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Category: Business

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can you help your child make friends?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gretchen Geng, Professor in Innovative Education Futures, Flinders University

    One of the things children (and parents) may worry about at the start of the new school year is, will I have friends?

    This could be true for children starting or changing schools or simply going back to a new year with different class arrangements.

    How can parents talk to their kids about making friends?

    Why is it important to have friends?

    We research young people’s wellbeing and provide programs to schools on how to talk about mental health.

    Having lasting, meaningful friendships is extremely important for children’s health, development and wellbeing.

    They can validate young people’s aspirations and interests and help them feel like they belong. Friends can also help ease feelings of loneliness and anxiety, making it easier for children to engage in new activities and connect with others.

    On top of this, friendships can act as a “buffer” against bullying by providing emotional support if it does happen. Research also suggests, if children don’t have a supportive friendship network, they are more prone to be bullied at school.

    Having friends can help children feel like they belong.
    Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock

    Help your child build confidence

    Some children find it harder to make friends than others. If your child is shy or introverted they may find it hard to meet new people.

    Let them know it is OK to start small. You don’t have to make ten best friends all at once! Making friends takes time and even just one or two good friends can make a big difference.

    To break the ice, encourage simple actions such as saying “hello” or offering a compliment: “That’s a cool handball” or “I love your Taylor Swift bracelet”.

    Encourage your child to do activities with other kids they enjoy. They can play a particular game or sport or do craft, dancing or reading. Tell them how it’s possible to be friends with lots of different kinds of people.

    Talk about the importance of friendship

    Research shows it’s important for parents to offer encouragement and guidance about friendships. This can lead to better quality friendships (how well friends get along) as children grow up.

    Parents can start to talk to their child about the importance of friendships from a young age. Some questions parents could ask include “Who did you play with today?”, “What did you like about playing with them?”, “What games did you play”.

    Parents can also start conversations about the value of friends and friendship. For example, parents could ask their child about the importance of sharing with friends (“it actually feels great to share and make your friends happy”).

    It’s important for parents to support their child’s friendships.
    DGL Images/ Shutterstock

    Encourage your child to talk

    Over time, children’s concept of friendships changes. Younger children view friends as somebody you can play with, while older children see friends as people they can trust and can share emotions and thoughts with.

    Research shows, parents can also help this transition with advice and encouragement. Encourage your child to express their feelings and talk about what happens at school, so you can work through any issues or tricky things together.

    This does not have to be a formal talk. You could chat while you are doing something else – like drawing, playing chess or throwing a ball.

    To create a safe space for your child to freely express their feelings and emotions, avoid being judgemental or critical. Instead, ask questions, like “if you do it again, will you do it differently?” or “was that a kind decision?”

    Encourage active listening

    You can also encourage your child to be a good and supportive friend.

    One way to do this is by being an active listener. This is about understanding what someone is saying (and possibly taking action because of it), not simply “hearing” what is said.

    You can suggest your child takes a deep breath and lets the other child finish what they are trying to say, instead of interrupting and talking over people.

    Active listening is a skill parents can practise with their child. Make a game and have fun doing it. Try it in the car, over the dinner table or in another informal setting.

    Deb Agnew and Shane Pill also developed versions of the Big Talks for Little People program on which this article is based.

    Gretchen Geng works for Flinders University. Big Talks for Little People receives funding from Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, Little Heroes Foundation, Medibank, BeyondBank, and the South Australian Education Department.

    Phillip Slee works for Flinders University. Big Talks for Little People receives funding from Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, Little Heroes Foundation, Medibank, BeyondBank, and the South Australian Education Department.

    – ref. How can you help your child make friends? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-you-help-your-child-make-friends-248534

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do big tech companies have a ‘duty of care’ for users? A new report says they do – but leaves out key details

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    PV Productions/Shutterstock

    Large social media companies should have to proactively remove harmful content from their platforms, undergo regular “risk assessments” and face hefty fines if they don’t comply, according to an independent review of online safety laws in Australia.

    The federal government will today release the final report of the review conducted by experienced public servant Delia Rickard, more than three months after receiving it.

    The review comes a few months after Meta announced it will stop using independent fact checkers to moderate content on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

    Rickard’s review contains 67 recommendations in total. If implemented, they would go a long way to making Australians safer from abusive content, cyberbullying and other potential harms encountered online. They would also align Australia to international jurisdictions and address many of the same problems targeted by the social media ban for young people.

    However, the recommendations contain serious omissions. And with a federal election looming, the review is not likely to be acted upon until the next term of government.

    Addressing online harms at the source

    The review recommends imposing a “digital duty of care” on large social media companies.

    The federal government has already committed to doing this. However, legislation to implement a digital duty of care has been on hold since November, with discussions overshadowed by the government’s social media ban for under 16s.

    The digital duty of care would put the onus on tech companies to proactively address a range of specific harms on their platforms, such as child sexual exploitation and attacks based on gender, race or religion.

    It would also provide several protections for Australians, including “easily accessible, simple and user-friendly” pathways to complain about harmful content. And it would position Australia alongside the United Kingdom and the European Union, which already have similar laws in place.

    Online service providers would face civil penalties of 5% of global annual turnover or A$50 million (whichever is greater) for non-compliance with the duty of care.

    Two new classes of harm – and expanded powers for the regulator

    The recommendations also call for a decoupling of the Online Safety Act from the National Classification Scheme. That latter scheme legislates the classification of publications, films and computer games, providing ratings to guide consumers to make informed choices for selecting age-appropriate content.

    This shift would create two new classes of harm: content that is “illegal and seriously harmful” and “legal but may be harmful”. This includes material dealing with “harmful practices” such as eating disorders and self-harm.

    The review’s recommendations also include provisions for technology companies to undergo annual “risk assessments” and publish an annual “transparency report”.

    The review also recommends adults experiencing cyber abuse, and children who are cyberbullied online, should wait only 24 hours following a complaint before the eSafety Commission orders a social media platform to remove the content in question. This is down from 48 hours.

    It also recommends lowering the threshold for identifying “menacing, harassing, or seriously offensive” material to that which “an ordinary reasonable person” would conclude is likely to have an effect.

    The review also calls for a new governance model for the eSafety Commission. This new model would empower the eSafety Commissioner to create and enforce “mandatory rules” (or codes) for duty of care compliance, including addressing online harms.

    The need to tackle misinformation and disinformation

    The recommendations are a step towards making the online world safer for everybody. Importantly, they would achieve this without the problems associated with the government’s social media ban for young people – including that it could violate children’s human rights.

    Missing from the recommendations, however, is any mention of potential harms from online misinformation and disinformation.

    Given the speed of online information sharing, and the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enable online harms, such as deepfake pornography, this is a crucial omission.

    From vaccine safety to election campaigns, experts have raised ongoing concerns about the need to combat misinformation.

    A 2024 report by the International Panel on the Information Environment found experts, globally, are most worried about “threats to the information environment posed by the owners of social media platforms”.

    In January 2025, the Canadian Medical Association released a report showing people are increasingly seeking advice from “problematic sources”. At the same time technology companies are “blocking trusted news” and “profiting” from “pushing misinformation” on their platforms.

    In Australia, the government’s proposed misinformation bill was scrapped in November last year due to concerns over potential censorship. But this has left people vulnerable to false information shared online in the lead-up to the federal election this year. As the Australian Institute of International Affairs said last month:

    misinformation has increasingly permeated the public discourse and digital media in Australia.

    An ongoing need for education and support

    The recommendations also fail to provide guidance on further educational supports for navigating online spaces safely in the review.

    The eSafety Commission currently provides many tools and resources for young people, parents, educators, and other Australians to support online safety. But it’s unclear if the change to a governance model for the commission to enact duty of care provisions would change this educational and support role.

    The recommendations do highlight the need for “simple messaging” for people experiencing harm online to make complaints. But there is an ongoing need for educational strategies for people of all ages to prevent harm from occurring.

    The Albanese government says it will respond to the review in due course. With a federal election only months away, it seems unlikely the recommendations will be acted on this term.

    Whichever government is elected, it should prioritise guidance on educational supports and misinformation, along with adopting the review’s recommendations. Together, this would go a long way to keeping everyone safe online.

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Association for Information Science and Technology, and an Affiliate of the International Panel on the Information Environment.

    – ref. Do big tech companies have a ‘duty of care’ for users? A new report says they do – but leaves out key details – https://theconversation.com/do-big-tech-companies-have-a-duty-of-care-for-users-a-new-report-says-they-do-but-leaves-out-key-details-248995

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW Government backs Upper Hunter’s industrial future

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: NSW Government backs Upper Hunter’s industrial future

    Published: 4 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for the Hunter, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Future Land Use and Enabling Works project for Liddell Power Station has been approved by the Minns Labor Government, which will see the former power station, demolished, remediated and transformed for future industrial land uses.

    The approval of the State Significant Development, south of Muswellbrook, will mean more jobs and industrial opportunities for the Upper Hunter.

    Spanning around 143 hectares, the Future Land Use and Enabling Works project is expected to generate more than $260 million in Capital Investment Value (CIV) for the Upper Hunter Region as well as 100 full time equivalent jobs.

    Remediation works will include:

    • Demolition of the power station
    • Construction and operation of a borrow pit for capping, civil works and recontouring of the site
    • Recontouring and revegetation of the site
    • Construction and operation of a landfill for the disposal of asbestos contaminated soil and material from demolished infrastructure.

    In 2023, the Liddell Power Station came to the end of its technical life and was formally closed, with the proponent AGL committing to remediate the site for a cleaner future.

    Following the assessment from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) the approval has strict conditions of consent to manage biodiversity, water and traffic impacts. Works are now expected to commence within the next 3 months and are expected to continue over the next ten years.

    The Upper Hunter has long been an industrial powerhouse and this approval is only the most recent planning determination that indicates a broader Government support for the Upper Hunter to remain an industrial centre.

    The approval also comes shortly after the Minns Government launched its Industrial Lands Action Plan (PDF 977.79KB) which sets out a new approach to plan, secure, and manage the supply of industrial lands to deliver new jobs, drive investment and support local economies.

    The Minns Labor Government will continue to support robust investment and job opportunities in regional NSW.

    For more information, visit the web page on the Liddell Future Land Use and Enabling Works Project.

    Project layout and disturbance areas of the Liddell Future Land Use and Enabling Works Project.

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “Under the Minns Government, we have a planning system that is supporting the renewable energy transition, approving projects that will support our communities, energy security and emissions reductions.

    “With up to 100 jobs generated during construction and operation, this project will benefit the local economy, local communities and provide indirect benefits to local services throughout the life of project.

    “This project is one of many that is part of the state’s growing renewable energy infrastructure that plays a vital role in powering our economy for generations to come.”

    Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

    “The $260 million project injects a major capital investment within the Upper Hunter and will support dozens of new, local jobs.

    “The Liddel Power Station is an important part of the Hunter’s history and this project represents the significant investment opportunities that lay ahead for the region.

    “Today’s announcement further shores up our region as an industrial powerhouse, that will attract jobs, investment and innovation for decades to come.”

    Duty MLC for the Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal said:

    “This approval is welcome news for our area and shows the Minns Labor Government’s continued support for the future of the Upper Hunter.

    “As the chair of the inquiry into Beneficial and Productive Postmining Land Use, I am hugely supportive of the Minns Government working with proponents to see industrial sites rehabilitated and renewed for future use.

    “This means continued employment, investment and innovation for our region.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: MMP Capital Closes Out 2024 to Resounding Success

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FARMINGDALE, N.Y., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MMP Capital, a private commercial lender specializing in healthcare finance, as well as financing across multiple verticals, proudly announces a record-setting performance in December 2024 and Q4 2024. With total originations hitting USD 55.6 million for December. The company has gone above and beyond its previous monthly benchmarks, achieving an unprecedented total of USD 125 million in originations during the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Much of this success stems from MMP Capital’s relationship-driven business model, which has made the firm a dependable resource for financing in the healthcare sector. Now in its 12th year of business, MMP Capital maintains a focus on providing streamlined lending services to its partners. The company’s brand reputation in healthcare has allowed it to expand in step with an influx of vendors and business owners seeking reliable options for equipment financing. In addition, interest rate adjustments have aided in reducing overall costs for acquiring new equipment. A convergence of factors, this has encouraged many businesses to invest in advanced technologies with renewed confidence.

    In recent years, MMP Capital has cemented its standing as the market leader in aesthetic medical finance. While the firm continues to finance equipment across multiple industries, the healthcare vertical has grown quickly owing to a rising demand for aesthetic procedures and medical devices. 

    “The company mantra was to Survive till 25 for many small business owners. The last 2 years have been some of the toughest economic conditions in my lifetime. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. I could not be more proud of the strength, and resilience of our team,” says John-Paul Smolenski, Founder and CEO of MMP Capital. “Our sales team work themselves to the bone building long-term relationships with vendors and business owners. The December milestone is a direct result of our team’s dedication and our growing reputation in the industry.”

    Smolenski notes that the surge in demand for aesthetic medical and healthcare equipment coincides with a heightened sense of optimism among business owners. “Many of our clients and industry partners indicate that they feel confident about future market conditions heading into 2025,” he added. “Alongside our proven track record and strategic partnerships, we hope to create more value for small business owners across the country.”

    Throughout 2024, the firm’s origination activity increased month over month. Partially attributed to MMP Capital’s ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions, the company is known for offering swift approvals and transparent lending processes. Its positioning within the market has made it a crowd favorite for businesses looking to modernize equipment fleets, expand service lines, or handle financial challenges.

    With a new administration in place and interest rate cuts helping to lower borrowing expenses, healthcare providers are taking advantage of the decreased cost of ownership for advanced medical machinery. MMP Capital’s finance solutions help them invest in the latest technologies without the burden of steep upfront capital expenditures. Designed around predictable repayment schedules, these programs aim to minimize financial risk while accelerating practice growth.

    “Our recent originations are an encouraging sign. The market is ready to turn the page and move forward,” Smolenski observed. “The worst economic pressures are behind us. We anticipate continued demand for equipment financing solutions throughout 2025.”

    Prospective clients interested in exploring MMP Capital’s financing options can learn more about its flexible equipment leasing and lending programs by visiting the company’s official website or reaching out to the MMP Capital sales team. For more information, visit: www.mmpcapital.com 

    About MMP Capital

    MMP Capital was founded in 2013 with a mission to be the gold standard in healthcare equipment finance in the U.S. Led by a management team with vast experience in sales, credit, and operations from several banks, leasing companies, and funding institutions, MMP Capital is uniquely equipped as a hybrid lender to lend directly or utilize a vast syndication outlet. Our financing options for equipment financing, leasing, and unsecured capital offer U.S. businesses the opportunity to invest in their future, update outdated technology, or offer new services to customers.

    Contact:
    Contact Person: Jamie O’Connor, Director of Marketing
    Organization: MMP Capital
    Email: JOConnor@MMPCapital.com
    Website: www.mmpcapital.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25ec26dd-7149-4ad1-96b5-3982791ace06

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Introduces Amendment to Keep DOGE Team from Accessing Critical Treasury Payment Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 3, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today filed an amendment to the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act, which the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is marking up on Wednesday, February 5. The amendment would make it a violation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act for an individual to gain unauthorized access to the central payment systems at the Treasury Department. Last week, Elon Musk’s personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gained access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, which disburses trillions of dollars in congressionally approved funds each year, including Social Security and Medicare benefits.

    “By demanding access to critical payment systems at the Treasury Department, Elon Musk and his team of government arsonists are threatening everything from payments for our troops to Medicare and Social Security payments,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “This access creates serious privacy and cybersecurity risks and could even enable Musk to give his companies an unfair competitive advantage. It’s outrageous and dangerous. I hope my colleagues can come together and support this commonsense amendment to limit this access and safeguard our essential financial infrastructure.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Joins Colleagues in Calling for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Fired by Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (January 31, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and a group of 36 colleagues in a letter to President Trump, strongly condemning the President’s recent decision to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies, and demanding their immediate reinstatement. The IGs who were removed included those overseeing the Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In the letter, the senators assert that President Trump’s actions violated the law and threaten the independence of these non-partisan watchdogs. Senator Peters helped lead the Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in 2022 as part of the FY 2023 national defense bill, to require a President to provide a 30-day notice and substantive reasons for removal in writing to Congress before an Inspector General can be removed. 

    “Inspectors General are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs by working to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer dollars – oversight our federal agencies desperately need,” the senators wrote. “The federal government and the American people count on these officials to operate in a professional and non-partisan way to hold our government accountable—regardless of who is in power.  Without strong, qualified, and independent officials to lead these critical efforts, the Administration risks wasting taxpayer dollars, and allowing fraud and misconduct to go unchecked.” 

    “While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized,” wrote the senators. “With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal.  Because your actions violated the law, these IGs should be reinstated immediately, until such time as you have provided in writing ‘the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons’ for each of the affected Inspectors General and the 30-day notice period has expired.”   

    The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and John Fetterman (D-PA).

    The full text of the letter can be found here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Decries Confirmation of Unrestricted Fracking Booster Chris Wright to Lead Energy Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 3, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Chris Wright, most recently the CEO of fossil fuel company Liberty Energy, to head the Department of Energy.

    “Chris Wright is a bought-and-paid-for fossil fuel industry executive and hasn’t met a tract of land or aquifer of water he wouldn’t despoil through fracking,” said Senator Markey. “We need federal agencies helmed by responsible, qualified executives without blatant conflicts of interest, not individuals who force their employees to drink fracking fluid for fun. Chris Wright at Energy, alongside Zeldin at EPA and Burgum at Interior, will use his position to push expensive and polluting fossil fuels on the American people for the benefit of his Big Oil and Big Gas allies. Our federal agencies are already being forced by Trump and Elon Musk to illegally ignore laws passed by Congress, and Chris Wright will be nothing more than another henchman for the billionaire class at the expense of the health and pocketbooks of working families.”

    On January 16, Senators Markey and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced the Banning In Government Oil Industry Lobbyists (BIG OIL) from the Cabinet Act, which would prohibit the appointment of executive officers and lobbyists of fossil fuel entities or trade associations as the heads or political appointees of certain government departments that work on issues related to American energy policy for a ten-year period.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Appointments to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Two new board appointments will bring infrastructure governance experience and capability to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.

    “The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission is responsible for important work to improve New Zealand’s infrastructure system, including developing the National Infrastructure Plan to be delivered this year.

    “The Government has appointed Tim Brown and Stephen Selwood to its board.

    “Mr Brown and Mr Selwood bring a wealth of experience in leadership inside large scale organisations, extensive governance experience including of companies responsible for key infrastructure assets, and critical abilities in deep economic and strategic thinking. They join five existing board members: Raveen Jaduram, Suzanne Tindal, Dr Sina Cotter Tait, Maurice David, and Geoffrey Hunt.

    “The two new members replace former chair Dr Alan Bollard who retired late last year, and Sarah Sinclair who resigned in September 2024. I thank the outgoing members for their work, and pay particular tribute to Dr Bollard’s many years of service and leadership.”

    Note for editors:

    Tim Brown has extensive governance involvement in the infrastructure industry includes three decades of large infrastructure asset investment, infrastructure finance and debt and capital markets across a range of boards. He has served on the boards of Infratil and Wellington Airport and is a councillor on the Wellington City Council.

    Stephen Selwood was previously an establishment Infrastructure Commission Board Member, and served as Commissioner of Tauranga City Council from February 2021 to June 2024. He has extensive experience in the infrastructure sector and was Chief Executive at Infrastructure New Zealand. Stephen is the currently managing director of a commercial retail company.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bridge Specialty Group enters into agreement to acquire NBS Insurance Agency, Inc.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stephen M. Boyd, president of Bridge Specialty Group (“BSG”), and Mark Berven, president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Property & Casualty, today announced that the parties have entered into an agreement for BSG to acquire NBS Insurance Agency, Inc. (operating as “Nationwide Brokerage Solutions” or “NBS”). The agreement only includes NBS Insurance Agency, Inc. and no other Nationwide affiliated companies. The transaction is expected to close in March 2025, subject to certain closing conditions.

    Steve Boyd shared, “NBS has served as a wholesaler and market access provider for retail agents for more than 50 years, providing superior service to their customers and retail broker partners. We look forward to welcoming the talented, customer-focused NBS team to Bridge Specialty Group. We are excited about the opportunity to invest in their continued development while immersing them in our dynamic, people-first culture. The addition of the NBS business to our operation will bring added specialization and complement our existing capabilities.”

    Mark Berven stated, “Nationwide and Bridge Specialty Group have had a strong working relationship for many years. Through our discussions, we determined there was a shared opportunity to enhance both of our organizations through a strategic transaction. With its tools, resources and strong global market presence, BSG is well positioned to drive the growth of NBS going forward.”

    NBS will continue to operate as a national platform and will be led by Ted Stuckey, president of NBS. Ted will report to Anurag Batta, chief operating officer of Bridge Specialty Group, and collaborate closely with other leaders on the BSG team.

    About Bridge Specialty Group, LLC

    Bridge Specialty Group is a leading global insurance wholesaler with access to over 200 admitted, excess and surplus lines and Lloyd’s markets that support our nearly $6 billion premium book. With more than 50 locations and 2,000 teammates throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, Bridge Specialty Group holds market recognition that enables us to connect retail partners with tailored insurance solutions through our specific practice groups including property, casualty, executive risk, personal lines, public entity, transportation and workers’ compensation.

    Bridge Specialty Group is a wholly owned operating division of Brown & Brown, Inc. This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements, including those associated with this acquisition. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Brown & Brown’s current belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Brown & Brown’s control. It is possible that Brown & Brown’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning Brown & Brown and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect Brown & Brown’s financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, is contained in Brown & Brown’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors include those factors relevant to Brown & Brown’s consummation and integration of the announced acquisition, including any matters analyzed in the due diligence process and material adverse changes in the business and financial condition of the seller, the buyer, or both, and their respective customers. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and Brown & Brown does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which Brown & Brown hereafter becomes aware.

    For more information:

    Steve Boyd
    President, Bridge Specialty Group
    (760) 710-6865

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Unintended Consequences of Business Digitalization Among MSMEs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Philippines

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The findings show that internet or e-commerce use did not lead to better MSME outcomes during the strict lockdown in March 2020. However, by August 2020, the negative effects had lessened, and by March 2021 a positive impact had emerged. This delayed positive impact suggests that MSMEs need a certain level of maturity to effectively harness digital tools. The authors propose how policymakers could help enhance the resilience of MSMEs in the Philippines through digitalization, such as by establishing a regulatory framework to ensure fair competition for MSMEs on digital platforms. The paper complements a previous study on data from Indonesia.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney

    In a hectic 24 hours of trade diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has paused his threatened 25% tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico, while keeping 10% tariffs on imports from China.

    Australian companies with operations in Canada or Mexico such as Rio Tinto, whose Canadian operations export billions of dollars of aluminium to the US, have won a temporary reprieve. But the risk of weaker economic growth in China will weigh heavily on companies that export to our largest trading partner.

    And Trump has hinted all US imports of aluminium and copper, including from Australia, may be his next target.

    The Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Tuesday that although Australia is not immune when there are escalating trade tensions, “we are pretty well-placed to navigate them.”

    However, even if Australia manages to stay out of Trump’s sights, Australians cannot expect to come out of a trade war unscathed. Due to the complexity of global supply chains, it is difficult to predict exactly how Australia would be affected, but here are a few key factors that would likely come into play.

    Our largest trading partner

    About 40% of Australia’s exports go to China, making it the biggest destination by far, according to data for 2023 from UN Comtrade. Most of this is Australian iron ore and other minerals that are used in China’s construction and manufacturing sectors.

    If Trump’s tariffs further slow the
    already sluggish Chinese economy, this will reduce demand for the goods it buys from Australia.

    If China’s demand for iron ore falls significantly, this will not only hurt the Australian mining sector, but it could trigger a fall in the Australian dollar, making the things Australians buy from abroad more expensive.

    But the size of the impact of the latest tariffs on China remains to be seen. China has already absorbed the tariffs from the first Trump administration, and the latest increase is much smaller than the 60% tariff he previously proposed.

    Trade diversion

    The one positive effect for Australia of US tariffs on other countries is that, because they raise the price of other countries’ exports to the US, they may make some Australian exports more competitive. This is something economists call trade diversion. For example, the tariffs on Canadian aluminium would have shifted US demand toward aluminium produced in Australia.

    The tariffs on China will divert relatively little trade to Australia because there is not much overlap between the products China and Australia export to the US.

    But China’s retaliatory tariffs could make a significant impact. China responded to the US tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term with tariffs on American wheat and other agricultural products. A similar move this time could create an opening for Australian farmers to fill the gap.

    But it is not all good news. The US exports diverted away from the Chinese market will also compete with Australian products in other countries. So, while Australian wheat may become more competitive in China, US wheat may displace Australia’s in the Philippines.

    A weaker Aussie dollar?

    Tariffs also tend to cause the currency of the country imposing them to rise because they reduce demand for goods denominated in foreign currencies.

    The flip side is a weaker Australian dollar, which dropped to a five-year low after the tariffs were flagged. The currency has now fallen nearly 10% since November.

    Again, this raises the cost of imports to Australia, which could lift inflation.

    Network disruption

    If the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are confirmed in 30 days’ time, the greatest impact will be in the supply chain disruption they will cause.

    Analyses of the tariffs Trump imposed on China in 2018 found most of the cost was borne by US businesses that use imported inputs. But because North American production networks are so highly integrated, and have been for decades, the effect of tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be much more disruptive to all North American producers.

    As economic networks expert Ben Golub explains, the concern is not just that auto prices will rise, but that if key parts of the production network fail, such as if small but important intermediate suppliers go out of business, the effects of the tariffs could cascade into major disruptions.

    Eventually, businesses will develop alternative supply chains, but the short-run pain could be considerable.

    For Australians, this could mean higher prices and supply disruptions, not just for the products we buy from the US, but for anything that depends on a North American supplier at any stage in the production process.

    We are still feeling the effects of the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID, including the jump in inflation in 2021 and 2022 and the subsequent high interest rates and global backlash against incumbent political parties. That includes Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office.

    Similar disruptions may be in store if this skirmish becomes a major global trade war. Even if Trump’s promised tariffs never actually materialise, we may still see the same effects on a smaller scale because the trade policy uncertainty from just the threat of a trade war has similar effects on business activity as actual tariffs.

    Whatever transpires, even if Australia can escape direct involvement in a trade war, it cannot escape the shockwaves that reverberate through the global economy. The question is whether it will be a ripple or a tsunami.

    Scott French 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. Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos – https://theconversation.com/australia-wont-escape-the-fallout-of-the-trump-trade-chaos-248883

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour’s Budget is a reflection of their failure to stand up for Wales

    Source: Party of Wales

    “Wales should not have to settle for less” – Heledd Fychan MS    

    Ahead of today’s (Tuesday 4th February 2025) vote on Draft Budget 2025-26, Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan MS has criticised Labour for failing to deliver on their promise of meaningful change for Wales.

    The Labour Welsh Government originally set out its Draft Budget in December 2024.

    Despite promising a ‘partnership in power’ between both Labour Governments in Westminster and Cardiff, Labour have failed to stand up for Wales to demand a needs based funding model, powers over the Crown Estate and the billions owed to Wales from HS2.

    Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Finance and Culture, Heledd Fychan MS said:

    “Labour’s Budget is not one that will address the crisis facing the education or culture sectors, it won’t fix the NHS, and neither will it mean that councils across Wales will be able to properly deliver key public services that our communities rely on.

    “While Labour said everything would be rosy once a UK Labour Government was elected, without securing the fair funding that Wales needs, this Draft Budget is yet another sticking plaster that doesn’t offer the meaningful change promised.

    “Wales should not have to settle for less. We deserve a fair funding formula to invest in public services. We have the right to full control over our natural resources. And we should absolutely be given the £4bn owed from HS2. Labour’s failure to stand up for Wales and demand all of these from their colleagues in Westminster is reflected in this budget. It’s clear that only Plaid Cymru stands up for our communities.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: GigaCloud Technology Inc Donates More than $1 Million in Furniture to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to Aid Wildfire Victims

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EL MONTE, Calif., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GigaCloud Technology Inc (Nasdaq: GCT) (“GigaCloud” or the “Company”), a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise, today announced it is donating more than $1 million in home furnishings to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to support the ReBUILD LA™ Wildfire Recovery campaign. The donation will directly benefit families who have lost their homes, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort.

    “Los Angeles is our home, and when people in our community lose their homes in disasters like wildfires, it impacts all of us,” said Larry Wu, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to help families rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort. Through our donation of over $1 million worth of furniture to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles, we aim to provide essential home furnishings and restore a sense of normalcy for those who have lost so much. GigaCloud stands with our community—as neighbors and as a company that cares.”

    GigaCloud’s donation includes nearly 90 SKUs totaling over 5,000 items, featuring a diverse range of indoor living furniture such as beds, mattresses, sofas, and chairs. The contribution also includes a significant number of ottomans and dressers, ensuring a wide variety of pieces to enhance functionality.

    Recognizing that mattresses were among the most urgently needed items and that they were not in stock at the time, the Company took action by reaching out to Restonic—a leading mattress supplier and recently onboarded GigaCloud B2B Marketplace seller—to purchase $150,000 worth of mattresses specifically for donation.

    “When GigaCloud reached out to us about the urgent need for mattresses among those impacted by the wildfire, their dedication to truly helping the community was evident,” said Laurie Tokarz, President of Restonic. “Instead of simply donating what was available, they made it a priority to source exactly what families needed most. At Restonic, providing comfort and support is at the heart of what we do, and we are honored to partner with GigaCloud and Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to help families rebuild their homes and lives.”

    GigaCloud’s deep ties to the Los Angeles community extend beyond this initiative. Under the leadership of Wu, who was recognized as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Greater Los Angeles Award winner by Ernst & Young LLP in 2024, the Company has consistently supported local causes, including ongoing donations to City of Hope and other community initiatives.

    The ReBUILD LA™ Wildfire Recovery campaign was created to support uninsured, underinsured, and low-income families impacted by wildfires. The campaign focuses on providing assistance with rebuilding and relocation to ensure families have safe and stable housing. Additionally, it offers essential home furnishings and supplies to help create new living spaces, as well as temporary rental and mortgage assistance for families whose homes are uninhabitable.

    “We are incredibly grateful to GigaCloud Technology for their generosity and shared commitment to rebuilding lives and restoring hope,” said Erin Rank, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles. “Their donation will provide families with essential home furnishings as they begin anew after the devastation of wildfires.”

    About GigaCloud Technology Inc

    GigaCloud Technology Inc is a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise. The Company’s B2B ecommerce platform, the “GigaCloud Marketplace,” integrates everything from discovery, payments and logistics tools into one easy-to-use platform. The Company’s global marketplace seamlessly connects manufacturers, primarily in Asia, with resellers, primarily in the U.S., Asia and Europe, to execute cross-border transactions with confidence, speed and efficiency. GigaCloud offers a comprehensive solution that transports products from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the end customer’s doorstep, all at one fixed price. The Company first launched its marketplace in January 2019 by focusing on the global furniture market and has since expanded into additional categories, including home appliances and fitness equipment. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.gigacloudtech.com/.

    About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

    Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) transforms neighborhoods throughout greater Los Angeles by bringing the community together to build affordable homes, provide critical home repairs and help families rebuild after natural disasters. Habitat LA strengthens families through helping them access affordable loans, housing counseling and down-payment assistance. For more information about Habitat LA visit https://www.habitatla.org/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GigaCloud Technology Inc
    Investor Relations
    ir@gigacloudtech.com

    PondelWilkinson, Inc.
    Laurie Berman (Investors) – lberman@pondel.com
    George Medici (Media) – gmedici@pondel.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: A Plan for Establishing a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund

    Source: The White House

         By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the long-term financial health and international leadership of the United States, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Policy and Purpose.  It is the policy of the United States to maximize the stewardship of our national wealth for the sole benefit of American citizens.  To this end, it is in the interest of the American people that the Federal Government establish a sovereign wealth fund to promote fiscal sustainability, lessen the burden of taxes on American families and small businesses, establish economic security for future generations, and promote United States economic and strategic leadership internationally. 

    Sec. 2.  Sovereign Wealth Fund.  The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, in close coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, shall develop a plan for the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund consistent with section 1 of this order.  The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit this plan to the President within 90 days of the date of this order.  Such plan shall include recommendations for funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structure, and a governance model.  The plan shall also include an evaluation of the legal considerations for establishing and managing such a fund, including any need for legislation. 

    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “It’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.”

    Murray: “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to sound the alarm over Elon Musk and his team at the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” being granted access to the federal government’s central payments system, which handles $6 trillion and the vast majority of all federal disbursements each year. Musk and his associates were granted access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems the same weekend they threatened their way into the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and seized Office of Personnel Management (OPM) computer systems. New reporting indicates they are now forcing their way into Small Business Administration (SBA) systems, as well. 

    Murray and her colleagues outlined the threat of Musk and the administration abusing the Treasury’s payment system to illegally block funding and payments, the danger of allowing Musk access to Americans’ most sensitive personal data, and how this administration’s historic corruption and illegal funding freezes are putting our country’s economy and national security in jeopardy. 

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Well we’re two weeks in, and it’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.

    “In particular, we learned that Elon Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s most sensitive payment system handling six trillion dollars every year and managing nearly all federal disbursements. It’s a system that contains extremely sensitive personal and commercial information, and I’ve been hearing from people across my state who are truly alarmed about what Musk and his associates having access to this system could mean for their data—and for funding that they count on. 

    “Let’s not mince words here. An unelected, unaccountable billionaire—with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China, and an indiscreet axe to grind against perceived enemies—is hijacking our nation’s most sensitive financial data system and its checkbook so that he can illegally block funds to our constituents, based on the slightest whim or wildest conspiracy. Funds—mind you—that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis. 

    “Some Republicans are trying to suggest that Musk only has ‘viewing access’ to Treasury’s highly sensitive payment system as if that’s acceptable either. But why on earth should we believe that—particularly when he is saying the exact opposite loudly and repeatedly for everyone to see? 

    “What funds will Elon target next—life-saving medical research? Housing assistance? Food banks? We already know he is falsely attacking faith-based organizations that help people—and promising to cut off funds based off conspiracy theories.

    “The world’s richest man has vowed to cut off funding that helps the least among us. Think about that. And next—think about how many dollars he himself makes from government contracts. And the Trump Administration is handing the keys of the Treasury over to him? It does not get more blatantly corrupt than that. 

    “And let me underscore just how dangerous this is—because now that Trump has handed over Treasury’s checkbook, what if Elon decides he doesn’t like how Ford is getting federal funds to build an EV battery plant, what’s next? All Elon has to do is say ‘oh, they’re woke,’ and he can convince Trump to illegally cut off those funds.

    “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.

    “Now, make no mistake: Trump and Musk have absolutely zero legal authority to hold up any federal payments that are law, but that has not stopped them so far.

    “This country is still reeling from the chaos of last week’s blanket spending freeze and Trump’s illegal executive orders to withhold funds are still not yet revoked. Trump and Musk have yet to find a law they think applies to them.

    “That is not how things work in this country. We have a democracy. We have checks and we have balances—where the President is accountable to Congress, where we pass the laws, and he implements them.

    “But some of my colleagues across the aisle seem to be forgetting that our democracy does not work by magic. We have to do our part to hold the President accountable. Our job is not to say ‘yes’ to everything any President does—no matter how lawless or harmful. 

    “Democrats are pushing back with the tools that we have. We will speak out, we will press this administration, we will open investigations, and we will demand accountability. The one tool we do not have is the majority in this Congress. 

    “So that means our Republican colleagues have to say ‘enough.’ We need them to join us. We need them to stand up to the corruption and lawlessness and stand up for the people they represent.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Blasts Dangerous & Unprecedented Move by Trump Admin. That Puts U.S. Economy and National Security At Risk and Jeopardizes Americans’ Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Treasury, sounded the alarm that the Trump Administration is putting the U.S. economy and national security at risk; needlessly turning Americans’ sensitive personal information over to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also owns the social media platform known as X (formerly Twitter); and creating a pathway for the Trump Administration to potentially block payments to any individual or entity perceived as a political opponent of President Donald Trump.

    Reed is seeking answers from new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following reports that he granted access to a highly sensitive Treasury Department payment system to personnel affiliated with Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taskforce. 

    In a letter, Reed urged Bessent: “To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.”

    The U.S. Treasury’s federal payment system, which is maintained by non-political civil servants, disperses trillions of dollars each year, such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government.  No previous Treasury Secretary has ever allowed Treasury’s payment system and the goldmine of sensitive personal data it processes to be accessed by a partisan task force.  Trump loyalists could use this information to illegally manipulate or operationally shut down individual U.S. government payments to any disfavored entity or perceived opposition of the President’s.

    “Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments,” Reed wrote.

    The previous person in charge of Treasury’s payment system, the Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury, who served in that position since 2014 — and who President Donald Trump named as acting Treasury Secretary while Mr. Bessent went through the nominations process — was put on paid administrative leave and then resigned after refusing to do what Bessent did: spark an unprecedented payment system crisis by turning over the keys to America’s payment system to an unelected billionaire with significant foreign business ties and his partisan cronies and potentially empowering DOGE to go after President Trump’s perceived enemies.

    Reed warned that Secretary Bessent’s departure from long-standing Treasury procedure could endanger the nation’s financial well-being and harm ordinary citizens.  Granting Elon Musk’s team the single most comprehensive dataset on virtually every American with no checks, transparency, or accountability is extremely dangerous and unprecedented. 

    “It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest,” Reed wrote.

    Reed urged Treasury to take four key steps immediately, including:

    •           Revoking the access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not been property vetted;

    •           Appointing a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refusing to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Taking steps to protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals who were granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    Reed also demanded written responses to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Full text of the letter follows:

    February 3, 2025

    The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary

    U.S. Department of the Treasury

    1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

    Washington, DC 20220

    Dear Secretary Bessent:

    On Friday, January 31, you provided full access to the federal government’s payment systems to surrogates of Elon Musk and representatives of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which operates under the de-facto control of Mr. Musk, a private citizen. To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.

    The Treasury Department through the Bureau of the Fiscal Service executes payments on behalf of agencies across the federal government. Last year, Treasury distributed $5.4 trillion in payments for the American public, including Social Security benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government. Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments.

    It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest.

    You should immediately reverse the actions that you took on January 31:

    •           Revoke access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not undergone full background investigations and have not been property vetted;

    •           Appoint a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refuse to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals to whom you have granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    In addition, because you have already have given individuals operating at the behest of Mr. Musk access to U.S. government payment systems, please provide written answers to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Finally, please keep in mind that all executive branch agencies must proactively alert the Appropriations and other appropriate House and Senate Committees when apportionments are not made in required time periods, are approved only with conditions, or may hinder the prudent obligation of apportionments or the execution of a program, project, or activity. Agencies are also required to report all violations of the Impoundment Control Act to Congress. Finally, agencies may not prohibit or prevent any federal employee from having direct communication with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of Congress. All federal employees must be free to communicate directly with Congress, whether Congress has requested that communication or not.

    Thank your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New York Times: Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter on Monday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding answers for why the so-called Department of Government Efficiency was granted access to the federal payments system, giving Elon Musk and his team a powerful tool that could be used to track and potentially limit government spending.

    The letter is a sign of mounting outrage among Democrats over the unorthodox efforts that the Trump administration and Mr. Musk are preparing to take control of how congressionally approved funds are spent. The questions come after a career civil servant named David Lebryk abruptly resigned on Friday after requests to grant Mr. Musk’s lieutenants access to Treasury’s payment system.

    “It is extraordinarily dangerous to meddle with the critical systems that process trillions of dollars of transactions each year, are essential to preventing a default on federal debt, and ensure that tens of millions of Americans receive their Social Security checks, tax refunds and Medicare benefits,” wrote Ms. Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Alan Rappeport
    Source: New York Times

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warren Sounds Alarm on Threat Elon Musk Poses to Government Payment Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    “Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else.” 

    “[T]his is not business as usual…We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up.” 

    Video of Press Conference (YouTube) 

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (BHUA), delivered remarks on the danger of Elon Musk having access to the federal government’s critical payment systems, which includes the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans.

    Transcript: Press Conference – Democrats Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly Sensitive Central Government Payment System
    February 3, 2025
    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: I want to be clear about what’s going on here.

    The system that makes sure that your granddad gets his Social Security check. The system that makes sure your mom’s doctor gets a Medicare payment to cover her medical appointment. And the system that makes sure you get the tax refund you’re owed, has been taken over by Elon Musk. And every organization from your state government that uses federal money on that bridge project to the local Head Start that takes care of little kids while their mommies and daddies go to work is now at the mercy of Elon Musk. Maybe you get paid, or maybe you don’t—because now it appears that all of us work for Elon Musk.

    Elon just grabbed the controls of that whole payment system, demanding the power to turn it on for his friends or turn it off for anyone he doesn’t like. One guy deciding who gets paid and who doesn’t. It is not the law, but it is the reality. 

    Now, there’s a second problem here. It’s not just payments from the federal government that are now in Elon’s control. Elon and his handful of friends now have full access to your personal and financial information that’s in the system. Your payment history. Your social security number. Your bank account numbers. Elon now has the power to suck out all that information for his own use. Now, whether it’s to boost his finances or expand his political power, it is all up to Elon. 

    And there’s a third problem. In order for this handful of programmers to gain access to our $6 trillion payment system, we don’t know what safeguards were pulled down. Are the gates wide open now for hackers from China, from North Korea, from Iran, from Russia? Heck, who knows what black hat hackers all around the world are finding out about each one of us and copying that information for their own criminal uses. 

    Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else. And this is just the start. As we gear up for the tax fight, it will become even clearer that Trump will open the doors for billionaires and giant corporations to find more ways to loot the government at your expense. Meanwhile, everyone else pays more for groceries, more for housing, more for prescription drugs, and more for healthcare.

    When unelected billionaires start ransacking our government offices, this is not business as usual. Nope. Nothing is normal. We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up. We need to use every tool we have to fight back, and in the Senate, we can start by saying NO to dangerous Trump nominees like Tulsi Gabbard or Russ Vought. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington Post: Senators urge tougher chip controls to stymie Chinese AI advance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) have issued a populist appeal to Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick to toughen chip export controls against China, in response to the country’s surprise DeepSeek AI breakthrough.

    “Multiple administrations have failed — at the behest of corporate interests — to update and enforce our export controls in a timely manner. We cannot let that continue,” they wrote in a letter provided exclusively to The Washington Post, calling DeepSeek “an export control failure.”

    The pair laid out an anti-Big Tech line in arguing that “corporate lobbying” resulted in loopholes to Biden administration export controls, allowing DeepSeek to acquire — and more pointedly Nvidia to sell — the chips it needed to train its AI model.

    The senators also asked Lutnick to “insulate” the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security from industry lobbying by hiring senior staffers without existing connections to industry or lobbying firms.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Eva Dou
    Source: Washington Post

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NBC News: Democratic senators say they have ‘grave concerns’ over RFK Jr.’s potential financial conflicts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Two Democratic senators on the committee that will get to decide whether to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination say his recent financial disclosure filing gave them “grave concern” about whether he should become the next health and human services secretary.

    In a letter to Kennedy dated Sunday, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said his recently amended ethics disclosure form only raised additional questions about the scope of his potential financial conflicts of interest.

    “What is clear is that your involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive. It seems possible that many different types of vaccine-related decisions and communications—which you would be empowered to make and influence as Secretary—could result in significant financial compensation for your family,” wrote Warren and Wyden, who are on the Finance Committee.

    “These conflicts, combined with your decades-long career casting doubt about the safety and efficacy of life-saving vaccines, give us grave concern about your fitness to serve as Secretary,” they continued. 

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Natasha Korecki
    Source: NBC News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Native Village of Kipnuk Private Nonprofits Affected by the August Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Native Village of Kipnuk of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the severe storm and flooding that occurred Aug. 16-18, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Lower Kuskokwim Regional Educational Attendance Area.

    Under this disaster declaration, PNPs that provide services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans. Eligible PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. 

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster.

    Interest rates can be as low 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    PNPs are also eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any physical property damage.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 3. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Monetary policy frameworks: lessons learned and challenges ahead

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Several central banks in advanced economies are currently reviewing their monetary policy frameworks. These reviews are timely, since the post-pandemic inflation surge offers important insights to refine frameworks. This experience has shown that inflation risks are considerably more two-sided than previously appreciated and has highlighted the public’s strong aversion to inflation. The inflation surge has also underscored the unpredictable nature of economic developments, emphasising the need for monetary policy to be able to react nimbly. These considerations indicate scope for rebalancing frameworks towards the risks of inflation surges and reducing reliance on policy tools that are difficult to adjust. Crucially, the reviews should adopt a realistic perspective on what monetary policy can achieve and ensure the robustness of frameworks against a wide range of possible economic developments.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are cooling blankets? Can they really help me sleep?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Grosser, Research Associate, Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre, University of South Australia

    EGHStock/Shutterstock

    You wake up exhausted from yet another hot night of tossing and turning, with very little sleep.

    So you might be tempted to buy a “cooling blanket” after reading rave reviews on social media. Or you might have read online articles with taglines such as:

    Stop waking up in a puddle of sweat with our roundup of the best cooling blankets – including a top-rated option from Amazon that ‘actually works’.

    But what are cooling blankets? And can they help you get a restful night?

    We know a cooler bedroom is best

    First, let’s look at why a cooler environment helps us sleep better at night.

    Our body’s internal temperature has a circadian rhythm, meaning it fluctuates throughout the day. A couple of hours before bed, it drops about 0.31°C to help you fall asleep. It will drop about another 2°C across the night to help you stay asleep.

    During sleep, your internal temperature and skin work together to achieve a balance between losing and producing heat. Your skin has sensors that pick-up changes in the environment around you. If it gets too warm, these sensors let your body know, which may cause you to kick-off blankets or bed clothes and wake more often leading to poorer sleep quality.

    Sleep quality is an important component of sleep health ensuring you get the physical, mental and emotional benefits that come from a good night’s sleep.

    The ideal temperature for sleep varies depending on the season and type of bedding you have but falls between 17°C and 28°C. Keeping your sleeping environment within this range will help you to get the best night’s rest.

    So what are cooling blankets?

    Cooling blankets are designed to help regulate your body temperature while you sleep.

    Different technologies and materials are used in their design and construction.

    We’re not talking about hospital-grade cooling blankets that are used to reduce fever and prevent injury to the nervous system. These use gel pads with circulating water, or air-cooling systems, connected to automatic thermostats to monitor someone’s temperature.

    Instead, the type of consumer-grade cooling blankets you might see advertised use a blend of lightweight, breathable materials that draw moisture away from the skin to help you stay cool and dry through the night. They look like regular blankets.

    Common materials include cotton, bamboo, silk or the fibre Lyocell, all of which absorb moisture.

    Manufacturers typically use a thread count of 300-500, creating air pockets that enhance airflow and moisture evaporation.

    Some blankets feature a Q-Max rating, which indicates how cool the fabric feels against your skin. The higher the value, the cooler the fabric feels.

    Others feature phase change materials. These materials were developed by NASA for space suits to keep astronauts comfortable during a spacewalk where temperatures are from roughly -157°C to 121°C. Phase change materials in cooling blankets absorb and hold heat producing a cooling effect.

    Some cooling blankets use NASA technology developed for space suits.
    Summit Art Creations/NASA/Shutterstock

    Do they work?

    If you believe online reviews, yes, cooling blankets can cool you down and help you sleep better in warmer weather or if you get too hot using normal sheets and blankets.

    However, there is little scientific research to see if these consumer-grade products work.

    In a 2021 study exploring sleep quality, 20 participants slept for three nights under two different conditions.

    First, they slept with regular bed sheets in an air-conditioned room with the temperature set to their preference. Then, they used cooling bed sheets in an air-conditioned room where the temperature was set 3°C higher than their preference.

    Participants reported good sleep quality in both conditions but preferred the warmer room with its cooling sheets.

    This may suggest the use of cooling bedding may help provide a more comfortable night’s sleep.

    But everyone’s cooling needs varies depending on things like age, health, body temperature, the space you sleep in, and personal preferences.

    So while these products may work for some people who may be motivated to leave a good review, they may not necessarily work for you.

    Are they worth it?

    There’s a wide variety of cooling blankets available at different prices to suit various budgets. Positive customer reviews might encourage a purchase, especially for individuals experiencing disrupted sleep at night due to heat.

    Yet, these cooling blankets have limited scientific research to show they work and to say if they’re worth it. So it’s up to you.

    Lots of choice, but little scientific evidence to back them.
    Screenshot Google Shopping

    What else can I do if I’m a hot sleeper?

    If a cooling blanket isn’t for you, there are other things you can do to stay cool at night, such as:

    • using air conditioning or a fan

    • placing a damp towel under or over you

    • wearing lightweight or minimal sleepwear and avoiding thick or synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, that can trap heat

    • if you usually share a bed, on hot nights, consider sleeping by yourself to avoid excess body heat from your partner.

    On a final note, if you often struggle with hot, disturbed sleep, you can check in with your health-care provider. They can see if there is a medical explanation for your disturbed sleep and advise what to try next.

    Luana Main will receive funding from the NHMRC to investigate the effects of climate change on an unrelated topic starting later this year.

    Linda Grosser 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. What are cooling blankets? Can they really help me sleep? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-cooling-blankets-can-they-really-help-me-sleep-244158

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Orders Plan for a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund

    Source: The White House

    DELIVERING A PLAN TO CREATE A UNITED STATES SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order calling for the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

    • The Executive Order directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to deliver a plan within 90 days for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.
      • The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce will work closely with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy to develop the plan.
      • The Order directs the Secretary to include in the plan recommendations for funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structure, and a governance model.

    ENSURING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY: The creation of a sovereign wealth fund for the United States will help maximize the stewardship of our national wealth.

    • Sovereign wealth funds exist around the world as mechanisms to amplify the financial return to a nation’s assets and leverage those returns for strategic benefit and goals.
      • The United States can leverage such returns to promote fiscal sustainability, lessen the burden of taxes on American families and small businesses, establish long-term economic security, and promote U.S. economic and strategic leadership internationally.
    • The United States already holds a vast sum of highly valued assets that can be invested through a sovereign wealth fund for greater long-term wealth generation.
      • The Federal government directly holds $5.7 trillion in assets. Indirectly, including through natural resource reserves, the Federal government holds a far larger sum of asset value.

    PURSUING NATIONAL ENDEAVORS AND MAGNIFYING ECONOMIC GROWTH: President Trump has called for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund “to invest in great national endeavors for the benefit of all of the American people.”

    • President Trump’s economic policies—including the pursuit of fair and balanced trade, national energy dominance, and tax and regulatory relief to spur robust economic growth—will result in greater wealth and revenue streams that a sovereign wealth fund can maximize the potential of.
    • Sovereign wealth funds are maintained by a diverse array of countries leveraging equally varied classes of national assets. President Trump has called for a sovereign wealth fund to ensure the United States can lead the way in long-term wealth generation.
      • The United Kingdom recently announced their own plans to pursue development of such a fund.
      • In addition to countries around the world maintaining their own funds, 23 states within our own country maintain their own funds that control in total $332 billion in assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Awards Contract for Airborne Science Flight Services Support

    Source: NASA

    NASA has awarded Dynamic Aviation Group Inc. of Bridgewater, Virginia, the Commercial Aviation Services contract to support the agency’s Airborne Science Program. The program provides aircraft and technology to further science and advance the use of Earth observing satellite data, making NASA data about our home planet and innovations accessible to all.
    This is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum potential value of $13.5 million. The period of performance began Friday, Jan. 31, and continues through Jan. 30, 2030. 
    Under this contract, the company will provide ground and flight crews and services using modified commercial aircraft, including a Beechcraft King Air B200 and Beechcraft King Air A90. Work will include mechanical and electrical engineering services for instrument integration and de-integration, flight planning and real-time tracking, project execution, as well as technical feasibility assessments and cost estimation. Aircraft modifications may include instrumented nosecones, viewing ports, inlets, computing systems, and satellite communications capabilities. 
    This work is essential for NASA to conduct airborne science missions, develop and validate earth system models, and support satellite payload calibration. NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will administer the agency-wide contract on behalf of the Airborne Science Program in the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
    To learn more about NASA and agency programs, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Rachel HooverAmes Research Center, Silicon Valley, Calif.650-604-4789rachel.hoover@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Presses Forward Search for VIPER Moon Rover Partner

    Source: NASA

    To advance plans of securing a public/private partnership and land and operate NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission on the Moon in collaboration with industry the agency announced Monday it is seeking U.S. proposals. As part of the agency’s Artemis campaign, instruments on VIPER will demonstrate U.S. industry’s ability to search for ice on the lunar surface and collect science data.
    The Announcement for Partnership Proposal contains proposal instructions and evaluation criteria for a new Lunar Volatiles Science Partnership. Responses are due Thursday, Feb. 20. After evaluating submissions, any selections by the agency will require respondents to submit a second, more detailed, proposal. NASA is expected to make a decision on the VIPER mission this summer.
    “Moving forward with a VIPER partnership offers NASA a unique opportunity to engage with the private sector,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Such a partnership provides the opportunity for NASA to collect VIPER science that could tell us more about water on the Moon, while advancing commercial lunar landing capabilities and resource prospecting possibilities.”
    This new announcement comes after NASA issued a Request for Information on Aug. 9, 2024, to seek interest from American companies and institutions in conducting a mission using the agency’s VIPER Moon rover after the program was canceled in July 2024.
    Any partnership would work under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. This type of partnership allows both NASA and an industry partner to contribute services, technology, and hardware to the collaboration.
    As part of an agreement, NASA would contribute the existing VIPER rover as-is. Potential partners would need to arrange for the integration and successful landing of the rover on the Moon, conduct a science/exploration campaign, and disseminate VIPER-generated science data. The partner may not disassemble the rover and use its instruments or parts separately from the VIPER mission. NASA’s selection approach will favor proposals that enable data from the mission’s science instruments to be shared openly with anyone who wishes to use it.
    “Being selected for the VIPER partnership would benefit any company interested in advancing their lunar landing and surface operations capabilities,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in the Science Mission Directorate. “This solicitation seeks proposals that clearly describe what is needed to successfully land and operate the rover, and invites industry to propose their own complementary science goals and approaches. NASA is looking forward to partnering with U.S. industry to meet the challenges of performing volatiles science in the lunar environment.”
    The Moon is a cornerstone for solar system science and exoplanet studies. In addition to helping inform where ice exists on the Moon for potential future astronauts, understanding our nearest neighbor helps us understand how it has evolved and what processes shaped its surface. 
    To learn more about NASA’s lunar science, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/moon
    -end-
    Karen FoxHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100karen.fox@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Announces Its Net Asset Value and Asset Coverage Ratios as of January 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: KYN) today provided a summary unaudited statement of assets and liabilities and announced its net asset value and asset coverage ratios under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as of January 31, 2025.

    As of January 31, 2025, the Company’s net assets were $2.4 billion, and its net asset value per share was $14.46. As of January 31, 2025, the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness was 623% and the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to total leverage (debt and preferred stock) was 476%.

     STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
    JANUARY 31, 2025   // (UNAUDITED)    		      
           
        (in millions)      
    Investments   $ 3,450.6        
    Cash and cash equivalents     1.8        
    Accrued income     9.9        
    Current tax asset, net     6.4        
    Other assets     0.4        
    Total assets     3,469.1        
               
    Credit facility     87.0        
    Notes     409.7        
    Unamortized notes issuance costs     (2.7 )      
    Preferred stock     153.6        
    Unamortized preferred stock issuance costs     (1.3 )      
    Total leverage     646.3        
               
    Payable for securities purchased     18.8        
    Other liabilities     16.3        
    Deferred tax liability, net     342.8        
    Total liabilities     377.9        
               
    Net assets   $ 2,444.9        
               

    The Company had 169,126,038 common shares outstanding as of January 31, 2025.

    Long-term investments were comprised of Midstream Energy Companies (94%), Utility Companies (4%) and Other (2%).  

    The Company’s ten largest holdings by issuer at January 31, 2025 were:

          Amount
    (in millions)*    		   % Long Term
    Investments
    1. Energy Transfer LP (Midstream Energy Company)   $390.7   11.3 %
    2. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Midstream Energy Company)     338.2   9.8 %
    3. The Williams Companies, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     327.6   9.5 %
    4. MPLX LP (Midstream Energy Company)     320.4   9.3 %
    5. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)               256.3   7.4 %
    6. Targa Resources Corp. (Midstream Energy Company)     208.8   6.1 %
    7. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     207.3   6.0 %
    8. ONEOK, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     183.1   5.3 %
    9. TC Energy Corporation (Midstream Energy Company)     155.6   4.5 %
    10. Western Midstream Partners, LP (Midstream Energy Company)     151.2   4.4 %
                   
    * Includes ownership of common and preferred units.            
                   

    Portfolio holdings are subject to change without notice. The mention of specific securities is not a recommendation or solicitation for any person to buy, sell or hold any particular security. You can obtain a complete listing of holdings by viewing the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual report.

    Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Company’s investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Company’s most recent quarterly report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider any investor’s specific objectives or circumstances. Before investing, please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.kaynefunds.com or www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment objectives will be attained.

    Contact investor relations at 877-657-3863 or cef@kayneanderson.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Unwritten rules: why claims of a missing ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty don’t stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology

    I sign this Treaty with my hand, but with the mana of my ancestors.

    So said Hōne Heke, the first rangatira (chief) to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. To emphasise the gravity of this sentiment, he then mentioned two of his predecessors by name: Kaharau and Kauteawha.

    It would be difficult to imagine a statement that could invest more mana in the Treaty than this. And Heke was not alone in his view of the agreement.

    Many other rangatira similarly regarded the Treaty as a kawenata (covenant) of utmost importance, including some going as far as putting a representation of their tā moko (facial tattoo) on the document.

    How each rangatira interpreted the Treaty’s provisions remains open to speculation. But what they committed themselves to abiding by was the text of the agreement (either the English version, or in the case of most signatories, the translation in te reo Māori).

    That text was comprised of a preamble, followed by three operative articles. Some rangatira read it, some had it read to them. But as far as all the parties were concerned, that was the entirety of the Treaty.

    In the 1990s, however, suggestions began to surface about a mysterious “fourth article” guaranteeing religious protections. It was not part of the text, but supposedly a verbal promise that amounted to a provision of the agreement.

    The idea has gained sufficient traction for supporters to petition parliament late last year to recognise the fourth article, just as debate about the Treaty Principles Bill was heating up. But it is a claim that needs to be treated with caution and scrutiny.

    Religious protections

    Prior to the first signing of the Treaty – at Waitangi – the Anglican missionary Henry Williams had observed that some Catholic rangatira were reluctant to commit to the agreement.

    The Catholic Bishop, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, had queried British motives and insisted Catholic rangatira should receive specific protection from the Crown. Williams then read out a hastily-prepared statement to clarify the issue:

    The Governor wishes you to understand that all the Maories (sic) who shall join the Church of England, who shall join the Wesleyans, who shall join the Pikopo or Church of Rome, and those who retain their Maori practices, shall have the protection of the British Government.

    Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Williams noted that this statement “was received in silence. No observation was made upon it; the Maories, and others, being at perfect loss to understand what it could mean.”

    And there the matter ought to have ended: a peripheral detail in a momentous day. But this minor episode was disinterred from its historical obscurity in 1995 at a meeting of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

    The clerics announced that a “fourth article was added to the Maori text of the Treaty signed at Waitangi, at the request of Bishop Jean Baptiste […] This article guaranteed religious freedom for all in the new nation, including Maori.”

    Some Anglicans soon endorsed this position. The “fourth article” thus entered the bloodstream of Treaty discourse and began to circulate freely.

    Missing evidence

    There are several objections to the claim of a fourth article of the Treaty.

    Firstly, if it was regarded as a part of the Treaty at the signing on February 6 1840, then we would expect to see both contemporaneous confirmation of this, and subsequent evidence that is consistent with it.

    Yet, these categories of evidence are largely absent. Indeed, mention of a “fourth article” before the 1990s does not exist.

    The sentiment of the fourth article is also absent from the instructions for the Treaty issued by Lord Normanby, British Secretary of State for the Colonies, in 1839.

    Indeed, far from the Crown wishing to guarantee freedom of cultural or religious beliefs, Normanby made it explicit that only those Māori customs the British regarded as acceptable would be protected:

    [The] savage practices of human sacrifice and cannibalism must be promptly and decisively interdicted; such atrocities, under whatever plea of religion they may take place, are not to be tolerated in any part of the dominions of the British Crown.

    Therefore, as far as one party to the Treaty was concerned, the idea of the fourth article was never in contention. What was explicitly promised to all people was the protection of the British government, and not the protection of all customs held by Māori.

    Treaties are written

    As every other contemporaneous source confirms, no rangatira sought this fourth article, and around 90% of rangatira who signed the Treaty (in places other than Waitangi) did not have this so-called fourth article read to them (and so could not have consented to it).

    William Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Nor was it included in the text of copies of the agreement that were subsequently circulated around the country, and neither Hobson nor Pompallier suggested it was an “article” as such.

    International law requires that treaties be in a written form. This certainly has been the convention as far as European treaties are concerned, extending back several centuries.

    It makes any suggestion Hobson admitted an oral article extremely problematic. Likewise, New Zealand’s domestic law also specifies the Treaty contains only three articles.

    Furthermore, if spoken commitments have the status of an article, then what about other verbal commitments made at some of the Treaty signings? Singling out one statement as a presumed article is inconsistent. Either the principle of all verbal commitments in such a setting constitute articles of the Treaty, or none does.

    Previous attempts to insert the fourth article into the country’s constitutional framework have gone nowhere. And in the absence of more persuasive historical evidence, it’s likely to stay that way.

    As the late Kingi Tūheitia succinctly put it: “The Treaty is written. That’s it.”

    Paul Moon 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. Unwritten rules: why claims of a missing ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty don’t stack up – https://theconversation.com/unwritten-rules-why-claims-of-a-missing-fourth-article-of-the-treaty-dont-stack-up-248539

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Stonecrop Meadows in Middlebury for Groundbreaking 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch nominated the project for federal funding through Congressionally Directed Spending Process 
    MIDDLEBURY, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined Vermont Governor Phil Scott, community members, and partners to celebrate the groundbreaking of Stonecrop Meadows in Middlebury. The new housing project will provide rental and owner-occupied housing at all income levels. Senator Welch nominated Stonecrop Meadows for Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 CDS process, which is currently in-progress.  
    “Ambitious initiatives like the Stonecrop Meadows project are essential to tackle our housing challenges in Vermont and across the country. I’m excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of this community-driven project, which I nominated to receive Congressionally Directed Spending. I’ll continue to fight for passage of this upcoming budget to ensure these funds make it to this critical project,” said Senator Welch. 

    The Stonecrop Meadows project is being built on 35 acres of Middlebury College-owned land off Seminary Street Extension. Phase 1, called the “Core Village” will be 80 units. At full buildout, this project will create 254 new homes. 
    Sen. Welch was joined by Vermont Governor Phil Scott; Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak; Alex Farrell, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD); Maura Collins, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA); Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB); Representatives from Middlebury College; community members; and Representatives from the Offices of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-At-Large).   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan about the situation in the Middle East.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and His Majesty King Abdullah II welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, the continued release of hostages, and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

    The leaders spoke of the ongoing instability in the West Bank and, in discussing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Prime Minister thanked the King for his continued leadership in improving Palestinians’ access to aid. He also highlighted Canada’s recent commitment to providing $50 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to address the acute needs of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank.

    The two leaders discussed the situation in Syria, following the end of the Assad regime in December. The Prime Minister welcomed Jordan’s role in providing assistance to Syria. He also emphasized Canada’s commitment to supporting the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance in Syria and the development of a stable and inclusive government for the people of Syria. The leaders expressed their shared support for an inclusive Syrian-led political governance structure for the country.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and His Majesty King Abdullah II reaffirmed the strong partnership between Canada and Jordan and agreed to remain in close contact as the situation continues to evolve.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –