NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: First Tranche offering of UAB „Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos“ notes under the EUR 100 million Green Bonds Programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE IN THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE BELOW.

    NEW EUR 2025/2027 NOTES

    Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” (the “Company”) is launching its public offering of EUR 2025/2027 Notes (ISIN LT0000134439, the “Notes”). The Notes are being issued under the EUR 100 million Green Bond Programme. The base prospectus of the programme (the “Prospectus”) was approved by the Bank of Lithuania on 27 May 2025.
    According to the final terms of the first tranche, dated 27 May 2025 (attached), the Company is planning to issue up to EUR 65 million of nominal value Notes with maturity of 30 months to investors in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
    Summary of the main issue terms:

    • First tranche size: up to 65 000 000 EUR
    • Specified denominations: EUR 100,000 and integral multiples of EUR 1,000
    • Interest rate: 8%, paid semi-annually
    • Subscription period: from 28 May 2025 to 11 June 2025 2:30 pm CEST/3:30 pm Vilnius time
    • Settlement and issue date: 13 June 2025
    • Maturity date: 13 December 2027

    Investors wishing to submit a subscription order must contact their brokerage company.

    INVESTOR PRESENTATIONS
    Manager of Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” Mantas Auruškevičius will present the offer via webcast/conference call:

    • English-language session: 4 June 2025 at 13:00 CEST / 14:00 Vilnius time. Please register in advance to attend:

    https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d32cZE8xSqyFs8tcMpwLqA#/registration

    • Lithuanian-language session: 5 June 2025 at 9:00 CEST / 10:00 Vilnius time. Please register in advance to attend:

    https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wxUoUAWzQ9244uO9HlNX-g#/registration

    CONTACT INFORMATION
    Mantas Auruškevičius
    Manager of Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors
    UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos”
    mantas.auruskevicius@lordslb.lt

    Povilas Petručionis
    Securities trader at UAB FMĮ “Orion Securities”
    pp@orion.lt
    +37068758168

    IMPORTANT NOTICE:
    This notification is not for distribution to United States news agencies or for dissemination in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia or elsewhere where such dissemination is not appropriate.
    Distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the securities may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
    No offer or invitation to acquire securities of the Company is being made by or in connection with this notification. The Prospectus is the only legally binding document containing information on the Company, the Notes and their admission to trading on the regulated market. The Prospectus is published on the website of the Company (https://lordslb.lt/AEI_green_bonds_2025/) as well as on www.nasdaqbaltic.com and www.crib.lt.
    Approval of the Prospectus shall not be understood as an endorsement of the securities admitted to trading on a regulated market. The potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. Furthermore, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons unless the securities are registered under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. No public offering of the securities will be made in the United States.

    Further details and required documents are available at: https://lordslb.lt/AEI_green_bonds_2025/ 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Advances Padilla, Sullivan Bill to Improve Cybersecurity and Telecommunications for Oceanographic Research Vessels

    US Senate News:

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

    Senate Advances Padilla, Sullivan Bill to Improve Cybersecurity and Telecommunications for Oceanographic Research Vessels

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) announced that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced their bipartisan legislation to facilitate cybersecurity and telecommunications upgrades for the 17 oceanographic vessels in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research (ANCHOR) Act would require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to plan improvements for these critical oceanographic research vessels. The fleet includes three vessels in California, which discovered extensive World War II-era munitions on the sea floor at the San Pedro DDT dumpsite. 
    These ships and their submersibles play a central role in exploring our oceans and strengthening our national security. First commissioned decades ago, these ships are in desperate need of new infrastructure and maintenance, especially with foreign cyberattacks targeting naval vessels on the rise.
    The ANCHOR Act now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
    “The U.S. Academic Research Fleet is a global leader in performing groundbreaking oceanographic research,” said Senator Padilla. “But with increasing cyberattacks on these vessels, we urgently need to upgrade crucial cybersecurity and telecommunications infrastructure. We have a responsibility to keep both our nation’s research and its researchers safe. I am glad to the see the Senate advance this cost-effective, bipartisan solution, improving research and conditions for our crew members.”
    “The unanimous referral of the ANCHOR Act out of the Commerce Committee sends a strong, bipartisan message: safeguarding America’s maritime research infrastructure is essential to our national security,” said Senator Sullivan. “This bill will better protect our research fleet and institutions—many of which have been targeted by adversarial cyber threats—and ensure that vessels, like the Sikuliaq in Seward, can continue their vital scientific missions without compromise.” 
    “Collaborative, interdisciplinary teams are essential to achieving scientific excellence at the University of California, but conducting this work from research vessels at sea presents unique challenges,” said Theresa Maldonado, Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of California. “Teams aboard these floating laboratories need the infrastructure to share their expertise and data effectively in real-time with their land-based collaborators in order to accelerate science and engineering outcomes. This capability depends on networks of satellites, digital assets, software and cyberinfrastructure. The ANCHOR Act is the vital step toward establishing this critical infrastructure, and the University of California thanks Senator Padilla for his leadership.”
    “Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego operates research vessels that are essential in advancing research to understand our oceans and changing climate, and training the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on experiences at sea.  Reliable network and computing capabilities are essential for the professional operation of all modern ships, and critically important for effective scientific activities on research vessels specifically.  As globally-ranging laboratories that must operate in the most remote areas of the world, research vessels rely on cyberinfrastructure for our mission-critical activities. The ANCHOR Act will make this possible — along with the cybersecurity that is so important now — and gives us the ability to conduct our nation’s research and education missions efficiently, capably and securely,” said Dr. Margaret Leinen, Vice Chancellor, Marine Sciences and Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.
    “U.S. scientists depend on the Academic Research Fleet to conduct research that is vital to our understanding of the oceans, which is linked to societal impacts ranging from tsunamis to fisheries ecosystems to global weather. The ANCHOR Act will result in critically-needed cyberinfrastructure throughout the fleet, which will enable our mariners to operate our ships effectively and empower our scientists by enabling satellite communications, shoreside and shipboard digital infrastructure, and technical support. In addition to enabling cutting-edge science, these systems will strengthen our ability to develop and retain a highly skilled workforce of scientific mariners and marine technicians, who are essential to advance our nation’s leadership in ocean enterprise and technology,” said Dr. Bruce Appelgate, Chair of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.
    Specifically, the ANCHOR Act would require NSF to issue a report within one year that details a budget and plan for cybersecurity and internet upgrades across the 17 research vessels in the fleet, which are owned by NSF, the Office of Naval Research, and U.S. universities and laboratories. The report would outline costs for equipment, training, personnel, and methods to minimize spending.
    Scripps Institution of Oceanography houses California’s three vessels in the fleet, including the R/V Sally Ride, named after the trailblazing scientist who was one of the first six female astronauts in NASA history. Joining the fleet in 2016, the R/V Sally Ride has already made history in honor of its namesake. In 2021, California researchers on board conducted an extensive survey of the historic DDT chemical dumpsite off the coast of Southern California, leading to the World War II munitions discovery. 
    Senator Padilla has consistently promoted oceanic research. Last year, Padilla and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24) led 22 California lawmakers in calling on the Office of Management and Budget to include robust, long-term funding for research on the harmful impacts of DDT contamination in the ocean waters off the coast of Southern California. In 2023, Padilla and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced legislation to reduce ocean shipping emissions. Padilla also previously questioned witnesses in the Senate Budget Committee about the importance of the economic impacts to the ocean’s economy under a changing climate. In 2021, Padilla secured $7.6 million to fund ocean surveys and kelp forest restoration.
    A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Mfume, Former COVID Select Committee Democrats’ Statement on Trump Admin’s New COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Ranking Member Raul Ruiz (CA-25) and Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Ami Bera (CA-06), Robert Garcia (CA-42), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02), formers Members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, released the following statement: 

    “As former ranking member, and members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, we express our deep concern over the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent decision to limit the approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines primarily to older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions.

    “We find it perplexing that this new guidance undermines the foundational principles of Operation Warp Speed, a program initiated under the Trump administration, which successfully accelerated the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, saving millions of lives. The current policy appears to disregard the proven benefits of widespread vaccination and may hinder our nation’s ability to respond effectively to future COVID-19 variants.

    “Furthermore, the decision to require extensive clinical trials for low-risk populations could delay the availability of updated vaccines, potentially leaving millions without timely access to necessary protection. 

    “We urge the FDA to reconsider this policy change and to prioritize a science-based approach that ensures equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans, regardless of age or health status. Maintaining robust vaccination efforts is essential to safeguarding public health and preventing future outbreaks.

    “We stand ready to work with the FDA and other stakeholders to uphold the integrity of our nation’s public health initiatives and to ensure that the lessons learned from Operation Warp Speed continue to guide our response to the ongoing pandemic.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Consumer Confidence Surges, Majority Says We’re on “Right Track” 📈📈📈

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    As President Donald J. Trump tames inflation, lowers gas prices, equalizes trade, and secures historic investments, Americans are feeling the results of the new Golden Age.
    Consumer confidence surged in May with the biggest monthly jump in four years, according to the Consumer Confidence Index — far surpassing economists’ expectations.
    Bloomberg: “A gauge of consumer expectations for the next six months surged by the most since 2011, while a measure of present conditions climbed as well, data released Tuesday showed. The improvement in confidence was broad across age and income groups as well as political affiliations.”

    A majority of Americans say the country is on the right track for the first time in decades, according to new polling — while the RealClearPolitics polling average for the direction of the country is at its most favorable since May 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OPINION: Trump unleashes US nuclear renaissance with bold executive orders

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    class=”has-text-align-center”>Trump Unleashes US Nuclear Renaissance with Bold Executive Orders
    By Michael Kratsios
    Fox News
    May 24, 2025
    In his famed 1953 “Atoms for Peace” speech, President Eisenhower proclaimed that “the United States knows that peaceful power from atomic energy is no dream of the future.” That dream was soon realized, as America built more than one hundred reactors over the next twenty-five years. But today, the promise of nuclear energy and innovation does indeed seem like a dream of the future.
    Through a series of executive orders signed this week, President Trump is taking action to usher in an American nuclear renaissance. For the first time in many years, America has a path forward for quickly and safely testing advanced nuclear reactor designs, constructing new nuclear reactors at scale, and building a strong domestic nuclear industrial base.
    Our stagnation was not for a lack of ingenuity or desire to innovate among America’s great scientists and technologists. By the end of the 1970s, dozens of nuclear reactors were planned or under construction. In the past 30 years, however, only three commercial nuclear reactors have been built, and many more have been shuttered. We know America can accomplish great feats in nuclear energy, so what happened?
    In the wake of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, public opinion began to sour on nuclear energy, and the effects of a decade of new federal bureaucracies began to set in. Overly burdensome regulations stifled our ability to even test, let alone deploy, new nuclear technologies. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) set the gold standard for safety regulation when it was established in 1975, but it soon transformed into a lead curtain for innovation. Onerous environmental requirements and long, uncertain regulatory timelines have killed industry’s willingness to fund new technologies.
    Similarly, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Labs—which once led the world in the development and demonstration of advanced nuclear technologies—shuttered nuclear development programs, shifting focus to other priorities.  All but three of fifty-two reactors at Idaho National Laboratory have been decommissioned, and it has been almost half a century since the Army Nuclear Power Program was shut down. These decisions eroded our domestic nuclear supply chain, undermined our national security, and left us having to relearn what we once pioneered.
    President Trump wisely recognizes that the time is ripe for an American nuclear renaissance and is acting to deliver on the promise of nuclear energy for the American people. Across the country, American entrepreneurs and engineers are launching a new generation of nuclear companies featuring innovative reactor designs and scalable manufacturing techniques that can make nuclear safe, efficient, and economic. The Trump Administration will clear their path by dismantling outdated barriers that previous administrations had put up in their way.
    Today, nuclear power plants provide approximately 19% of the electricity generated in the United States, more than solar and wind combined. That is reliable and affordable electricity for the American people, and it could and should be even more. The Trump Administration is setting the goal of expanding American nuclear energy capacity from 100 GW today to 400 GW by 2050. This week’s executive actions will help us reach that goal in four ways.
    First, we are going to fully leverage our DOE national laboratories to increase the speed with which we test new nuclear reactor designs. There is a big difference between a paper reactor and a practical reactor. The only way to bridge that gap—understanding the challenges that must be surmounted to bring reactors to the market, and building public trust in their deployment—is to test and evaluate demonstration reactors. 
    Second, for our national and economic security, we are going to leverage the Departments of Defense and Energy to build nuclear reactors on federally owned land. This will support critical national security needs which require reliable, high-density power sources that are invulnerable to external threats or grid failures.
    Third, to lower regulatory burdens and shorten licensing timelines, we are asking the NRC to undergo broad cultural change and regulatory reform, requiring a decision on a reactor license to be issued within 18 months. This will reduce regulatory uncertainty while maintaining nuclear safety. We will also reconsider the use of radiation limits that are not science based, impossible to achieve, and do not increase the safety of the American people. 
    Fourth, we will be supporting our domestic nuclear industrial base across the nuclear fuel cycle.  The President has called for industry to start mining and enriching uranium in America again, as well as an expansion of domestic uranium conversion capacity as well as enrichment capabilities to meet projected civilian and defense reactor needs.
    When President Eisenhower spoke about nuclear potential over 70 years ago, he expressed no doubt that the world’s best scientists and engineers, if empowered to “test and develop their ideas,” could turn nuclear energy into a “universal, efficient, and economic” source of power. In 2025, we have only to believe in American technologists, and give them the chance to build, to turn nuclear power into energy dominance and national security for all.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Iranian Man Pleaded Guilty to Role in Robbinhood Ransomware

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Robbinhood Ransomware Scheme Caused Tens of Millions of Dollars in Losses and Major Disruption of Public Services in U. S. Cities

    Note: see indictment here.

    An Iranian national pleaded guilty today to participating in an international ransomware and extortion scheme involving the Robbinhood ransomware.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Sina Gholinejad, 37, and his co-conspirators compromised the computer networks of cities, corporations, health care organizations, and other entities around the United States, and encrypted files on these victim networks with the Robbinhood ransomware variant to extort ransom payments. These cyber attacks caused significant disruptions and tens of millions in losses, including to the City of Greenville, North Carolina, and the City of Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore lost more than $19 million from the damage caused to their computer networks and the resulting disruption to several essential city services, including online services for processing property taxes, water bills, parking citations, and other revenue-generating functions, which lasted many months. The conspirators used the damage they caused these cities to threaten subsequent victims.

    “Gholinejad and his co-conspirators — all of whom were overseas — caused tens of millions of dollars in losses and disrupted essential public services by deploying the Robbinhood ransomware against U. S. cities, health care organizations, and businesses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The ransomware attack against the City of Baltimore forced the city to take hundreds of computers offline and prevented the city from performing basic functions for months. Gholinejad’s conviction reflects the Criminal Division’s commitment to bringing cybercriminals who target our cities, healthcare system, and businesses to justice no matter where they are located. There will be no impunity for these destructive attacks.”

    “Cybercrime is not a victimless offense — it is a direct attack on our communities, as seen in this case. Gholinejad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a ransomware scheme that disrupted lives, businesses, and local governments, and resulted in losses of tens of millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims and institutions,” said acting U. S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The announcement today marks a significant step towards justice for the countless victims impacted by the defendant’s malicious scheme. Cases like these act as a reminder that cybercriminals who seek to exploit our digital infrastructure for personal gain will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

    “These ransomware actors leveraged sophisticated tools and tradecraft to harm innocent victims in the United States, all while believing they could conduct their illegal activities safely from overseas,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office. “This case demonstrates the capability and resolve of the FBI and our partners to find and impose consequences on cybercriminals no matter where they attempt to hide.”

    Beginning in January 2019, Gholinejad and others gained and maintained unauthorized access to victim computer networks and then copied information from the infected victim networks to virtual private servers controlled by the conspirators. The conspirators also deployed Robbinhood ransomware to encrypt the victims’ files and extort Bitcoin from victims in exchange for the private key required to decrypt the victims’ computer files.

    Gholinejad and his co-conspirators attempted to launder the ransom payments through cryptocurrency mixing services and by moving assets between different types of cryptocurrencies, a practice known as chain-hopping. They also hid their identities and activities through a number of technical methods, including the use of virtual private networks and servers that they operated. The indictment identifies multiple additional victims of Robbinhood ransomware, including, but not limited to, the City of Gresham, Oregon and the City of Yonkers, New York.

    Gholinejad pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud and abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the FBI Baltimore Field Office. The Justice Department extends its thanks to international judicial and law enforcement partners in Bulgaria for providing valuable assistance with the collection of evidence.

    Senior Counsels Aarash A. Haghighat and Ryan K. J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U. S. Attorney Bradford DeVoe for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Alexandra Cooper-Ponte of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Deputy Chief Matthew Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in the collection of evidence.

    Additional details on protecting networks against ransomware are available at StopRansomware. gov. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão producing and on hire

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, May 27, 2025

    SBM Offshore announces that FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is formally on hire as of May 24, 2025 after achieving first oil and the completion of a 72-hour continuous production test leading to Final Acceptance.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão has a processing capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil and 12 million m3 of gas per day.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is owned and operated by special purpose companies owned by affiliated companies of SBM Offshore (55%) and its partners (45%). The FPSO will operate under 22.5-year charter and operation services contracts with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras).

    The FPSO is installed at the Mero unitized field located in the Santos Basin, approximately 160 kilometers offshore Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The Mero unitized field is operated by Petrobras (38.6%), in partnership with Shell Brasil (19.3%), TotalEnergies (19.3%), CNPC (9.65%), CNOOC (9.65%) and Pré-sal Petróleo S.A. – PPSA (3.5%), representing the government in the non-contracted area.

    FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão follows the start-up of FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, which is on hire since February 16, 2025 and is the fifth Fast4Ward® FPSO entering operation.

    Corporate Profile

    SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy. 
    More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.
    For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

    Financial Calendar   Date Year
    Half Year 2025 Earnings   August 7 2025
    Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update   November 13 2025
    Full Year 2025 Earnings   February 26 2026
    Annual General Meeting   April 15 2026
    First Quarter 2026 Trading Update   May 7 2026

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Wouter Holties
    Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

    Media Relations

    Giampaolo Arghittu
    Head of External Relations

    Market Abuse Regulation
    This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Disclaimer
    Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impacts, Risks and Opportunities’ section of the 2024 Annual Report.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

    This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the 2024 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports – SBM Offshore.

    Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

    “SBM Offshore®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward®”, “emissionZERO®” and “F4W®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ogles Leads “Stop the Invasion” Press Conference at Tennessee State Capitol

    Source:

    Nashville, TN – Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-5) led officials from across law enforcement and federal, state, and local government in a press conference today at the Tennessee State Capitol. During the press conference, Congressman Ogles called for immediate action to defend Tennessee communities from rising illegal alien crime and for government officials to support federal immigration enforcement.

    “Ending the illegal alien invasion unleashed by Democrats and kept alive by obstructionist, activist mayors like Freddie O’Connell. That’s why I brought together patriots from every level of Tennessee’s government—from city councilmen to state legislators to federal law enforcement officials,” said Congressman Ogles. “The only way to secure our streets from the violence of illegal alien criminals is to stand with President Trump and support the efforts of ICE. Anyone who stands in the way of ICE is aiding foreign enemies and should be held accountable. It’s time to take back our country, secure Tennessee, and make America safe again.”

    Speakers Included:
    Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05)
    Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, Tennessee State Senate (District 27)
    Rep. Gino Bulso, Tennessee House of Representatives (District 61)
    Rep. Lee Reeves, Tennessee House of Representatives (District 65)
    Rep. Kip Capley, Tennessee House of Representatives (District 71)
    Councilman Dave Benton, Metro Nashville Councilman (District 28)
    Deborah Newitz, Nashville mother and victim of illegal alien gang violence

    Also in attendance on stage were Acting  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) New Orleans Field Office Director Brian Acuna and Assistant Field Office Director Larry Adams, whose area of operation includes Tennessee.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Fly-By: May 23, 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger Fly-By: May 23, 2025

    Washington, May 23, 2025

    May 23, 2025

    Friend,

    Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a roundup of events and updates to keep you informed on everything I am doing week by week to represent you in Congress.

    I am thrilled to report that after months of hard work, we officially passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this week to advance President Trump’s America First Agenda. This bill is headed to the Senate and includes historic tax cuts for American families, funding to reimburse Texas for the border crisis, support for our farmers and ranchers, and much more.

    In addition to passing this historic legislation this week, I attended the signing of the TAKE IT DOWN Act at the White House, hosted the National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at this week’s RSC members meeting, participated in an Energy & Commerce hearing with EPA Administrator Zeldin, spoke with Midland Classical Academy students, and more.

    I have included some photos and highlights from the week. You’ll also find information on how my office can assist you with any federal issues you may be facing. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.

    Best,

    One Big Beautiful Bill Act Passes Out of the U.S. House

    I am proud that House Republicans united to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this week. In November, 77 million Americans demanded change, and this vote will go down in history as promises made, promises kept. This legislation reverses four years of failed Democrat policies – restoring American energy dominance, delivering vital support to our farmers and ranchers, securing historic tax cuts for hardworking families, reining in wasteful government spending, and making the strongest investment in border security in decades. This legislation delivers all that – and more – for every American.

    It also includes $12 billion to reimburse the great state of Texas for costs it should never have had to bear during the previous administration’s border crisis. For four years, Texas was forced to protect its border when the federal government failed to. Those days are now over, and I was proud to spearhead this effort. You can read about my efforts to secure this win in San Angelo LIVE HERE.

    Immediately following its passage, I joined ‘Wake Up America’ on Newsmax. Watch my full interview HERE.

    RSC Members Meeting with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett

    As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), I had the pleasure of hosting National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at this week’s RSC members meeting. Hearing from Director Hassett was critical and timely as Republicans worked tirelessly to finalize negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    E&C Hearing With EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin

    This week, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin appeared before the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Environment Subcommittee for a hearing titled, “The Fiscal Year 2026 Environmental Protection Agency Budget.” During the hearing, I thanked Administrator Zeldin for coming to West Texas, commended his efforts to rein in the EPA’s regulatory overreach, and asked about the status of several key policies.

    Under the previous administration, the EPA was weaponized against American energy producers in the Permian Basin and across the country. In stark contrast, the Trump Administration and Administrator Zeldin are rolling back burdensome regulations and ensuring that the EPA works with Congress and industry leaders to advance commonsense policies. These policies aim to protect our environment while supporting robust energy production.

    Watch my full exchange with Administrator Zeldin here or by clicking the image below.

    TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed into Law

    I was honored to join President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House this week to witness the TAKE IT DOWN Act signed into law. As a father to three young girls, I join many parents in being deeply concerned about the rise of deepfakes and nonconsensual intimate images.

    I was proud to co-lead this legislation in the U.S. House to protect victims of this harmful act while restoring online accountability. You can read more about the TAKE IT DOWN Act here.

    Discussing the One Big Beautiful Bill and the Golden Dome on Fox Business

    I joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business this week to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act before its passage in the House, and President Trump’s push for the “Golden Dome.”

    Watch my full interview HERE or by clicking the image below.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner

    This week, I was also proud to announce Korbin Jastrow, a Senior at San Angelo Central High School, as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for her piece titled ‘The Exception.’ Her winning piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.

    For yet another year, I was completely blown away by the incredible talent of students across Texas’s 11th Congressional District. In a blind selection process, the committee selected Korbin’s piece for its unique take on Texas agriculture.

    In her submission, Korbin explained how she created the piece, stating, “The cow was drawn with pencil, then stamped with handmade stamps representing the Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets. The background was done with acrylic paint, and the shadows behind the cow were done with tissue paper.”

    Congratulations, Korbin!

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner: Korbin Jastrow’s ‘The Exception’

    Midland Classical Academy Students in Washington

    I had a fantastic time speaking with students from Midland Classical Academy during their trip to Washington, D.C. this week. Gaining an understanding of our legislative process is invaluable for students, which is why visiting with them when they come to D.C. is a top priority of mine. I am always inspired by the next generation of leaders, and want to thank the chaperones, parents, and teachers who made their visit possible.

    If you are visiting Washington, D.C. this summer, my office would be thrilled to book a tour of the U.S. Capitol building for you and your group. My office can also assist in requesting White House tours and tours of other iconic buildings around DC.

    Visit https://pfluger.house.gov/forms/tourrequest/to book your tour today. The earlier you can get your request in the better.

    REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

    Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Flood protection levelled up in Calgary

    Flood maps play a critical role in helping Alberta’s communities prepare for flooding and respond more effectively when it happens by guiding land-use planning, supporting emergency preparedness, and protecting people, property and infrastructure.

    Alberta’s government has released new Bow and Elbow River flood maps showing that Calgary’s flood risk along the Elbow River has been drastically reduced thanks to the recently completed Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir and other projects. More projects are already underway to keep strengthening flood protections in the city.

    The Calgary flood map shows the substantial reduction of the flood hazard area due to the new flood mitigation provided by the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1).

    “We committed to protect Calgary and other communities from floods and we are seeing the results. These new flood maps are good news for families and businesses, but we are also going to keep investing in reservoirs, berms, updated flood maps and the critical infrastructure needed to keep people and their property safe.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “The new Bow and Elbow River flood maps are very important for Calgary. Since 2013, understanding of our rivers has grown and a range of resilience measures have been put in place, which substantially lowers risk in many of our communities. It’s critical, while facing housing and affordability concerns, that the best, up-to-date flood hazard information is available, so we can keep building an informed, flood-resilient Calgary. We gratefully acknowledge the expertise and collaboration of the province in the updated river modelling and mapping.”

    Frank Frigo, manager, environmental management, climate and environment, The City of Calgary

    Knowing where the water will flow during a flood is critical to understanding where it is safe to farm, safe to build, and how to best prepare for emergency situations. These maps will help the City of Calgary design and build for the future.

    While flood risks will vary at any given location, the newly released maps show significant decreases in major flood risks in many areas of Calgary. That is because, in the future, if water in the Elbow River rises to dangerous levels, the flow will be diverted into the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir and further reduced by the Glenmore Dam. This not only reduces the risk of flooding along the Elbow River in Calgary and other downstream communities, it also helps prevent future disasters like the devastating 2013 flood.

    Alberta’s government has finalized more flood maps in the past five years than in the previous thirty-five years combined, with many more studies now underway. The relocated Ghost Dam project continues to advance on the Bow River, and the province has launched the five-year $125-million Drought and Flood Protection Program to help protect families, businesses and communities across the province.

    Quick facts

    • Alberta has also finalized new flood mapping for Fort McMurray and multiple communities along the Highwood, Red Deer and Sheep Rivers.
    • All finalized and draft flood maps can be found on the Government of Alberta floods website (see link below).
    • Flood studies provide flood maps that are used to support emergency response, help build up long-term flood resiliency and show Albertans what flood protections are in place today.
    • Since 2020, the Alberta government has released new or updated flood mapping spanning more than 1,600 kilometres and has committed to creating more than 3,000 kilometres of new and updated flood mapping by 2028.

    Related information

    • Flood Awareness Maps
    • Flood Hazard Identification Program
    • Flood Mapping Basics
    • Canada Flood Map Inventory

    Related news

    • Alberta finalizing flood maps at lightning speed (April 9, 2025)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Innovation Saskatchewan Awards Over $177,000 to Startups Developing Public Sector Solutions Through Mist Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 27, 2025

    Innovation Saskatchewan is pleased to announce six Made In Saskatchewan Technology (MIST) partnerships between public sector organizations and tech startups looking to pilot technologies. 

    The province’s innovation agency invested $88,829 which was matched by public sector partners, for a total of $177,658 to help startups test their market-ready solutions in ways that benefit Saskatchewan citizens. 

    Through the MIST program, startups can receive up to $30,000 from Innovation Saskatchewan to develop real-world solutions for the public sector. In return, they gain valuable exposure, feedback and validation that can help them grow their customer bases and unlock future opportunities. Public sector partners collaborate with these startups to tackle service delivery challenges advancing their own initiatives while contributing to Saskatchewan’s broader technology landscape. 

    “Saskatchewan is home to highly skilled people committed to working collaboratively to develop solutions and establish new pathways for a brighter future,” Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Warren Kaeding said. “The MIST program provides a unique opportunity for the province to grow the tech sector and advance our commitment to innovation through strategic partnerships that drive economic growth across our communities.” 

    MIST funding is supporting six pilot projects identified in the 2024-25 annual intake: 

    “Connecting the province’s startups with public and community-based organizations utilizes Saskatchewan’s natural capacity for collaboration to drive meaningful innovation,” Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kari Harvey said. “MIST provides a built-in customer base and financial support that helps reduce barriers and increase growth during early stages that are traditionally high risk for startups.” 

    MIST is among the few programs in Canada that directly supports early-stage tech companies as they work to solve public sector and community challenges. Since 2018, Innovation Saskatchewan has committed more than $162,500 in MIST funding to 12 technology pilot projects by Saskatchewan startups, including SolusGuard, SuperGeoAI, memoryKPR and drOPs. 

    For information on how to apply for the MIST program, please visit innovationsask.ca/initiatives/mist or email mist@innovationsask.ca. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on the TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed Into Law

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

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

    Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on the TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed Into Law

    Washington, May 19, 2025

    WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the signing ceremony of the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act:

    “In America, we will not tolerate the exploitation of our children. This law will protect our children and families from becoming targets of digital predators,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I’m proud to have stood alongside President Trump when he signed this important legislation into law. I look forward to continuing to support his administration and the First Lady’s efforts to hold those who create harmful content accountable, ensure that platforms take responsibility, and keep our children safe in the digital age.”

    Chairwoman McClain has expressed her support for this bill, including during a roundtable discussion with the First Lady in April.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on the House Passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

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

    Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on the House Passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    Washington, May 22, 2025

    WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: 

    “House Republicans delivered. We kept our promises—lowering costs, unleashing American energy, avoiding the largest tax hike, securing the border, strengthening Medicaid, and investing in our national defense. Failure was not an option,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I’m proud of our committee chairmen for their tireless work in getting this bill to the finish line and all our members for working together throughout this process. House Republicans are unified behind this bill for the American people.” 

    Chairwoman McClain continued, “I thank President Donald Trump for his leadership every step of the way. We share his vision and commitment for a better America. Now, it’s time for the Senate to quickly deliver this bill to the President’s desk.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 689, Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Bill Summary

    S. 689 would secure up to 5,828 acre-feet of water annually for the Tule River Tribe of California by ratifying the Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Agreement reached in 2007 by the Tule River Tribe, the Tule River Association, and the South Tule Independent Ditch Company.

    The bill would appropriate specific amounts to capitalize the Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund, which would be credited, with interest, during the period in which the trust fund is administered by the Department of the Interior (DOI). Once the parties to the settlement have satisfied specified conditions, the federal government would transfer ownership of the trust fund, including any interest credited to the fund, to the tribe for use in constructing water projects for the Tule Tribe Reservation in Tulare County, California. Within 10 years after the settlement conditions are met, S. 689 would direct DOI to transfer a parcel of federal land to be held in trust as part of the Tule Tribe Reservation in California.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of S. 689
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035
     

    Increases in Direct Spending

    		    

    Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    695

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    695

    695

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    675

    0

    0

    20

    695

    Interest Credited to the Trust Fund

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    0

    24

    25

    25

    25

    26

    27

    27

    28

    0

    0

    125

    207

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    207

    0

    0

    0

    207

    Total Changes

    		                        

    Estimated Budget Authority

    695

    24

    25

    25

    25

    26

    27

    27

    28

    0

    0

    820

    902

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    882

    0

    0

    20

    902

    The estimated budgetary effect of S. 689 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted before the end of fiscal year 2025 and that the specified amounts will be deposited into the trust fund by the end of the fiscal year.

    Using information from DOI and based on the bill’s specifications, CBO expects that the following conditions would be met eight years after enactment:

    • The settlement, including amendments required to conform to the bill, would be final and executed;
    • All waivers and releases of claims required under the bill would be executed; and
    • All appeals would have been exhausted and the courts would have approved the agreement as binding on all parties.

    CBO expects that DOI would publish findings in the Federal Register for the settlement, stating that the bill’s conditions have been met and that ownership of the trust fund is to be transferred.

    Direct Spending

    CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $902 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund. S. 689 would establish a trust fund consisting of two interest-bearing accounts: the Tule River Tribe Water Development Projects Account and the Tule River Tribe Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Account. The bill would appropriate $568 million to capitalize those accounts—$518 million for water projects and $50 million for operation, maintenance, and replacement.

    S. 689 also would appropriate additional amounts to account for inflation over the period from November 2020 until those amounts are deposited into the fund. Based on the assumption that the bill will be enacted near the end of 2025, the amount for inflation would be $127 million; thus, we estimate that the appropriation for the fund would total $695 million.

    Of those amounts, the tribe would have immediate access to $20 million from the trust fund to complete technical studies for future water infrastructure projects. The federal government would retain ownership of the remaining amounts until 2033, when CBO expects that all settlement conditions will be satisfied. Interest would be credited to the deposited amounts.

    When the federal government transfers ownership of the trust fund to the tribe, the amount transferred (including credited interest) would be considered a federal expenditure. Based on CBO’s projections of interest rates and the assumption that all of the conditions would be met by 2033, CBO estimates that interest earnings would total $207 million. Accordingly, CBO estimates that the total amount transferred in 2033 would be $882 million.

    The federal government would retain fiduciary responsibility over the contents of the trust fund until the money is needed by the tribe to plan, design, construct, and maintain water projects; those subsequent actions would not affect the federal budget.

    Land Held in Trust. Within 10 years after the settlement conditions are met, S. 689 would direct DOI to transfer about 11,640 acres to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribe as part of the Tule Tribe Reservation in California. That amount consists of 9,037 acres from the Forest Service; 1,837 acres owned by the tribe; and 765 acres from the Bureau of Land Management.

    Using information from those agencies, CBO estimates that, starting in 2033, implementing the bill’s provisions would decrease offsetting receipts (and thus increase direct spending) because the Forest Service would no longer collect grazing fees on that land. Using information from the Forest Service about those fees, CBO estimates that the increase in direct spending would be insignificant in every year and over the 2023-2035 period. No federal receipts are collected from tribal land or from land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

    Spending Subject to Appropriation

    The agencies also would incur costs to oversee environmental and technical compliance for water projects constructed by the tribe and to transfer land to the trust. Using information from the agencies and average costs to oversee activities for other water settlements, CBO estimates that carrying out those activities would have insignificant costs in every year and would total $1 million over the 2025-2030 period; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 2.

    Table 2.

    CBO’s Estimate of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of S. 689, the Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, as reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on May 12, 2025
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035
     

    Net Increase in the Deficit

    		    

    Pay-As-You-Go Effect

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    882

    0

    0

    20

    902

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting S. 689 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    Mandates

    S. 689 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO cannot determine whether the aggregate cost of those mandates would exceed the annual threshold established in UMRA ($103 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    S. 689 would require the Tule River Tribe to waive the right to raise claims to some water rights and for certain damage to water, land, and other resources resulting from the loss of water or water rights. The cost of the mandate would be the forgone value of awards and settlements of claims that the tribe would be prevented from raising under the bill. Because both the number of claims that could be barred or terminated and the value of forgone compensation stemming from them are uncertain, CBO has no basis for estimating the cost of the mandate.

    The tribe also would be prohibited from permanently giving or selling any portion of the Tribal Water Right. Based on the tribe’s stated intent to keep and use the water rights in a continuous manner for water storage, the cost for the tribe to comply with the prohibition would be small because the tribe has no foreseeable intent to give or sell the right.

    By taking land into trust for the Tule River Tribe, the bill would impose a mandate on state and local governments by prohibiting them from taxing that land. Information from Tulare County about taxes and other receipts associated with the land indicate those forgone revenues would total about $100,000 annually.

    S. 689 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.

    Federal Costs: Alaina Rhee

    Mandates: Erich Dvorak

    Estimate Reviewed By

    Ann E. Futrell
    Acting Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald 
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    H. Samuel Papenfuss 
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Maduro consolidates hold on power as Venezuela’s opposition boycotts elections

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Begum Zorlu, ESRC Research Fellow in the Department of International Politics, City St George’s, University of London

    Venezuela’s ruling party romped to victory in regional and legislative elections on May 25, winning over 82% of votes cast for the national assembly. The government-controlled national electoral council said candidates for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won the race for governor in 23 out of the country’s 24 states.

    These elections saw a turnout possibly as low as 25% amid a partial opposition boycott. They were the first held since July 2024, when Nicolás Maduro secured a third consecutive term as Venezuela’s president in a vote that was condemned internationally as fraudulent.

    One thing that stood out in that 2024 election was the ability of the opposition to mount a credible challenge. Their unified backing of Edmundo González as the presidential candidate, and the systematic gathering of evidence of electoral fraud from polling stations, reflected organisational strength and a coherent strategy.

    However, that unity has since eroded. Protests against the 2024 result were met with a harsh government crackdown which included killings and mass detentions. Subsequently, Venezuela’s opposition became deeply divided over whether to participate in the most recent elections.

    Veteran opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from running for the presidency and has been in hiding since July, called on her supporters to boycott them. She said that participating would only serve to legitimise Maduro’s electoral fraud.

    In contrast, a faction led by two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles viewed participation as an opportunity to reclaim political space. Capriles framed electoral participation as a form of protest, arguing that abstention only serves to strengthen Maduro.

    Capriles claimed that victory in the 2015 parliamentary elections, which saw opposition parties win two-thirds of the seats in the national assembly, had been made possible by unity – whereas the decision by most of the opposition not to participate in the 2018 presidential election had effectively handed Maduro power.

    In the May 2025 elections, Capriles and his supporters actively campaigned to encourage voter turnout – while the Machado camp accused those participating of cooperating with the Maduro regime. The debate was marked by accusations of betrayal and a lack of dialogue.

    Learning from failures

    Venezuela’s opposition parties have boycotted elections on several occasions over the past 25 years, as the government has tightened its authoritarian grip. But the decision has often had damaging consequences.

    The most consequential boycott was in 2005, when a broad coalition of opposition parties withdrew from elections to the national assembly, citing concerns about voting irregularities and media bias. The move backfired.

    The government, then led by Maduro’s PSUV predecessor Hugo Chávez, did not face international backlash. It won every seat and gained a supermajority that enabled constitutional changes, including expanded executive powers. The opposition lost its institutional foothold to challenge legislation.

    The boycott also deepened internal rifts within Venezuela’s opposition. It entrenched the divide between moderates who favoured political engagement and hardliners who were sceptical of participation. These divisions have persisted to this day.

    Opposition movements elsewhere have boycotted elections too, and the consequences have been similar. In 2014, the main opposition party in Bangladesh abstained from general elections in an attempt to delegitimise the ruling Awami League’s hold on power and prompt an international response.

    In fact, this handed the Awami League near-total control of parliament. With no sustained international pressure, it contributed to the country’s authoritarian consolidation.

    Such cases demonstrate that electoral boycotts pose a dilemma for opposition movements. By refusing to participate, they may unintentionally strengthen authoritarian rule by ceding space to incumbents and weakening their own unity.

    Research shows that an electoral boycott is likely to be most effective when three conditions align: the ruling regime is vulnerable, the opposition is united, and the international context is favourable. These conditions have consistently been absent in Venezuela.

    Its slide towards authoritarianism has been underpinned by the stability of the Maduro regime since 2013. His government has been able to rely on sustained military support and has used repression strategically to tighten its grip on power.

    A lack of unity within the opposition has also worked to the regime’s advantage. In their work on Venezuela’s authoritarian trajectory, researchers Maryhen Jiménez and Antulio Rosales demonstrate that partial electoral boycotts have repeatedly failed to produce meaningful change. This is, in their view, due to the absence of a coordinated opposition strategy.

    An uncoordinated strategy also risks fostering a sense of “defeatism” among regime critics. This can hamper people’s willingness to take collective action in the future.

    Participation in authoritarian elections, even though they are not fair, can still expose underlying vulnerabilities within a ruling regime. Opposition mobilisation ahead of Venezuela’s 2024 election placed the Maduro government under significant pressure. It responded with electoral manipulation.

    Evidence of voter fraud provoked international condemnation, including from Brazil and Colombia. These two countries had previously been more cautious in their criticism of the Maduro government.

    This further isolated Maduro on the international stage. But condemnation was not accompanied by a sustained or coordinated international strategy to support mediation or political transition in Venezuela.

    The road ahead

    Whether the opposition can regain coherence and unity remains to be seen. But even if it can, authoritarianism in Venezuela appears firmly entrenched.

    The national electoral council’s refusal to release vote tallies following the 2024 election, alongside an intensified crackdown on dissent, reflects a deepening consolidation of power. It is also evidence of Maduro’s declining concern with maintaining even a facade of democratic legitimacy.

    In the absence of internal cohesion within Venezuela’s opposition, this authoritarian consolidation is likely to deepen. This will leave even fewer institutional footholds from which the opposition can mount a credible democratic challenge.

    Begum Zorlu receives funding for her ESRC-funded South and East Network for Social Sciences Fellowship.

    – ref. Maduro consolidates hold on power as Venezuela’s opposition boycotts elections – https://theconversation.com/maduro-consolidates-hold-on-power-as-venezuelas-opposition-boycotts-elections-256953

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Overnight closures planned for Highway 1 through Fraser Canyon

    Drivers are advised of three overnight closures of Highway 1 between Lytton and Spences Bridge to accommodate construction of the new bridge over the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railway.

    The closures are necessary to facilitate the placement of girders and concrete panels.

    Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon will be closed in both directions from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, Thursday, May 29, and Tuesday, June 3, 2025. During the stoppage, Highway 1 will be closed at the junctures with highways 8 and 12, and vehicles will not be allowed through.

    Checkpoints will be set up at Lytton and Spences Bridge to provide travellers with information about alternative routes. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit will work directly with emergency services to facilitate access through the site during these times.

    The Gladwin area and Nicomen River Road will remain accessible to local traffic. All other traffic will be detoured via Highway 12 and Highway 5, with traffic-control guidance provided through portable message boards in Lillooet and Ashcroft.

    Drivers travelling between the Interior and Lower Mainland can take Highway 3 or Highway 5 as alternative routes.

    For up-to-date information about this closure and road conditions on alternative routes, travellers should monitor the forecast and visit: www.drivebc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Special Session to Address Disaster Relief for Missourians, Tax Incentives for Economic Development, and Budget Appropriations

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MAY 27, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, during a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that he has issued an official call for a special session aimed at providing resources to families affected by recent severe storm systems, driving economic development through a tax incentive program, and making critical budget appropriations that will impact Missourians across the state.

    The General Assembly will convene for the First Extraordinary Session of the First Regular Session in Jefferson City on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. to begin considering Governor Kehoe’s priorities.

    “We are proud of all that the General Assembly accomplished during the regular legislative session, but there is still work left to be done,” said Governor Kehoe. “We call on legislators to use this special session as a rare opportunity to support our vulnerable neighbors in their time of need, drive economic development, and make transformative investments in our state. This work is too important to leave unfinished.”

    Several severe storm systems have impacted the State of Missouri over the recent months, resulting in loss of life as well as significant damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. Governor Kehoe’s call for a special session includes legislation to assist Missouri families impacted by recent severe storm systems in areas included in a request for presidential disaster declaration filed by the Governor. The call includes:

    • Legislation establishing an income tax deduction for insurance policy deductibles incurred by homeowners and renters due to damages caused by severe weather.
      • Deductions shall not exceed $5000 per household per disaster in any calendar year.
    • Legislation enhancing the utility of the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, administered by the Missouri Housing Development Commission, by expanding eligibility and removing administrative burdens and costs to expedite aid for Missouri families with Disaster Housing Response Grants.
    • Appropriating $25 million to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund for for general administration of affordable housing activities and to expand income eligibility for emergency aid.

    To help retain major sports teams in Missouri, Governor Kehoe is calling on the General Assembly to enact legislation establishing economic development tools for athletic and entertainment facility projects of professional sports franchises through the Show Me Sports Investment Act. The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are Missouri’s teams that drive billions of dollars in economic activity through tourism, job creation, and small businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and retail. The impact of retaining these teams includes:

    • The Kansas City Chiefs contribute $575 million annually in economic value and over 4,500 jobs in Jackson County alone, bringing the State of Missouri nearly $30 million in annual tax revenue.
    • A new Royals ballpark district is expected to support 8,400 jobs and generate $1.2 billion in economic output annually.  

    Governor Kehoe’s call also includes:

    • Enacting legislation to extend the sunset date on tax credits for amateur sporting events.
    • Appropriating $25 million for the University of Missouri for the planning, design, and construction of the Radioisotope Science Center at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR).
    • Appropriating funding from funds other than the General Revenue Fund for purposes provided for in the Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 19 in the 2025 regular legislative session.

    The special session proclamation will be uploaded to the Governor’s website once it is available.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Illegal Crossings Plummet in San Diego Sector

    Source: US Whitehouse

    As illegal border crossings plummet, U.S. Border Patrol announced a soft-sided “migrant processing facility” in the San Diego Sector constructed under the Biden Administration has been dismantled after a 96%+ decline in illegal crossings along the sector.

    The increased border enforcement is accompanied by the Trump Administration’s efforts to arrest criminal illegal immigrants throughout the nation.

    Meet a few of the sick criminal illegal immigrants arrested just over the past weekend:

    • Kevin Estuarde Hernandez, an 18-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested in Boston. He is a suspected 18th Street Gang Member who was involved in a shooting between his gang and MS-13.
    • Jose Antonio Deras, a 45-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested in Denver. He has pending charges for four felony counts of sexual assault on a child with a pattern of abuse. A judge ordered him removed from the country in 2009.
    • Eduardo Sanchez-Hernandez, a 32-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in Newark. He has pending charges for sexual assault of a minor under 13-years-old.
    • Litzy Janel Saavedra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in New York City. He has a conviction for third-degree felony rape.
    • Carlos Torres Valdovinos, a 46-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in San Francisco. He has a conviction for felony oral copulation of a child.
    • Jose Barrios-Bello, a 35-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in Salt Lake City. He has a conviction for distribution of meth and has previously been removed from the country.
    • Misael Delgado-Carlos, a 35-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested in Houston. She has a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has previously been removed from the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Dangerous river conditions and fluctuating water levels on Red River 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    For immediate release

    Lockport, Manitoba, May 27, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise the public that the section of the Red River between Lockport and Lister Rapids may experience large fluctuations in water levels. There was a significant amount of rainfall in the south of the province, causing unusually high flows into the Red River.

    As a result of rising water levels in Winnipeg and to the south, the dam at the St. Andrews Lock and Dam will be releasing more water. Water levels between Lockport and Lister Rapids are therefore forecasted to drop over the coming days. Depending on conditions, a section of the movable dam may need to be removed.

    Waters downstream and in proximity to the dam should always be treated as dangerous, but can become even more so as water levels increase.

    PSPC encourages the public to exercise caution when approaching the area of the dam and the Red River due to fluctuating water levels and debris.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Reopening of East Haddam Swing Bridge Following Major Rehabilitation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HADDAM, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and Congressman Joe Courtney at a news conference to announce the completion of the East Haddam Swing Bridge rehabilitation project.

    The historic, 112-year-old bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River between Haddam and East Haddam, has been upgraded with new mechanical and electrical systems, substructure repairs, and roof replacement to enhance structural performance and reliability for the 12,000 vehicles that cross this bridge every day.

    A new sidewalk on the south side of the bridge is connected to newly constructed sidewalks on both sides of the river, offering a safe, accessible crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

    Administered and overseen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, this $88.8 million project was funded through a mix of 80% federal and 20% state funds. Construction spanned from September 2022 through May 2025 and was completed on time.

    “The East Haddam Swing Bridge is both a transportation lifeline and a state landmark,” Governor Lamont said. “Thanks to this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re preserving a key piece of infrastructure for the next generation while making it safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it.”

    “We’re no longer applying a ‘band-aid’ fix. This full rehabilitation ensures the East Haddam Swing Bridge will continue serving Connecticut for many decades to come,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “We’re grateful to the Haddam and East Haddam communities for their patience and partnership during construction, and we’re proud of the improvements made.”

    “The modernization of the iconic East Haddam Swing Bridge is a stellar example of how federal infrastructure dollars are supposed to work,” Congressman Courtney said. “Thanks to over $70 million from the federal infrastructure law, we were able to deliver a long-overdue, full-scale rehabilitation of a 112-year-old bridge that is safer for both motorists and pedestrians, while retaining its unique design. Congratulations to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the contractors who swiftly executed this complex project, which will endure for decades to come.”

    Originally built in 1913 by the American Bridge Company, the East Haddam Swing Bridge has now been fully rehabilitated by that same company, bringing the bridge into the 21st century while preserving its historic integrity.

    The East Haddam Swing Bridge consists of four spans, including a moveable swing span that required upgrades to address operational issues identified during inspections. Previous repairs were completed in 1988, 1998, 1999, 2007, and 2016.

    Tuesday’s news conference at Eagles Landing State Park in Haddam was capped by a special appearance from the Riendeau family, whose ancestors brought oxen to the original ribbon cutting for the East Haddam Swing Bridge in June 1913. More than a century later, the family returned to the bridge on Tuesday, this time with a new generation of oxen to help mark the bridge’s reopening.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Dr. Jaclyn Jaeger Olsen Appointed to Two National Education Committees

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Geriatric Medicine’s Dr. Jaclyn Olsen Jaeger of UConn Center on Aging and UConn School of Medicine was appointed to two national Education Committees.

    She will join the Education Committees of the American College of Physicians (ACP) Board of Regents and the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed).

    Olsen Jaeger serves UConn Center on Aging as associate professor of medicine and is also associate medical director of Avon Health Center. She is medical director of the Clinical Longitudinal Immersion in the Community (CLIC) program of UConn School of Medicine.

    “These two national education committee appointments are incredibly meaningful to me. Serving on the national ACP and PALTmed Education Committees with a platform to contribute to the ever-changing landscape of medical education is an honor and incredibly exciting,” says Olsen Jaeger of the UConn Center on Aging.

    Olsen Jaeger adds, “During my internal medicine residency at UConn, I benefitted from the expertise of many medical educators who helped me become the physician I am today. Medical education is extremely rewarding and one of the best parts of my job. I’m very thankful for all the support, especially from my long-time mentor, Dr. Rebecca Andrews, and the many educators in the UConn Center on Aging.”

    Andrews of UConn Health and its School of Medicine is chair of the ACP Board of Regents.

    On the ACP Board of Regents Education Committee Olsen will serve until April 2026 with possible reappointment to a one-year term. The committees of ACP perform a vital role in the development of policies and programs that benefit the public, the profession of medicine, and its membership and directly affect internal medicine and patients nationally.

    In addition, Olsen Jaeger’s service to the PALTmed Education Committee is for a 2-year term until April 2027 with the possibility of a renewed two additional terms. PALTmed is the leading medical society uniting medical directors, physicians, NPs, PAs, and other experts shaping the future of post-acute and long-term care nationally.

    Learn more about Dr. Olsen Jaeger.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Legislation to Modernize Credit Union Boards

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Credit Union Board Modernization Act to revise an antiquated federal law requiring credit union boards to meet every month. By reducing unnecessary board meetings, the bill alleviates regulatory burdens and enables credit unions to concentrate on their core mission of serving their members’ financial needs.
    Credit unions should be able to focus on serving their community rather than more bureaucracy. This is a silly rule. Repeal it,” said Dr. Cassidy.
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) in introducing the legislation.
    Current law for Credit Union Board Meetings requires all federal credit unions, regardless of performance, to hold monthly board meetings, imposing an unnecessary burden on well-managed and well-performing credit unions and diverting time and financial resources that should be allocated to serving credit union members.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE investigation results in former child, family services caseworker sentenced to prison for sexually abusing children

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEWARK, N.J. — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation led to the sentencing of a former New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Protection and Permanency caseworker for the transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    Trent Collier, 58, of Kearny, New Jersey, was sentenced May 22 at the U.S. District Court in Newark to 109 months for one count of possession of child pornography and one count for the transportation of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to these charges on May 21, 2024, following his August 2022 indictment.

    “Collier’s sentencing shows the strength and resolve of HSI and our law enforcement partners in the State of New Jersey to purse justice and uphold our commitment to protect children,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “We’ve sworn an oath to protect those who have been victimized by perpetrators like Collier and serve in positions of trust. Instead of caring for New Jersey children, he sexually exploited them for his own perverse pleasure.”

    According to the investigation, on or about Sept. 28, 2021, Collier arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport aboard a flight from the Dominican Republic. Upon his arrival, law enforcement searched Collier’s cellular phone and identified at least two images of child sexual abuse material. In a statement to law enforcement, Collier admitted that he had previously sent child sexual abuse material to at least one other individual via cell phone and that individual sent child sexual abuse material to Collier. A further search of Collier’s cell phone uncovered multiple additional videos of child sexual abuse material, including videos depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers.

    Collier’s federal sentence will run consecutively to any future state sentencing. He has been remanded to the custody of the State of New Jersey since May 2024.

    HSI Newark also assisted the New Jersey State Police in garnering state charges against Collier in a seven-count indictment with sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and official misconduct, based on Collier’s alleged sexually abusive conduct toward the two minor victims. Those charges were announced by the Division of Criminal Justice and NJSP Oct. 3, 2024.

    According to the New Jersey State Attorney General, the investigation by HSI Newark and NJSP revealed that Collier had sexually abused two minors. The first victim was allegedly sexually assaulted while Collier served as the DCPP caseworker for the victim’s family. Collier allegedly verbally and physically threatened the victim that they would be removed from their family if they disclosed the abuse. Several instances of the alleged abuse occurred inside a DCPP office as well as a DCPP vehicle. As to the second victim, it is alleged that Collier leveraged his position as a DCPP caseworker to facilitate the sexual abuse, including use of his DCPP vehicle to facilitate an assault. It is also alleged that Collier offered financial incentives to the second victim to thwart disclosure.

    The state charges and allegations are merely accusations, and they do not constitute proof of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

    In addition to the federal prison term, Collier was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

    HSI is at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse through its investigations, victim assistance programs, intelligence and analysis, policy development, and training and awareness programs.

    For any child, parent, guardian of New Jersey, searching for resources and information on how to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation, go to Know2Protect.gov. If you suspect a child might be a victim, please call the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Co-Leads Multistate Effort to Protect Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care Providers from Dangerous Certification Requirements

    Source: US State of California

    Attorneys general call on AMA to ensure reproductive health care and gender-affirming care providers can get board-certified without unnecessary risk

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced co-leading a coalition of 20 attorneys general in urging the American Medical Association (AMA) to take stronger action to protect health care providers from potentially dangerous medical board certification requirements. In testimony submitted to AMA, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that requiring abortion and gender-affirming care providers to travel to states that restrict those forms of care in order to get board-certified puts them at legal and physical risk. The coalition warns that mandating in-person testing in states that have aggressively criminalized or penalized reproductive and gender-affirming health care endangers providers and threatens access to essential care nationwide.

    “Right now, health care providers can only obtain OB-GYN board certification if they travel to Dallas for an in-person examination. Texas, of course, has some of the most restrictive abortion and gender-affirming care laws in the country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The American Medical Association itself has previously acknowledged the physical and legal risk that this can pose to health care providers — my fellow attorneys general and I are now calling for concrete action. We have shared specific recommendations, and we hope the American Medical Association will expeditiously consider adopting those changes.” 

    Earlier this year, AMA acknowledged the risks posed to health care providers by state laws that restrict abortion and gender-affirming care, adopting a policy encouraging medical boards to provide alternative testing options in states with such restrictions. However, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition assert that AMA’s current stance does not go far enough to protect examinees – it lacks sufficient urgency and fails to provide policy guidance to the specialty boards on concrete steps they should take to protect candidates. The coalition calls for AMA to go further by recommending such steps, including:

    1. Relocating testing sites to non-restrictive states;
    2. Shifting to remote testing to eliminate the need for travel to hostile environments; or
    3. Granting individual exemptions from in-person exams in restrictive states for those facing heightened legal or physical risks.

    The coalition’s testimony highlights the increasingly hostile legal landscape for health care providers in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Following the decision, several states implemented draconian restrictions on abortion and have since taken steps to criminalize patients and providers. Many of the same states have followed by passing a wave of restrictions on gender-affirming care. The coalition argues that officials in these anti-choice states have made it clear their goal is to intimidate and punish reproductive health and gender-affirming care providers, no matter where the care was provided.

    Attorney General Bonta and the coalition warn that mandating in-person board certification testing in states that penalize these forms of health care could have far-reaching and harmful consequences. In particular, the coalition highlights the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ABOG), which requires OB/GYNs seeking board certification to travel to Texas for in-person testing. Texas has implemented some of the most severe anti-abortion legislation in the country and similarly restricts access to gender-affirming care for young people. Despite these restrictions, ABOG continues to require in-person certification exams for all obstetricians and gynecologists in Texas. The coalition asserts that ABOG’s refusal to provide accommodations for candidates who fear prosecution or physical harm in Texas places providers at needless risk and endangers access to essential care nationwide. 

    The coalition emphasizes that ensuring the safety of health care providers is essential to maintaining access to reproductive and gender-affirming care in states like California. The coalition is urging AMA to act urgently and forcefully to ensure medical specialty boards adopt concrete, actionable policies that protect providers, warning that failure to act could exacerbate the national health care crisis.  

    The submission of this testimony was co-led by Attorney General Bonta, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. They were joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. 

    A copy of the testimony can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Grills Air Force Secretary on Taxpayer Costs and National Security Risks Regarding Trump’s $400 Million Qatar Bribe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    May 20, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—today pressed Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin on the more than $1 billion in taxpayer money it would cost to convert the Qatari jet into a secure Air Force One, as well as the operational security risks inherent with using a jet gifted by a foreign government to transport the President. Video of Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

    “It’s not enough that Donald Trump has given the pathetic appearance that he can be bought with a luxury jet—this flying national security risk will also force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in upgrades to make the aircraft fit to protect a President of the United States,” Duckworth said. “We already have two fully operational and capable Air Force One aircraft. This would be a colossal, unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars that needlessly creates operational security risks and gives the dangerous impression that our foreign policy is for sale. We cannot allow this.”

    Duckworth has been an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration’s plan to accept the $400 million luxury jet from Qatar. Last Thursday, she led her Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) be transparent with them about the substantial national security and operational risks posed by President Trump’s plan to accept the $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family. Last Friday, the Senator joined U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and other colleagues in urging the DOD Acting Inspector General to open an inquiry into DOD’s involvement facilitating the transfer of an unprecedented foreign gift intended for President Trump’s personal use.

    Since day one, Duckworth has repeatedly called out the Trump Administration’s top-ranking national security officials and the severe national security failures they have been responsible for. After The Atlantic reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent classified war plans in a Signal group chat with other Trump Administration officials, putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at greater risk and undermining the effectiveness of the mission, Duckworth released a statement demanding Hegseth’s resignation and an independent investigation into all officials on the Signal chain. The Senator reiterated her call for Hegseth to resign in disgrace after the New York Times reported that Hegseth also shared the classified airstrike plans with his wife and brother. In March, Duckworth joined her Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, SASC and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings to investigate why members of President Trump’s national security team were recklessly discussing classified military operations on unsecured devices.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Legislation to Expand Medicare Drug Price Negotiation and Lower Costs for Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    May 23, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Peter Welch (D-VT) in reintroducing legislation to expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices. The Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act would help lower drug costs for consumers, reduce federal spending and give the Department of Health and Human Services stronger tools to negotiate lower drug prices in Medicare Part B and Part D. 

    “No one should have to choose between paying for their lifesaving prescription or paying the rent—that’s why three years ago the Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, to empower Medicare to directly negotiate with drug manufacturers,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and our Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the SMART Prices Act to help build on the progress we’ve made to lower the cost of prescription drugs and improve health care for hardworking Americans.”

    “People in the United States are paying four times more than people in similar countries pay for life-saving medications,” said Durbin. “Democrats took the first step to address this issue three years ago by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, to enable Medicare to negotiate with Big Pharma to lower costs for seniors—while every Republican opposed these savings. Now, instead of focusing on lowering prices for Americans, Republicans in Congress are focused on cutting Medicaid to give tax breaks to billionaires. Senate Democrats are introducing the SMART Prices Act to help lower the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, expand on the progress we have made, and improve health care for Americans.” 

    According to preliminary estimates from a model by West Health and Verdant Research, if the SMART Prices Act was enacted in 2026, it would save 33 percent more by 2030 than current law. It would also allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs. 

    This legislation builds on Klobuchar and Welch’s provision, which was passed into law in 2022, that has empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time, unleashing the power of 53 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D Drug Coverage. The SMART Prices Act would extend this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the most costly prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate. 

    Along with Duckworth, Durbin, Klobuchar and Welch, the SMART Prices Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    The bill is endorsed by Center for American Progress, FamiliesUSA, Patients For Affordable Drugs NOW, Protect Our Care and Public Citizen.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Pays Tribute to Fallen Servicemembers at Annual South Side Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    May 26, 2025

    [CHICAGO, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today paid tribute to our nation’s fallen servicemembers at the 10th Annual South Side Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony. Duckworth joined local leaders including U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Chicago 17th Ward Alderman David Moore, State Senator Willie Preston (IL-SD-16) and State Representative Michael Crawford (IL-HD-31), as well as Veterans and servicemembers to honor local Gold Star families and remember loved ones who were killed in the line of duty. Photos of today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.

    “This weekend is a somber reminder for our entire nation,” Duckworth said. “Memorial Day is a day to remember all those who answered the call not for themselves, not for their family members, but for democracy. Because you see, when you serve this nation, you’re stepping forward to defend our Constitution and our freedoms for the entire nation. And when you lay down your life in that process, you are laying down your life for people who will never know your name, never know to thank you, never know that you did this. But they will benefit, and their children and grandchildren will benefit from your sacrifice. And what we can do, those of us who survive, is to continue that commitment to our democracy.”

    Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs Committees (SVAC), Duckworth oversees the nation’s common defense, military operations, servicemember pay and retirement, military family benefits and the selective service system. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bill to address threats associated with increased cooperation between US adversaries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and David McCormick (R-Pa.) last week introduced the Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to address the increased cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. 

    Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have deepened their cooperation in recent years, including an increased transfer of weapons and munitions, sharing military technologies, launching disinformation campaigns, and coordinating joint operations that threaten the stability of the international order. Despite this looming threat, the U.S. lacks a strategic response to our adversaries increasing alignment.

    “Our adversaries are becoming friends,” said Senator Coons. “We cannot continue to sit back and watch as they gain strength before our eyes – in weapons, in their armies, in their economic power. They want to make our country less secure and our economy less prosperous. The DISRUPT Act is the first step to stopping their progress and keeping Americans safe.”

    “China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are rapidly strengthening their ties, solidifying an axis of destruction and chaos bent on undermining the United States and our allies and partners around the world,” said Senator McCormick. “Senator Coons and I are introducing this legislation to help focus the interagency’s diplomatic, economic, defense, and intelligence priorities to define and combat this emerging adversarial alliance.”

    Specifically, the DISRUPT Act of 2025 will:

    • Direct the intelligence community to report on the trajectory of adversary collaboration across diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains and its impact on U.S. interests
    • Require the development of a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon
    • Create interagency task forces within key departments such as State, Defense, Commerce, Treasury, and the Directors of National Intelligence and of the Central Intelligence Agency to ensure a coordinated, long-term response

    The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to disrupt the most dangerous aspects of this adversarial cooperation, reduce its expanding footprint, and prepare for the growing likelihood of simultaneous challenges across multiple regions. The bill also reinforces America’s commitment to strategic leadership, strengthening alliances, and creating a long-term strategy to preserve our national interests. 

    Senator Coons is the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting homegrown policing solutions

    [. That’s why the province is supporting the City of Grande Prairie with an additional $7 million in funding as it transitions to a municipal police service, helping to advance a homegrown solution that meets the needs of the community.

    This new funding reinforces and builds on the province’s initial $9.7 million two-year commitment to help the City of Grande Prairie meet its policing and public safety needs, following the city council’s decision in March 2023 to transition from the RCMP to a municipal police service.

    “Alberta’s government will do whatever it takes to keep people safe. The City of Grande Prairie is pursuing a policing solution that’s right for the community and its residents, and Alberta’s government is behind them throughout the transition process. Albertans, regardless of where they live, deserve fast and reliable law enforcement where and when they need it. Our government remains committed to ensuring Alberta municipalities have their choice of policing provider.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    Since 2023, Grande Prairie has made significant progress in hiring officers and civilian staff, procuring equipment, and beginning the development of essential IT infrastructure for a municipal police service. This support from the province ensures that the city can keep the momentum of its transition going as it lays critical groundwork for the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS).

    The funding will support the projected start-up costs associated with building and implementing the new service, including salaries, benefits, recruitment, equipment and training. The GPPS is expected to become the primary police service of jurisdiction for Grande Prairie in 2026.

    Once provincial startup funding through the Grande Prairie Police Service Grant agreement ends, the city will absorb all operational costs associated with its new police service. The annual operating budget of the GPPS is projected to be less than those associated with policing services contracted through the RCMP.

    “The City of Grande Prairie is thankful for this announcement and the ongoing funding and support from the provincial government as we transition to a municipal police service. The transition is on budget and on schedule and has already provided a positive impact on our community safety and valuable insights on the modernizations that will be achieved with a stand-alone municipal police service model.”

    Jackie Clayton, mayor, City of Grande Prairie

    “With the ongoing support and funding from the Alberta government, we are creating a modern, community-oriented police service that reflects the unique needs of Grande Prairie. The Grande Prairie Police Service is quickly proving that a policing transition can be both effective and efficient.”

    Dwayne Lakusta, chief, Grande Prairie Police Service

    Key facts

    • The projected total cost of establishing and implementing the GPPS is $19 million.
    • The GPPS is expected to become the primary police of jurisdiction for Grande Prairie in 2026.
    • Through the Indigenous and Municipal Police Transition Study Grant program, Alberta’s government delivered more than $2.2 million in funding to help 35 municipalities, 23 First Nations and eight Metis Settlements to explore ways to enhance their existing policing models as well as alternate options such as self-administered First Nations policing or standalone police services.
    • Under Alberta’s Police Act, towns and cities with populations greater than 5,000 are responsible for their own policing and can form their own municipal police service, be part of a regional policing arrangement or contract with the federal government for RCMP policing services to meet their public safety needs.

    Related news

    • Alberta funds community policing in Grande Prairie (Feb 22, 2023)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Inquest Into the Death of Ryan Booker

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 27, 2025

    A public inquest into the death of Ryan Booker will be held Monday, June 23 to 26, 2025, at the Royal Hotel, 4025 Albert Street, in Regina.

    The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Subsequent start times will be determined by the presiding coroner.

    Booker, 26, was observed to be in possession of a firearm at a parking lot in Moose Jaw on July 17, 2022. Following a highway pursuit, Mr. Booker was shot in an altercation with police outside of the city and passed away at the scene. Section 19 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the Chief Coroner may direct that an inquest be held into the death of any person.

    The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

    Coroner Aaron Fox will preside at the inquest.

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    For more information, contact:

    Kerri Ward-Davis
    Justice
    Regina
    Phone: 306-787-8621
    Email: jumedia@gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –