Category: Business

MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Statement On House Passage Of The Genius Act

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand applauded House passage of the GENIUS Act, landmark legislation that will establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins. As the lead Democratic senator on the bill, Senator Gillibrand shepherded the legislation to passage in the Senate in June.

“House passage of the GENIUS Act is a historic milestone in our bipartisan effort to regulate stablecoins. This bill will empower American businesses and consumers and enable them to take advantage of the next iteration of financial innovation,” said Senator Gillibrand. “A result of serious bipartisan negotiations, the GENIUS Act will protect consumers, enable responsible innovation, and safeguard the dominance of the U.S. dollar. This bill targets illicit finance, places limitations on Big Tech, puts in place ethical guardrails, and strengthens national security. The GENIUS Act is landmark legislation that will help maintain American global competitiveness, now and into the future.”

Senator Gillibrand, alongside Senators Hagerty (R-TN), Scott (R-SC), Lummis (R-WY), and Alsobrooks (D-MD), introduced the GENIUS Act earlier this year. The bill passed out of the Senate Banking Committee with bipartisan support in March 2025, and the Senate passed the full bill with strong bipartisan support in June 2025.

Senator Gillibrand has been working on cryptocurrency legislation since 2022, when she and Senator Lummis introduced the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act, a comprehensive bipartisan framework for cryptocurrency regulation. The framework was re-introduced in 2023. In 2024, Gillibrand and Lummis also introduced a stablecoin bill that included many of the provisions that passed in the GENIUS Act.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: Association Health Plans are a Great Resource for Kansans

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Senator Marshall Questions Experts About Benefits Access for Independent Workers
Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas),questioned Patrice Onwuka, Director at the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women’s Forum, Kev Coleman, Research Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, and Karen Friedman, Executive Director at the Pension Rights Center, during a recent Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee focused on benefits for independent workers.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
Highlights from the hearing include:
On what protections would exist if a portable benefits provider went under:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s start with Mrs. Onwuka. Welcome everybody. We appreciate you being here. Under a portable benefit model, what protections do workers have if a benefit provider were to go under or misuse funds?”
Mrs. Onwuka: “Under a portable benefits plan, I think that there are protections in place to ensure that, you know, whatever investments have been made, whatever has been paid into it, that that would still be there and protected. There’s some great companies that have those accounts and set those up to ensure that, and they’re regulated to ensure that that happens.”Senator Marshall: “Have many of them failed? Or has that happened very often?”
Mrs. Onwuka: “I have not seen anything any of them fail, sir.”
On what’s preventing wider adoption of association health care plans:
Senator Marshall: “Mr. Coleman, let’s go to you next. I’m a big fan of association health care plans. It’s something I fought for to help become a possibility. I’ve seen some acceptance of it, I’m surprised it’s not more, so to be honest. What’s keeping that from exploding in a good way, and what do we need to do to put wind beneath those sails?”
Mr. Coleman: “Senator, thank you very much for that question. A primary obstacle to association health plans, underneath legacy regulation, deals with the obstacles to be able to form a coalition of our association of businesses whose aggregate employee body can be seen as a single health plan. There’s something known as ‘lookthrough doctrine,’ which says, if you don’t have the right affiliations among businesses, we’re going to treat each individual business within an association as its own entity with respect to health insurance. And hence, if they have three people, they’re in the small group health insurance.”
Senator Marshall: “Got it – so, is this that we need to change the law, or is it a regulatory issue?”
Mr. Coleman: “Ultimately, changing the law is best, because not only do you have the benefit of, you know, a very clear statutory precedent, but you also have a situation where technologists like myself, or my former self, are going to make investments in that market to build platforms facilitating technology, et cetera. If it’s a regulatory solution, there’s more hesitation, because there’s the fear that the next administration may change regulation.”
Senator Marshall: “Okay, thanks. And I would just ask the committee staff, I’m sure you’re looking at that, but would love to kind of understand what we can do to improve that situation as well. We’ve seen some great success in Kansas with some of these plans, and again, I’m surprised there’s not more people utilizing it.”
On how portable benefits could be on par with benefits offered to W2 employees:
Senator Marshall: “I’ll go to Ms. Friedman next. And if you just briefly explain…how under portable benefits can we be sure that employers are still providing benefits on par with many of the W2 employees?”
Ms. Friedman “…I mean, look, portability has been an intractable problem in the retirement space. There are lots of proposals that will address this. Senator Sanders, pensions for all would be portable. The state-facilitated auto-Iris has some portability. I think we have to ensure that we’re looking at solutions. I mean, what we’re trying to do is address a concern, which is portability. People changing jobs a lot, and benefits going with them. We need to be exploring those options and make sure that they’re options that both protect employees and also are being workable.”
Senator Marshall: “So I understand the problem, now I’m looking for the solution. Mrs. Onwuka, can you take a shot at that? How, under portable benefits, can we be sure that employers are still providing benefits on par with W2 employees?”
Mrs. Onwuka: “Well, that can be negotiated between the independent contractor and their client, really, who’s able to pay in you know, just as they in their contracts, they can define how much the employer is willing to pay this independent contractor on top of their negotiated rate, how much they’re going to pay into that benefits plan. And they can match with whatever they’re paying their W2 employees in terms of the benefits that they’re providing there. But let’s not forget, these plans can be paid into by multiple different clients and different entities, so an independent contractor can really do well in terms of being negotiating the kind of, you know, benefits package that works for them.”
Senator Marshall: “Typically, if you were new to that negotiation and you have seven or ten clients or people you’re working for, are you asking them to match like 10% or 20%? Is there a kind of a range that you’re looking for?”
Mrs. Onwuka: “It would be up to that independent contractor to decide, sir.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: National Defence signs technology partnership arrangement with Australia for Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

July 17, 2025 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

On June 20, 2025, representatives of the governments of Canada and Australia signed a landmark technology partnership arrangement, a critical milestone in the rapid development and deployment of Canada’s A-OTHR system.

Through this arrangement, Australian industry partners will work with Canadian companies to build expertise and capacity in Canada, grow our domestic sovereign defence industry, support high-paying Canadian jobs, and help Canada scale up its own radar system and technology.

Canada’s Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) system is a key component of Canada’s North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization plan and will provide advanced early warning, enable faster detection and decision making by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for airborne threats, and provide long-range surveillance to meet Canada’s domestic and continental security needs.

After careful consideration, Canada determined that a technology partnership with the Government of Australia, which currently operates one of the most advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar capabilities in the world, would provide the best solution for strengthening CAF domain awareness of Canada’s northern approaches. It will also quickly deliver a crucial capability to the CAF and NORAD commanders.

The first stage of the A-OTHR program will deliver an initial capability by the end of 2029.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Our performance evolution
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Download Our performance evolution

You can download a version of Our performance evolution (PDF, 674KB)This link will download a file.

Commissioner’s foreword

Since commencing as Commissioner of Taxation on 1 March 2024, I continue to be impressed by the expertise, professionalism and dedication of ATO staff.

Our performance is strong, but as with any organisation, we need to take opportunities to improve. Accordingly, I am grateful that the ATO has had the opportunity to be reviewed as part of the Australian Public Service Commission’s (APSC) capability review program, particularly so early in my tenure. Independent reviews such as this provide us with honest and frank perspectives on what to improve to set us up for the future.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the review team for their professionalism, rigour, and the depth of insight they brought to this process. Their extensive experience and thoughtful engagement have been invaluable.

The review found that we are a high-performing organisation, which is a testament to the dedication and capability of our people. At the same time, it has identified areas where we can do better – opportunities to strengthen our systems, sharpen our focus, and deliver even greater value to the Australian community.

We deliver well on our core purpose of collecting tax so government can deliver services for the Australian community. However, what delivers us success now will not be enough alone to achieve our vision for an Australia where every taxpayer meets their obligations because:
- complying is easy
- help is tailored
- deliberate non-compliance has consequences.
We need to examine what we do and how we do it, identify opportunities for improvement and make decisive shifts to unlock our full potential.

Our performance evolution will help us get there. Drawing on key insights from our APSC capability review, it outlines how we – as one ATO – will align our efforts to not only deliver today’s priorities, but also prepare for and tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

We are fortunate to be building on a strong foundation. The capability review identified many strengths we can be proud of. We’ll use these strengths to propel us forward on our performance evolution, taking practical actions to set a course for the future, where we will:
- think bigger
- act bolder
- deliver together.
While this plan does not outline every detail of the actions we will take, it establishes the key shifts that will empower us to strengthen what we do best, allowing us to adapt our actions as our environment changes.

The Executive team and I will play a key role here. We must role model the behaviours needed for the ATO to achieve its vision, drive accountability and ensure we don’t lose momentum. We must also openly and genuinely support employees to act as one to deliver our performance evolution.

Whilst the staff who support the Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) are ATO staff, our performance evolution relates to those in the Tax Office itself.

I will leave it to the Chair of the TPB and the ACNC Commissioner to draw on the Capability Review insights that best serve the delivery of their statutory functions.

I’m grateful to have the opportunity to capitalise on our high performance and look forward to continuing to improve as we implement our performance evolution.

Rob Heferen

Commissioner of Taxation

Registrar of the Australian Business Register

Australian Business Registry Services

Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets

Unlocking the full potential of our high performance

‘The ATO is a high performing organisation with a strong reputation for managing Australia’s tax and superannuation systems in a modern and reliable way.

Its capabilities are good and ATO staff are right to be proud of them.

The findings [of the capability review] are not judgments on current capability, but rather ways the ATO might evolve to be a ‘great’ organisation.’ Capability Review, Australian Taxation Office, 2025 (PDF, 817KB)This link will download a file

The Australian Public Service Commission’s capability review affirmed the ATO’s position as a high performing and globally respected tax administration.

We have a proven track record and have excelled when circumstances have called for us to be at our best. Our role in the government’s response to the pandemic demonstrated what we’re capable of and underscored our potential to be truly exceptional. Learning from this and our many other successes, as well as our mistakes, we should not stand still. We need to continually improve.

The capability review’s insights inform where to focus our ongoing improvement efforts. This future view highlights the capabilities we need to adapt and respond to the changing demands of government, the community and our own operations.

Key insights from the review indicate that to continue to serve the Australian community with excellence and integrity, achieve our vision, and proactively address future challenges, we need to:
- work as one ATO to deliver for the Australian community, including through improved internal collaboration
- have a leadership group that works as a team and models the right behaviours
- establish enterprise-wide priorities and shared plans for achieving them
- make trade-offs for the sake of the organisation, work through impasses and take collective responsibility for decisions
- accept and reward measured risk taking in the interests of innovation, collaboration and achieving better, faster outcomes.
Our performance evolution sets us on a path to meet these needs and unlock the full potential of our high performance. It does so by bringing together current initiatives and building on the successes of the past to do some things differently and truly excel.

This plan is just the beginning. It lays a foundation for the ongoing implementation of a range of connected actions which will unlock our full potential. A future where:
- We will agree on our priorities, how much we are prepared to invest in achieving them, relevant trade‑offs and what risks those carry. We will align our resourcing and performance measures to them.
- We will clearly communicate our strategic direction and priorities under it, ensuring they are understood throughout the organisation.
- We will ensure accountabilities are clear, and advancing our strategic direction is a collective responsibility.
- We will make decisions far enough in advance to ensure that at both the group and individual level, we can effectively plan our contribution to the delivery of our enterprise priorities and our functional accountabilities.
- We will work as one ATO, so that improved internal collaboration becomes ‘business as usual’.
- We will engage sensibly with risk. To do this, we will think carefully about risk appetite, tolerances and sensible mitigations in the context of our strategic direction.
- At the individual level we will be supported in innovating and taking measured risks, aligning our efforts with our strategic direction and by having irritants taken out of how we work.
We will do this by thinking beyond function, beyond our teams and comfort zones.

From

To

Team first

Purpose first

Cautious action

Bold action

Siloed delivery

Shared delivery

Avoiding the hard calls trade‑offs

Courageous trade‑offs

Key shifts

Together, we will unlock the full potential of our high performance by moving together as one ATO, and adapting our mindsets and behaviours to:

Think bigger
Thinking bigger means seeing the broader picture and understanding where we are headed.

This requires each of us to:
- expand our view of what we can do to drive the ATO to succeed
- consider what is truly possible within our remit
- challenge assumptions of what is needed for us to achieve our vision.
If we are to challenge assumptions of what’s needed and expand our view of how we can help the ATO succeed, we first need a common understanding of what success looks like.

This will come from having a clear understanding of our longer-term direction, and the strategies we will prioritise to deliver on it. Clearly communicating our strategic direction (including our priorities, risk tolerances and areas where we are choosing to reduce our focus) will help:
- guide our actions
- sharpen our focus
- expand our perspective on the role we can each play in realising our vision.
We also need the means to think bigger. We will commit the right leadership, accountabilities, resources and funding to the work needed to deliver our purpose and achieve our vision.

Initial actions

Develop and communicate our strategic direction – We will agree on strategies that will move us forward in delivering our purpose and achieving our vision over the next 5 years and communicate the roadmap for delivery.

Align investment – We will invest our resources in line with our strategic direction.

Make clear decisions – We will be clear about our decisions on our priorities, their scope and implications (including for accountabilities, resourcing, performance measures and risks).
Act bolder
Being bold takes both individual courage and confident leadership to support our action.

This requires each of us to:
- proactively address issues
- work through impasses and make the call, including trade-offs needed to deliver on priorities
- use good judgment to make decisions and support those who do the same – regardless of the outcome.
With our strategic direction, priorities, functional accountabilities and shared responsibilities clear, we are trusted to use good judgment, sensibly engage with risk, and take decisive action within the parameters of our authority.

Doing this boldly will come from knowing that informed and decisive action is supported at the highest levels of the ATO and encouraged at all levels across the ATO. Acting within our remit, this will help us to:
- make decisive calls
- adopt innovative approaches
- act proactively to resolve impasses and agree trade-offs
- slow, change or stop work when we need to make room for higher priorities
- use good judgment to make sound, timely and innovative recommendations that inform decisions beyond our level of delegation.
Being bolder is also stretching our comfort zone, supporting mobility to expand our perspective and empowering people to take appropriate measured risks.

Initial actions

Support and reward decision-making – We will encourage and recognise:
- measured risk-taking
- staff who innovate.
We will support decision-makers with appropriate guidance and tools.

Reinforce support for mobility – We will increase mobility, including amongst our SES.

Clarify delegations – We will refresh and reinforce delegations and decision-making authorities.
Deliver together
We excel when we are aligned – around purpose, priorities and outcomes. Collaboration is just the starting point.

This requires each of us to:
- recognise that our impact goes beyond our function
- take shared ownership of our strategic direction, respecting any trade-offs
- move together to deliver our core purpose and advance our vision.
To deliver our core purpose and achieve our vision, we need to unlock the full potential of our high performance together – as one ATO.

Delivering as one ATO will come from:
- understanding both the big picture and the detail of how work flows, how different areas interact, and how it all fits together
- working collaboratively with those impacted by our work
- understanding what our part to play is.
Enhancing our forward planning and ensuring that effective internal collaboration is part of our ‘business as usual’ will help us:
- understand how our plans deliver our strategic direction
- take shared ownership of our plans
- know what we must do
- move together, to deliver what is needed.
This does not mean everyone doing everything. Accountabilities and decision-making will still lie with individuals, but understanding who else is responsible for contributing to those outcomes, and interconnecting our many moving parts will help us deliver together, as one ATO.

Delivering together also requires that we be proactive in reducing frictions that might otherwise divert our focus away from the work that contributes most to our purpose and vision. We’ll take action to reduce irritants in how we work, deliver incremental changes that improve our efficiency and lay a clear pathway to prioritise larger improvements.

Initial actions

Plan as one ATO – We will:
- bring planning discussions forward
- design and integrate our group and line plans to deliver on our strategic direction.
Agree on our part – We will ensure everyone understands their contribution, not just to their direct responsibilities and functional accountabilities, but to broader outcomes. We will agree on collective responsibilities for the priorities and outcomes that deliver on our strategic direction and reinforce collaboration expectations.

Address irritants – We will address some of the more pervasive technology irritants and smaller opportunities as informed by users through Pulse surveys and our Census action plan.

User insights will also inform and drive longer-term planning for the IT tools and data we need to work efficiently.
Be the key
We’re building on the strong foundations of a high-performing organisation that:
- is trusted by government and the community to get things done
- has a proven track record.
From this position of strength, we are making a call to action: Our performance evolution will only happen through positive steps and everyday actions taken by all of us.

We all need to contribute to unlocking the potential of our high performance. To do this we can ask ourselves some questions to help us get there.
- Think bigger:
  
  Do I know where we are headed?
  
  Am I putting myself in the Commissioner’s shoes?
  
  What positive change am I creating beyond my team?
- Act bolder:
  
  Have I raised necessary issues and worked through impasses?
  
  What’s standing in the way of me making decisions I’m empowered to make?
  
  How can I support my team to make the decisions they are empowered to make?
  
  Should I be getting outside my comfort zone?
- Deliver together:
  
  How am I contributing to organisational outcomes?
  
  Who should I work with to get it done?
  
  Do I have solutions for blockers or irritants impeding smooth delivery?
MIL OSI News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don’t leave home without this expert advice

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heike Schanzel, Professor of Social Sustainability in Tourism, Auckland University of Technology

Purnima Shrestha /AFP via Getty Images

Tourists in Kathmandu are tempted everywhere by advertisements for trekking expeditions to Everest Base Camp. If you didn’t know better, you might think it’s just a nice hike in the Nepalese countryside.

Typically the lower staging post for attempts on the summit, the camp is still 5,364 metres above sea level and a destination in its own right. Travel agencies say no prior experience is required, and all equipment will be provided. Social media, too, is filled with posts enticing potential trekkers to make the iconic journey.

But there is a real risk of creating a false sense of security. An exciting adventure can quickly turn into a struggle for survival, especially for novice mountaineers.

Nevertheless, Sagarmatha National Park is deservedly popular for its natural beauty and the allure of the world’s highest peak, Chomolungma (Mount Everest). It is also home to the ethnically distinctive Sherpa community.

Consequently, the routes to Everest Base Camp are among the busiest in the Himalayas, with nearly 60,000 tourists visiting the area each year. There are two distinct trekking seasons: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October).

High mountains require everyone to be properly prepared. Events which under normal conditions might be a minor inconvenience can be magnified in such an environment and pose a serious risk.

Even at the start of the trek in Lukla (2,860m), one is exposed to factors that can directly or indirectly affect one’s health, especially altitude mountain sickness or unfamiliar bacteria.

We interviewed 24 trekkers in May this year, as well as 60 residents and business owners in May 2023, to explore some of the safety issues anyone considering heading to base camp should be aware of.

Life at high altitude

First, it’s vital to choose goals within one’s technical and physical capabilities. While the human body can adapt to altitudes of up to 5,300m, the potential risk of altitude mountain sickness can occur at only 2,500m – lower than Lukla.

Proper acclimatisation above 3,000m means ascending no more than 500m a day and resting every two to three days at the same altitude. The optimal (though rarely followed) approach is the “saw tooth system” of climbing during the day but descending to sleep at a lower level.

Residents of the Khumbu region (on the Nepalese side of Everest) are familiar with the problem of tourists not acclimatising, or not paying attention to their surroundings. As one hotel owner said, pointing to a trekker setting out:

He’s going uphill and it’s already late. It’s going to get dark and cold soon. He won’t make it to the next settlement. We have to report this to the authorities or go after him ourselves.

Inexperienced trekkers should hire a local guide. Several we interviewed had needed medical evacuation, including a woman in her mid-20s who had to leave base camp after one night. She found her guides – not locals – online. But they never checked her vital signs during the trek:

[The doctors] said that I had high-altitude pulmonary edema […] it was just really important to come down the elevation. And if I had tried to go higher, it probably would have been really bad.

Health checks throughout the trek are imperative. This includes assessing the four main symptoms of altitude mountain sickness: headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. If they appear, the trekker shouldn’t go higher and might even need to descend.

A Sherpa woman at the market in Namche Bazar, Nepal: respect the culture, eat local food.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Take time to adapt

Using a reputable local trekking agency might be more expensive, but it will help ensure safety and also familiarise the visitor with the local culture, helping avoid negative impacts on the host community.

Too often, the primary goal of trekkers is a photo on the famous rock at base camp. Once obtained, many simply take a helicopter back to Kathmandu. As a helicopter tour agency owner said:

They don’t want to get back on their feet. The goal, after all, has been achieved. In general, tourists used to be much better prepared. Now they know they can return by helicopter.

Helicopter travel can be dangerous on its own, of course. But this tendency to view the trek as a one-way trip also affects host-guest relations and can irritate local communities.

It’s also important to monitor your food and drink intake and watch for signs of food poisoning. Diarrhoea at high altitudes is particularly dangerous because it leads to rapid dehydration – hard to combat in mountain conditions.

Low air pressure and reduced oxygen exacerbate the condition, weakening the body’s ability to recover. Also, the symptoms of dehydration can resemble altitude mountain sickness.

When travelling in other climate zones or countries with different sanitary standards, there is inevitable contact with strains of bacteria not present in one’s natural microbiome.

A good solution is to spend a few days naturally adapting to bacterial flora at a lower altitude in Nepal before heading to the mountains. Also, try to eat the local food, such as daal bhat, Nepal’s national dish. According to one hotel owner in Pangboche:

Tourists demand strange food from us – pizza, spaghetti, Caesar salad – and then are angry that it doesn’t taste the way they want. This is not our food. You should probably eat local food.

Most of the trekkers we interviewed during this spring season reported experiencing gastrointestinal issues, often for several days.

Overall, diarrhoea-related infections are the leading cause of illness among travellers, including base camp trekkers. Studies conducted in the Himalayas show as many as 14% of mountain tourists contract gastroenteritis, accounting for about 10% of all helicopter evacuations.

In the end, the commonest cause of failure or accident in the mountains is overestimating one’s abilities – what has been called “bad judgement syndrome” – when the route is too hard, the pace too fast, or there’s been too little time spent acclimatising.

A simple solution: walk slowly and enjoy the views.

Michal Apollo receives funding from the National Science Centre NCN Poland, the small-scale project awarded by the Institute of Earth Sciences, and the Research Excellence Initiative of the University of Silesia in Katowice. He is affiliated with the Global Justice Program, Yale University, and Academics Stand Against Poverty.

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

– ref. Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don’t leave home without this expert advice – https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-trekking-to-everest-base-camp-dont-leave-home-without-this-expert-advice-260497

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Europe urged to diversify trade markets over US tariff coercion, supply chains disruption

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

As Washington presses ahead with additional tariffs on products from the European Union (EU) and beyond, European officials and experts are urging the diversification of trade markets to mitigate the damage that such coercive financial statecraft is inflicting on global supply chains.

TARIFF GAME SETTING OFF CHAIN REACTION

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that his administration would impose 30 percent tariffs on EU and Mexican exports, arguing that bilateral trade had long been unbalanced and lacked reciprocity.

Trucks wait to enter the Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, Germany, May 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

The Irish Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described the tariff threat as “volatile” and “not helpful at all.” “That poses a challenge for Ireland, for Europe, for the world,” she told Xinhua at a press conference in London.

Countries across Europe have been warning about the impact of the seemingly unrelenting tariff assaults on their economies.

The Bank of Slovenia estimated that U.S. tariffs could indirectly disrupt the broader European value chain and impact about 15,000 jobs in Slovenia, a significant number in a country of just 2.1 million people.

The Bank of England also said in its latest Financial Stability Report that the global economy faces rising downside risks, citing U.S. tariffs, and despite a new trade agreement between Britain and the United States in May, a further escalation in trade disputes globally could amplify financial stress and drag on economic growth in Britain.

Companies of all sizes, from those exporting to the U.S. to manufacturers heavily reliant on global supply chains, are feeling the strain that the tariffs are placing on their operations.

Neb Chupin, founder of Croatia’s Hermes International, a successful fig jam producer in the U.S. market, said, “With 10 percent tariffs, we are losing about 20,000 U.S. dollars a week. What would happen with 30 or even 50 percent tariffs? I cannot even sleep at night as the situation is very unstable.”

With 40 percent of exports going to the U.S., Finland’s pharmaceutical industry could also be severely affected by potential U.S. tariffs. Johanna Sipola, deputy CEO of Keskuskauppakamari, or the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, called the tariffs “unrealistic” and warned that the greater risk is the uncertainty they create.

“If the tariffs were implemented, the repercussions for international pharmaceutical production would be significant. The industry’s delivery chains are unusually global, and even minor disruptions can trigger substantial changes in medicine prices and demand,” Sipola said.

Beyond the immediate effects, the high-stakes tariff game is setting off a chain reaction across global supply chains and geopolitical dynamics.

Gavran Igor, an economic analyst from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the longer-term impact of the tariffs could prove even more damaging for Balkan manufacturers that are integrated into EU-based industries, particularly automotive supply chains.

Czech Republic’s Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura said that exports to the United States account for less than 3 percent of the country’s total exports. However, the country would also be indirectly affected through its European partners who purchase Czech goods and components.

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH MULTI-PARTNERS URGED

Inevitably, even countries with modest trade ties to the world’s largest economy can still feel the ripple effects of Washington’s unpredictability. In response, experts recommend that European nations broaden their trade partnerships, especially with China, Southeast Asia and other regions.

“Europe must, in the long term, become more independent from the American market. A joint free trade zone with the ASEAN countries and the rapid ratification of the agreement with Mercosur are urgently needed,” Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, said in a statement after Trump’s new tariff announcement.

Mario Boselli, chairman of the Italy China Council Foundation, said that the shifting dynamics might prompt Europe to reconsider its external economic strategy. In his view, strengthening cooperation with China is a “highly strategic choice.”

“If economies, like the EU, China, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India, keep global trade open, the U.S. tariffs’ impact on global supply chains will be lower. That’s the opportunity,” said Carlo Altomonte, associate professor of the Department of Social and Political Sciences of Bocconi University in Milan.

Martin Geissler, Partner at the management consultancy Advyce & Company, echoed the suggestions by sharing Germany’s auto industry as an example. “German automakers have often not yet recognized the growth prospects that exist in Africa and many emerging countries,” Geissler said, contrasting this with China’s strategic engagement with multi-partners.

Bernardo Mendia, Secretary General of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is leading a Portuguese delegation to the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.

A key factor driving Portugal’s participation this year, in his words, is the rise of protectionism, logistical disruptions and geopolitical shifts. In the face of these challenges, China offers a distinctive platform to develop innovative solutions, business models, and collaborative partnerships, he said.

Looking ahead, experts believe that Washington’s trade policies could ultimately backfire on the U.S. economy itself.

“The U.S. needs many of our industrial products, which cannot be easily replaced in the short term. This allows German manufacturers of these goods to largely pass on the tariffs in their prices to the detriment of the U.S. economy,” said Juergen Matthes, head of International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets Research Unit at the German Economic Institute.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Drug Activity on Social Media

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the bipartisan Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, which would require social media companies and other communication service providers to take on a more active role in working with federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms. This critical data will also empower state and local law enforcement to combat fake fentanyl-laced pills and prosecute those who prey on America’s youth.
“For too long social media companies have turned a blind eye to drug dealers who use their platforms to sell deadly drugs like fentanyl,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act cracks down on the sale of fentanyl through social media platforms by requiring these companies to report to the DEA when they know drugs are being sold on their platforms.”
The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is named after two young men who both tragically lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning after purchasing a pill from social media.
Devin Norring was a 19-year-old from Hastings, MN, who tragically died from fentanyl poisoning in 2020 after purchasing a pill on Snapchat he believed was Percocet to help relieve his migraines. In his honor, his family started the Devin J. Norring Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of dealers selling fake pills and other illicit substances online.
Cooper Davis from Johnson County, KS, tragically lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in the summer of 2021. Cooper died after taking half a fake pill that contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, which was believed to be purchased from a Missouri drug dealer through the social media platform Snapchat. Following his passing, Cooper’s family launched the non-profit ‘Keepin’ Clean for Coop’ to keep his memory alive to save lives, raise awareness, and educate students and families.
The bill is cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Todd Young (R-IN). The bill is led in the House by Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
The legislation is supported by the families of Cooper Davis and Devin Norring, as well as National HIDTA Directors Association, Snapchat, Partnership for Safe Medicine, the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association, The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, the Community Anti-Drug Coalition Association, the Alexander Neville Foundation, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association.
“Our family & the Devin J. Norring Foundation wholeheartedly support the Cooper Davis & Devin Norring Act – legislation that serves as a critical step toward protecting families from the deadly threat of fentanyl sold through social media,” said The Family of Devin J. Norring & the Devin J. Norring Foundation. “This bill honors the lives of Cooper and Devin by holding tech companies accountable and giving law enforcement the tools they need to respond to this crisis. No parent should have to search for answers in a system that shields predators. It’s time for truth, transparency, and action.”
“Our family continues to be extremely grateful for Senator Marshall and his colleagues’ dedication to this legislation. We are both honored and saddened to have another name, Devin Norring, added to this bill,” said Libby Davis, Mother of Cooper Davis. “However, the harsh reality is that there are thousands of other teenagers’ names that could be added to this bill because they too lost their lives in this same tragic way. Each with a story demonstrating that this can happen to ANY FAMILY. We, as parents and grandparents, do so many things to keep our kids safe, from baby gates, car seats, and seatbelts, to bike helmets, sunscreen, and vaccinations. This is no different. We need our legislators to come together and get this bipartisan bill across the finish line so that countless children can be saved, theirs being no exception.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Huge boost for UK industry as Government powers ahead with cuts to electricity costs
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Huge boost for UK industry as Government powers ahead with cuts to electricity costs

The Government has announced a huge boost to UK industry as it powers ahead with its plan to cut electricity costs.
Plans to slash electricity network costs for energy-intensive businesses by 90% are set in motion as Government launches new consultation.

Around 500 of UK’s most energy-intensive firms set to save up to £420m a year when current 60% discount on network charging costs increases to 90% from 2026.

Shows UK getting on with delivering announcements in Modern Industrial Strategy that will level the playing field for British businesses, backed by Plan for Change

Around 500 of the UK’s most energy-intensive businesses such as British Steel and INEOS are set for a huge boost as the Government powers ahead with a 90% discount for businesses’ network charging costs.

Delivering on its promise in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy launched last month to slash energy costs for heavy industry, the Government today (18 July) launches a four-week consultation on its plans to increase the discount on businesses’ electricity network charges from 60% to 90%.

The landmark new support is expected to save around 500 of Britain’s most energy-intensive firms in key sectors like steel, ceramics, glass and chemicals up to £420m per year from 2026 when in force and bring the UK’s industrial energy prices in line with European competitors, helping secure jobs and attract new investment as part of the Plan for Change.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

This government is on the side of British industry. When we make promises we deliver on them. That’s why we’re wasting no time in powering ahead with our plans to tackle energy costs for great British businesses and level the playing field.

The cornerstone of our modern Industrial Strategy, this landmark new support will meet a longstanding need from industry which other governments shirked – paving the way for new investment and job creation at the heart of our Plan for Change.

The launch of the consultation on the Network Charging Compensation (NCC) scheme, part of the Government’s British Industry Supercharger package of measures to tackle industrial electricity costs, will seek industry’s views on the 30% uplift and double the window which businesses have to apply for support through the scheme from one month to two.

Network charges are the costs paid by electricity network users for access to the service and are already discounted by 60% for some of the UK’s biggest industrial businesses through the NCC scheme since April 2024, saving businesses millions of pounds every month.

The proposals in the consultation launched today would see their costs fall by around a further £7 per megawatt hour (/MWh) bringing electricity prices more into line with European countries such as France and Germany.

The news follows Deloitte’s latest survey of finance officers which has found the UK is the joint top location for investment in the world, and new data from Make UK and BDO which finds that manufacturing in the UK has recovered to 2019, pre-pandemic, levels in every region, with 12,000 new jobs created in the year to March 2024.

The uplift follows other new landmark support for British industry announced in last month’s modern Industrial Strategy, with the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme expected to slash energy costs by up to 25 percent for over 7,000 businesses.

This scheme, which government will consult on shortly and is due to come into force in 2027, will cut costs for thousands of electricity-intensive businesses in key manufacturing sectors like aerospace, automotive and chemicals, supporting hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs by exempting firms from paying levies like the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market.

A new Connections Accelerator Service will also come into force by the end of 2025, streamlining access to the UK electricity grid for major investment projects to speed up delivery and bring new high-quality jobs and economic growth.

New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before Parliament, could also allow the Government to reserve grid capacity for strategically important projects, cutting waiting times and unlocking growth in key sectors.

Gareth Stace, Director General of UK Steel, and Chair of Energy Intensive Users Group, said:

Increasing network charge compensation under the Government’s Supercharger scheme is a very welcome and much-needed step towards achieving competitive electricity prices for the UK’s steel sector and other foundation industries.

These reforms reflect solutions that UK Steel has long advocated to address the persistent challenge of uncompetitive industrial electricity costs. While more still needs to be done, this is meaningful progress.

Truly competitive energy prices are essential to unlocking investment, creating jobs, accelerating decarbonisation, and securing the long-term future of steelmaking in the UK.

Investment Minister Baroness Gustafsson visited Special Melted Products – an historic British advanced manufacturing firm which currently benefits from the 60% network charging discount – in Sheffield yesterday to welcome the news, as well as a major investment in the company from Taiwanese firm Walsin Lihwa, set to create over 200 skilled jobs by 2028.

Notes to editors:

The Government’s modern Industrial Strategy can be found here.

The consultation will be published on Gov.UK later today here.

The total estimated value of the network charging compensation component of the Supercharger (at 90%) is £310-420m this year (in 2025 prices).

The NCC uplift will provide an estimated additional £7-10/MWh discount to eligible businesses.

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Published 18 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: From holding coins to income: LET Mining builds a passive income system for XRP
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York City, NY, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Among them, XRP is eye-catching and its price has soared because it has a strong technical network that can process a large number of transactions per second. Ripple’s cooperation with mainstream financial institutions and institutional investors in the field of cross-border payments will also benefit it.

However, the token is still volatile and speculative. The cloud mining service launched by LET Mining allows users to use XRP payments, start a planned cloud computing power contract, and obtain passive income every day, so that users are not affected by the price of tokens and can obtain stable income every day.

Core advantages of LET Mining platform
● XRP direct recharge participation: users can directly use XRP to purchase cloud computing power without currency exchange or cumbersome operations, which is more efficient and provides a better experience.

● Daily stable income, withdrawable at any time: mining income is settled daily and automatically distributed to the account balance. Users can withdraw or reinvest at any time to maximize income.

● High transparency and contract visualization: each input and output income is transparent and traceable throughout the process;

● Security guarantee: cold and hot wallets are separated to ensure asset security;

How to quickly start cloud mining with XRP? Only 4 steps:

1. Register an account
Visit the LET Mining official website: https://letmining.com/, register to get a new user $12 registration reward.

2. Recharge XRP
Select “XRP Recharge” in the account, the system will generate an XRP wallet address, copy the address and transfer it from the exchange or personal wallet. (50XRP is enough to participate)

3. Choose a contract plan
The platform provides a variety of cloud mining contracts, including short-term stable, long-term compound interest and high return types, free to choose.

●Experience Contract: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, expiration income: $500 + $30
●DOGE Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $3,200, contract period: 22 days, daily income of $46.08, expiration income: $3,200 + $1,013.76
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 29 days, daily income of $76.5, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,218.5
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 43 days, daily income of $174, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,482

(Click here to view more high-yield contract details)

4. Start income
After the contract is activated, the system will issue you mining income in proportion every day, which can be withdrawn to the XRP wallet address at any time, truly achieving “holding coins to make money” and easily enjoying digital passive income.

From static holding to active income generation: a strategy suitable for every investor

In today’s volatile crypto market, simply waiting for the price of the currency to rise will not give you a continuous advantage. Especially when the market is sideways or volatile, it is particularly important to have a passive income plan that can generate sustainable cash flow. The cloud mining strategy provided by LET Mining is a solution for investors to “reap profits no matter how the market changes.”

Conclusion: Your XRP is not just a number, but also a tool for producing assets

LET Mining turns XRP into a digital machine that “works” for you every day, without investing a lot of time and energy, but can continue to generate income. For crypto investors who are looking for a steady growth path, this is a perfect attempt to balance flexibility and efficient returns.

Join LET Mining now and turn your XRP into a digital asset that appreciates every day, making “holding coins” truly the first step to “wealth freedom.”

Official website: https://letmining.com/
Contact email: info@letmining.com

Attachment
- LET Mining
The MIL Network –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: From holding coins to income: LET Mining builds a passive income system for XRP
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York City, NY, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Among them, XRP is eye-catching and its price has soared because it has a strong technical network that can process a large number of transactions per second. Ripple’s cooperation with mainstream financial institutions and institutional investors in the field of cross-border payments will also benefit it.

However, the token is still volatile and speculative. The cloud mining service launched by LET Mining allows users to use XRP payments, start a planned cloud computing power contract, and obtain passive income every day, so that users are not affected by the price of tokens and can obtain stable income every day.

Core advantages of LET Mining platform
● XRP direct recharge participation: users can directly use XRP to purchase cloud computing power without currency exchange or cumbersome operations, which is more efficient and provides a better experience.

● Daily stable income, withdrawable at any time: mining income is settled daily and automatically distributed to the account balance. Users can withdraw or reinvest at any time to maximize income.

● High transparency and contract visualization: each input and output income is transparent and traceable throughout the process;

● Security guarantee: cold and hot wallets are separated to ensure asset security;

How to quickly start cloud mining with XRP? Only 4 steps:

1. Register an account
Visit the LET Mining official website: https://letmining.com/, register to get a new user $12 registration reward.

2. Recharge XRP
Select “XRP Recharge” in the account, the system will generate an XRP wallet address, copy the address and transfer it from the exchange or personal wallet. (50XRP is enough to participate)

3. Choose a contract plan
The platform provides a variety of cloud mining contracts, including short-term stable, long-term compound interest and high return types, free to choose.

●Experience Contract: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, expiration income: $500 + $30
●DOGE Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $3,200, contract period: 22 days, daily income of $46.08, expiration income: $3,200 + $1,013.76
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 29 days, daily income of $76.5, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,218.5
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 43 days, daily income of $174, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,482

(Click here to view more high-yield contract details)

4. Start income
After the contract is activated, the system will issue you mining income in proportion every day, which can be withdrawn to the XRP wallet address at any time, truly achieving “holding coins to make money” and easily enjoying digital passive income.

From static holding to active income generation: a strategy suitable for every investor

In today’s volatile crypto market, simply waiting for the price of the currency to rise will not give you a continuous advantage. Especially when the market is sideways or volatile, it is particularly important to have a passive income plan that can generate sustainable cash flow. The cloud mining strategy provided by LET Mining is a solution for investors to “reap profits no matter how the market changes.”

Conclusion: Your XRP is not just a number, but also a tool for producing assets

LET Mining turns XRP into a digital machine that “works” for you every day, without investing a lot of time and energy, but can continue to generate income. For crypto investors who are looking for a steady growth path, this is a perfect attempt to balance flexibility and efficient returns.

Join LET Mining now and turn your XRP into a digital asset that appreciates every day, making “holding coins” truly the first step to “wealth freedom.”

Official website: https://letmining.com/
Contact email: info@letmining.com

Attachment
- LET Mining
The MIL Network –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: BlockchainCloudMining Announces Easy Crypto Mining Solutions as Ethereum Enters Strong Uptrend
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, NY, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlockchainCloudMining, a leading provider of cloud-based cryptocurrency mining solutions, has officially announced the launch of a new suite of green, high-yield cloud mining contracts. Ethereum (ETH) has taken the spotlight again with an impressive surge of more than 20.31% in the past seven days, marking a new stage high for 2025. As market optimism intensifies, industry analysts attribute this surge to renewed institutional capital inflows from the U.S. and growing anticipation around upcoming Ethereum network upgrades.

In response to this bullish trend, BlockchainCloudMining, a leading cloud-based mining platform, is offering ordinary investors an accessible, eco-friendly, and cost-effective way to benefit from the ETH rally — without the need for expensive mining equipment or technical know-how.

A New Path for the Public to Join the Crypto Boom

While direct investment in cryptocurrencies can be risky—especially during sharp price increases—BlockchainCloudMining provides a safer and more manageable alternative: cloud mining.

With BlockchainCloudMining, users can start mining ETH and other major cryptocurrencies remotely by simply registering on the platform and choosing a mining contract that fits their goals and budget. This model removes the traditional barriers of hardware costs, electricity expenses, and maintenance challenges.

Green, Secure, and Simple — Key Features of BlockchainCloudMining:
- Zero Setup Costs for New Users: Receive a $12 welcome bonus upon registration. Use it to activate daily sign-in mining and earn $0.60 per day automatically — truly mining at zero cost.
- No Equipment Needed: All mining is done remotely on hosted servers powered by clean energy.
- Eco-Friendly Operations: Powered by solar and wind energy, supporting a sustainable future.
- Transparent & Fast Earnings: Daily income distribution, automatic settlement, and multi-currency withdrawals.
- User-Friendly Interface: No experience required. Register, choose a contract, and let the platform handle the rest.
- Robust Security: Protected by bank-level encryption and multi-layer security protocols.
Company Background: BlockchainCloudMining

BlockchainCloudMining is a global mining services provider that aims to democratize access to digital asset generation. The platform is designed to support both newcomers and experienced investors by offering diversified mining contracts, a high level of transparency, and an environmentally responsible mining approach.

Through a network of green energy mining farms, the company offers reliable and secure mining services backed by professional infrastructure and real-time monitoring. BlockchainCloudMining prides itself on making crypto mining truly inclusive, profitable, and sustainable.

In order to meet the needs of different investors, BlockchainCloudMining has carefully designed a variety of XRP computing power contracts:

⦁【New User Experience Contract】: Investment amount: US$100, contract period 2 days, total income: US$100 + US$6.
⦁【WhatsMiner M66S】: Investment amount: US$500, contract period 7 days, total income: US$500 + US$45.5.
⦁【Bitcoin Miner S21+】: Investment amount: $3,000, contract period 20 days, total income: $3,000 + $900.
⦁【Bitcoin Miner S23 Hyd】: Investment amount: $16,600, contract period 38 days, total income: $16,600 + $11,354.4.
⦁【ANTSPACE HW5】: Investment amount: $52,000, contract period 45 days, total income: $52,000 + $51,480.
⦁【ANTSPACE HD5】: Investment amount: $98,000, contract period 50 days, total income: $98,000 + $122,500.
⦁【Avalon Immersion Cooling Mining Box】: Investment amount: $180,000, contract period 55 days, total income: $180,000 + $277,200.

Once purchased, mining income begins accruing the next day. Withdrawals are available when the account balance reaches $100, or users may choose to reinvest for compound growth.

The ETH Bull Market: Your Moment to Act

With Ethereum’s surge showing signs of continued strength, now is the perfect window for investors — from first-timers to seasoned traders — to seize this digital opportunity. BlockchainCloudMining makes it possible to capitalize on ETH growth without the complexity and costs of traditional mining.

About BlockchainCloudMining:

BlockchainCloudMining is a professional, eco-conscious, and secure cloud mining platform committed to making digital currency mining accessible to everyone. By leveraging renewable energy and smart technology, the company empowers users to earn passive income with ease and confidence in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.

Visit the company: blockchaincloudmining.com to start your new mining journey and let your daily income create more possibilities for you.

Company email: info@blockchaincloudmining.com

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

The MIL Network –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao’s Bill to Expand Telehealth Opportunities Passes Out of House Committee on Energy and Commerce

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

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced H.R. 3419, the Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act, out of full committee markup. This bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) and would provide investment in rural healthcare by reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs through Fiscal Year 2030.

“Central Valley families shouldn’t have to wait weeks just to see a doctor,” said Congressman Valadao. “Expanding access to telehealth gives patients more flexibility, helps address workforce shortages that are straining our healthcare system, and gives families the tools needed to better connect with providers. I’m grateful to Chairman Brett Guthrie and the Energy and Commerce Committee for prioritizing this issue and look forward to advancing this bill.”

Background:

Originally enacted in 1944, the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) provides the foundation for the nation’s public health programs and workforce. Over the years, it has been a critical tool in addressing America’s evolving health care needs—particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to quality care remains a challenge.

Through key provisions supporting community health centers, workforce development programs, and telehealth expansion, the PHSA has helped bring vital services to millions of Americans living in rural areas. Reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource grant programs ensures continued investment in initiatives that recruit and retain health professionals in rural communities, strengthens rural hospitals and clinics, and closes the geographic gaps in receiving quality care.

Read the full bill here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Stands Up for American Financial Privacy and Innovation
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement after voting for the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. These bills help regulate digital assets to provide consumers with long-overdue protections while prioritizing the essential right to financial privacy and safeguarding the ability for digital asset developers to innovate within the cryptocurrency space.

“Americans deserve financial privacy, and it’s long past time we put real guardrails in place to protect that right,” said Congressman Valadao. “As more people invest in digital assets, we need a framework in place that encourages innovation, puts consumers first, and keeps the federal government from overreaching into Americans’ personal finances. These bipartisan bills reaffirm our commitment to free markets and individual freedom, and I was proud to support them.”

The CLARITY Act helps create a safer, more predictable environment for companies and consumers who use digital assets like cryptocurrency by:
- Making it easier for businesses that work with digital assets to grow and innovate.
- Giving clear rules to companies that offer cryptocurrency services to everyday customers.
- Protecting consumers by requiring more transparency and responsibility from cryptocurrency firms.
- Defining the roles of crypto regulation for the two major financial regulators—the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)—so they don’t overlap or conflict.
- Setting up a legal process for cryptocurrency companies to register and operate properly in the U.S.
The GENIUS Act prioritizes consumer protection, fosters innovation, and protects U.S. currency interests by:
- Creating a nationwide system for regulating stablecoins.
- Requiring stablecoins to be backed by safe, reliable assets—mainly U.S. Treasury bonds and U.S. bills—to protect consumers.
- Strengthening the U.S. dollar’s role as the world’s leading currency by increasing demand for U.S. Treasury assets.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act stops the federal government from creating a digital version of the dollar that could be used to track or control Americans’ personal finances by:
- Blocking the Federal Reserve (Fed) from launching a government-controlled digital currency for everyday Americans.
- Ensuring the Fed can’t act like a big government-run bank that collects your financial data.
- Preventing the government from sneaking around this rule by using third parties.
- Stopping the government from using digital currency to influence interest rates or spending behavior.
- Making clear that Congress—not federal agencies—have the final say on whether a digital dollar is created.
Read the full CLARITY Act bill here.

Read the full GENIUS Act bill here.

Read the full Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Booker Introduces Pesticide Injury Accountability Act

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act, legislation that would ensure that pesticide manufacturers can be held responsible for the harm caused by their toxic products. Specifically, this bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) to create a federal right of action for anyone who is harmed by a toxic pesticide.

Despite growing peer-reviewed scientific evidence linking widely used pesticides to a host of health harms including cancers, birth defects, endocrine disruption, Parkinson’s disease, and infertility, a coordinated effort is being led by pesticide manufacturers in state legislatures and in Congress seeking legal immunity – a liability shield – for these big corporations.

If these largely foreign-owned companies are successful, this liability shield would leave farmers, farmworkers, and other injured individuals without meaningful recourse for the harms caused by these toxic substances.

Chemical companies are seeking liability shields because they know the harm their products have already caused. Syngenta, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company ChemChina, reached a $187.5 million settlement in 2021 for paraquat-related Parkinson’s disease claims. Monsanto, now owned by Germany’s Bayer, has paid billions of dollars to settle lawsuits linking Roundup (glyphosate) to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“Rather than providing a liability shield so that foreign corporations are allowed to poison the American people, Congress should instead pass the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act to ensure that these chemical companies can be held accountable in federal court for the harm caused by their toxic products,” said Senator Booker.

“CHD opposes any liability shield for any industry that has a direct impact on the health of the American people,” said Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense. “Granting blanket immunity to corporations who have a fiscal responsibility to their shareholders, and not a responsibility to consumer safety, is one of the most dangerous propositions imaginable. CHD sincerely thanks Senator Booker for his leadership in sponsoring this critical piece of legislation to protect the American people over corporations.”

“No one can dispute that crop pesticides are poisons. They are designed to kill weeds, but they also kill non-target plants and there is sound evidence linking them to human health problems,” said Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition. “To date, Bayer alone has paid out over $11 billion in legal settlements for medical problems caused by their herbicide Roundup. To avoid paying for damages caused by their poisons, agri-chemical companies routinely lobby for federal and state laws that shield them from any liability for the damages they are responsible for. People sickened by their poisons go bankrupt paying for their medical care and sometimes ultimately die. The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025 will hold agri-chemical companies accountable for the irreparable harms they cause.”

“Moms Across America strongly supports the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act, which reaffirms our 7th Amendment right to sue for harm or damage,” said Zen Honeycutt, Founding Executive Director, Moms Across America. “It is unconscionable that corporations are pushing our elected officials to manipulate laws so that they can avoid accountability for safety and protect their profits over the health and safety of Americans. We must protect the American people from harm – especially from products that are proven to cause infertility, cancer, liver disease and many other negative health effects.”

“People exposed to and suffering from the health effects of toxic chemicals should not be denied their right to seek justice,” said Geoff Horsfield, Policy Director, Environmental Working Group. “We applaud Senator Booker for his efforts to protect the rights of farmers, rural communities, workers, children and families.”

“Granting legal immunity to pesticide manufacturers would leave farmers and their families with no way to seek justice after suffering health or crop damage from these chemicals,” said Kelly Ryerson, Co-Founder, American Regeneration. “Farmers have a right to hold companies accountable and protect their livelihoods from devastating illness.”

Last month, Senator Booker led a group of 20 of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to oppose any efforts to limit existing state and local authority to regulate pesticides in the upcoming Farm Bill or any other legislation.

To see a full list of endorsing organizations, click here.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warnock Renews Effort to Address Bias in Housing Appraisals, Help Families Build Generational Wealth through Homeownership

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

Warnock Renews Effort to Address Bias in Housing Appraisals, Help Families Build Generational Wealth through Homeownership

Senator Reverend Warnock’s legislation would empower Georgians with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values
For most Americans, the largest driver of wealth is their home. This makes it important to have accurate, unbiased home valuations
Research from Brookings has found homes in Black neighborhoods are valued roughly 21% to 23% below what their valuations would be in non-Black neighborhoods
In March, Senator Warnock introduced a comprehensive legislative package of housing bills to address the ongoing housing affordability and availability crisis in the United States
ICYMI from The Atlanta Voice: Warnock leads Senatorial effort to even the playing field in home appraisals
Senator Warnock: “This bill is an important next step in helping Georgia families and all Americans realize the full value of their homes, and it empowers them with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and five of his Senate colleagues introduced new legislation to address appraisal bias in the home buying and selling processes. Housing appraisals are supposed to provide an objective estimate of a home’s market value to ensure homebuyers pay a fair price and homeowners receive the full value of their home. Unfortunately, systemic bias in the appraisal process has disadvantaged families of color for far too long. To combat appraisal biases faced by many current and aspiring homeowners, Senator Warnock’s Appraisal Modernization Act empowers Georgians with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values. The legislation would:
Increase transparency to support oversight and enforcement against bias by requiring the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to publish an online database of property-level appraisal and other home valuation data that lenders collect in connection with a mortgage application.
Protect and empower consumers by codifying a consumer’s right to appeal a home valuation (also known as a Reconsideration of Value (ROV)) or request a second appraisal and directing the development of standardized policies to ensure consistent treatment of consumers who request an ROV or second appraisal.
Together, these provisions will empower consumers to realize the full value of their homes. The urgency of this legislation was only further heightened when, last week, the Trump administration announced it was ending the federal task force dedicated to removing racial bias from the appraisal process.
“Home valuations are a critical part of the mortgage lending process and ensuring families can build generational wealth through homeownership,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “This bill is an important next step in helping Georgia families and all Americans realize the full value of their homes, and it empowers them with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values.”
“I am very proud to continue the work I started as County Executive to make homeownership more equitable and accessible. As County Executive I signed a law that outlawed appraisal bias in Prince George’s County – and now it’s time we outlaw it across the nation. Home ownership should not be just a dream for the rich but an opportunity for all. Many Marylanders see home ownership as the surest way to build wealth, and they’re right. This legislation will increase transparency, protect consumers, and give Marylanders a true chance to thrive,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
“Too many families of color suffer from systemic biases in the home appraisal process,” said Senator Booker. “One of the largest drivers of wealth for Americans is their home, and the color of your skin should not be a determinant of your home’s value. This bill is a critical step in ensuring more reliable appraisal methods, and empowering consumers to appeal potentially discriminatory valuations.”
“For far too long, the American Dream of buying a home has been kept out of reach for families of color by a system that is fundamentally broken,” said Senator Kim. “Every family should be able to achieve that dream, and this bill will take common sense steps to make the changes needed to make those dreams come true.”
Inconsistency in the appraisal market can disrupt the entire housing ecosystem by improperly inflating or deflating home values, while bias can perpetuate historic disinvestment in communities of color and contribute to the widening racial and ethnic wealth and homeownership gaps. That is why industry stakeholders and fair housing advocates have long supported increasing transparency in appraisal data and why most responsible lenders believe ROV is an important part of maintaining the integrity of the appraisal process. Several studies have also identified a clear relationship between lower valuations and Black neighborhoods and revealed overt references to race in appraisals. On average, today White families hold $1.3 million in wealth, compared to $211,000 for Black and $227,000 for Latino families. For most Americans, the largest driver of wealth is their home. This makes it important to have accurate, unbiased home valuations.
“An appraisal has the power to determine the value of a consumer’s most important financial asset and can hold the key to determining whether the consumer is able to purchase a permanent home rather than rent, access credit on reasonable terms, and build wealth for generations to come,” said Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President of the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA ). “NFHA commends Senator Warnock and his colleagues for a sensible bill designed to help consumers, appraisers, and lenders obtain the data necessary to ensure home valuations are fair and consistent.”
“The Housing Policy Council (HPC) has long advocated for extending access to GSE data to all market participants, to enhance risk management models and practices across the housing finance ecosystem. Shared access to all government appraisal data would be a good first step to accomplish this worthy goal. HPC looks forward to working with Senator Warnock on this important policy objective,” said Ed DeMarco, President of the Housing Policy Council.
“As President of NAMB, I will always support any legislation that ensures the fairness, protection, and privacy of homebuyers, and I applaud Senator Warnock for leading this effort. The reality is that we must be thorough in the quest to protect consumers, and we hope that your colleagues will consider this important bill as it navigates the legislative process,” said James Nabors II, President of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.
“The Appraisal Modernization Actis a vital first step toward remedying the decades of discrimination that have been baked into the home valuation system. The public appraisal database will enable researchers to develop more reliable valuation methods that do not rely on old data tainted by unacceptable attitudes and practices. And strengthening the consumer’s right to appeal a defective valuation will help them to protect their home equity going forward,” said Andrew Pizor, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
“For most homeowners, their home represents family, stability and their primary financial asset,” says Laura Arce, senior vice president, Economic Initiatives at UnidosUS. “The economic value of that home includes many factors, but the race or ethnicity of its owner should not be one of them. UnidosUS supports the Appraisal Modernization Actand applauds its sponsors, Senators Warnock, Alsobrooks, Blunt Rochester, Kim, Warren, and Booker. The home appraisal industry is overdue modernization, and this bill will bring needed transparency and a common sense right to appeal to the appraisal process. American families should not have to continue to leave equity behind.”
As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees federal housing policies, Senator Warnock has worked to increase affordable housing and illuminate a path to homeownership, a cornerstone of the American Dream. As one of twelve brothers and sisters growing up in public housing in Savannah, Senator Warnock deeply understands the importance of having a place to call home and homeownership. In March 2025, Senator Warnock introduced a comprehensive legislative package of housing bills to address the ongoing housing affordability and availability crisis in the United States. In the past few years, Senator Warnock voted for government funding legislation that increased America’s housing supply, strengthened housing affordability, and addressed the homelessness crisis, including by: increasing the supply of affordable housing nationwide with funding to build 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units; extending funding for the Yes In My Backyard (“YIMBY”) grant program to support efforts to increase our nation’s housing supply and lower housing costs through state and local zoning changes; and delivering $275 million in new funding for Homeless Assistance Grants to help address homelessness in communities across the country and providing new resources to better connect people experiencing homelessness with health care services. Senator Warnock has also secured nearly $80 million in housing investments to provide affordable housing options for Georgians at all income levels and repair hazardous housing conditions in low-income housing units.
In addition to Senator Warnock, the Appraisal Modernization Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
A fact sheet on the legislation can be found HERE.
Bill text for the Appraisal Modernization Act can be found HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warnock Highlights Consequences of Medical Debt Rule Reversal for Millions of Americans to ABC News Live Prime

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

ICYMI: Warnock Highlights Consequences of Medical Debt Rule Reversal for Millions of Americans to ABC News Live Prime

Senator Reverend Warnock spoke to ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis about the Trump administration’s decision to reverse policy to keep medical debt off credit reports

In January 2025, Senator Warnock successfully pressed the CFPB to ban credit lenders from including medical bills in credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in lending decisions

On July 14, Senator Warnock led 29 colleagues in demanding answers from the CFPB on why the Trump Administration was actively working to add medical debt back onto credit reports

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This is an issue that impacts millions of Americans”

Senator Reverend Warnock joins ABC News Live Prime, watch HERE

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined ABC News Live Prime with host Linsey Davis to discuss the Trump administration’s decision to add medical debt back onto credit reports. The administration is working to vacate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) medical debt rule finalized in January 2025. The interview follows a Senator Warnock-led effort to demand the CFPB share relevant data and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.

“This is an issue that impacts literally millions of Americans,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Medical debt is not a good predictor of whether or not people will pay [their debts]. There are a lot of mistakes as it turns out around medical billing.”

“[Medical debt] drives peoples’ scores down, making it very, very difficult if not impossible to get a mortgage, to get a car loan, to start a small business. As your credit score goes down, of course, everything becomes more expensive. That seems to be a theme of the Trump administration. They’re making everything more expensive,” added Senator Warnock.

Senator Warnock, a member of the Senate Finance Committee which oversees the federal tax code, continues to stand up in defense of Georgia consumers by holding the CFPB under President Trump accountable. In February, Senator Warnock questioned Trump administration CFPB nominees at a Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing. During the hearing, Senator Warnock asked the nominees if they agreed with President Trump on the CFPB being, ‘A very important thing to get rid of’ and if the agency would address the 266,560 outstanding complaints from Georgians in a timely manner.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Brad Sherman Condemns Settler Violence, Urges Arrests in Killing of U.S. Citizen

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) released the following statement:

I am the Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, the Ranking Member of the Congress-Knesset Friendship Group, and a lifelong advocate for an ironclad U.S.-Israel relationship. It is in the spirit of that support that I wholeheartedly condemn the heinous recent terrorist murder by extremist Israeli settlers of Sayfollah Musallet, a young Palestinian American visiting family in the West Bank. Just today I discussed this with Israel’s Consul General Israel Bachar and will be expressing these views to Ambassador Yechiel Leiter tomorrow.

Mr. Musallet was attacked on his family’s property in Area B of the West Bank, where no settlements may be constructed and no settlers should be present. All settlement outposts in Area B, particularly those associated with this incident, should be dismantled. Further fueling the outrage are reports that the assailants prevented ambulances from reaching Mr. Musallet for hours while there still may have been an opportunity to save his life.

I join U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in calling this crime what it is: a “criminal and terrorist act.”

Terrorism, whether its targets be Israelis or Palestinians, is unacceptable and unjustifiable. Tolerance for terrorism anywhere and by any perpetrator is a grave threat to the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians alike. In addition, the U.S.-Israel relationship requires that the Government of Israel brings to justice anyone who commits such a heinous act against an American citizen.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: Rivalry Announces Revocation of Management Cease Trade Order

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY), an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, is pleased to announce that effective July 17, 2025, the Ontario Securities Commission has revoked the management cease trade order (“MCTO”) it had previously granted to the Company on May 2, 2025 under National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders, as the Company successfully completed the filing of its (i) annual audited financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, and related certifications for the year ended December 31, 2024, and (ii) unaudited interim financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, and related certifications for the three months ended March 31, 2025 (collectively, the “Annual and Interim Filings”).

The revocation of the MCTO means members of management are no longer prevented from trading the Company’s securities. All of the Annual and Interim Filings are available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Rivalry

Rivalry Corp. wholly owns and operates Rivalry Limited, a leading sport betting and media company offering fully regulated online wagering on esports, traditional sports, and casino for the digital generation. Based in Toronto, Rivalry operates a global team in more than 20 countries and growing. Rivalry Limited has held an Isle of Man license since 2018, considered one of the premier online gambling jurisdictions, as well as an internet gaming registration in Ontario, and is currently in the process of obtaining additional country licenses. With world class creative execution and brand positioning in online culture, a native crypto token, and demonstrated market leadership among digital-first users Rivalry is shaping the future of online gambling for a generation born on the internet.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Company Contact:
Steven Salz, Co-founder & CEO
ss@rivalry.com

Investor Contact:
investors@rivalry.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “achieve”, “could”, “believe”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”, “estimate”, “outlook”, “expect”, “project” and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only predictions.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Company at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Company. Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown, variables, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company’s actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations; the ability to obtain and maintain required licenses; the esports and sports betting industry being a heavily regulated industry; the complex and evolving regulatory environment for the online gaming and online gambling industry; the success of esports and other betting products are not guaranteed; changes in public perception of the esports and online gambling industry; failure to retain or add customers; the Company having a limited operating history; negative cash flow from operations and the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern; operational risks; cybersecurity risks; reliance on management; reliance on third parties and third-party networks; exchange rate risks; risks related to cryptocurrency transactions; risk of intellectual property infringement or invalid claims; the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and general economic, market and business conditions. For additional risks, please see the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the 12 months ended December 31, 2024 under the heading “Risk Factors”, and other disclosure documents available on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The MIL Network –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Leverage Commercial Weather Data Tools to Mitigate Extreme Weather Risks

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04) so Colorado farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can better respond to extreme weather events. The legislation ensures that commercial weather data and tools – using satellites and other space-based technologies – are eligible for funding under the priority research areas for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), boosting investments to mitigate risks for farmers and foresters during extreme weather events.

As major weather events become more severe and more frequent, commercial tools like satellite technology can better detect weather to predict and monitor life-threatening conditions in real time, helping communities anticipate floods, monitor droughts, and detect wildfire risk earlier. However, these tools can be expensive and difficult to access, especially in rural areas.

Pettersen’s legislation ensures that USDA research funding can support the adoption and development of these technologies so that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can use these advanced forecasting tools.

“Rural Colorado is on the frontlines of severe weather events like wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters,” said Pettersen. “As we continue to see more natural disasters each year, it’s critical that we leverage the best available technology to keep people and property safe. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are better prepared for when the next disaster strikes.”

“Michigan farmers work tirelessly to provide quality produce for our communities,” said Moolenaar. “Unfortunately, unforeseen severe weather can ruin an entire year of crops unless it is properly prepared for. The Space-Based Agricultural Data Act is a common-sense proposal which will give American farmers and ranchers the tools they need to mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather, so they can continue to grow and raise the food we rely on.”

“The bill will help innovative small businesses like ours here in CO provide mission critical extreme weather forecasting to farmers and others across rural America,” Thomas Cavett, VP Government Affairs and Strategy, who works and resides in Colorado. “Tomorrow.io applauds Representatives Pettersen and Moolenaar for introducing it.”

The legislation builds on the innovation already happening in Colorado. Tomorrow.io, a global weather intelligence company with a growing presence in Golden, CO, is deploying commercial weather satellites to improve forecasting capabilities and help communities make data-driven decisions before disaster strikes. These technologies can help local communities plan evacuations, protect crops and livestock, and ensure Coloradans are equipped for extreme weather.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Leverage Commercial Weather Data Tools to Mitigate Extreme Weather Risks

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04) so Colorado farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can better respond to extreme weather events. The legislation ensures that commercial weather data and tools – using satellites and other space-based technologies – are eligible for funding under the priority research areas for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), boosting investments to mitigate risks for farmers and foresters during extreme weather events.

As major weather events become more severe and more frequent, commercial tools like satellite technology can better detect weather to predict and monitor life-threatening conditions in real time, helping communities anticipate floods, monitor droughts, and detect wildfire risk earlier. However, these tools can be expensive and difficult to access, especially in rural areas.

Pettersen’s legislation ensures that USDA research funding can support the adoption and development of these technologies so that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can use these advanced forecasting tools.

“Rural Colorado is on the frontlines of severe weather events like wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters,” said Pettersen. “As we continue to see more natural disasters each year, it’s critical that we leverage the best available technology to keep people and property safe. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are better prepared for when the next disaster strikes.”

“Michigan farmers work tirelessly to provide quality produce for our communities,” said Moolenaar. “Unfortunately, unforeseen severe weather can ruin an entire year of crops unless it is properly prepared for. The Space-Based Agricultural Data Act is a common-sense proposal which will give American farmers and ranchers the tools they need to mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather, so they can continue to grow and raise the food we rely on.”

“The bill will help innovative small businesses like ours here in CO provide mission critical extreme weather forecasting to farmers and others across rural America,” Thomas Cavett, VP Government Affairs and Strategy, who works and resides in Colorado. “Tomorrow.io applauds Representatives Pettersen and Moolenaar for introducing it.”

The legislation builds on the innovation already happening in Colorado. Tomorrow.io, a global weather intelligence company with a growing presence in Golden, CO, is deploying commercial weather satellites to improve forecasting capabilities and help communities make data-driven decisions before disaster strikes. These technologies can help local communities plan evacuations, protect crops and livestock, and ensure Coloradans are equipped for extreme weather.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – Canada-NZ dairy dispute: A win for exporters

Source: BusinessNZ

ExportNZ is pleased to see a years-long dairy dispute between Canada and New Zealand resolved, unlocking higher export value for Kiwi business.

Executive Director Josh Tan says the outcome is a win for New Zealand dairy exporters, and a win for the rules-based trading system.

“It’s essential that our trade agreements function as they were agreed to – particularly in the current global trade context. Likewise, our trade partners should ensure they are playing by the rules.

“Canada remains a valuable trade partner to New Zealand. In agreeing to meet its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada has guaranteed better market access for Kiwi exporters and we commend them for honouring this agreed outcome.

“ExportNZ acknowledges the Minister for Trade and Investment and our New Zealand officials, for their persistent effort to reach the right outcome under the CPTPP agreement.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – New rules unlock network connection barriers to support electrification

Source: Electricity Authority

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is making it easier and faster to connect to the electricity network so New Zealand can electrify faster.

The changes are the first steps in the Authority’s work to make it easier and more efficient for businesses, developers and other consumers to get access to the electricity network so communities and the economy can benefit.

The Authority consulted on a package of changes late last year, with a focus on reducing the time and cost to connect infrastructure such as public EV charging stations, manufacturing, and solar farms.

Authority General Manager Networks and System Change Tim Sparks says standardised rules about how the 29 lines companies process connection applications and how they develop and structure pricing for new and upgraded connections are vital to getting more electricity into the network and reducing costs.

“Inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the application processes and pricing methodologies across New Zealand’s 29 lines companies can add unnecessary time and cost to projects, particularly for those who want to operate in multiple regions,” Sparks said. “The changes we’ve announced today will help address these issues and unlock more of the barriers to electrification.

“Under the new rules, lines companies must offer the least-cost, technically acceptable solution,” Sparks said. “Any extra costs to enhance the connection – for example running the connection underground – will be paid for by whoever requested it. This ensures people aren’t paying for other network costs they didn’t ask for.”

The Authority’s changes include introducing processes for larger users wanting to connect – such as an EV charge point operator or a public transport operator electrifying its fleet – including setting timeframes for decisions. To date, large energy users haven’t had baseline protections because the rules have only applied to electricity generators directly connecting to the network. Providing a clear and consistent process will increase transparency and certainty for those needing to connect and make the process more efficient for everyone involved.

“We have been working with the Commerce Commission and industry on these improvements, which we believe will increase transparency and consistency and address some known issues. Overall, we expect both lines companies and those needing to connect will benefit from more efficient connection processes. All New Zealanders will benefit over time through increased choice and value as more services and infrastructure come online sooner.”

The Authority is introducing eight new requirements to improve the network connection application process and four new connection pricing requirements. The Authority is further considering two of the rule changes originally proposed in last year’s consultation papers to ensure they fully and effectively address the issues they are intended to resolve. They are:

– the ‘reliance limit’, which aimed to prevent already high-upfront charges from increasing further

– creating an obligation for distributors to connect all applications that meet certain criteria.

The Authority expects to further consult on these two further potential changes before the end of the year.

The Authority is now seeking feedback on the draft wording of the new connection pricing rules to ensure it accurately reflects the decisions made. The technical consultation on the draft wording of the new rules for connection application processes will open in August.

Most of the requirements for new connection pricing methodologies come into effect on 1 April 2026 to align with any other distribution pricing changes, as well as with the Commerce Commission processes. The new requirements for the connection application processes come into effect in the second half of 2026, allowing 12 months after the changes have been gazetted. The exception is the application process for large consumers, which will come into effect 18 months after being gazetted, as this involves entirely new processes that need to be developed.

For more information:

Distribution connection pricing reform decision paper

Network connections project stage one decision paper

Notes:The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown Entity with the main statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers. The additional objective of the Authority is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those consumers.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Supports Three Bills to Bolster American Leadership in Digital Assets, Ban Central Bank Digital Currency in United States

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for three pieces of legislation to bolster American leadership in the digital asset marketplace and to ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States.

“The increasing adoption of digital assets and the use of blockchain technologies can grow our economy and provide American families with a new opportunity to grow wealth. However, under President Biden, digital assets were attacked, which crushed innovation and created uncertainty for businesses. We want digital asset innovation to happen in America and crypto jobs to be created in America – without ceding ground to foreign countries,” said Rep. Feenstra. “That’s why I voted for three bills to cement American leadership in the digital asset marketplace and to ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States. Under President Trump, we are protecting Americans’ financial security, investing in our economy, and making America the crypto capital of the world.”

The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act establishes clear roles for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), provides consumer protections through greater transparency and accountability in the marketplace, and helps digital asset firms operate legally and with confidence in the United States.

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act provides clear rules of the road for the issuance of payment stablecoins, which are pegged to a stable currency like the U.S. dollar.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act would ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barry Moore cosponsors bipartisan Bridge Investment and Modernization Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

Washington D.C. – Congressman Barry Moore (AL-01) cosponsored the Bridge Investment and Modernization Act of 2025, introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members Representatives Shomari Figures (AL-02) and Mike Ezell (MS-04).

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Bridge Investment Program through 2031 and cuts government red tape that only allowed one large Bridge Investment Program grant per state. Reauthorizing this program will streamline federal funding, ensuring projects like the I-10 Bridge and Bayway Project get the necessary resources needed for completion.

This legislation will deliver faster, more effective repairs and upgrades to bridges across the nation. The Bridge Investment and Modernization Act was also submitted into the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Portal by Reps. Figures and Ezell for consideration in the reauthorization package, which is expected to come to the floor later this year or early next year.

“Alabama’s economy depends on strong roads and bridges to transport goods, support businesses, and connect our communities,” said Moore. “I’m proud to support this bill, which makes critical reauthorizations to move federal dollars where they’re needed most while cutting the bureaucratic red tape we see so often in Washington. This bill allows for continued investments in American infrastructure and specifically advances projects like the I-10 Bridge and Bayway Project in Mobile, making travel safer and easier for so many across the Gulf Coast. I will continue working with President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy to ensure we deliver on a new I-10 bridge.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Gallego and Colleagues in Condemning Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 17, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and six of her colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). This decision effectively excuses NFCU from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members—primarily active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, Department of Defense employees and their families.
“In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases – even when accounts showed sufficient funds,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought. “In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.”
That order was rescinded on July 1, 2025.
“As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable—or even willing—to fulfill its legal mandate,” the Senators continued. “At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.”
The letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).
The full letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:
Dear Acting Director Vought,
We write to express profound alarm over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), effectively excusing them from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members – primarily active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, and their families.1 This decision appears to prioritize financial institutions over the very servicemembers the Bureau is charged with protecting. The restitution funds intended to compensate harmed consumers are now at risk of being withheld. This reversal is particularly troubling given your Bureau’s pledge less than three months ago to prioritize protections for military consumers.
In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases—even when accounts showed sufficient funds. In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Your recent two-page order terminating that consent order provides no detailed explanation or justification for this reversal.
On April 16, 2025, under your leadership, the Bureau pledged to “focus its enforcement and supervision resources on pressing threats to consumers, particularly service members and their families and veterans.”3 And yet, your abrupt reversal of this consent order suggests your stated commitment to servicemembers is little more than lip service. The CFPB’s mission is to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and to hold lawbreaking companies accountable. Under your direction, it is doing neither. As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable—or even willing—to fulfill its legal mandate. At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.
Accordingly, we respectfully request answers to the following questions no later than July 30, 2025:
How much of the $80.6 million in restitution remains unpaid to affected consumers?
What portion of the $15 million originally designated for the Victims Relief Fund was actually deposited? If any amount was withheld or returned, please explain.
Were affected consumers notified that the consent order was terminated and that restitution obligations may be altered or withdrawn?
Was the Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs consulted before the consent order was terminated? If not, why not?
What was the full legal and factual basis for terminating the consent order?
What communications or meetings occurred between the CFPB and Navy Federal Credit Union from January 1, 2025, to the present? Please include dates, topics, and participants.
Who at the CFPB authorized the termination of the consent order, and what internal processes were followed to approve it? Please identify all senior staff, attorneys, and political appointees involved.
Was any analysis conducted on the impact of this decision on affected consumers or on military households more broadly? If so, please provide a copy of that analysis.
How does this action align with the CFPB’s publicly stated enforcement priorities, particularly your April 16, 2025, memo referencing protections for servicemembers and veterans?
At a time when families are feeling the strain of higher costs and every dollar is hard-earned, the American people—especially our servicemembers, veterans, and military families—deserve more. They deserve a Bureau that has their backs, not one that shields institutions from accountability.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt and thorough response.
Sincerely,
– 30 –

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Three Memphis Bank Robbers Convicted at Trial

Source: US State of California

A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted three men today for their roles in a violent bank robbery conspiracy, involving five bank robberies and an attempted sixth, in which the robbers shot two people. The defendants were found guilty of four bank robberies and using firearms during some of those robberies. Four of their co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

“The bank robberies committed by these seven defendants included gun-point threats, instilling fear and chaos in innocent victims going about their days,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions terrorized bank employees and customers alike. We are grateful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners for bringing these dangerous individuals to justice and helping make the Memphis community safer.”

“The hard work and determination of the FBI and its partners cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, “We are proud that our actions held these criminals accountable for their harm to the Memphis community.”

Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendants, Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, all of Memphis, conspired to rob banks in and around Memphis. Four of the co-conspirators, Robert Haley, Travis Drain, Marquarius Trenell, and Monterrio Trenell, already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

During the Aug. 11, 2023, robbery of a branch of Truist Bank, Hinds raised a gun and shook it back and forth at a bank customer to instill fear and deter her from notifying law enforcement. He then served as a getaway driver. Hinds also drove a getaway car during the Dec. 22, 2023, robbery of a branch of the Independent Bank where a co-defendant pointed a semi-automatic military-style rifle at bank employees.

Courtney Trenell and Cribbs helped rob branches of the Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants planned to rob the banks, which are directly across the street from each other, at the same time to confuse law enforcement and evade capture. Cribbs entered the Bank of Bartlett with a trash bag and threatened bank employees into handing over money. Cribbs unknowingly took at least one dye pack, which exploded after the robbers fled, releasing red dye that stained the stolen cash. During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding one of the robbers in fleeing the area.

At trial, an FBI special agent testified that the defendants spoke over conference calls before and after the robberies, which the government argued was to coordinate the crimes. An FBI analyst testified that DNA evidence from Courtney Trenell and Hinds was found inside their respective getaway vehicles.

In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies. The sixth robbery attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a shoot-out between the co-defendants and an armed security guard where the robbers shot two victims. Co-defendants Haley and Drain coordinated the five robberies and one attempted robbery throughout the conspiracy, while Marquarius Trenell robbed the Truist Bank on Aug. 11, 2023, as well as the Bank of Bartlett with Monterrio Trenell, and others, on Oct. 20, 2023.

Defendants Travis Drain and Mario Patterson accost bank employees on Dec. 22, 2023, while Devin Hinds waits outside in a getaway car.

Cribbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, and Courtney Trenell and Hinds are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Their co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty will face sentencing later this year. A federal district judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hinds faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his use of a firearm during a bank robbery; Courtney Trenell and Cribbs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the robberies.

A grand jury indicted an eighth co-defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, for his role in the conspiracy, as well as the individual bank robberies and firearm crimes he committed. He faces trial later this year and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The FBI and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner, Stephen Hall, and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Three Memphis Bank Robbers Convicted at Trial

Source: US State of California

A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted three men today for their roles in a violent bank robbery conspiracy, involving five bank robberies and an attempted sixth, in which the robbers shot two people. The defendants were found guilty of four bank robberies and using firearms during some of those robberies. Four of their co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

“The bank robberies committed by these seven defendants included gun-point threats, instilling fear and chaos in innocent victims going about their days,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions terrorized bank employees and customers alike. We are grateful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners for bringing these dangerous individuals to justice and helping make the Memphis community safer.”

“The hard work and determination of the FBI and its partners cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, “We are proud that our actions held these criminals accountable for their harm to the Memphis community.”

Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendants, Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, all of Memphis, conspired to rob banks in and around Memphis. Four of the co-conspirators, Robert Haley, Travis Drain, Marquarius Trenell, and Monterrio Trenell, already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

During the Aug. 11, 2023, robbery of a branch of Truist Bank, Hinds raised a gun and shook it back and forth at a bank customer to instill fear and deter her from notifying law enforcement. He then served as a getaway driver. Hinds also drove a getaway car during the Dec. 22, 2023, robbery of a branch of the Independent Bank where a co-defendant pointed a semi-automatic military-style rifle at bank employees.

Courtney Trenell and Cribbs helped rob branches of the Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants planned to rob the banks, which are directly across the street from each other, at the same time to confuse law enforcement and evade capture. Cribbs entered the Bank of Bartlett with a trash bag and threatened bank employees into handing over money. Cribbs unknowingly took at least one dye pack, which exploded after the robbers fled, releasing red dye that stained the stolen cash. During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding one of the robbers in fleeing the area.

At trial, an FBI special agent testified that the defendants spoke over conference calls before and after the robberies, which the government argued was to coordinate the crimes. An FBI analyst testified that DNA evidence from Courtney Trenell and Hinds was found inside their respective getaway vehicles.

In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies. The sixth robbery attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a shoot-out between the co-defendants and an armed security guard where the robbers shot two victims. Co-defendants Haley and Drain coordinated the five robberies and one attempted robbery throughout the conspiracy, while Marquarius Trenell robbed the Truist Bank on Aug. 11, 2023, as well as the Bank of Bartlett with Monterrio Trenell, and others, on Oct. 20, 2023.

Defendants Travis Drain and Mario Patterson accost bank employees on Dec. 22, 2023, while Devin Hinds waits outside in a getaway car.

Cribbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, and Courtney Trenell and Hinds are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Their co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty will face sentencing later this year. A federal district judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hinds faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his use of a firearm during a bank robbery; Courtney Trenell and Cribbs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the robberies.

A grand jury indicted an eighth co-defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, for his role in the conspiracy, as well as the individual bank robberies and firearm crimes he committed. He faces trial later this year and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The FBI and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner, Stephen Hall, and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Department of Commerce Announces Grants for Tourism and Community Enhancement

Source: US State of North Dakota

The North Dakota Department of Commerce will open the 2025 Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants aimed at enhancing tourism, community infrastructure, and historic preservation across the state. These grants, funded by the 69th Legislative Assembly, are designed to support various projects that will contribute to North Dakota’s visitor and resident experiences.

The grant opportunities are as follows:

Historic Opera House Restoration Grant: $250,000 to restore a historic opera house constructed prior to 1930 that once served as a community entertainment hub.

Medora Transportation Improvement Grant: $1 million to support the development, building, and operation of a public transportation system in Medora, North Dakota.

Community Hall Grant: $175,000 for improvements to a multi-function community hall in rural North Dakota communities.

Historic Theater Restoration Matching Grant: $500,000 to support the improvement and restoration of a historic theater constructed prior to 1930 that is currently operational and offering public events.

Historic Theater Improvement Grant: $250,000 to support the improvement and restoration of a historic theater constructed prior to 1930 that once served as a community entertainment hub.

State Magazine Grant: $250,000 to current or previous publishers of an official state magazine that features stories and photos showcasing the best of North Dakota.

All grants will be open from July 22 – Sept. 1, 2025.

Eligible organizations must submit a concise application letter to Commerce, identifying the applicant, point of contact, amount requested, intended uses for the funds, current and/or future events, and desired outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. CDT Sept. 1, 2025, to McKenzie Clayburgh at clayburghmckenzie@nd.gov.

For more information on the Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants, go to https://ndgov.link/TourismEnhancementGrants.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Pragmatic engagement – what Albanese’s visit reveals about China relations in a turbulent world

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Sing Yue Chan, Postdoctoral Fellow in China Studies, Australian National University

The Albanese government has faced an increasingly uncertain world since its re-election in May.

US President Donald Trump has cast a long shadow over the Australia–US alliance, raising fresh questions about Canberra’s long-term regional strategy.

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approach to foreign policy is reflecting a careful recalibration – one that seeks to balance security partnerships with the pursuit of economic opportunities, especially with Australia’s largest trading partner, China.

Albanese has wrapped up a six-day visit to China which was characterised by a highly pragmatic approach to dealing with the problems and irritants in the bilateral relationship.

Economic engagement

Albanese’s visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu – cities emblematic of Australia’s political, economic and cultural connections with China – was more than symbolic.

It was a high-profile diplomatic venture, with Albanese meeting both the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

But it was more than a leaders’ summit. A large team of key business leaders in banking, manufacturing, mining and education were on the trip to meet their Chinese counterparts and seek more cooperation.

Economic engagement dominated the visit. As Albanese highlighted before his trip, “my priority is jobs”.

Broader partnerships spanning multiple sectors, including healthcare, education and green energy, were canvassed. The two nations also explored closer cooperation on energy transition and climate change.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian has even floated a collaboration on artificial intelligence.

However, the suggestion has been met with caution in Canberra due to ongoing concerns around national security and data governance.

Cooperate where we can

Beyond trade and investment, the visit also marked an effort to rebuild people-to-people exchanges.

Since last year, Australian citizens have been able to visit China for up to 30 days without a visa. In turn, Australia will welcome more Chinese visitors under a new Memorandum of Understanding promoting Australia as a premier tourist destination for Chinese travellers.

Albanese’s meetings with Xi Jinping and Li Qiang also yielded concrete results.

The official joint statement emphasised economic cooperation, particularly in climate-related areas such as steel decarbonisation, dryland farming and the green economy.

These outcomes align with the Albanese government’s guiding principle: cooperate where we can.

The deeper economic cooperation has been noted in China, where there is an expectation collaboration will continue to accelerate on the back of improved relations.

As James Laurenceson of the Australia–China Relations Institute recently noted, a stronger economic partnership will help foster more resilient ties across the board.

More independent foreign policy

Other analysts also see increased mutual benefits in the bilateral relationship.

China-watcher James Curran suggests the visit may signal a maturing, more independent Australian foreign policy.

The primary role of Australian statecraft is to do everything we possibly can to avoid a conflict. To avoid ever getting close to a decision about following the Americans into a war of that kind.

This was best illustrated by Albanese’s refusal to provide Washington with a wide-ranging and largely open-ended commitment to support the US in any conflict with China over Taiwan.

Indeed, as Curran observes, Albanese has tried to steer the relationship away from disagreement and towards pragmatic engagement.

Following his meeting with Xi, Albanese was repeatedly asked by Australian journalists if he raised sensitive issues such as Taiwan, China’s military build-up and the South China Sea.

While he confirmed these topics were addressed, he emphasised a preference for peaceful engagement:

[…] we want peace and security in the region. That is in the interest of both Australia and in the interest of China.

Unsurprisingly, the joint statement made no reference to these issues, reflecting a mutual decision to sidestep confrontation in favour of stabilising the relationship.

Quietly managing differences

This diplomatic posture toward China would appear to be a defining feature of the Albanese government’s second term: strengthening cooperation while quietly managing differences.

Rather than highlighting points of contention, the government is opting to avoid open disagreement where possible.

Overt disputes risk destabilising bilateral ties. If issues are raised publicly, it is unlikely to shift entrenched positions on either side. This explains why the ownership of the Port of Darwin, for example, was not mentioned during Albanese’s meeting with Xi.

Critics, however, argue this risks projecting weakness towards China.

Justin Bassi, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, warns the government is staying silent in the face of ongoing Chinese coercion:

Australia is only complying with China’s desires when the government says nothing and leaves the public to trust that the threats posed by China are all being dealt with in the classified realm. This is not viable policy. Australia’s sovereignty must not be contingent on Beijing’s preferences.

Even within China, analysts are cautious about Albanese’s approach. As one Chinese scholar told us, “a stable relationship does not necessarily mean a friendly one”.

In fact, while the Chinese media has stressed Australia and China’s shared commitment to regional stability, this was barely mentioned in the official joint statement.

Mutual interests

Still, there is recognition on both sides that pragmatism rather than ideological grandstanding is the more sustainable path forward.

In sum, Albanese’s visit does not mark a dramatic reset or bold new direction in Australia–China relations. Rather, it signals a shift toward greater realism.

In an increasingly complex and multipolar world, diplomacy grounded in mutual interests, rather than ideology, is not just practical, but may be a growing trend across the globe.

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

– ref. Pragmatic engagement – what Albanese’s visit reveals about China relations in a turbulent world – https://theconversation.com/pragmatic-engagement-what-albaneses-visit-reveals-about-china-relations-in-a-turbulent-world-260578

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Votes to Foster Digital Innovation and Advance Consumer Protections

Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 17, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted in support of two bipartisan bills — the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act — marking a critical step forward in the regulation of digital assets, the protection of crypto users, and blockchain innovation.

“These bipartisan bills, while not perfect, add important and much-needed regulation and guardrails to the digital asset industry,” said Vasquez. “We need to continue working to develop clear, commonsense rules that protect consumers, promote innovation, and prevent fraud and money laundering. New Mexicans deserve transparency, accountability, and equal access to new financial tools.”

The CLARITY Act establishes a regulatory framework for digital assets. Under the bill, more established digital assets would be treated like commodities and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while newer assets would be treated as securities and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This legislation would help prevent fraud, create a more stable market, and ensure all investors are playing by the same rules.

The GENIUS Act establishes the rules of the road for stablecoins: digital assets backed by physical assets like the U.S. dollar which currently lack comprehensive federal regulations to protect consumers. By establishing the first ever guardrails for these assets – holding stablecoin issuers to strict requirements, and instituting strong protections against trafficking – this bill safeguards consumers and strengthens financial security.

“We need to ensure our regulatory frameworks keep pace with innovation, and this is a step in the right direction,” said Vasquez. “I will continue to seek out ways to maximize consumer protections and ethics standards in the cryptocurrency industry.”

Vasquez continues to fight for the economic security of all New Mexicans by holding Big Tech accountable and protecting consumers from digital exploitation.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

From	To
Team first	Purpose first
Cautious action	Bold action
Siloed delivery	Shared delivery
Avoiding the hard calls trade‑offs	Courageous trade‑offs

Category: Business

Commissioner’s foreword

Initial actions

Initial actions

Initial actions

Life at high altitude

Take time to adapt

Huge boost for UK industry as Government powers ahead with cuts to electricity costs

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ICYMI: Warnock Highlights Consequences of Medical Debt Rule Reversal for Millions of Americans to ABC News Live Prime

Source: BusinessNZ

Source: Electricity Authority

Economic engagement

Cooperate where we can

More independent foreign policy

Quietly managing differences

Mutual interests