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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI USA: R&M Trading LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in R&M Refresher Instant Milk Tea Powder

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    May 18, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    May 19, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Undeclared milk

    Company Name:
    R&M Trading LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    RM Refresher

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Instant Milk Tea Powder

    Company Announcement
    R&M Trading LLC of Lakewood, WA is recalling approximately 408 packages (1lb. pack per package) and 1624 packages (3/1lb. packs per package) of Instant Milk Tea powder products because they may contain undeclared milk . People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
    The R&M Refresher brand Instant Milk Tea products are recalled because the ingredients statement declares Whey and Caseinate in Non-Dairy Creamer ingredients, but it does not specify milk.
    The following Instant Milk Tea products are sold in 1lb. plastic pouch on Amazon website between 11/18/2024 and 05/07/2025.
    No illnesses have been reported to date.

    Amazon ASIN Number
    Product
    Expiration Date

    B0D725TXQW
    Brown Sugar Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (1-Pack/llb.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D72FQVDR
    Brown Sugar Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (3-Pack/3I b.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D7269JC1
    Honeydew Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (1-Pack/llb.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D726K269
    Honeydew Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (3-Pack/3I b.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D71Y85TG
    Matcha Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (1-Pack/llb.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D71YBV1X
    Matcha Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (3-Pack/3I b.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D71YHZX4
    Original Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (1-Pack/llb.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D72BLQRW
    Original Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (3-Pack/3I b.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D72CMLBH
    Taro Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (1-Pack/llb.)
    12/15/2025

    B0D72D6589
    Taro Flavor Instant Milk Tea by RM Refresher (3-Pack/3I b.)
    12/15/2025

    The recall was initiated after it was discovered during an inspection conducted by the U.S. FDA Office of Global Policy and Strategy in China that products containing milk were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk.
    Consumers who have purchased affected products are urged not to consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
    Consumers with questions may contact the company at imars.yang@qq.com .
    This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Company Contact Information

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    05/19/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: German Verdi Trade Union Stands in Solidarity with IAM Union Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico Workers Amid Stalled Contract Talks

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    As Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico workers continue their fight for a fair first contract, international support is growing. The German service-sector union Verdi has called on Deutsche Lufthansa AG to intervene and support its Puerto Rican subsidiary in resolving long-standing contract disputes with the IAM Union.

    “Negotiations are proving very difficult, particularly with regard to overtime pay and wage increases,” said Verdi Union Vice Chair Christine Behle in a letter to Lufthansa’s leadership. “This is neither acceptable to the employees in Puerto Rico nor to Verdi. Nor does it do justice to the daily performance.”

    The IAM has been in negotiations with Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico for over a year, advocating for a contract that guarantees fair pay, safer working conditions, and respect on the job for the skilled aviation maintenance workers who keep commercial aircraft flying safely.

    “It is unacceptable that a German company wants to impose worse conditions for employees outside of Germany,” Behle continued in a message of encouragement to the workers in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. “We stand for good working conditions all over the world and send you our solidarity greetings.”

    “These workers have been shortchanged for too long, and we’re here to make them whole,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “They’ve put in the work, kept planes flying, and met every expectation. It’s time the company steps up and delivers the respect, wages, and protections these workers have more than earned.”

    The IAM Union has vowed to continue standing with its members in Puerto Rico, demanding that the company return to the bargaining table with proposals that reflect its workers’ hard work and professionalism.

    “The letter from Verdi underscores a growing global concern: Lufthansa Technik’s failure to reach a fair deal with its Puerto Rican workforce not only reflects poorly on the company’s international labor practices, but also contradicts the values it claims to uphold in its home country,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: 2025 Louisiana Energy Conference to Be Held in New Orleans May 27 – May 29, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW ORLEANS, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The 2025 Louisiana Energy Conference will be held in New Orleans Tuesday afternoon May 27 through Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel, New Orleans, located at 2 Canal Street, at the foot of Canal Street on the Mississippi River. Conference registration remains open and hotel reservations can be secured through the event’s web site, www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com.

    The Conference, hosted by Al Petrie Advisors, has been further expanded this year and will now feature a series of 37 panels and presentations that will address key domestic and international industry developments and topics. Executives from over 100 leading public and private exploration and production and oil field services and transition energy companies, as well as representatives from energy-related private equity firms, industry trade groups, regulatory agencies, investment banks, institutional research groups, and industry advisory and law firms will participate in the discussions.  

    A detailed further-updated agenda with all panels and presentations along with the individual panelists and presenters is now available on the event web site www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com and with this link: 2025 Agenda. The online agenda will be updated if any additional participants are confirmed.

    In addition to our traditional domestic and international E&P and oil services panels, we are pleased to add a number of topical presentations this year: 

    Tuesday, May 27:

    Federal Lands and Waters – A Regulatory Update, Steve Dudgeon, Principal, Ryan

    Technology Trends in Upstream Oil, Gas and Geothermal Energy, Richard Talley, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, NSAI

    Wednesday, May 28:

    A View of the World and US Economy and Energy Industry in a Period of Heightened Volatility, Vikas Dwivedi, Chief Energy Economist – Managing Director, Macquarie Group

    Finance Trends in Energy, Candice Wilson, Managing Director and Julie Mumm-Simms, Partner, Eisner Advisory Group

    Keynote Presentation: Slip, Sliding Away…Crude Hits the Skids in 2025. Now What?, Stephen Jury, Vice Chairman, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

    Thursday, May 29:

    Fueling the Energy Expansion, Drew Lichter, Managing Partner, Broadview Commodity Partners

    Monetizing Tax Credits, Steve Dudgeon, Principal, Ryan

    Washington Policy: Tax and Tariff Update, Anna Taylor, Deputy Leader -Tax Policy Group, Deloitte

    Louisiana Future Energy: All-of-the-Above Strategy Progress, Michael Hecht, President and Chief Executive Officer, GNO Inc.

    Entergy’s Key Role in Meta Datacenter Development in North Louisiana, Phillip May, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Louisiana

    Fueling Transformation: How Generative AI is Reshaping the Energy Value Chain, Kevin Gregory, Practice Lead – Generative AI, Energy, Resources & Industrials, Deloitte Consulting LLP

    Confirmed investment professional attendees will be offered the opportunity to register for one-on-one meetings with companies participating on the panels.

    Networking Events

    Several networking events are planned for 2025:

    On Tuesday, May 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., there will be a welcoming reception featuring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and networking at The MISI, a beautiful new venue at 600 Decatur Street, Third Floor, in the historic Jax Brewery, across from Jackson Square and the French Quarter.

    On Wednesday, May 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the premier networking event of the Conference will be held at the Vue Orleans, an amazing venue on the 34th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel that showcases the culture of New Orleans with commanding 360-degree views of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. Visit www.vueorleans.com for more details.

    On Thursday, May 29, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., please join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to share your thoughts on the 2025 Conference and suggestions for next year at the 1931 Lounge in the new Caesars Hotel directly across from the Four Seasons Hotel on the Second Floor.

    Attendance at the Conference is directed to investment professionals including buy side and sell side analysts and portfolio managers, as well as private equity and wealth management executives, and trust officers. We also welcome energy industry management and advisors to the industry. There is no cost for investment professionals attending the Conference. The cost for all other attendees is $395 for the three-day event.

    For additional information including sponsorship opportunities, please call (504) 799-1953 or email info@LouisianaEnergyConference.com.

    Contact: Al Petrie (504) 799-1953

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aifeex Hosts Grand Global AI Summit in Bangkok, Accelerates Global Expansion and Leads the New Era of Artificial Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On May 18, 2025, Aifeex, a global leader in technological innovation, hosted its 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
    The landmark event brought together leading technology experts, industry pioneers, and global investors to witness Aifeex’s visionary approach to artificial intelligence and the ongoing execution of its global AI strategy. 

    During the summit, Ford Cooper, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Aifeex, pointed out that artificial intelligence is at a historic turning point—similar to the early days of the electricity revolution—and is set to reshape the global landscape in the years ahead.
    He said, “Now is the best time to seize the AI opportunity and change the course of our future.” 

    Aifeex’s flagship platform, the Takwin AI System, uses advanced data analysis and prediction tools to provide accurate insights into cryptocurrency market trends, helping users stay ahead of the coming market shifts.

    At the summit, Alex Jensen, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Aifeex, announced that the company is rapidly advancing the deployment of its global operations centers, with the Thailand hub now officially launched and operational. He emphasized that investing in AI not only holds tremendous potential, but also reflects the trajectory of our times. Encouraging attendees to seize the moment and embrace challenges with ambition, he stated, “Choose the hard path, and life becomes easier,” a remark that drew resounding applause from the audience.

    The summit showcased Aifeex’s exceptional achievements in AI research and development, platform innovation, and community building. It also marked a further consolidation of the company’s leadership position in the Asia-Pacific region, while laying a strong foundation for future expansion into Africa, the Middle East, and other emerging markets.

    As Aifeex’s core technological platform, the Takwin System is demonstrating broad application potential within the financial sector—driven by its multi-model synergy, reinforcement learning capabilities, and large-scale scenario simulation.

    Through this platform, Aifeex is empowering the future of both everyday life and investment.

    The Bangkok summit marked not only a significant milestone in Aifeex’s global expansion strategy, but also a powerful signal of AI’s transformative role in shaping the future of society and driving economic change. 

    Aifeex remains steadfast in its mission of “Empowering the Future Through Technology” and will continue to advance the global adoption and implementation of AI—working collaboratively across industries to usher in a new era of intelligent innovation, 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.19.2025 Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Led Bill to Reimburse Texas for Border Security Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced legislation to reimburse the State of Texas for the more than $11 billion dollars Texas taxpayers spent on Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission launched due to President Biden’s dereliction of duty.
    Sen. Cruz said, “Texas was on the frontlines of the Biden administration’s open border crisis, and Texans were on their own dealing with the consequences. I am proud to stand with Governor Abbott and Senator Cornyn to ensure the Lone Star State is reimbursed, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill expeditiously.”
    Sen. Cornyn said, “For four years, Governor Abbott and Texas taxpayers were forced to bear the brunt of the Biden-Harris border crisis. Today, I am proud to introduce my legislation to reimburse Texas for its historic efforts to secure the southern border. My bill will ensure the Lone Star State is repaid for stepping up to protect and defend our nation’s southern border while the Biden-Harris administration abdicated its federal duty. Thanks to the strong leadership of President Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, our country is finally back to enforcing the immigration laws that have been on the books for years, and I will continue to work with the Trump administration to ensure Texas never again has to endure an open-border disaster like we saw under Joe Biden.”
    Companion legislation is being led in the House by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21).
    Rep. Roy said, “For four years, Texans stood in the breach of the worst border crisis in recent American history. Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas’s dereliction of duty led to an invasion of lawlessness, crime, danger, and drugs, putting Texans, and every American in harms way. The states like Texas that stood on the front lines to defend our nation when the federal government would not, deserve to be reimbursed by the very federal government that should have done its job in the first place.  It’s critical states like Texas have these resources to ensure adequate law enforcement funding to partner with the Trump administration to secure our border.”
    BACKGROUND
    The State Border Security Assistance Act would:
    Create funds at the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to reimburse states for actions they took after January 20, 2021, to secure the border;
    Reimburse costs of activities such as construction of border wall, surveillance of the border, and apprehension, detention, and prosecution of individuals who illegally entered the United States;
    Appropriate enough money to the funds to ensure that Texas is fully reimbursed;
    And sunset the funds after the end of the Trump Administration and return any remaining money to the Treasury for debt-reduction purposes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at business reception: 19 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM remarks at business reception: 19 May 2025

    Prime Minister’s remarks from the business reception in Downing Street.

    Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

    Commissioner Sefcovic.

    It’s fantastic to welcome you all to mark the strategic partnership that we have agreed today with the EU.

    Trade deals are much talked about.

    People tried for a long time to get a trade deal with India, and it didn’t happen for eight years. We came along and did that deal with India.

    People tried and talked about a deal with the US, we came along and did that deal with the US.

    Nobody believed we could do a better deal with the EU, and we’ve just done a better deal with the EU.

    I always said, I’m not particularly keen on the performance side of politics. I think it’s the delivery that matters.

    And this has happened because of the serious, pragmatic way that we’ve gone around our negotiations, and when I met Ursula and Antonio at the beginning of the exercise, we committed to each other that we wouldn’t do it by megaphone diplomacy.

    We would do the hard yards of real diplomacy and negotiation, and that’s the base on which we got this deal today.

    And so, in the space of just under two weeks, three trade deals.

    That tells you something about serious pragmatism.

    It tells you something about our commitment to growth, but it also tells you something about the country, because others only want to do trade deals with businesses and economies that they want to tie themselves to going forward.

    It reflects the strength of all those that are represented here and many, many others, because we have dramatically improved our trading ties with the largest economy in the world, the US, the fastest growing economy in the world, India, and the largest trading bloc in the world, the EU.

    And that is, as I say, a vote of confidence in this country.

    We’re living in a different world. It’s a different era, and notwithstanding that instability, that uncertainty, the decisions that we’ve taken to stabilize the economy and lead the way internationally have made Britain a place that people want to do business with once again.

    And I’m really proud to be leading a government and a country where others are telling me that they’re very pleased to see the UK back leading on the world stage, whether it’s defense and security, whether it’s trade or the economy or many of the other global issues that face us.

    And to underline that Britain is a place where people want to do business. Once again,  I’m delighted that we’re announcing major new European investments into Britain today.

    Rheinmetall investing £60 million in Telford.

    Knauf Insulation…

    Investing £170 million in North Wales.

    And NewCold investing £235 million in Corby.

    Together, creating hundreds of new jobs across the UK.

    We also have news today of great British companies – like Octopus energy – expanding in Europe.

    So I want to say a huge thank you to everyone here… 

    For backing Britain.

    And let’s just take a closer look at the deal we’ve struck today.

    It gives us unprecedented access to the EU market –  

    The best of any country outside the EU or EFTA.

    All while sticking to our red lines.

    It’s good for bills, good for jobs, good for borders…

    Good for businesses large and small.

    By 2040 it will increase Britain’s GDP by around £9 billion.

    Our SPS agreement will make food and agriculture trade cheaper and easier…

    Cutting admin costs that can reach thousands for a single lorry…

    Opening up EU markets for British food exporters…

    Lifting the de facto ban on British burgers, bangers and shellfish…

    And bringing down prices for British consumers.  

    Our new Defence and Security Partnership…

    Will strengthen our security…

    And open the door to working with the EU’s new defence fund –

    Boosting Britain’s defence industry.

    By increasing our co-operation on emissions trading…

    We’re saving UK businesses…

    From having to pay £800 million in EU carbon taxes.

    By increasing cooperation on energy…

    We’re bringing down bills over the long term,

    And boosting our renewables industry in the North Sea.

    The deal also protects our steel exports from new EU tariffs,

    Saving the industry £25 million each year.

    And it puts the fishing industry on a stable footing…

    Protecting our access, rights and fishing areas…

    With no increase in the amount that EU vessels can catch in our waters. 

    And our fishing industry will also benefit from that new SPS agreement, slashing costs and red tape.

    So this a new deal for a new era…

    One that will bring huge benefits to the British people.

    And by the way –

    For business travellers – and tourists –

    We confirmed today…

    That you’ll be able be able to use e-Gates in Europe –

    Ending those huge queues at passport control.

    That really is something to celebrate!

    You know, when I became Prime Minister…

    Almost a year ago…

    I said I would deliver in the national interest.

    And I think we’ve shown today, once again –

    That I meant it.

    So thank for you for your support –

    Now let’s build on this progress…

    Let’s keep showing that Britain is open for business…

    And working with all our partners –

    To deliver for the British people.

    Thank you all.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Holds Talks with Danish Counterpart

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing on Monday with visiting Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that Denmark was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China and establish diplomatic relations with it.

    According to the Chinese diplomat, the two sides have always shown mutual respect and treated each other as equals, established a comprehensive strategic partnership and built high-level mutually beneficial cooperation, with green development playing a leading role.

    Wang Yi stressed that the most important experience that has ensured the healthy and stable development of China-Denmark relations over the past 75 years is the firm adherence to the principle of equality of all countries regardless of their size and respect for each other’s fundamental interests.

    The Chinese Foreign Minister noted that on the Greenland issue, China fully respects Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and, in turn, hopes that the Danish side will continue to support China’s legitimate position on issues related to its own sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Wang Yi expressed China’s willingness to firmly adhere to bilateral opening-up with Denmark, take green development as a key aspect to inject new impetus into practical cooperation, and continue to deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, scientific research, innovation and green economy.

    According to the Chinese diplomat, China is currently making efforts to expand high-level opening-up, which will create a broader development space for foreign-invested companies. The Chinese side invites Danish enterprises to invest and do business in China. “We also hope that Denmark can provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in the country,” Wang Yi added.

    As he recalled, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, and since the beginning of this year, Chinese-European relations have demonstrated stable and positive dynamics.

    According to the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China wants to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the European side to jointly promote the healthy development of relations between China and the EU and hopes that Denmark will play an active role in this direction.

    In addition, Wang added, China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with European countries including Denmark to jointly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its center.

    L. L. Rasmussen, for his part, stated that the Danish government and parliament firmly adhere to the one-China principle, intend to strengthen interstate contacts at a high level, expand dialogue and mutual understanding in various fields, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of investment and green transition, establish closer cultural and humanitarian exchanges in order to promote the sustainable and dynamic development of bilateral relations.

    “The Danish side takes an open position towards investments by Chinese companies in Denmark, and Danish companies also expect to make long-term investments in the Chinese market,” L. L. Rasmussen emphasized.

    He added that Denmark firmly supports free trade and opposes decoupling, hoping to strengthen communication and coordination with China on multilateral issues to jointly safeguard the multilateral system and international order, and maintain the momentum of globalization.

    The parties also exchanged views on the Ukrainian crisis and other international and regional issues. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xinhua CEO Meets Founder of Danish Chamber of Commerce in China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) — Xinhua News Agency Director-General Fu Hua on Monday met with Simon Lichtenberg, founder and chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China.

    The parties exchanged views on the recent response of Chinese President Xi Jinping to S. Lichtenberg’s letter. As the interlocutors noted, this response was a powerful signal that “faith in China is faith in tomorrow, and investments in China are investments in the future.”

    Stressing that Xinhua and the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China have long maintained friendly exchanges, Fu Hua and S. Lichtenberg agreed to continue to give full play to the advantages of both sides, jointly promote how foreign enterprises investing in China are winning the future, and continuously promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Denmark, as well as between China and Europe. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Pass the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make good on the promises Republicans have made — and that’s why advocacy groups and other stakeholders are coming out in droves to urge Congress to immediately pass the landmark bill.
    Here’s what they’re saying about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:
    American Exploration & Production Council CEO Anne Bradbury: “On behalf of America’s leading independent producers of oil and natural gas, AXPC urges all House Republicans to pass the budget reconciliation and advance President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy. This legislation takes decisive steps towards improving our nation’s energy landscape by repealing the Biden-era menthane tax, unlocking oil and gas development on federal lands, and alleviating regulatory pain points that have stymied the build out of American energy. Passing this bill is essential to secure America’s energy dominance through smart, durable reforms.”
    NumbersUSA: “For decades Congress has promised to secure the border and failed to deliver. The House Reconciliation bill delivers on the promise of building the border wall, 10,000 ICE officers, detention beds, historic funding for Customs and Border Patrol and a tax on money illegal aliens send out of the country. The Trump Administration needs this funding to deport illegal aliens, millions of whom entered the country over the last four years. The American people voted in mess this last election to secure our borders and return law and order to our immigration system. Congress must not fail them.”
    Airlines for America: “A4A strongly supports the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and applauds the inclusion of a critical investment of $12.5 billion in modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic facilities, systems and infrastructure. For years, A4A has been sounding the alarm about ATC staffing shortages and antiquated equipment, such as copper wires and floppy disks. Given the challenges facing the air traffic system, these funds are a vital down payment on updating the technology that guides 27,000 flights, 2.7 million passengers and 61,000 tons of cargo every day—all while driving five percent of our nation’s GDP. The legislation also makes smart, strategic investments in Customs and Border Protection personnel and training for the aviation workforce of tomorrow while supporting American energy dominance in aviation fuel production. We encourage the House to pass this legislation and deliver on the Department of Transportation’s plan to help keep our skies safe and efficient. Modernizing our National Airspace System is necessary, and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help ensure the United States has a world-class aviation system.”
    National Federation of Independent Business SVP for Advocacy Adam Temple: “On behalf of NFIB, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, I write in support of the Committee’s legislative proposal to comply with reconciliation instructions contained within the concurrent resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, H. Con. Res. 14. As written, this is one of the most pro-small business pieces of tax legislation in recent history.”
    CTIA—The Wireless Association President and CEO Ajit Pai: “The wireless industry urges swift passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The critical spectrum and tax provisions in this legislation will allow the wireless industry to invest, create jobs, propel economic growth, and secure America’s edge in innovation.”
    Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz: “House Republicans’ big, beautiful reconciliation bill is exactly what the country needs to jumpstart the economy and guarantee the safety and prosperity of Americans for decades to come. It helps people of all backgrounds but especially small businesses, the backbone of our economy, by making permanent and expanding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It increases the small business tax deduction used by 26 million entrepreneurs annually from 20% to 23% — a tax cut Job Creators Network has long been the leading voice for. The bill also restores 100% immediate expensing, allowing businesses to write off investments, expansion, and modernization. It will empower Main Street to expand, hire, raise wages, and reinvest in their communities, while also providing significant tax relief for ordinary folks. All Republicans should unite to support this historic reconciliation bill. We need Tax Cuts Now.”
    Business Roundtable President & COO Kristen Silverberg: “Business Roundtable strongly supports the House budget reconciliation bill. This important legislation ensures a more competitive, pro-growth tax system, secures our borders and takes the necessary step of raising the debt ceiling. We urge members of the House Budget Committee to swiftly pass this measure.”
    Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan: “SBE Council strongly supports the One Big, Beautiful Bill and urges every member of the U.S. House to vote in support of this economically powerful package. The One Big, Beautiful Bill provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with the tools and policy environment they need to invest in their businesses and workforce, to innovate and strengthen their firms, and to lead America’s economic resurgence.”
    Associated Equipment Distributors SVP Daniel B. Fisher: “This legislation will spur economic growth and job creation, incentivize capital investment, and ensure AED members, which supply and maintain the equipment needed to build, feed and fuel America, remain competitive for years to come. We urge support for the bill and look forward to working with the entire House of Representatives to approve it as soon as possible.”
    National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association Interim CEO Michele Stanley: “NSSGA appreciates that ‘The One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ includes aggregates industry priorities, such as bonus depreciation, the Research and Development Tax Credit, small business deductions, keeping the corporate tax rate at the status quo and protecting percentage depletion and estate taxes. Additionally, we appreciate the committee’s commitment to safeguarding associations’ tax-protected status. NSSGA thanks the committee for introducing this bill and encourages the Ways and Means Committee and the House of Representatives to pass this package in a timely manner.”
    60 Plus Association Chairman Jim Martin: “It’s a win for seniors across the country. The President and House Republicans are providing much needed tax relief to middle and low-income seniors.”
    Association of Mature American Citizens Action SVP Andrew J. Mangione, Jr.: “This bill is a win for seniors, for taxpayers, and for the future of our country. We urge swift passage and full support from lawmakers who value liberty, accountability, and the financial security of AMAC members across the country.”
    RATE Coalition Executive Director Dan Combs: “This legislation is a clear step toward preserving a tax code that spurs job creation, boosts wages, and builds on the legacy created by President Trump and Congress under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Now is the time for Congress to come together, finish the work, and deliver a strong, stable economic foundation for American workers and businesses. A competitive corporate tax rate is key to keeping the U.S. ahead and a top destination for investment in the global economy. This bill goes a long way towards making that possible.”
    Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: “We’ve said from the start: No Tax on Tips should include @Uber drivers & couriers. Grateful the new House Ways & Means bill does just that. Thanks to @POTUS and @RepJasonSmith for backing all tipped workers—no matter how they work. Let’s get this done!”
    DoorDash CEO Tony Xu: “Thanks to @POTUS and @RepJasonSmith, millions of Dashers may soon get a tax break on their hard-earned tips. Following advocacy from 40K Dashers, including dozens in DC last week, the House’s budget bill is an important step in making #NoTaxOnTips a reality.”
    Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner: “The Republican Party has an incredible opportunity to put the country on the right track for long-term economic growth by making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent and avoiding the largest tax hike in American history. This bill is smart pro-growth policy that would provide certainty for American businesses and lead to sustained prosperity for millions of working Americans. This legislation also takes meaningful action to cut billions in special interest giveaways, reforming broken programs, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse –   ensuring that taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars are spent wisely. It’s about making government work better for the people it serves. We’re encouraged by the foundation laid in the House and stand ready to work with Senate lawmakers to get this measure across the finish line. The moment for action is now. We urge all Members to support this legislation and put our economy on the path to growth and opportunity.”
    Concerned Veterans for America Executive Director John Vick: “Failing to extend President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would impose the largest tax hike in U.S. history on American families and businesses. Congress must seize its opportunity to protect our long-term prosperity while improving the lives of middle-class Americans. The American people sent a clear message last November: they are tired of massive tax hikes, higher prices, reckless government spending, and Biden-era “Green New Deal” giveaways. Congress must answer this call by moving budget reconciliation forward. As veterans, we fought for a better future for our fellow Americans. We also understand that a strong economy is the bedrock of American strength at home and abroad. Today, CVA calls on Congress to act to protect the promise of long-term economic growth and prosperity for all Americans.”
    The LIBRE Initiative Executive Director Sandra Benitez: “We commend the House Budget Committee for taking a positive step to ensure that we continue extending tax relief to middle-class families and job creators, including Latinos who cannot afford a tax hike. Now it is critical that the House of Representatives have a full House vote as quickly as possible and approve this pro-growth legislation to help unleash prosperity and opportunity for all. The LIBRE Initiative looks forward to educating and activating the Latino community on the benefits of this critical legislation.”
    America First Policy Institute: “Conservatives must deliver to the American people! The One, Big, Beautiful Bill cuts taxes for ALL Americans, secures the border, stands up to the woke mob by empowering parents and protecting women and children, and much more!”
    Independent Women Center for Economic Opportunity Director Patrice Onwuka: “Passing the Big, Beautiful Bill is an imperative. The stakes are high. If Congress fails to pass this bill, average Americans face a massive 22% tax increase, 40 million families will see their Child Tax Credit slashed in half, and 26 million small businesses face a 43.4% top tax rate. Republicans should not hold up tax relief for American families and small businesses to bail out high-tax blue states.”
    Family Business Coalition: “Family Business Coalition supports the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ which includes tax relief that will help family businesses expand, upgrade equipment, and hire more workers. FBC urges the House to take action now to move this process forward in Congress.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salesman Who Defrauded Women and Older Adults Denied Bankruptcy Discharge

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment denying a bankruptcy discharge to a door-to-door salesman who concealed his business interests and lied in his bankruptcy case to evade his creditors, including women and older adults whom he defrauded.

    On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon entered a default judgment denying a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Jason Gillis. Gillis — who sold vacuums, air filters, and related products — crafted fraudulent schemes generally targeting women he pursued as romantic partners and their elderly parents. In one such scheme, he solicited investments in his businesses but used the money primarily for personal expenses. His victims included a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke. In addition to running up debts using the identities of the woman and her daughter without their knowledge or consent, Gillis arranged for the older woman to take out a mortgage on her home, purportedly under duress. In total, he persuaded her to transfer more than $100,000 to a business bank account that he controlled, then diverted a significant amount of the funds to pay for personal expenses.

    Gillis also used some of those funds to lease a recreational vehicle valued at about $150,000 from another woman in her seventies, whose daughter he briefly dated. After taking possession of the RV, which he then lived in, Gillis stopped making lease payments and refused to disclose the vehicle’s location.

    Gillis filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2024 amid several lawsuits and judgments based on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and theft by deception. An investigation by the USTP’s Portland office revealed that to avoid collection efforts, Gillis concealed his interests in several businesses by transferring nominal ownership to victims while he retained full control and by forging signatures on forms filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. He also made several false statements in his bankruptcy case about his assets and financial affairs, including his multiple business interests; the transfers of nominal ownership; deposits to undisclosed financial accounts; and a wrongful death settlement related to his mother’s estate.

    Gillis did not respond to or defend against the USTP’s complaint to deny his bankruptcy discharge, leading to a default judgment in the USTP’s favor. As a result, Gillis remains personally liable for his debts — including more than $1.7 million in unsecured debts listed in his bankruptcy schedules — and creditors may continue collections on claims against him.

    “Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson for Region 18, which includes the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Trustee Program, as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, is committed to rooting out deceptive schemes that harm innocent victims.”

    One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Generally, under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they conceal property with intent to hinder, delay or defraud a creditor or an officer of the bankruptcy estate, such as the private trustee administering the estate. The Code also prevents a discharge if the debtor knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath or account in or in connection with the bankruptcy case.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council gives go ahead for £500,000 investment in CCTV for West End  | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Investment of more than £500,000 in CCTV cameras for the West End has been given the go ahead from Westminster City Council. 

    The money will go towards two of the busiest areas of footfall – Leicester Square, Chinatown, and Soho – where millions of tourists and visitors throng over the year.  The decision was agreed at a meeting of the Council’s cabinet on Monday 18 May.

    Soho will get 18 cameras as part of a plan supported by Soho Business Alliance as part of a funding package totalling £309,403. Leicester Square and Chinatown meanwhile will receive 14 cameras in a £213,579 investment supported by the Heart of London Business Alliance.

    The West End cameras – due to come into commission this Summer – will form part of an overall network of 200 cameras being introduced borough-wide by Westminster City Council and represent the biggest ever investment in CCTV in Westminster’s history. 

    More than half the promised 200 CCTV cameras are already working and are monitored 24/7 from a control room based in Hammersmith and Fulham Council.  

    The latest investment on the West End is a key part of the Westminster After Dark strategy, launched earlier this year, which is designed to ensure people can enjoy the night attractions of the City in safety. 

    Cllr Aicha Less, deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Protection, said:

    Soho, Chinatown and the West End see some of the busiest footfall in the world during peak season. We want people to enjoy our fabulous West End but without the misery of mobile phone theft, pick pocketing, watches being stolen or running into aggressive behaviour. 

    Our new cameras will be there alongside mobile Council cameras already in use to ensure people can enjoy the West End in safety and opportunist criminals find it a harder place to operate. With these cameras going up over the summer, we are delivering against the commitments of Westminster after Dark.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salesman Who Defrauded Women and Older Adults Denied Bankruptcy Discharge

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment denying a bankruptcy discharge to a door-to-door salesman who concealed his business interests and lied in his bankruptcy case to evade his creditors, including women and older adults whom he defrauded.

    On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon entered a default judgment denying a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Jason Gillis. Gillis — who sold vacuums, air filters, and related products — crafted fraudulent schemes generally targeting women he pursued as romantic partners and their elderly parents. In one such scheme, he solicited investments in his businesses but used the money primarily for personal expenses. His victims included a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke. In addition to running up debts using the identities of the woman and her daughter without their knowledge or consent, Gillis arranged for the older woman to take out a mortgage on her home, purportedly under duress. In total, he persuaded her to transfer more than $100,000 to a business bank account that he controlled, then diverted a significant amount of the funds to pay for personal expenses.

    Gillis also used some of those funds to lease a recreational vehicle valued at about $150,000 from another woman in her seventies, whose daughter he briefly dated. After taking possession of the RV, which he then lived in, Gillis stopped making lease payments and refused to disclose the vehicle’s location.

    Gillis filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2024 amid several lawsuits and judgments based on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and theft by deception. An investigation by the USTP’s Portland office revealed that to avoid collection efforts, Gillis concealed his interests in several businesses by transferring nominal ownership to victims while he retained full control and by forging signatures on forms filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. He also made several false statements in his bankruptcy case about his assets and financial affairs, including his multiple business interests; the transfers of nominal ownership; deposits to undisclosed financial accounts; and a wrongful death settlement related to his mother’s estate.

    Gillis did not respond to or defend against the USTP’s complaint to deny his bankruptcy discharge, leading to a default judgment in the USTP’s favor. As a result, Gillis remains personally liable for his debts — including more than $1.7 million in unsecured debts listed in his bankruptcy schedules — and creditors may continue collections on claims against him.

    “Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson for Region 18, which includes the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Trustee Program, as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, is committed to rooting out deceptive schemes that harm innocent victims.”

    One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Generally, under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they conceal property with intent to hinder, delay or defraud a creditor or an officer of the bankruptcy estate, such as the private trustee administering the estate. The Code also prevents a discharge if the debtor knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath or account in or in connection with the bankruptcy case.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Build 2025: The age of AI agents and building the open agentic web

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Build 2025: The age of AI agents and building the open agentic web

    TL;DR? Hear the news as an AI-generated audio overview made using Microsoft 365 Copilot. You can read the transcript here.

    We’ve entered the era of AI agents. Thanks to groundbreaking advancements in reasoning and memory, AI models are now more capable and efficient, and we’re seeing how AI systems can help us all solve problems in new ways.

    For example, 15 million developers are already using GitHub Copilot, and features like agent mode and code review are streamlining the way they code, check, deploy and troubleshoot.

    Hundreds of thousands of customers are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to help research, brainstorm and develop solutions, and more than 230,000 organizations — including 90% of the Fortune 500 — have already used Copilot Studio to build AI agents and automations.

    Companies like Fujitsu and NTT DATA are using Azure AI Foundry to build and manage AI apps and agents that help prioritize sales leads, speed proposal creation and surface client insights. Stanford Health Care is using Microsoft’s healthcare agent orchestrator to build and test AI agents that can help alleviate the administrative burden and speed up the workflow for tumor board preparation.

    Developers are at the center of it all. For 50 years Microsoft has been empowering developers with tools and platforms to turn their ideas into reality, accelerating innovation at every stage. From AI-driven automation to seamless cloud integration and more, it’s exciting to see how developers are fueling the next generation of digital transformation.

    So, what’s next?

    We envision a world in which agents operate across individual, organizational, team and end-to-end business contexts. This emerging vision of the internet is an open agentic web, where AI agents make decisions and perform tasks on behalf of users or organizations.

    At Microsoft Build we’re showing the steps we’re taking to make this vision a reality through our platforms, products and infrastructure. We’re putting new models and coding agents in the hands of developers, introducing enterprise-grade agents, making our platforms like Azure AI Foundry, GitHub and Windows the best places to build, embracing open protocols and accelerating scientific discovery with AI, all so that developers and organizations can go invent the next big thing.

    Here’s a glimpse at just a few of the announcements today:

    Reimagining the software development lifecycle with AI

    AI is fundamentally shifting how code is written, deployed and maintained. Developers are using AI to stay in the flow of their environment longer and to shift their focus to more strategic tasks. And as the software development lifecycle is being transformed, we’re providing new features across platforms including GitHub, Azure AI Foundry and Windows that enable developers to work faster, think bigger and build at scale.

    • GitHub Copilot coding agent and new updates to GitHub Models: GitHub Copilot is evolving from an in-editor assistant to an agentic AI partner with a first-of-its-kind asynchronous coding agent integrated into the GitHub platform. We’re adding prompt management, lightweight evaluations and enterprise controls to GitHub Models so teams can experiment with best-in-class models, without leaving GitHub. Microsoft is also open-sourcing GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code. The AI-powered capabilities from GitHub Copilot extensions will now be part of the same open-source repository that drives the world’s most popular development tool. As the home of over 150 million developers, this reinforces our commitment to open, collaborative, AI-powered software development. Learn more about GitHub Copilot updates.
    • Introducing Windows AI Foundry: For developers, Windows remains one of the most open and widely used platforms available, with scale, flexibility and growing opportunity. Windows AI Foundry offers a unified and reliable platform supporting the AI developer lifecycle across training and inference. With simple model APIs for vision and language tasks, developers can manage and run open source LLMs via Foundry Local or bring a proprietary model to convert, fine-tune and deploy across client and cloud. Windows AI Foundry is available to get started today. To learn more visit our Windows Developer Blog.
    • Azure AI Foundry Models and new tools for model evaluation: Azure AI Foundry is a unified platform for developers to design, customize and manage AI applications and agents. With Azure AI Foundry Models, we’re bringing Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini models from xAI to our ecosystem, hosted and billed directly by Microsoft. Developers can now choose from more than 1,900 partner-hosted and Microsoft-hosted AI models, while managing secure data integration, model customization and enterprise-grade governance. We’re also introducing new tools like the Model Leaderboard, which ranks the top-performing AI models across different categories and tasks, and the Model Router, designed to select an optimal model for a specific query or task in real-time. Read more about Azure AI Foundry Models.

    Making AI agents more capable and secure

    AI agents are not only changing how developers build, but how individuals, teams and companies get work done. At Build, we’re unveiling new pre-built agents, custom agent building blocks, multi-agent capabilities and new models to help developers and organizations build and deploy agents securely to help increase productivity in meaningful ways.

    • With the general availability of Azure AI Foundry Agent Service, Microsoft is bringing new capabilities to empower professional developers to orchestrate multiple specialized agents to handle complex tasks, including bringing Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a single, developer-focused SDK and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) support. To help developers build trust and confidence in their AI agents, we’re announcing new features in Azure AI Foundry Observability for built-in observability into metrics for performance, quality, cost and safety, all incorporated alongside detailed tracing in a streamlined dashboard. Learn more about how to deploy enterprise-grade AI agents in Azure AI Foundry Service.
    • Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning and multi-agent orchestration: With Copilot Tuning, customers can use their own company data, workflows and processes to train models and create agents in a simple, low-code way. These agents perform highly accurate, domain-specific tasks securely from within the Microsoft 365 service boundary. For example, a law firm can create an agent that generates documents aligned with its organization’s expertise and style. Additionally, new multi-agent orchestration in Copilot Studio connects multiple agents, allowing them to combine skills and tackle broader, more complex tasks. Check out the Microsoft 365 blog to learn how to access these new tools as well as the Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 spring release, which has moved to general availability and begins rolling out today.

    Supporting the open agentic web

    To realize the future of AI agents, we’re advancing open standards and shared infrastructure to provide unique capabilities for customers.

    • Supporting Model Context Protocol (MCP): Microsoft is delivering broad first-party support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) across its agent platform and frameworks, spanning GitHub, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365, Azure AI Foundry, Semantic Kernel and Windows 11. In addition, Microsoft and GitHub have joined the MCP Steering Committee to help advance secure, at-scale adoption of the open protocol and announced two new contributions to the MCP ecosystem, an updated authorization specification, which enables people to use their existing trusted sign-in methods to give agents and LLM-powered apps access to data and services such as personal storage drives or subscription services, and the design of an MCP server registry service, which allows anyone to implement public or private, up-to-date, centralized repositories for MCP server entries. Check out the GitHub repository. As we expand our MCP capabilities, our top priority is to ensure we’re building upon a secure foundation. To learn more about this approach see: Securing the Model Context Protocol: Building a Safe Agentic Future on Windows.
    • A new open project called NLWeb: Microsoft is introducing NLWeb, which we believe can play a similar role to HTML for the agentic web. NLWeb makes it easy for websites to provide a conversational interface for their users with the model of their choice and their own data, allowing users to interact directly with web content in a rich, semantic manner. Every NLWeb endpoint is also an MCP server, so websites can make their content easily discoverable and accessible to AI agents if they choose. Learn more here.

    Accelerating scientific discovery with AI

    Science may be one of the most important applications of AI, helping to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges, from drug discovery to sustainability. At Build we’re introducing Microsoft Discovery, an extensible platform built to empower researchers to transform the entire discovery process with agentic AI, helping research and development departments across various industries accelerate the time to market for new products and accelerate and expand the end-to-end discovery process for all scientists. Learn more here.

    This is only a small selection of the many exciting features and updates we will be announcing at Build. We’re looking forward to connecting with those who have registered to join us virtually and in-person, for keynote sessions, live code deep dives, hack sessions and more — much of which will be available on demand.

    Plus, you can get more on all these announcements by exploring the Book of News, the official compendium of all today’s news.

    Tags: AI, Azure AI, Azure AI Foundry, Book of News, GitHub, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Purview

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are independent vets really better? The real issue isn’t necessarily who owns them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Williams, Reader in Human Resource Management, Cardiff University

    maxbelchenko/Shutterstock

    Taking your pet to the vet might feel different these days, and there’s a reason for that. About 60% of UK practices are now owned by just six big companies, raising concerns about cost, care and competition.

    But ownership is only part of the picture. After four years researching life inside vet practices, I’ve found that what really shapes the experience – for vets and pet owners alike – is how each clinic is managed.

    Although it is the head offices of these large companies that determine business strategies, it is local managers who implement the policies. The way they choose to do this can significantly affect the experiences of vets and their clients.

    Until 1999, UK vet practices had to be owned by qualified vets. Most were small, local and privately run.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    But that changed when the Veterinary Surgeons Act was amended to allow wider ownership. This opened the door for venture capitalists, healthcare companies and multinational corporations, like Mars and Nestlé, to expand into the veterinary sector. They quickly bought up small vet practices and soon dominated the market.

    This domination has led to concerns of an excessive focus on profit rather than affordable veterinary care, leading to high costs for owners and stressful performance targets for vets. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the veterinary sector since September 2023 because of this.

    Veterinary practices are either owned by individuals, joint ventures between corporations and vets, or wholly owned by large corporations. Those in the first category tend to be known colloquially as “independents” and the rest as “corporates”.

    Much of the narrative in the media has concentrated on the dichotomy between independents and corporates. There’s a suggestion that corporates charge excessive fees and pressurise vets to sell additional services.

    But my research, which included 97 interviews with 25 vets, suggests that the profession is far more nuanced than this. I spoke with a vet who described the most stressful, target-driven environment not in a corporate, but in an independent practice.

    In contrast, several vets working for corporates had remained in the same practice since they graduated. They experienced supportive working environments, high standards of care and no pressure to meet targets.

    Another vet had switched between corporate and independent practices and believed that it was easier to provide affordable care in the independent practices due to lower prices and greater autonomy. But they left one independent practice as they were uncomfortable with the standard of care offered. “Independent good, corporate bad” is not always the case.

    shutterstock.
    Vaillery/Shutterstock

    Management matters

    I found that practice management shapes the experiences of vets and clients far more than ownership. Even within the same corporate, there are significant differences in how managers implement policies and support their teams.

    Whereas in one practice a manager may turn a blind eye when a vet supports a client by missing a minor item from a bill, in another they may be reminded to bill correctly. Vets described staying in practices where they felt valued and supported, where they could provide appropriate care for their patients and where they could keep learning.

    High professional standards and compassionate management cultures were important. But other vets described crying at the end of the day when the relentless workload and lack of support meant they could not care for their patients as they wished. They spoke out and nothing changed until eventually they left.

    Vets may not agree with all elements of the corporate business strategy, but they are more likely to remain with a practice due to the actions of local managers than due to decisions made at the corporate headquarters.



    Read more:
    Rising vet fees leave pet owners facing tough choices – and vets often bear the brunt

    What about pet owners? A survey by the CMA as part of their investigation found that most people choose a vet based on location and quality of care, not cost.

    However, the research also found that many owners were not aware that their vet practices were corporates. Only two of the six corporates use distinct corporate names and branding for their practices, with the others often only mentioning corporate ownership in their small print. This lack of transparency may lead to owners choosing a practice because they incorrectly believe it is independent, a situation that concerns the CMA.

    There are real challenges facing the veterinary profession, from rising costs to staff burnout and workforce shortages. But pitting independents against corporates risks missing the point. The conversation needs to be shifted away from who owns the practice and towards how they’re run on the ground. What matters is whether vets are supported to provide the kind of care they trained for, and whether managers are equipped to lead teams with compassion, fairness and professionalism.

    After all, that’s what benefits everyone, whether it be the vets, the clients or the animals.

    Rachel Williams 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. Are independent vets really better? The real issue isn’t necessarily who owns them – https://theconversation.com/are-independent-vets-really-better-the-real-issue-isnt-necessarily-who-owns-them-256035

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Batteries that absorb carbon emissions move a step closer to reality – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Commandeur, Surrey Future Fellow, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, University of Surrey

    Future power. Sweetie Khatun

    What if there were a battery that could release energy while trapping carbon dioxide? This isn’t science fiction; it’s the promise of lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries, which are currently a hot research topic.

    Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries could be a two-in-one solution to the current problems of storing renewable energy and taking carbon emissions out of the air. They absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into a white powder called lithium carbonate while discharging energy.

    These batteries could have profound implications for cutting emissions from vehicles and industry – and might even enable long-duration missions on Mars, where the atmosphere is 95% CO₂.

    To make these batteries commercially viable, researchers have mainly been wrestling with problems related to recharging them. Now, our team at the University of Surrey has come up with a promising way forward. So how close are these “CO₂-breathing” batteries to becoming a practical reality?

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Like many great scientific breakthroughs, Li-CO₂ batteries were a happy accident. Slightly over a decade ago, a US-French team of researchers were trying to address problems with lithium air batteries, another frontier energy-storage technology. Whereas today’s lithium-ion batteries generate power by moving and storing lithium ions within electrodes, lithium air batteries work by creating a chemical reaction between lithium and oxygen.

    The problem has been the “air” part, since even the tiny (0.04%) volume of CO₂ found in air is enough to disrupt this careful chemistry, producing unwanted lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃). As many battery scientists will tell you, the presence of Li₂CO₃ can also be a real pain in regular lithium-ion batteries, causing unhelpful side reactions and electrical resistance.

    Nonetheless the scientists noticed something interesting about this CO₂ contamination: it improved the battery’s amount of charge. From this point on, work began on intentionally adding CO₂ gas to batteries to take advantage of this, and the lithium-CO₂ battery was born.

    How it works

    Their great potential relates to the chemical reaction at the positive side of the battery, where small holes are cut in the casing to allow CO₂ gas in. There it dissolves in the liquid electrolyte (which allows the charge to move between the two electrodes) and reacts with lithium that has already been dissolved there. During this reaction, it’s believed that four electrons are exchanged between lithium ions and carbon dioxide.

    This electron transfer determines the theoretical charge that can be stored in the battery. In a normal lithium-ion battery, the positive electrode exchanges just one electron per reaction (in lithium air batteries, it’s two to four electrons). The greater exchange of electrons in the lithium-carbon dioxide battery, combined with the high voltage of the reaction, explains their potential to greatly outperform today’s lithium-ion batteries.

    In terms of the benefits to carbon emissions, by our rough calculations, 1kg of catalyst could absorb around 18.5kg of CO₂. Since a car driving 100 miles emits around 18kg-20kg of CO₂, that means such a battery could potentially offset a day’s drive.

    However, the technology has a few issues. The batteries don’t last very long. Commercial lithium-ion packs routinely survive 1,000–10,000 charging cycles; most LiCO₂ prototypes fade after fewer than 100.

    They’re also difficult to recharge. This requires breaking down the lithium carbonate to release lithium and CO₂, which can be energy intensive. This energy requirement is a little like a hill that must be cycled up before the reaction can coast, and is known as overpotential.

    You can reduce this requirement by printing the right catalyst material on the porous positive electrode. Yet these catalysts are typically expensive and rare noble metals, such as ruthenium and platinum, which is a significant barrier to commercial viability.

    Our team has found an alternative catalyst, caesium phosphomolybdate, which is far cheaper and easy to manufacture at room temperature. This material made the batteries stable for 107 cycles, while also storing 2.5 times as much charge as a lithium-ion. And we significantly reduced the energy cost involved in breaking down lithium carbonate, for an overpotential of 0.67 volts, which is only about double what would be necessary in a commercial product.

    Our research team is now working to further reduce the cost of this technology by developing a catalyst that replaces caesium, since it’s the phosphomolybdate that is key. This could make the system more economically viable and scalable for widespread deployment.

    We also plan to study how the battery charges and discharges in real time. This will provide a clearer understanding of the internal mechanisms at work, helping to optimise performance and durability.

    Lithium-carbon dioxide batteries could help humans to colonise Mars.
    Forelse Stock

    A major focus of upcoming tests will be to evaluate how the battery performs under different CO₂ pressures. So far, the system has only been tested under idealised conditions (1 bar). If it can work at 0.1 bar of pressure, it will be feasible for car exhausts and gas boiler flues, meaning you could capture CO₂ while you drive or heat your home. Demonstrating that this works will be an important confirmation of commercial viability, albeit we would expect the battery’s charge capacity to reduce at this pressure.

    If the batteries work at 0.006 bar, the pressure on the Martian atmosphere, they could power anything from an exploration rover to a colony. At 0.0004 bar, Earth’s ambient air pressure, they could capture CO₂ from our atmosphere and store power anywhere. In all cases, the key question will be how it affects the battery’s charge capacity.

    Meanwhile, to improve the battery’s number of recharge cycles, we need to address the fact that the electrolyte dries out. We’re currently investigating solutions, which probably involve developing casings that only CO₂ can move into. As for reducing the energy required for the catalyst to work, it’s likely to require optimising the battery’s geometry to maximise the reaction rate – and to introduce a flow of CO₂, comparable to how fuel cells work (typically by feeding in hydrogen and oxygen).

    If this continued work can push the battery’s cycle life above 1,000 cycles, cut overpotential below 0.3 V, and replace scarce elements entirely, commercial Li-CO₂ packs could become reality. Our experiments will determine just how versatile and far-reaching the battery’s applications might be, from carbon capture on Earth to powering missions on Mars.

    Daniel Commandeur receives funding from the Royal Society. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Christians in Science.

    Siddharth Gadkari receives funding from UKRI.

    Mahsa Masoudi 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. Batteries that absorb carbon emissions move a step closer to reality – new study – https://theconversation.com/batteries-that-absorb-carbon-emissions-move-a-step-closer-to-reality-new-study-256915

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel to Take Control of Entire Gaza Strip – B. Netanyahu

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    JERUSALEM, May 19 (Xinhua) — Israel will take control of the entire Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, speaking about the recently launched large-scale operation by Israeli troops.

    In his video message published on the Telegram messenger, B. Netanyahu stated: “We are going to take control of the entire territory of the enclave – that is exactly what we are going to do.”

    Speaking a day after announcing a partial resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, he stressed that Israel would allow only “minimal and basic” aid for a limited period, without specifying when deliveries would resume.

    The Israeli prime minister explained that the mechanism for distributing food and medicine would be replaced “in the coming days” by a new scheme being developed jointly with the United States. The new system would include distribution points in a “sterile zone under the control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),” where aid would be delivered by American companies, thus excluding the Palestinian Hamas movement from accessing supplies.

    “Ultimately, we will reach a situation where the entire territory will be under IDF control and all the civilian population of Gaza will be able to reach these points and receive aid, while Hamas will receive nothing,” added B. Netanyahu. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint statement from the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We call on Hamas to release immediately the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since 7 October 2023.

    The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. 

    Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.

    We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.

    We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.  We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions. 

    We strongly support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It is a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and a long-term political solution that offer the best hope of ending the agony of the hostages and their families, alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ending Hamas’ control of Gaza and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution, consistent with the goals of the 18 June conference in New York co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve and ensure long-term stability in the region.

    We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel and the United States to finalize consensus on arrangements for Gaza’s future, building on the Arab plan. We affirm the important role of the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the UN in June in building international consensus around this aim. And we are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Disaster authoritarianism: how autocratic regimes deal with earthquakes

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nimesh Dhungana, Lecturer in Disasters and Global Health, Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, University of Manchester

    An earthquake that struck south-east Asia in late March is thought to have killed more than 3,000 people in Myanmar, a country ruled by a military junta that has blocked humanitarian aid and continued waging war on quake-ravaged rebel territory.

    I am interested in how authoritarian regimes handle disasters and whether they disrupt or reinforce the ruling elite’s agenda. My research has led me to Tibet, which has endured Chinese occupation since 1951 and suffered a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in early January 2025.

    Beijing controls the access of independent media and international observers in Tibet. What we know about the disaster’s impact is largely based on initial reporting by the Chinese media, which has claimed the loss of 126 lives and damage to roads and communication networks.

    Tibetan sources have, however, contended that there has been much greater destruction, including to a number of monasteries and nunneries across the region.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Following the earthquake, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, ordered “all-out search and rescue efforts” and pledged a rapid recovery. The constrained political environment has meant that Chinese relief agencies and the Chinese state-run media have controlled the narrative, praising Beijing’s capacity for “speed and compassion” in mobilising rescue efforts while using the disaster to highlight China’s record of “good governance and putting people and their lives first”.

    These accounts not only fail to report on the civic responses to disaster, such as mutual aid networks organised by Tibetans both locally and internationally, but they tend to overlook the immediate concerns of the affected communities.

    Survivors and activists using social media to challenge Chinese media narratives of purported success in rescue and relief efforts have faced censorship and outright hostility from the Chinese authorities. A previous study, looking at the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, found that communities that were considered a challenge to Chinese authority had their demands for relief suppressed.

    Firefighters shift rubble in Shigatse on January 7 2025.
    China News Service, CC BY-SA

    The earthquake has sparked further concerns among Tibetans that Chinese authorities will use the disaster to tighten their grip on the region.

    The situation is reminiscent of the April 2010 earthquake that struck Tibet’s Yushu region, claiming more than 2,600 lives and causing significant disruption to local life. The earthquake enabled China to push its vision of modernity and development in Tibet amid allegations of corruption in relief distribution and forced relocations.

    The aftermath revealed a divergence between the Chinese interpretation of recovery and what many Tibetans saw as essential for preserving and promoting their unique cultural identity.

    In their study of the Zimbabwean state’s response to tropical cyclone Idai in 2019, anthropologist Denboy Kudejira described this phenomenon as “disaster authoritarianism”: when an authoritarian regime exploits a disaster to reassert its power. Akin to China’s model, the Zimbabwean government restricted the involvement of non-state groups in longer-term recovery efforts.

    The relative lack of attention journalists and politicians abroad pay to Tibet makes this problem more acute. For instance, the wildfires in Los Angeles erupted at the same time as the earthquake, but garnered greater and more sustained media attention that mounted scrutiny on responsible agencies. By contrast, the Tibet earthquake quickly faded from the news.

    ‘Confrontational politics emerging’

    For Tibetans, challenging disaster authoritarianism is part of a delicate political struggle. Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, called the disaster “a natural phenomenon and not the result of human activities”, while urging Tibetans not to be “angry with the Chinese”. This appears to reflect his long-held wisdom that antagonising Chinese authorities will invite further hardship for communities enduring political marginalisation.

    Others are more sceptical. Some people inside Tibet have questioned the official number of casualties reported by Beijing and pushed Chinese authorities to clarify the scale of the tragedy.

    There are signs of more confrontational politics emerging. The International Campaign for Tibet, which lobbies for self-determination for Tibetans, has labelled the disaster “the silent earthquake” and accused Chinese authorities of censoring the true nature of suffering.

    Another rights group, the Tibetan Rights Collective, has highlighted China’s interventions in Tibet that have made the region more geologically unstable, including the building of hydropower dams and roads. Recent research shows that China’s push to build infrastructure in the region has increased the risk of disasters, such as floods and landslides, for downstream communities in south Asia.

    Research a colleague and I conducted during the pandemic showed that community groups can compensate for gaps in state-led disaster responses, and alert where help is needed. But this depends on public participation and grassroots organising that, in authoritarian contexts such as Tibet and Myanmar, is heavily restricted.

    The climate crisis is increasing the risk of disasters at the same time as there is widespread fear of increasing authoritarianism globally. We should all worry about how these two trends might interact.

    Nimesh Dhungana 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. Disaster authoritarianism: how autocratic regimes deal with earthquakes – https://theconversation.com/disaster-authoritarianism-how-autocratic-regimes-deal-with-earthquakes-248188

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here’s what a microbiologist says

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester

    Showering is an important part of an good hygiene routine. Valerii_k/ Shutterstock

    It’s a question that’s long been the cause of debate: is it better to shower in the morning or at night?

    Morning shower enthusiasts will say this is the obvious winner, as it helps you wake up and start the day fresh. Night shower loyalists, on the other hand, will argue it’s better to “wash the day away” and relax before bed.

    But what does the research actually say? As a microbiologist, I can tell you there actually is a clear answer to this question.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    First off, it’s important to stress that showering is an integral part of any good hygiene routine — regardless of when you prefer to have one.

    Showering helps us remove dirt and oil from our skin, which can help prevent skin rashes and infections.

    Showering also removes sweat, which can quell body odour.

    Although many of us think that body odour is caused by sweat, it’s actually produced by bacteria that live on the surface of our skin. Fresh sweat is, in fact, odourless. But skin-dwelling bacteria – specifically staphylococci – use sweat as a direct nutrient source. When they break down the sweat, it releases a sulphur-containing compound called thioalcohols which is behind that pungent BO stench many of us are familiar with.

    Day or night?

    During the day, your body and hair inevitably collect pollutants and allergens (such as dust and pollen) alongside their usual accumulation of sweat and sebaceous oil. While some of these particles will be retained by your clothes, others will inevitably be transferred to your sheets and pillow cases.

    The sweat and oil from you skin will also support the growth of the bacteria that comprise your skin microbiome. These bacteria may then also be transferred from your body onto your sheets.

    Showering at night may remove some of the allergens, sweat and oil picked up during the day so less ends up on your bedsheets.

    However, even if you’ve freshly showered before bed, you will still sweat during the night – whatever the temperature is. Your skin microbes will then eat the nutrients in that sweat. This means that by the morning, you’ll have both deposited microbes onto your bed sheets and you’ll probably also wake up with some BO.

    A night shower can help rinse away the day’s dirt and grime, but you might not smell as fresh the next morning.
    leungchopan/ Shutterstock

    What particularly negates the cleaning benefits of a night shower is if your bedding is not regularly laundered. The odour causing microbes present in your bed sheets may be transferred while you sleep onto your clean body.

    Showering at night also does not stop your skin cells being shed. This means they can potentially become the food source of house dust mites, whose waste can be allergenic. If you don’t regularly wash your sheets, this could lead to a build-up of dead skin cell deposits which will feed more dust mites. The droppings from these dust mites can trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma.



    Read more:
    Your bed probably isn’t as clean as you think – a microbiologist explains

    Morning showers, on the other hand, can help remove dead skin cells as well as any sweat or bacteria you’ve picked up from your bed sheets during the night. This is especially important to do if your sheets weren’t freshly washed when you went to bed.

    A morning shower suggests your body will be cleaner of night-acquired skin microbes when putting on fresh clothes. You’ll also start the day with less sweat for odour-producing bacteria to feed on – which will probably help you smell fresher for longer during the day compared to someone who showered at night. As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate.

    Of course, everyone has their own shower preference. Whatever time you choose, remember that the effectiveness of your shower is influenced by many aspects of your personal hygiene regime – such as how frequently you wash your bed sheets.

    So regardless of whether your prefer a morning or evening shower, it’s important to clean your bed linen regularly. You should launder your sheets and pillow cases at least weekly to remove all the sweat, bacteria, dead skin cells and sebaceous oils that have built up on your sheets.

    Washing will also remove any fungal spores that might be growing on the bed linen – alongside the nutrient sources these odour producing microbes use to grow.

    Primrose Freestone 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. Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here’s what a microbiologist says – https://theconversation.com/is-it-better-to-shower-in-the-morning-or-at-night-heres-what-a-microbiologist-says-256242

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

    We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We call on Hamas to release immediately the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since 7 October 2023.

    The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. 

    Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.

    We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.

    We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.  We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions. 

    We strongly support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It is a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and a long-term political solution that offer the best hope of ending the agony of the hostages and their families, alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ending Hamas’ control of Gaza and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution, consistent with the goals of the 18 June conference in New York co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve, and ensure long-term stability in the region.

    We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel and the United States to finalise consensus on arrangements for Gaza’s future, building on the Arab plan. We affirm the important role of the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the UN in June in building international consensus around this aim. And we are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Galaxy Ring – Built for Life, Designed for Durability

    Source: Samsung

    Imagine heading to the gym for a tough workout, lifting weights, and monitoring your heart rate with the new Samsung Galaxy Ring. Afterward, you step outside for a run – rain or shine – and the ring continues to track your fitness goals without missing a beat. And when you head to the pool for a swim, you don’t even need to take it off because the Galaxy Ring is water-resistant enough to keep working through your entire workout.
     
    When it comes to wearables, you need something that can keep up with your lifestyle and the Galaxy Ring is designed to handle it all. Crafted for those who live life to the fullest, this sleek, stylish, and incredibly durable device is ready to withstand whatever you throw at it.
     
    The Galaxy Ring combines cutting-edge technology with unmatched durability, allowing users to enjoy a personalised wellness experience without the fear of damage from everyday activities. From its titanium design to its scratch-resistant finish, the Galaxy Ring is built to endure.
     

     
    Titanium Design: Strength Meets Elegance
    Made from premium titanium, the Galaxy Ring isn’t just a health tracker – it’s a testament to durability and sophistication. Available in three stunning colours – Silver, Gold, and Black – the slim, curved body fits comfortably on any finger. Whether you’re in the middle of an intense workout or out for a night on the town, this ring effortlessly complements your style while standing strong against the wear and tear of daily life. With a scratch-resistant finish, the Galaxy Ring is designed to maintain its sleek, polished look, no matter where life takes you.
     
    Durability You Can Count On – Ready for Any Challenge
    When Samsung creates a product, it’s built to last, and the Galaxy Ring is no exception. Whether you’re lifting weights, running a marathon, or swimming laps in the pool, this ring can take it all.
    Water Resistance[1]: Dive into your workout or take a dip in the pool – the Galaxy Ring can handle it. With an impressive water resistance rating of IP68, it’s designed to withstand rain, sweat, and even full water immersion. So, whether you’re breaking a sweat or cooling off in the pool, the Galaxy Ring won’t miss a beat.
    Scratch Resistance: Life happens, and so do scratches. But with the Galaxy Ring’s scratch-resistant surface, you can confidently wear it all day, every day, without worrying about marks or nicks.
    Impact Resistance: Whether you’re dropping your keys, taking a tumble on your morning run, or just navigating the hustle and bustle of daily life, the Galaxy Ring is built to withstand the bumps and drops that come with it. This impact-resistant design ensures that your device stays intact, no matter how rough your day gets.
    Battery Durability: With its long-lasting battery life

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Bihar showcases agri-food strength at International Buyer-Seller Meet 2025 in Patna

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bihar took centre stage in India’s agri-food export push as the International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) 2025 commenced in Patna on Monday. Organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in collaboration with APEDA, TPCI, and the Government of Bihar, the two-day event aims to boost food exports, facilitate global trade linkages, and unlock the state’s rich agricultural potential.

    The inaugural session was graced by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, and senior officials from MoFPI, APEDA, TPCI, and the Bihar government.

    With participation from 70 international buyers representing 20 countries, including six global retail chains, along with 50 domestic and 20 institutional buyers, the meet is expected to generate strong procurement momentum through 400+ curated B2B meetings. Products such as rice, spices, makhana, and fruits are in focus, with global players like LuLu Group (UAE), SARTAJ (Japan), Datar & Sons (UAE) and Global Foods Trading (Germany) showing strong sourcing interest.

    In his keynote address, Union Minister Chirag Paswan described the meet as a “turning point for rural prosperity” and reiterated the Government’s commitment to making Bihar a hub in India’s journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’. He noted, “We envision Bihar’s youth becoming job creators, not job seekers. The government will fully facilitate every investor.”

    Highlighting Bihar’s ancient legacy and agricultural strengths, the Minister revealed that in FY 2024–25 alone, 10,270 loans worth ₹624.42 crore were sanctioned under the PMFME Scheme in Bihar—the highest among all Indian states. He also emphasized the upcoming NIFTEM institute in Bihar, calling it a future centre of innovation and research in food technology.

    The event also witnessed the launch of a strategic report titled “Strategies to Boost India’s Makhana Exports”, reaffirming Bihar’s global leadership in this GI-tagged product.

    Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha underlined food processing as the best way to double farmers’ income, while Industries Minister Nitish Mishra spoke about the Muzaffarpur Mega Food Park and rapid land allotment through Bihar’s Single Window Clearance System. APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev emphasized that efforts like Tracenet 2.0 will enhance traceability and export readiness of Indian produce.

    So far, 12 companies have confirmed long-term procurement commitments across rice, pulses, spices, fruits, vegetables, and makhana, marking a major milestone in Bihar’s export journey.

    The IBSM 2025 also includes exhibitions, technical sessions, and investment discussions to catalyse partnerships and promote Bihar’s food processing ecosystem. The meet sets the stage for the state’s emergence as a key contributor to India’s agri-export ambitions.

    Finally, the Union Minister invited stakeholders to World Food India 2025, MoFPI’s flagship global event, which will further showcase India’s and Bihar’s growing footprint in global food markets.

     

  • MIL-OSI: Capital Bank Adds Veteran Delaware Commercial Banking Team Expanding Presence in the Region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROCKVILLE, Md., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Capital Bancorp (NASDAQ: CBNK) announced today the expansion of its Commercial Banking operations in Delaware with the addition of several highly experienced relationship managers. This strategic move marks a key milestone in the Bank’s Mid-Atlantic growth strategy, positioning Capital Bank to serve more businesses across the state of Delaware and surrounding areas.

    Located in Southern Delaware, Ritchie Francia is a seasoned commercial banker with deep ties to the Delaware business community. Based in the Rehoboth Beach area, Ritchie will anchor Capital Bank’s efforts in Sussex County, bringing his decades of experience and strong community relationships to clients in one of Delaware’s fastest-growing markets.

    Joining Ritchie are Sarah Ferguson and John Hassiepen in the Greater Wilmington area. Both Sarah and John are respected banking professionals with long track records of helping local businesses achieve their financial goals. Together, these additions bring deep market expertise, strong community connections, and a reputation for client service that aligns with Capital Bank’s relationship-driven approach.

    All three bankers are recognized as top performers, having recently earned prestigious sales awards for high achievement in commercial banking. Their success reflects a shared commitment to delivering exceptional value to clients through tailored financial solutions.

    “Our investments in Delaware represents an exciting next step for Capital Bank as we continue to expand our reach across the Mid-Atlantic,” said Steve Poynot, President and Chief Operating Officer of Capital Bank. “With the addition of Ritchie, Sarah, and John, we are building a team of experienced professionals who not only understand the local business landscape but are deeply invested in the success of their communities.”

    Capital Bank’s Delaware expansion is part of a broader strategic effort to strengthen its Commercial Banking footprint across the region. The Bank continues to invest in top talent and local market expertise to better serve businesses throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and beyond.

    About Capital Bank
    Capital Bancorp Inc., reported $3.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, and was ranked #9 in American Banker’s Top 20 High Performing Banks in 2024. The bank is known for its consultative approach and commitment to human-centric banking, serving commercial customers for over 25 years in the DC Metro Region. As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank system, Member FDIC, and Equal Housing Lender, Capital Bank is dedicated to helping customers achieve their financial goals while maintaining a strong fiduciary duty to its shareholders.

    For more information, visit http://capitalbankmd.com
    Dominic Canuso
    EVP, Chief Financial Officer
    dcanuso@capitalbankmd.com
    240-283-0402 ext.1223

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: RegEd Launches RIA Compliance Control Center to Streamline Oversight for Registered Investment Advisers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Raleigh, NC, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RegEd, the leading provider of compliance and credentialing solutions for the financial services industry, has announced the launch of the RIA Compliance Control CenterSM, a purpose-built solution that enables registered investment advisers (RIAs) to streamline supervision and enhance oversight across the full spectrum of compliance activities. 

    With increasing regulatory complexity and resource constraints, RIAs face mounting pressure to manage compliance obligations more efficiently while maintaining rigorous oversight. RegEd’s RIA Compliance Control Center empowers firms to meet these challenges head-on with a centralized, automated platform that delivers powerful capabilities to support compliance with SEC and state regulations. 

    “Registered investment advisers need tools that not only ensure compliance, but also scale with their business,” said Adam Schaub, VP, Platform Product Management at RegEd. “The RIA Compliance Control Center delivers the automation, integration, and visibility firms need to simplify oversight, reduce risk, and keep pace with a fast-evolving regulatory environment.” 

    The RIA Compliance Control Center is available in modular or bundled formats and includes robust capabilities such as: 

    • Personal Trade Monitoring and Pre-Clearance – Automate trade surveillance, with direct feeds from leading brokerage firms. 
    • Form ADV Part 2B Supplement Management – Ensure always-current, compliant disclosures with automated data population. 
    • Gifts, Gratuities & Contributions – Manage approval workflows and reporting with centralized tracking. 
    • Outside Business Activities – Streamline OBA submissions, attestations, and disclosures. 
    • IAR Continuing Education (IAR CE) – Access RegEd’s industry-leading CE catalog with intuitive dashboards for IARs and compliance teams. 
    • Advertising Review – Leverage AI-powered tools to review marketing materials and accelerate compliance with the SEC Marketing Rule. 
    • Licensing, Registration & Onboarding – Automate key workflows and maintain compliance throughout the IAR lifecycle. 

    The RIA Compliance Control Center also features advanced capabilities such as a unified compliance dashboard, WORM archiving, customizable questionnaires, advanced hierarchy management, and seamless integration with CRM and marketing systems through open APIs. 

    By delivering a holistic view of compliance status, both at the firm and individual level, the RIA Compliance Control Center helps advisers prioritize critical obligations, ensure timely fulfillment, and reduce manual effort. 

    For more information about the RIA Compliance Control Center, visit www.reged.com to request a free consultation or demonstration. 

    About RegEd

    RegEd is the market-leading provider of RegTech enterprise solutions with relationships with more than 200 enterprise clients that represent more than 35 of the top 50 insurance companies.  

    Established in 2000 by former regulators, the company is recognized for continuous regulatory technology innovation with solutions hallmarked by workflow-directed processes, data integration, regulatory intelligence, automated validations, business process automation and compliance dashboards. The aggregate drives the highest levels of operational efficiency and enables our clients to cost-effectively comply with regulations and continuously mitigate risk.  

    Trusted by the nation’s top financial services firms, RegEd’s proven, holistic approach to RegTech meets firms where they are on the compliance and risk management continuum, scaling as their needs evolve and amplifying the value proposition delivered to clients. For more information, please visit www.reged.com. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Security National Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SNFCA) Announces Completion of Lending Transaction on Residential Development Loan in Arrowhead Ranch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MURRAY, Utah, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Security National Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SNFCA), announced the successful conclusion of its lending transaction which facilitated the development of the Arrowhead Ranch residential project located in Payson, Utah. As a result of this transaction Security National realized “profit-split” income of nearly $4,000,000, which was in addition to the over $3,200,000 in interest and origination fees which were earned over the term of the loan.

    This acquisition and development loan was originated by the Company in June of 2021 in relation to over 500 planned residential units across various product types on a 162-acre parcel.

    The Company believes that this return on investment is above that which it would realize from competing general debt offerings. In addition, this transaction placed the Company’s residential mortgage segment in a position to offer long-term financing to potential purchasers, as an added benefit to the developer and homebuyers.

    This transaction demonstrates the Company’s enhanced lending capabilities, which provide increased value to homebuilders and the real estate development community. The proceeds of this profit split will be reinvested in similar transactions that the Company determines are attractive and will strengthen its asset base.

    “This transaction marks another important step in the strategic growth of our lending capabilities,” said Scott Quist, Chief Executive Officer of Security National. “By working with reputable, local developers we are able to structure attractive loan terms that benefit both the Company and the developers.”

    About Security National Financial Corporation

    Security National Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SNFCA) operates in three reportable business segments: life insurance, cemetery and mortuary, and mortgages. The life insurance segment is engaged in the business of selling and servicing selected lines of life insurance, annuity products, and accident and health insurance. These products are marketed in 40 states through a commissioned sales force of independent licensed insurance agents who may also sell insurance products of other companies. The cemetery and mortuary segment consists of eight mortuaries and five cemeteries in the state of Utah, one cemetery in the state of California, and one cemetery and four mortuaries in the state of New Mexico. The Company also engages in pre-need selling of funeral, cemetery, mortuary, and cremation services through its cemetery and mortuary locations. The mortgage segment originates and underwrites or otherwise purchases residential and commercial loans for new construction, existing homes, and other real estate projects. The mortgage segment operates through 100 retail offices in 23 states and is an approved mortgage lender in several other states.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about future financial performance, asset strategy, and capital allocation. Actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties. For a full discussion of these risks, please refer to the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    For Further Information Contact: Scott M. Quist
    or Garrett S. Sill
    Security National Financial Corporation
    P.O. Box 57250
    (Telephone) (801) 264-1060
    (Fax) (801) 264-8430
    *Website: www.securitynational.com*

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Structural changes in the global financial system and the transmission of financial conditions

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    The Great Financial Crisis (GFC) was a watershed event that set in motion two related structural changes to the global financial system. Those changes define the state of the system today. The first is the shift in the underlying claims from those on private sector borrowers (especially mortgages) to claims on the government in the form of sovereign bonds. The second structural change is the shift from banks to non-bank financial intermediaries. The GFC was essentially a banking crisis where (mostly) regulated banks were the protagonists. The post-GFC financial system has, instead, cast portfolio managers and other non-bank financial intermediaries as the main actors to take centre stage.

    Even as expansive fiscal policies have meant that sovereign bond issuance has outpaced the growth of private sector debt, portfolio managers of all stripes have absorbed the rapid issuance of sovereign bonds. The global nature of sovereign bond markets means that currency choice is an integral part of the investment decision. Pension funds and life insurance companies from rich economies that have obligations to their beneficiaries or policyholders in domestic currency nevertheless hold a globally diversified asset portfolio in several currencies. Currency hedging is therefore a key theme, and the system has evolved to allow such hedging. In this process, the banking system has played a crucial role. Banks enable the market for foreign exchange (FX) swaps, allowing investors to hedge currency risk. When boiled down, an FX swap is a collateralised borrowing operation. A euro area pension fund, for example, borrows dollars to invest in dollar bonds by pledging euros as collateral, with a promise to unwind the transaction at a pre-agreed exchange rate. In this sense, FX swaps make money fungible across currencies. The outstanding stock of FX swaps stands at $113 trillion, having increased rapidly since the GFC. Accounting convention allows not including FX swaps in debt, even though they are collateralised borrowing arrangements. In this respect, the apparently smaller footprint of the banking sector after the GFC is more an artifact of accounting conventions, rather than the underlying economics. Most of the time, the FX swap market lies out of view, but it is thrust into the limelight from time to time. The eventful first few months of 2025 are a good example.

    This lecture takes the audience through the operation of the FX swap market and how, with the greater role of global portfolio investors, it has served to intensify the transmission of financial conditions across borders. Portfolio decisions involve gross positions and are only loosely related to current account imbalances and associated net positions. As sovereign bond markets are set to grow even larger with expansive fiscal policies in key jurisdictions, this lecture aims to highlight how the sovereign bond market and exchange rates are two sides of the same coin. The banking sector plays the key linchpin role in connecting the two, even if the accounting convention allows them to keep a smaller footprint.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call for banking sector to ensure financial systems are inclusive

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called on the banking sector to be intentional in designing financial systems that assist the underserved and empower the marginalised.

    Addressing the Group of Twenty (G20) Breakfast-Round Table on the Empowerment of Women and Disability Inclusion in the Banking Sector, the Minister emphasised that financial inclusion is not a luxury but it is a right that is a critical enabler of economic independence, dignity, and equality.

    “Yet, across the world and particularly here in South Africa, too many women remain excluded from basic financial services without bank accounts, denied access to credit and disconnected from investment opportunities.

    “This exclusion is even more pronounced for women living with disabilities, rural women, young women and women in the informal employment,” Chikunga said on Monday in Johannesburg.

    The breakfast meeting was aimed at engaging the banking sector in investing in the work of the Empowerment of Women Working Group and the G20 Disability Inclusion Initiatives.

    The Minister encouraged the banking sector to reimagine financial systems by ensuring they serve women entrepreneurs, especially those leading micro and small enterprises; create demand-driven financial products tailored to women’s lived realities and incentivise financial institutions to become more inclusive through policy and innovation.

    Furthermore, Chikunga suggested that the banking sector invest in digital literacy, infrastructure and access to technology for women and persons with disabilities as well as integrate inclusion into the very architecture of economic planning.

    “We must also look at the role of care infrastructure not as a social cost but as an economic multiplier. Investment in the care economy is investment in jobs, community wellbeing and women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce.

    “Together, we must not only reimagine, but also actively innovate alternative pathways to building an economy that is dynamic, resilient, and inclusive enough to truly leave no one behind.

    “Together, let’s explore practical strategies, share success stories, break barriers, challenge stereotypes and fast track the development of financing models that unlock the full economic potential of women and persons with disabilities. Together, lets create a banking environment where everyone can thrive,” she said.

    The Minister explained that G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) has committed to advancing three urgent priorities that include the care economy, financial inclusion for and of women, and gender-based violence and femicide.

    “As part of this working group, we have developed several empowerment programmes as legacy projects that we wish to partner with private sector partners beyond South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

    “To this end, we have conceptualised and designed a series of Transformative Emerging Industrialists Accelerator Programs and intend to rally all relevant stakeholders, particularly SOEs, private sector companies and industry associations behind their implementation,” the Minister said.

    These programs will target emerging women industrialists in key sectors, including energy security, the maritime, defence and aerospace industries, platform economies and agriculture, among others.

    Participating emerging industrialists will work alongside experienced industry associations, receiving support from ideation through to product development, financing, market access, and commercialisation pathways.

    “To advance disability inclusion, we have also developed an investment case for the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Nerve Centre, a legacy project of South Africa’s Chairship of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group.

    “This centre will serve as a cornerstone for advancing disability rights and inclusion in the region, aligning with both South Africa’s constitutional imperatives and international commitments,” the Minister said.

    The centre will focus on the following priorities:

    • Research on mainstreaming the mights of persons with disabilities, particularly in the areas of financial inclusion, care economy, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and conducive working conditions.
    • Establishing a national disability data observatory.
    • Strengthening data collection and reporting systems across public and private sectors.
    • Developing early childhood disability screening protocols.
    • Enhancing institutional capacity through strengthened disability focal points.
    • Leveraging AI for disability inclusion.
    • Supporting special schools across South Africa to train teachers, address the digital divide, and improve educational outcomes for learners with disabilities.
    • Developing a model disability inclusive classroom and school for South Africa.

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Deputy President in France for a working visit

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile has on Monday arrived in Paris, France, for a working visit aimed at reinforcing South Africa’s historic and warm bilateral relations with that country.

    During the working visit, the two countries will be expanding on existing cooperation projects as well as identify new areas of cooperation with specific focus on trade and investment.

    The Deputy President’s visit follows a recent visit by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, last week to co-chair the 9th Session of the Forum for Political Dialogue (FPD) where the status of bilateral political relations between the two countries was discussed, including matters of mutual interest relating to international developments. 

    “Deputy President Mashatile will participate in the SA-France Investment Conference, where South Africa will intensify cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development; science, technology and innovation; education and skills development as well as improve the already strong people-to-people links between the two countries and increase the flow of tourism to South Africa from France,” said the Presidency in a statement.

    It said France is the 14th largest investor in South Africa, with about 400 French companies investing in sectors such as Financial Services, Renewable Energy, Rail, Chemicals, Oil and Gas, to mention but a few.

    “French companies have played a pivotal role in the Presidential Investment Conference. 

    “Since the first Presidential Investment Conference hosted in 2018, French companies have committed more than R70 billion with the majority of projects either completed or being implemented. “ 

    As part of his programme, Deputy President Mashatile will pay a courtesy call on Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, meet with captains of different industries and conduct site visits to the Suez Global Waste Management Company and Dassault Systèmes.

    The Deputy President is accompanied by Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams; Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy; Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie; Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille; Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes; Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela; Deputy Minister Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Financing biodiversity key for realising Africa’s economic potential

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh has called on delegates from governments across the continent to innovatively think about financing biodiversity, beyond the traditional funding from national budgets.

    According to the Deputy Minister, more than 7 000 species across the continent face extinction, which could harm Africa’s economic potential.

    “Biodiversity is not a luxury; it is the foundation of our economies, our health, and our survival. As you are aware that the financing gap to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 from all sources is estimated at 200 billion US Dollars annually. 

    “Every hectare of forest cleared, every waterway polluted, and every species lost diminishes not just our ecological wealth, but our economic potential,” Singh said on Monday in Cape Town.

    He was addressing the regional dialogue for member States of the Southern African Development Community, the East African Community and other Anglophone countries on the update or revision of national and regional biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs).

    This regional dialogue offers an opportunity for countries that have already revised their NBSAPs to share good practices, address common challenges, and identify potential solutions.

    The goal of the NBSAP is to conserve and manage biodiversity to ensure sustainable benefits to the people of South Africa, through co-operation and partnerships that build on strengths and opportunities.

    “Strong NBSAPs are more than policy, they are strategic tools to unlock international finance, attract private investment, and guide public spending where it matters most. But a plan on paper is not enough – it must be matched by budgets and political commitment,” he said.

    The Deputy Minister offered insights into the innovative finance solutions that were developed in South Africa through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) programme.

    The BIOFIN programme supports countries to enhance their financial management of biodiversity and ecosystems.

    “Through the BIOFIN programme, a framework has been developed to guide a fee setting process for biodiversity permits, which enables cost recovery and value attribution to the natural resources. 

    “The basis for this work is that revenue from sources such as protected area gate fees, tourism concessions, conferencing facilities, fees and permits related to biodiversity can play an important role in supporting the financial sustainability of the conservation estate,” he said.

    Through the programme, some municipalities have given rates relief to conservation areas leading to funds saved which can be further invested into biodiversity conservation. 

    “The financial result of this has been 124 000.00 US dollars saved by conservation areas over the last three years. We were delighted to learn from the Botswana example, where their rate collection increased seven-fold,” Singh said.

    A biodiversity offset portal will be launched on 22 May 2025 as part of celebrating the International Day of Biodiversity. 

    The offset portal which will be publicly accessible is aimed at improving the way offsets are conducted for the benefit of funding protected area management.

    “The Biodiversity Sector investment portal was launched in 2022 and formally handed over to the Government of South Africa. The portal has been institutionalized within the department and established a Biodiversity Economy Investment Portal, officially recognised as an ongoing conduit of opportunities for investment in the Small and Medium Enterprises. The department has fully taken over the portal and allocated a budget towards its ongoing maintenance,” he said. –SANews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call to close financial inclusion gap for women

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo, has emphasised the importance of closing the financial inclusion gap for women and ensuring that they can leverage financial services to smooth their incomes, invest in opportunities, and protect themselves against shocks.

    “Usage remains low, and significant gaps persist, particularly for women, youth, informal workers, and rural entrepreneurs,” Masondo said on Monday in Skukuza, Mpumalanga.

    Addressing the second Plenary Meeting of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, the Deputy Minister said empowering women is not just a matter of fairness or social equity; it is smart economics.

    “When women gain access to financial tools and earnings, they invest in their families and communities to an impressive degree. Studies find that women typically reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their households, compared to around 30–40% for men. 

    “We have seen that financially empowering a woman creates a ripple effect; children stay in school longer, family nutrition improves, and local economies become more resilient. Conversely, when women remain on the margins of finance, we all lose out on growth and innovation.

    “Let us remember that closing the financial inclusion gap for women is not a sidebar, it is central to our agenda. … Giving women access to and the ability to use affordable payments, credit, and insurance will boost development broadly,” he said.

    The Deputy Minister asserted that South Africa has made women’s economic empowerment a priority in the national strategies encouraging progress is being made.

    “But there is much farther to go to ensure that the creative entrepreneur I described, and millions like her can prosper. She does not want charity; she wants the playing field: levelled reliable digital payments, safe savings, and fair credit so her enterprise can grow.

    “Turning this vision into reality will require concerted action on multiple fronts: public policy, private innovation, and grassroots capacity-building. South Africa is committed to doing its part. 

    “Through our Financial Sector Development Reform Program (FSDRP), supported by partners like the World Bank and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, we invest in the infrastructure and reforms that move inclusion from access to usage,” Masondo said.

    The Reserve Bank has launched the Inclusive Payments Digitalisation Programme that aims to bring practical digital payment solutions to the informal sector.

    “We have piloted it in two communities, Tembisa and Hammanskraal, to develop digital ecosystems right where people live and work. Some of you visited these enterprises in March. 

    “This pilot is a testament to what is possible when we blend policy intent with on-the-ground innovation. We plan to expand such efforts, informed by data and community feedback, so that no entrepreneur is left behind by the digital finance revolution.

    “Our commitment goes further. We are streamlining regulations to encourage low-cost fintech solutions through the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group, strengthening consumer protection to build trust in digital finance through the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill, and improving connectivity in rural areas through the SA Connect programme,” he said.

    In essence, efforts are being made to create an environment where using financial services is easy, affordable, and safe so that inclusion translates into actual economic participation. 

    “But South Africa cannot do it alone. The beauty of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is that it allows us to learn from each other and to tackle common challenges together. Every country in this room has experiences, successful policies, clever tech applications, and even instructive failures that can inform the way forward for all of us,” Masondo said.

    GPFI is an inclusive platform for Group Twenty (G20) countries, non-G20 countries and relevant stakeholders for peer learning, knowledge sharing, policy advocacy and coordination. 

    It is the primary implementing mechanism of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP).

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –