “I commend Representative Feenstra for his leadership on this issue and for being a tireless fighter for the rights of American taxpayers.”

    The National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act would clarify that it is within the purview of the National Taxpayer Advocate to hire attorneys that specifically report to her and support her efforts to serve taxpayers and work with caseworkers.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Under Musk’s Plan for Social Security, 67,000 Americans Will Die Waiting for Disability Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, April 1 – Ahead of the Senate Finance Committee’s vote to advance Trump’s nominee to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, today released new findings exposing the stark reality of Elon Musk’s plans to cut the SSA by up to 50 percent. These disastrous cuts are taking place at a time when Social Security’s staff is already at a 50-year low. 
    Under Musk’s policies, the number of people who will die waiting for benefits could more than double from nearly 30,000 in 2023 to up to 67,000. Average wait times for Social Security disability benefits will nearly double from an average of 236 days in February of 2025 to 412 days. 
    “President Trump and Elon Musk have suggested that ‘millions and millions’ of dead people receive Social Security checks. That is an outrageous lie designed to undermine Americans’ faith in Social Security,” said Sanders. “Here’s the truth: 30,000 people die a year waiting for an understaffed Social Security to approve disability benefits. The Trump-Musk plan to cut Social Security’s staff by up to 50 percent will make this tragic reality even worse, and Frank Bisignano is there to see it through. We cannot let that happen.” 
    In 2023, 5,252 full time employees were responsible for making disability determinations at SSA, a workforce which has steadily decreased from previous years. Even before DOGE started making cuts to SSA, the number of people who died waiting for a benefit decision grew from 10,000 to 30,000 from 2017 to 2023. Meanwhile, Americans have had to wait longer than ever to get their benefits. During that same time, the average wait time for a decision grew exponentially – from 111 days to 217 days. In February 2025, Americans had to wait an average of 236 days for a determination. 
    Instead of making the federal government work for the American people, the Trump administration and Elon Musk want to make SSA less efficient by cutting as much as 50 percent of its staff. Using SSA data and regarding initial decisions disability benefits for 2025, Musk’s reported plans to lay off Social Security employees will result in:
    Nearly 67,000 people dying and
    A 412 day wait.
    Sanders concluded: “Instead of slashing Social Security’s staff, closing down Social Security field offices, we should be making it easier, not harder, for seniors and people with disabilities to receive the Social Security benefits that they have earned and deserve.” 
    Read the full report here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Tariffs on Canada Jeopardize Aerospace, Defense, and Manufacturing Sectors While Threatening National Security

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Brian Bryant, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), representing 600,000 workers, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, today issued a strong rebuke of President Trump’s tariffs, warning of severe economic consequences and job losses across the United States and Canada:

    “President Trump’s scatter-shot tariffs are a direct assault on American and Canadian workers. They will destabilize critical sectors like aerospace and manufacturing, jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of jobs and undermining national security.

    “These tariffs will not bring our jobs home. They will raise prices on everything. They will wreck our supply chains on both sides of the border. And they will put our members’ jobs at risk.

    “For decades, we have witnessed the erosion of millions of well-paying, high-skilled U.S. and Canadian jobs as corporations outsourced production to countries with lax labor standards. The administration’s trade policies will accelerate this decline, outsourcing thousands of IAM Union aerospace and defense jobs into low-wage positions. 

    “We cannot stand idly by while reckless policies destroy our supply chains, destabilize economies, and imperil the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers, including over 100,000 aerospace workers across both nations. This administration’s isolationist approach ignores the interconnected nature of the U.S. and Canadian economies and national security.

    “Our union continues to emphasize the urgent need for a collaborative and strategic approach to tariffs. This approach must involve government, business, and labor unions and develop a comprehensive strategy that strengthens and expands critical sectors in the U.S. and Canada. 

    “Workers must be part of the solution to ensure that trade policies benefit our communities, not multinational corporations seeking to exploit cheap labor abroad.

    “The IAM Union pledges to fight against these harmful tariffs, vowing to prevent a repeat of past trade failures that resulted in widespread economic devastation and increased risks to national security.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Unlawful Termination of $11 Billion in Critical Public Health Funding

    Source: US State of California

    9th lawsuit against Trump Administration argues that abrupt termination of federal funds is unlawful 

    Funding was appropriated by Congress in response to COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that U.S. is better prepared for future public health threats 

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced co-leading a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the unlawful termination of $11 billion in critical public health funding. Beginning on March 24, 2025, HHS abruptly, with no advance notice or warning, issued termination notices to state and local public health agencies across the country, purporting to end federal funding for grants that provide essential support for a wide range of urgent public health needs, including identifying, tracking, and addressing infectious diseases; ensuring access to immunizations; and modernizing critical public health infrastructure. The federal funding was appropriated by Congress to ensure the United States is better prepared for future public health threats. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, the lawsuit by the attorneys general alleges that the termination notices are unlawful in several ways under the Administration Procedures Act (APA). The coalition is also seeking a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo and immediately restore the public health funding due to the irreparable harm that their respective states and their local health jurisdictions would otherwise suffer. California stands to lose more than $972 million from these cancellations by HHS.

    “Over and over, I’ve made clear that my office will only take legal action against the Trump Administration when it breaks the law. Unfortunately, but predictably, that has happened once again,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Congress explicitly authorized funding for the grants at issue to help keep our country healthy and protect us from future pandemics. HHS and its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cannot unilaterally do away with that critical federal funding. My fellow attorneys general and I are committed to defending the rule of law. We know how high the stakes are in our respective states — thousands of jobs and key public health programs and initiatives could be eliminated.” 

    According to the Trump Administration, funding for the grants is “no longer necessary” because the grants were appropriated through one or more COVID-19 related laws, and the COVID-19 pandemic is over. In the lawsuit, the attorneys general allege: 

    • The termination notices violate the APA because they are contrary to law. The foreseeable end of the COVID-19 pandemic is not a lawful basis to terminate “for cause.” Terminations “for cause” are only permissible based on a grant recipient’s “material failure” to comply with the applicable terms and conditions of the grants and agreements. The Trump Administration has never alleged, much less demonstrated, any failure by the fund recipients to comply with the applicable terms and conditions of the grants and agreements. In addition, federal law requires the HHS Secretary to “provide to the State involved adequate notice and an opportunity for a hearing” prior to terminating Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants, which fund mental health and substance abuse services. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided absolutely no notice or opportunity for a hearing before terminating the grants, effective immediately.
    • The termination notices further violate the APA because they are arbitrary and capricious. Among other things, they assumed, with no legal or factual support, that all appropriations in COVID-19 related laws were only intended for use during the pandemic. In fact, HHS granted numerous extensions to the performance period of many grants issued to Plaintiff States and their local health jurisdictions, some of which were scheduled to end as late as June 2027. The termination notices are also arbitrary and capricious because they failed to undertake any individualized assessments of the grants or cooperative agreements, including any analysis of the benefits of this public health funding or the dire consequences of termination. 
    • The Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of funds has already caused substantial confusion and will result in immediate and devastating harm to their states, their local health jurisdictions, their residents, and public health writ large.

    Without this essential public health funding, vital programs that serve millions of Californians, including children, rural communities, and nursing homes, will be jeopardized. For example, the federal government terminated over $800 million that the California Department of Public Health intended to use, in part, to vaccinate 4.5 million children statewide and assist hospitals in directing injured and ill patients to available health facilities during all types of emergencies, where efficient routing saves lives. The California Department of Health Care Services is set to lose over $119 million, which the state needs to support key programs, including substance use disorder prevention and early intervention services for youth in at least 18 counties. And the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will lose over $45 million that was slated, in part, to strengthen the County’s efforts to prevent the spread of measles, and seasonal and avian influenza. 

    Attorney General Bonta is co-leading the litigation with the attorneys general of Colorado, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Washington. They are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin, as well as the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. 

    A copy of the complaint is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CentralReach Named to Inc. Magazine’s 2025 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Southeast for 5th Time

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CentralReach, a leading provider of Autism and IDD Care software for ABA, multidisciplinary, and special education, today was named to the Inc. Regionals: Southeast list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast, which includes South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico. An extension of the national Inc. 5000 list, the Regionals offer a unique look at the most successful companies within the Southeast economy’s most dynamic segment–its independent small businesses.

    CentralReach provides a leading software and services platform to help children and adults diagnosed with autism and related IDDs – and those who serve them – unlock potential, achieve better outcomes, and live more independent lives. The company offers purpose-built solutions for all the settings where care and learning are provided – in homes, clinics, schools, and the workplace.

    The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Southeast. Between 2021 and 2023, these 192 private companies had a median growth rate of 114 percent; by 2023, they’d also added 11,493 jobs and $8.1 billion to the region’s economy.

    “The honorees on this year’s Inc. Regionals list are true trailblazers driving economic growth in their respective regions, industries, and beyond. This list celebrates their achievements and tells the stories of remarkable companies that are fueling growth and adding jobs in local economies throughout the country,” said Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc.

    Inc. has also recognized CentralReach in several of its other awards programs including naming the company a Best in Business honoree for the last two years, Best Workplace for the last three years, and an Inc. 5000 honoree for the last five years. 

    For the complete results of this year’s Inc. Regionals: Southeast winners, including company profiles, visit: https://www.inc.com/regionals/southeast.

    About CentralReach

    CentralReach is a leading provider of autism and IDD care software, providing a complete, end-to-end software and services platform that helps children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) – and those who serve them – unlock potential, achieve better outcomes, and live more independent lives. With its roots in Applied Behavior Analysis, the company is revolutionizing how the lifelong journey of autism and IDD care is enabled at home, school, and work with powerful and intuitive solutions purpose-built for each care setting.

    Trusted by more than 200,000 professionals globally, CentralReach is committed to ongoing product advancement, market-leading industry expertise, world-class client satisfaction, and support of the autism and IDD community to propel autism and IDD care into a new era of excellence. For more information, please visit CentralReach.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

    About Inc.

    Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sara Jacobs, Sen. Tammy Duckworth Introduce IVF for Military Families Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    April 01, 2025

    Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the IVF for Military Families Act, which would require TRICARE to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF – and end the differing levels of reproductive health care coverage between active duty service members and their dependents and Members of Congress and their staff. 

    Beginning this year, Members of Congress and their staff who obtain health insurance through the DC Health Exchange have access to plans that include coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF and standard fertility preservation services. Meanwhile, TRICARE coverage currently only covers fertility services for those who can prove a service connection to injury or illness. In practice, this leaves about a quarter of service members and spouses who report infertility to pay tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatment. Passing the IVF for Military Families Act would strengthen recruitment, retention, and readiness efforts and ensure that service members can access the family-building services they deserve.

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Our military families have sacrificed so much for our safety and security – they shouldn’t also sacrifice their dream to build a family. But for too many service members, the lack of TRICARE coverage of IVF has left them with only a few choices: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. This is wrong. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the IVF for Military Families Act with Senator Duckworth to give them every opportunity to build their families. To my colleagues: We now have access to this level of health care coverage, and we shouldn’t deny that same standard to those who wear our country’s uniform. And to President Trump: calling yourself the father of IVF is meaningless – take some action and support our bill.”

    “After all the tremendous sacrifices they make, our brave women and men in uniform should never have to make the impossible and unjust choice between serving their country or facing financial ruin just to start a family,” said Senator Duckworth. “It was extremely disappointing that our IVF provision—which would have simply ensured that our servicemembers and their families have access to the same level of IVF coverage as Members of Congress—was removed from the final defense bill behind closed doors last year, even after so many of my Republican colleagues continue to loudly and publicly claim to support IVF. President Trump pledged to voters on the campaign trail that he would go even further by making IVF free if elected and has repeated the bold-faced lie that he is governing on the principle of ‘Promises made, promises kept.’ Republicans can now help him partially fulfill his broken IVF promise by joining our commonsense legislation that would make sure those who answer the call to serve have access to the care they need to build their family.”

    “Servicemembers who risk their lives to protect our families deserve all the support they need to grow theirs,” said Senator Murray. “Federal employees have access to comprehensive infertility treatment, including IVF – and TRICARE should cover those same services for our servicemembers, full stop. Struggling with infertility is painful enough without having to worry about the cost of treatment. I’ve worked for over a decade to expand access to IVF and other fertility treatment for veterans and servicemembers who need it, and am proud to be joining Senator Duckworth to introduce the IVF for Military Families Act to continue fighting to ensure our servicemembers never have to sacrifice their ability to start a family.”

    “One in four military families experience infertility. Congress should take the long-overdue step of overturning outdated limitations on IVF to give service members access to the reproductive health care they deserve,” said Congressman Larsen. “Women and men in uniform should not have to choose between serving their country and starting a family.”

    “MOAA supports the IVF for Military Families Act that would expand TRICARE coverage of assisted reproductive technology (ART) for currently serving families. We appreciate Rep. Sara Jacobs’ and Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s leadership on this issue. Servicemembers have earned a top tier benefit in recognition of the risks and sacrifices they face.  Most large employer sponsored plans – including those covering federal employees and members of Congress – now offer ART/IVF coverage. Addressing this TRICARE parity gap will not only fulfill our nation’s commitment to the currently serving but also ensure TRICARE remains an effective component of the compensation and benefits package that sustains the all-volunteer force,” said Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly USAF (Ret), MOAA President & CEO.

    “The majority of Americans–85%–support access to IVF, one of the most effective medical treatments for those struggling to build their family,” said Barbara Collura, President/CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. “Yet so many people are shut out of accessing this care, including the brave Americans who serve in the military. They assume they will have the best medical care possible, yet we make it so hard for them to start or grow their family while serving our country. This injustice can be fixed by passing the IVF for Military Families Act, a bill that simply provides parity to the comprehensive IVF coverage that Members of Congress and their staff have now. There is no need to wait–let’s get this passed.” 

    “The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is proud to support the IVF for Military Families Act. With higher rates of infertility impacting the military due the dangers of the job and the unique family building challenges our men and women in uniform face, it is a no brainer that TRICARE should cover fertility treatments like IVF,” said Sean Tipton ASRM Chief Advocacy & Policy Officer. “For decades, ASRM has championed increasing access to fertility treatment for all Americans, including federal employees. This is why we thank Senators Duckworth and Murray and Congresswoman Jacobs and Congressman Larsen for their leadership on legislation to ensure that military families have no less than the same fertility benefits available to Members of Congress. This should be a bipartisan issue, and we are hopeful the administration will look closely at this bill as it considers ways to expand access and reduce out of pocket costs for IVF.”

    Background: As the representative of San Diego, the country’s largest military community, Rep. Sara Jacobs has led the effort to expand reproductive health care for service members and military families. Last year, she championed a similar effort to expand TRICARE to cover assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, for active duty service members and their dependents. This provision received bipartisan support when it was included unanimously in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) committee mark and in the House-passed version of the NDAA. Unfortunately, the provision was ultimately stripped from the conference report despite versions being included in both the House and Senate NDAAs. The Congresswoman also successfully secured a demonstration program on cryopreservation to reimburse active duty service members for the cost of freezing, shipping, and storing their gametes and to eliminate the co-pay on contraception for all TRICARE beneficiaries in the final version of the FY 2025 NDAA.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Colleagues Urge AG Bondi to Appoint A Special Counsel to Investigate Trump Administration Signal Chat National Security Breach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 28 Senate Democrats in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved in the Signal chat security breach violated federal criminal law. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group text chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app.
    “In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” the Senators wrote. “Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”
    The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.
    “These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” the Senators wrote.
    In the letter, the Senators raised concerns if the Signal chat violated federal law. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the Houseand Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.
    “During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” the Senators concluded.
    The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY),  Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Attorney General Bondi:
    On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.
    Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.
    The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officialspresents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.
    These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.
    These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committeesby several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.
    Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.
    During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law.
    The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From barriers to belonging: How supporting inclusivity enhances the well-being of people with disabilities

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mohsen Rasoulivalajoozi, PhD candidate, Individualized Program, Faculty of Fine Arts, Concordia University

    To create truly inclusive cities, policy-makers and experts need to go beyond minimum standards and critically examine how our urban spaces continue to exclude people with disabilities. (Shutterstock)

    What does it mean for a city to be accommodating to all its citizens?

    This requires understanding how individuals feel included and valued in the places they live, and responding to their needs by emphasizing genuine inclusivity. For people with mobility challenges, it means feeling no different from others. This applies both to navigating urban spaces and engaging in social interactions.

    Despite efforts to improve accessibility in Canada, many urban spaces still fall short, leaving wheelchair users facing subtle but persistent barriers. We wanted to understand the different challenges and barriers people with disabilities face when using mobility aids.

    To do this, we interviewed 12 experienced physiotherapists in Iran to identify gaps in how mobility aid serve the needs of those who use them, and offer recommendations based on their extensive interactions with users.

    Given the universal needs of mobility aid users — emotional well-being, social integration and functional independence — and the common challenges they face accessing health-care systems around the world, our findings can are relevant for many people around the world, including in Canada.

    Inclusive design

    To create truly inclusive cities, it is vital for policymakers and experts to go beyond minimum standards and critically examine how our urban spaces continue to exclude people with disabilities.

    Marketing professors Vanessa Patrick and Candice Hollenbeck have developed the DARE framework — design, appraisal, response and experience — and propose three levels of inclusive design aimed to make spaces more inclusive for people with disabilities.

    Level 1 ensures accessibility through industry regulations, meeting minimum standards. Level 2 fosters engagement and equity, rooted in social justice principles, by validating user experiences and emphasizing empathy. Level 3 aims to minimize mismatches between users and design, promoting human flourishing through seamless interaction among individuals, the design and their environment.

    Our study outlines how people perceive the inclusivity of mobility aids based on the cost, how they are built and how effective they are in different environments.

    We also considered perceptions of trustworthiness, support and contextual factors, including the social interpretations and representations of these devices. We highlight gaps in users’ needs and provide recommendations to address them. Through this analysis, we identified four key themes that offer valuable insights for enhancing inclusivity.

    Financial burden

    For some, mobility aids can be an added financial burden. Financial constraints may limit access to mobility aids, often forcing users to seek alternatives or delay rehabilitation, potentially worsening their conditions. For example, individuals might resort to second-hand mobility aids which may not be fitted correctly for them.

    Globally, only five to 35 per cent of the 80 million people who need a wheelchair have access to one depending on where they live, with high costs being a primary barrier.

    The high cost of advanced electric wheelchairs further restrict access. This marks a gap at the first level of inclusivity in the DARE framework, where market-driven prices fall short of meeting mobility aid users’ needs.

    Initiatives like the European Union’s Rehabilitation Policy Action Framework have called for increased governmental financial support for mobility aid users. This framework offers 48 options across six domains to translate political goals into action, such as reallocating health-care funds to expand rehabilitation and improve inclusivity.

    Mobility aid users, like all individuals, deserve equal consideration in design and planning.
    (Shutterstock)

    Mismatches between users and mobility aids

    In using mobility aids, a user will typically evaluate two aspects: the design features of the aids themselves and how well they function in their environment.

    If the mobility aid is slightly mismatched with their requirements, the user may find alternative solutions, such as adding padding to a wheelchair to relieve pressure. However, severe mismatches can lead to negative outcomes and result in unmet mobility needs. Furthermore, inadequate anthropometric and ergonomic adjustments can lead to discomfort.

    Similarly, environmental mismatches, such as barriers that disrupt navigation, can reinforce negative stereotypes and condescending attitudes. These barriers can hinder a person’s mobility and ultimately deter them from going out and engaging in social activities.

    New developments and technologies can not only address and mitigate certain mismatches but also positively impact users’ psychological and social needs. However, integrating new technologies requires careful consideration, as assistive devices can also attract social stigma.

    Therefore, it is important to identify which technological or esthetic features of mobility aids evoke positive emotions and minimize stigma.

    Mobility aid users, like everyone, deserve equal consideration in design and planning. Programs like Europe’s Design for All (DfA) and Singapore’s Barrier-Free Accessibility (BFA) promote barrier-free design for all abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

    Improving trust

    Trustworthiness is a critical factor in the use of mobility aids, particularly in unfamiliar settings where users may feel uncertain.

    To address this, users seek continuous reassurance about the reliability of their aids, often depending on the support of physiotherapists to navigate mismatches between their needs and their surroundings. Such professional support enhances confidence and mental well-being. Physiotherapists, as trusted experts, can remarkably shape users’ perceptions and acceptance of mobility aids.

    Ensuring trustworthy designs is also crucial, as perceived fragility can undermine user trust. Validating experiences, building trust across environments — including trust in physiotherapists and mobility aid products — is essential to alleviating doubts about how effective they might be.

    Sociocultural influences

    Sociocultural context and the causes of a disability play a significant role in shaping perceptions of mobility aids.

    Regardless of users’ personal experiences, others tend to view mobility aids through the lens of prevailing societal attitudes toward disability. For some, mobility aids may reinforce stereotypes about disabilities. This highlights the critical role of esthetics in shaping public perceptions and social interactions.

    For example, incorporating esthetic refinements into the design can help counter negative perceptions. By addressing negative representations and promoting designs that reflect dignity and inclusivity, interventions can align with inclusively goals and enhance positive social engagement.

    Raising public awareness is key to challenging stereotypes and building empathy. To create an inclusive society, design and planning should consider both the physical and social barriers to accessibility. Achieving this requires a multi-disciplinary effort, and the active participation of people who use mobility aids.

    This article was co-authored by Morteza Farhoudi, an inclusive designer specializing in public transportation studies.

    Mohsen Rasoulivalajoozi receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Carmela Cucuzzella receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. From barriers to belonging: How supporting inclusivity enhances the well-being of people with disabilities – https://theconversation.com/from-barriers-to-belonging-how-supporting-inclusivity-enhances-the-well-being-of-people-with-disabilities-249339

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Introduces Bill to Protect Americans from Romance Scams

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Reps. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Craig Goldman (TX-12) to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill enhances user safety on online dating platforms by requiring service providers to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

    “Online dating has become an increasingly common way for people to connect, but unfortunately, it’s also a tool for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users,” said Congressman Valadao. “Romance scammers use fake identities to build trust and exploit their victims financially, which has cost Americans over a billion dollars per year. This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency, empowers users to make informed decisions, and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams. I’m proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud.

    “Dating apps are still a new frontier for criminals and scammers looking to exploit vulnerable individuals online and regulations are lagging behind,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Notifying users if they have been in contact with a potential scammer is a basic security feature that every online dating service should provide. This bill is a great step towards reducing online crime and keeping Americans safe.”

    “The exploitation of users on online dating apps is emblematic of the dark side of the digital age,” said Rep. Suozzi. “As Americans increasingly turn to online applications, lawmakers across chambers and across the aisle have a responsibility to crack down on scammers who use the internet for extortion, fraud, and other malign purposes.”

    “As millions of Americans turn to online dating services for meaningful connections, a troubling report finds that fraudulent accounts have deceived and exploited innocent Americans out of more than a billion dollars,” said Rep. Goldman. “I’m proud to support Rep. David Valadao’s Romance Scam Prevention Act, which requires online dating services to implement stronger safeguards to prevent these devastating scams. It’s important to protect Americans from malicious online users who seek to defraud them.”

    Background:

    Over 60 million Americans reported using an online dating service in 2023. As Americans continue to go online to find meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing over $1.1 billion in 2023 alone.

    Criminals have become exceptionally sophisticated when it comes to finding and exploiting their victims online. They use false names and stories to lure individuals into conversation before manipulating them to give up sensitive information. When an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, like illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user’s account. However, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who has been banned from the dating platform.

    This bill was written to ensure no part could interfere with an active law enforcement investigation. Fraud ban notifications are already active in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New York.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 997, National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 997, the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025, would authorize the National Taxpayer Advocate, who is the head of the Taxpayer Advocate Service within the IRS, to appoint counsel who would report directly to the National Taxpayer Advocate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 998, Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 998, the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act, would require the IRS to provide information to taxpayers regarding mathematical or clerical errors on their tax returns, update procedures for requesting abatements (a process for seeking to resolve errors), and provide notice of such abatements. The act also would require the IRS to establish a pilot program to explore alternative ways to deliver notices of such errors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1152, Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 1152, the Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act, would require the IRS to consider a document or payment as having been made on time if the date on which it is sent electronically is on or before the due date, regardless of the date the document is marked as received.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Walker’s Wine Juice LLC Recalls Product Due to Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    April 01, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    April 01, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesJuiceFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Potential Foodborne Illness – Botulism

    Company Name:
    Walker’s Wine Juice LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Walker’s Wine Juice LLC

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Pumpkin Juice

    Company Announcement
    Walker’s Wine Juice LLC of Forestville, NY is recalling its pumpkin juice because it may be contaminated with Botulism. Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning and can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
    Product was distributed via Walker’s Wine Juice retail store in NY. The juice was also distributed directly by Walker’s to a limited number of commercial wineries in the following states: IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WI.
    Products can be identified as follows:

    2.5-gallon bag in box and 5-gallon hot pack are labeled “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall
    30-, 60-, and 275-gallon bulk containers are tagged “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall

    No illnesses have been reported to date.
    The potential contamination was discovered after an inspection by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors found that the pumpkin juice pH was too high to be processed per Walker’s “hot fill” schedule process. As a result, it was determined that no adequate kill step was used to address the possibility of microbiological hazards.
    Consumers are urged to contact Walker’s Wine Juice to determine appropriate disposal of the remaining product and determine other appropriate steps including a calculation of reimbursement.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Matthew Walker
    716-679-1292 x 1016

    Content current as of:
    04/01/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Future Leaders Apply Now for Empire State Fellows Program

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications are now being accepted for the Empire State Fellows Program, a full-time, two-year leadership training program that prepares the next generation of talented professionals for careers as New York State policymakers. New Yorkers interested in the 2026-2028 class of this prestigious program should apply by the deadline of June 1, 2025. The incoming class of Empire State Fellows will serve from January 15, 2026, and receive an annual salary of $90,000, plus a generous benefits package.

    “The Empire State Fellows Program has benefited all New Yorkers by attracting some of our brightest minds and leaders to public service,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage anyone passionate about carrying on this vital legacy to apply and build a career where you can truly make a difference. During a period in our nation’s history when some have diminished the value of public servants, now is a great time to begin a path of brightness, leadership and service to causes greater than oneself by making a positive impact for New Yorkers.”

    Since its inception 13 years ago, the Empire Fellows Program has attracted extraordinary and diverse talent from New York State and across the nation to serve in high-level positions in the administration. Empire State Fellows graduates have advanced to senior roles, including Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Secretary, and Chief of Staff positions throughout State agencies. This is also an opportunity for displaced former federal workers, who are encouraged to apply to the fellowship program. New York State is running the “You’re Hired” campaign to let displaced former federal employees know about career opportunities in New York State government.

    New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, “Public service is a noble calling and we’re seeking the next generation of servant-leaders to help New Yorkers all across the state. If you have a fervor for helping others and a desire to make a difference, becoming an Empire State Fellow is a great way to begin a career of service. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re looking for bright, diligent and diverse thinkers to learn and work within the highest levels of state government agencies alongside talented leaders to serve New Yorkers and their communities.”

    State Senator Robert Jackson said, “As someone who has spent a lifetime fighting for justice, equity, and opportunity, I know the power of committed public service. The Empire State Fellows Program opens the door for the next generation of leaders to bring their passion, principles, and lived experience into the rooms where decisions are made. I encourage every New Yorker ready to serve with courage and purpose to step forward—because our government is stronger when it reflects the people it represents.”

    Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato said, “New York State and Governor Hochul are once again stepping up to mentor the next generation of policymakers through the Empire State Fellows Program. This hands-on opportunity to work directly with leaders from State departments and agencies will help shape our State’s future decision makers and help ensure the best workforce for the future of New York!”

    Engagement in the work of the New York State government lies at the heart of the Empire State Fellows Program. The Department of Civil Service will appoint each Empire State Fellow to work directly with a Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, or other high-level policymakers at a New York State agency or authority, or in the Executive Chamber. Work assignments offer Fellows unparalleled experience collaborating with senior officials and participating in the policy-making process.

    While taking part in the work of State government, Empire Fellows will participate in educational and professional development programs that will help them to serve as effective and ethical government leaders. The educational component of the Empire State Fellows Program kicks off with an orientation course in January. Educational coursework will continue on a semi-monthly basis through the first year of the program. Meanwhile, professional development activities, including a mentoring program and regular meetings with Cabinet members and other government leaders, will enhance Empire Fellows’ collaboration with policymakers.

    At the end of the fellowship, the program will identify high-performing Empire State Fellows for opportunities to continue to serve as leaders in New York State government after completing the program.

    Applications opened on April 1 will be accepted through June 1. More information on the program and instructions on how to apply are available here. An online information session is scheduled for interested applicants on April 22 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Interested applicants can RSVP for the information session here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Waton Financial Limited Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waton Financial Limited (“WTF” or the “Company”), a British Virgin Islands-incorporated holding company that provides of securities brokerage and financial technology services primarily through its Hong Kong subsidiaries, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of an aggregate of 4,375,000 ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), at a public offering price of $4.00 per share (the “Offering”).

    In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters of the Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 656,250 Ordinary Shares at the initial public offering price (the “Over-allotment”), less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds to WTF from the Offering (assuming that the Over-allotment is not exercised), before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by WTF, is expected to be approximately $17,500,000.

    The Ordinary Shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “WTF” on April 1, 2025. The Offering is expected to close on April 2, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The Offering is conducted on a firm commitment basis. CATHAY SECURITIES, INC. is acting as representative of the underwriters for the offering, with Dominari Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter (collectively, the “Underwriters”). Carey Olsen Singapore LLP, Han Kun Law Offices LLP and Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC are acting as British Virgin Islands legal counsel, Hong Kong legal advisers and U.S. securities counsel, respectively, to the Company. Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. is acting as U.S. securities counsel to the Underwriters for the Offering.

    The Offering is being conducted pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-283424) previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more information about the Company and the Offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, electronic copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from CATHAY SECURITIES, INC. at 40 Wall Street, Suite 3600, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at +1 (855) 939-3888. 

    This press release has been prepared for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and no sale of these securities may be made in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” as defined under the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “should”, “seek”, “estimate”, “will”, “aim” and “anticipate”, or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    About Waton Financial Limited (“Waton”)

    Waton Financial Limited is a British Virgin Islands-incorporated holding company with operations primarily conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited. Waton provides a suite of financial services, including securities brokerage, asset management, and software licensing and other support services, catering to a diverse clientele of retail and institutional investors. Waton leverages technology and a client-centric approach with the aim to deliver innovative and reliable financial solutions.

    For further information, please contact:

    Waton Financial Limited 
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@waton.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Honor Farmer Contracts Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    April 01, 2025
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would release funding illegally withheld by the Trump administration for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 
    “The unlawful freezing of federal funding has inflicted chaos on nearly every part of our lives, and this funding can make the difference between whether farms in Oregon and nationwide can stay in business or not,” Wyden said. “Agriculture plays a huge part in Oregon’s economy, and it’s absolutely essential for the federal government to fulfill its end of the deal with farmers’ promised reimbursement. The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would reverse the Trump administration’s reckless actions and ensure farmers can trust that the federal government won’t stiff them.”
    “The USDA’s failure to honor its commitments is hurting farmers and rural communities in Oregon and across the country,” said Merkley. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act is about restoring trust and ensuring farmers get the Congressionally authorized funding they were promised. The Trump Administration’s illegal federal funding cuts violate contracts, jeopardize livelihoods, and weaken our food system. It’s time to restore critical funding and support the farmers who feed our communities.”
    Trump’s Agriculture Department has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers will be paid the money they laid out and are owed. Farmers and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without funding they rightfully planned for and need to keep operating. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. This legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers all past due payments as quickly as possible to prevent them from having to shut down their operations. 
    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
    Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
    Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
    Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
    Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
    The Honor Farmer Contacts was led by U.S Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Angus King, I-Maine, Tina Smith, D-Minn., Ed J. Markey, D-Mass., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., will introduce companion legislation in the House.
    The full text of the bill is here.
    To see the full list of organizations endorsing the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New acting chair appointed for Mental Health Review Board

    Joanna Nefs has been appointed for a six-month term as acting chair of the Mental Health Review Board, starting Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

    The review board is an independent tribunal established under the Mental Health Act. The board conducts panel hearings for patients admitted by physicians and detained involuntarily in provincial mental-health facilities in a manner consistent with the principles of fundamental justice and Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    Nefs holds a master in public policy degree, 2017-18; a juris doctor, 2008-11; and a bachelor’s degree in political science, 2006-08, all from York University.

    From 2020 until 2024, Nefs was the CEO of AIDE Canada, a national initiative funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It focused on delivering information and resources to people with developmental disabilities and diagnosed with autism and their families.

    From 2018 until 2020, Nefs was executive director of the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and at the United Nations, working on projects with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and at the UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. From 2012 until 2018, Nefs was the assistant Crown attorney at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.  

    From January until May 2018, Nefs taught a course at Osgoode Hall law school about representing clients with mental illnesses and addictions.

    Since 2020, Nefs has been a member and alternate chair of B.C.’s Mental Health Review Board.

    Learn More:

    For more information about the Mental Health Review Board, visit: https://www.bcmhrb.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Expands Coverage for Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitors

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 1, 2025

    Seniors and Young Adults with Diabetes to Benefit 

    Effective April 1, the Government of Saskatchewan is investing $23 million to expand full coverage for Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitors (Advanced Glucose Monitors) to seniors aged 65 and older and young adults aged 18 to 25, as announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget. 

    “Our government remains committed to providing Saskatchewan residents living with diabetes the support they need to live an active lifestyle,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “We are pleased to expand coverage for these monitors to seniors and young adults with diabetes, helping improve their health and quality of life.” 

    An Advanced Glucose Monitor uses a sensor on the skin to send a glucose level reading to a smart phone or other electronic device to help diabetics track their glucose levels, minimizing the risk and frequency of potentially life-threatening low-blood sugar episodes. The monitor also records trends and patterns. With consent, physicians can remotely access the information, assisting them in making informed clinical decisions. 

    “Diabetes Canada welcomes the Saskatchewan government’s expansion of the program,” Diabetes Canada Director of Government Affairs Joan King said. “These devices are life-changing for many people with diabetes, regardless of age. This expansion will enable more Saskatchewanians to enhance their blood glucose management and reduce their risk of short- and long-term complications, including severe hypoglycemia.” 

    Approximately 9,000 seniors and 700 young adults may be eligible to benefit from the expanded coverage for Advanced Glucose Monitors. 

    Since 2021, the province has provided coverage for these devices at no cost for children and youth under 18 who meet specific medical criteria. 

    Inquiries about qualifying medical criteria can be directed to the Drug Plan at 306-787-3317 (Regina) or 1-800-667-7581 (toll-free).  

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces CT Home Funds: A $30 Million Investment to Incentivize and Increase Homeownership Opportunities in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno today announced that the Lamont administration and the Connecticut Department of Housing are making a $30 million investment to launch CT Home Funds, a series of three housing programs designed to preserve, incentivize, and increase homeownership opportunities across Connecticut.

    “Homeownership is key to stable, healthy communities where people want to live and raise a family,” Governor Lamont said. “We are creating these programs to help current and future homeowners with the costs of making necessary home improvement projects, including those that make homes more energy efficient.”

    “We hear constantly from residents and developers that high costs and affordability are a barrier to build, maintain, or purchase homes,” Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno said. “Smaller developers, which oftentimes are locally based, cannot rehabilitate or retrofit a property and then sell at an affordable price. We designed these programs to help our residents now, and in the future, to improve their homes and help developers who want to do the right thing without compromising quality.”

    The three programs contained in CT Home Funds – the Connecticut Home Improvement Program, the Time to Own – Rehabilitation Program, and the Homeownership Construction Program – are being administered by Capital for Change and the Housing Development Fund.

    Connecticut Home Improvement Program

    Administered by Capital for Change, the Connecticut Home Improvement Program is being seeded by $8.5 million, which will be used to provide low-interest loans directly to homeowners to make energy improvements and related housing code repairs that make homes more energy efficient.

    Loans for non-energy-related rehabilitation include:

    • Roof repair/replacement
    • Remediation of environmental health hazards, such as septic systems/sewer tie- in, air quality, and other environmental issues that may be deemed an unhealthy living condition
    • Minor accessibility rehabilitation and repairs
    • Other home improvements, such remodeling bathrooms or kitchen, replacing flooring, etc., will be determined on a case-by-case basis and availability of funding

    Time To Own – Rehabilitation Program

    Also administered by Capital for Change, the Time To Own – Rehabilitation Program is being seeded by $10 million that will be used to help new homeowners who received assistance under the state’s Time To Own Program with forgivable loans to help with the costs of repairs and improvements on their new homes. This can include replacing a well or septic tank, a new roof, or improvements to plumbing and electrical systems.

    Homeownership Construction Program

    The Homeownership Construction Program is being seeded by $11.5 million that will be used to provide grants of up to $150,000 per home for smaller developers and nonprofits to help cover the costs of new construction or rehabilitation of up to ten affordable homes. The new homes will be income-restricted long-term to drive stability and eventually allow the household to build equity and sell in the future. Both Capital for Change and the Housing Development Fund will administer these grants.

    The Connecticut Department of Housing is reserving $2 million of this funding for a pilot program that will be based in Hartford and in which the City of Hartford is providing an additional $2 million in matching funds.

    “These investments are a game-changer for Hartford,” Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said. “Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to build wealth, stabilize neighborhoods, and strengthen our city’s future. By investing in home rehabilitation and affordable housing development, we’re creating opportunities for Hartford families to live and thrive in the state’s capital city.”

    For more information about Capital for Change, visit www.capitalforchange.org/consumer-lending-options, email lending@capitalforchange.org, or call 855-656-5500.

    For more information about the Housing Development Fund, visit hdfconnects.org/multifamily-developer. First time homebuyers and developers can call 203-969-1830 to be connected to a team member who can assist with next steps.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Directs Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione

    Source: US State of California

    Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement:

    “Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

    • As alleged, Luigi Mangione stalked and murdered UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024. The murder was an act of political violence. Mangione’s actions involved substantial planning and premeditation and because the murder took place in public with bystanders nearby, may have posed grave risk of death to additional persons.   
    • Following federal murder charges handed down on Dec. 19, 2024, Attorney General Bondi has now directed Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky to seek the death penalty in this case.
    • This is in line with Attorney General Bondi’s Day One Memo as Attorney General entitled Reviving The Federal Death Penalty And Lifting The Moratorium On Federal Executions

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: RIDOT to Reduce Travel Lanes on Jefferson Boulevard at I-95 Overpass in Warwick

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    On Friday night, April 4, the Rhode Island Department Transportation (RIDOT) will reduce the number of lanes on Jefferson Boulevard at the I-95 overpass in Warwick to one lane in each direction. The traffic pattern change will be in place until further notice, and is necessary as RIDOT begins replacement of the bridge that carries I-95 over Jefferson Boulevard.

    The change will not affect any on or off ramps at the bridge. RIDOT does not expect this change to create any travel delays.

    The replacement of this bridge is part of the I-95 15 Bridges project, which will remove 15 bridges from the state’s backlog of poor and fair to poor condition bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick.

    The project takes a holistic approach to addressing these bridges to ensure the safe movement of over 185,000 vehicles, including about 9,000 trucks and heavy freight vehicles. Nine of the 15 bridges are structurally deficient. Three are rated among the top five most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Rhode Island. A total of 11 bridges will be repaired and four will be eliminated. RIDOT also will rebuild Route 10 from Elmwood Avenue to Park Avenue � transforming it into a boulevard with a shared use path to provide better connectivity for all users.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

    The replacement of the I-95 bridge over Jefferson Boulevard is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Slashing Vital Health Funding

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 22 other states and the District of Columbia today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for abruptly and unlawfully slashing billions of dollars in vital state health funding. On March 24, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it was clawing back more than $11 billion in funding previously allocated to states for public health, mental health, and addiction initiatives – including nearly $400 million for New York. The attorneys general argue that these sudden and reckless cuts violate federal law, jeopardize public health, and will have devastating consequences for communities nationwide. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to immediately stop the administration from rescinding the funding and prevent the breakdown of crucial health services.

    “The Trump administration’s illegal and irresponsible decision to claw back life-saving health funding is an attack on the well-being of millions of Americans,” said Attorney General James. “Slashing this funding now will reverse our progress on the opioid crisis, throw our mental health systems into chaos, and leave hospitals struggling to care for patients. My office is taking immediate action to stop this heartless and shortsighted move and ensure these life-saving programs remain intact.”

    In the lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition assert that if funding is not restored, key public health programs and initiatives across the country will have to be dissolved and disbanded, and thousands of health care workers will lose their jobs. The terminated funds, which were allocated by Congress at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, include $11.4 billion in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for pandemic preparedness, overdose prevention, and community health programs, as well as $1 billion from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for addiction treatment, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention programs.

    The attorneys general warn that the revocation of this funding will cause immediate and irreparable damage in communities across the nation. Programs that provide harm reduction services, medication-assisted recovery treatment, and overdose reversal drugs are set to be slashed, just as the nation begins to turn a corner on fighting the opioid crisis and reducing overdose deaths. Funding for crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and community-based mental health care is at risk while the nation is currently facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Financial support for hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities will be eliminated, exacerbating already devastating staffing shortages. Prevention programs that combat infectious disease outbreaks and future health emergencies are already being gutted.

    In New York, more than $400 million in critical funding has been terminated, including over $300 million for the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Mental Health (OMH), and Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and over $100 million for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)’s infectious disease detection and surveillance work. These cuts are already causing devastating, far-reaching consequences. At least 23 public health employees have already been laid off, and further layoffs are likely. More than 200 local organizations statewide have now lost funding for their efforts to address food insecurity, mental health, maternal health, and more. DOH has been forced to halt efforts to address health disparities and shutter programs focused on LGBTQ+ and immigrant health. Funding for school immunization programs has also been cut, which could have disastrous effects on child vaccination rates. Most importantly, New York state’s ability to manage infectious diseases, support vulnerable populations, and maintain critical health infrastructure is now in jeopardy, and there are long-term risks for public health preparedness and equity.

    HHS has tried to suggest that terminating this funding is necessary because the “COVID-19 pandemic is over.” This contradicts both ongoing public health data and the terms of the grants in question. In the lawsuit, the attorneys general assert that many of the eliminated funds were never intended solely for COVID-19 response – they were allocated to support long-term public health infrastructure, future pandemic preparedness, and critical behavioral health services.

    Attorney General James and the coalition argue the federal government does not have the legal authority to unilaterally rescind funding it already allocated, particularly when states have built essential health programs around these commitments. The attorneys general add that the terminated funds are attached to specific congressional allocations, and that by cutting these funds, the administration is undermining Congress’s constitutional power over federal spending. The lawsuit alleges the decision to terminate these funds was made abruptly, arbitrarily, and without any opportunity for public input.

    In addition to preliminary and permanent injunctions, Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately halt the chaos and destruction the administration’s funding cuts are causing.

    “These federal health cuts are not only dangerous, but they undermine public health and will broaden the health disparities we have been working hard to eliminate,” said DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “It is unprecedented and unacceptable to have funding terminated retroactively without warning or regard for the impact on this important public health work. I thank Attorney General James for taking immediate action, ensuring the health of New Yorkers remains a priority, and working to get these reckless actions during the federal transition reversed.”

    “The removal of these grants will affect prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services that many New Yorkers rely on, and which have saved thousands of lives throughout the state,” said OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham. “Amid the ongoing overdose crisis, it is critical that these services remain intact and available for those who need them. We fully support these efforts to ensure that this critical funding continues to go towards these vital addiction services in New York.”

    “The loss of $27 million in federal funding will impact the mental health services and supports provided through our agency, including crisis stabilization and residence programs, Assertive Community Treatment teams and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,” said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “We are pleased that New York State is challenging these cuts in in an effort to avoid the consequences of losing this critical federal assistance. We look forward to working with the Attorney General and Governor Hochul as they challenge these cuts and fight to preserve funding for these important programs.”

    This is the latest action Attorney General James has taken to protect New Yorkers and the services they rely on from the Trump administration’s illegal attacks. On March 14, Attorney General James and a coalition secured a court order reinstating federal workers subject to mass firings at 18 agencies. On March 13, Attorney General James led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education. On March 10, Attorney General James secured a court order blocking the Trump administration from cutting critical grant programs for teachers and on March 6, Attorney General James secured a court order blocking the Trump administration’s freeze of essential federal funds to states. On March 5, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general won a court order stopping the Trump administration from withholding vital funding to the National Institutes of Health. On February 24, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in securing a court order preventing Elon Musk and members of DOGE from accessing Americans’ private information through the U.S. Treasury and on February 13, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general secured a preliminary injunction stopping the administration’s illegal revocation of birthright citizenship. 

    Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

    MIL OSI USA News –