Category: Commerce

MIL-OSI Banking: Survey: Global Consumers Prioritize Personalization and Security in AI Home Appliances

Source: Samsung

What do people expect from their home appliances?

According to an online survey by Samsung Electronics, consumers worldwide seek personalized AI-powered home solutions that streamline household chores with minimal time and effort.

From May 23 to 28, 2024, Samsung conducted an independent online survey with 1,880 participants aged 20 to 59 across South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. The multiple-response survey targeted primary home appliance users and key purchasing decision-makers, gathering insights into perceptions of AI and the outlook for AI home appliances.

When asked about the expected role of AI in the home, respondents frequently mentioned “help / helpful / assist” (379 responses), “cleaning” (259), “cooking” (181), “automatic” (178) and “easy / easier” (144).

Expectations for AI within Households

Moreover, some respondents highlighted security and safety as key expectations — anticipating that AI home appliances will not only reduce household burdens based on individual needs but also manage home safety.

Samsung Newsroom examines how the company continues to refine its AI Home experience by leveraging AI and connectivity to help consumers effortlessly manage daily tasks while ensuring robust security.

An Intuitive and Connected AI Home Experience
The survey revealed a strong demand for simple, intuitive controls in home appliances.

When asked about AI interaction preferences, respondents most frequently mentioned “voice / tell / talk” (203 responses) — followed by “help / helpful / assist” (175), “convenient / comfort” (155) and “control” (128).

Expectations for AI Interactions in Home Appliances

Samsung’s AI home appliances maximize ease of use through the advanced AI-powered Bixby voice assistant and seamless device connectivity via built-in screens. With Bixby’s ability to analyze context, understand intent and remember conversations, users can easily control their appliances.

This year, Bixby has been integrated into the Bespoke AI Dishwasher1 for the first time. Additionally, the 2025 Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ and the latest washers and dryers will feature voice recognition to provide personalized information tailored to each family member.2

These innovative screen-equipped appliances offer effortless control and seamless access to information.

▲ Samsung Electronics is bringing AI to life through its ‘Screens Everywhere’ vision.

The Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator with Kitchen Fit,3 featuring a 9-inch AI Home screen, displays a Daily Board that summarizes personalized information such as weather forecasts, daily schedules and meal recommendations.

Meanwhile, the 7-inch AI Home screen on the 2025 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo4 serves as a built-in hub — allowing users to manage SmartThings-connected home appliances and IoT devices without a separate hub.5

AI Home Appliances Must Do More With Less
Many respondents expressed strong interest in conserving resources. When asked about the most relevant AI-driven experiences, “minimizing resource usage” ranked highly among respondents in the U.S. (67%), U.K. (59%) and South Korea (49%).6

Samsung’s latest AI home appliances enhance performance and energy efficiency by combining advanced hardware, AI and SmartThings.

The new Bespoke AI Laundry Combo reduces drying time by approximately 20 minutes compared to its predecessor, completing a wash and dry cycle in just 79 minutes7 using Super Speed cycle. Meanwhile, the Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator optimizes cooling efficiency and energy savings by using a compressor and Peltier module8 to deliver rapid cooling while maximizing energy efficiency.

Enhancing Home Security and Safety With AI
Respondents expect AI-driven security features to protect their homes and ensure their families’ safety. “Security / safe” was frequently mentioned as a key factor in interactions with AI home appliances.

To address these concerns, Samsung equips all its smart appliances with the proprietary Samsung Knox9 security solution to safeguard user data from external threats such as malware.

▲ Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, describes Samsung Knox.

This year, the company is expanding Knox Matrix10 — its blockchain-based security system that enables connected appliances to monitor each other’s security status — to appliances with 7- and 9-inch screens as well as the latest robot vacuum cleaner.

The Knox Matrix Dashboard will be introduced to Samsung’s 2025 home appliance lineup,11 allowing users to monitor the security status of all connected devices and receive alerts for potential security issues.

Furthermore, Samsung is integrating Knox Vault into its screen-equipped home appliances and robot vacuum cleaners this year.12 This system securely stores sensitive user data — such as passwords and biometric information — on a dedicated hardware security chip, protecting against data breaches and hacking attempts while reinforcing security.

Passkey will be introduced to screen-equipped home appliances that support browsers, helping users replace traditional passwords with biometric authentication — such as fingerprint or facial recognition — via their smartphones for more secure and convenient logins.13

“As global interest in AI continues to grow, more consumers expect enhanced experiences through AI-powered home appliances,” said Bona Lee, Vice President and Head of Customer eXperience (CX) Insight Group of Digital Appliances (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue researching consumer needs and delivering innovative Bespoke AI experiences so that consumers can enjoy convenient and safe daily lives.”

Samsung will unveil its 2025 Bespoke AI product lineup at the “Welcome to Bespoke AI” event on March 26.

1 The launch timeline, model, available features may vary by country.2 Scheduled for release in the first half of 2025 via Smart Forward. With Bixby voice recognition, Family Hub syncs with the linked Samsung account to provide access to schedules, phone location services, photos and more. The Calendar app supports integration with Google and Microsoft. Bixby’s voice recognition feature will be available on screen-equipped appliances running Tizen OS but will not be supported on the washer and dryer models with 4.3-inch screen running Tizen Lite OS.3 The launch timeline, model, available features may vary by country.4 The launch timeline, model, available features may vary by country.5 Supports Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter and Thread.6 The personal relevance metric is divided into seven categories, with the top two aggregated for analysis.7 According to the DOE standard test fabric with a composition of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, the quick course may vary depending on the type of clothing, moisture content, characteristics, and washing volume in real use environments.8 The Peltier module operates under one of the following conditions:
– When the temperature in the fridge rises above the normal range.
– When AI analyzes the user’s refrigerator usage patterns, predicts the temperature after a certain period and detects situations like large-scale stocking or cleaning.9 Samsung Knox has been integrated into Samsung smart appliances released since 2018.10 As of February 2025, Knox Matrix Credential Sync has been implemented into the 2024 Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+.11 2025 Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ and appliances equipped with 7- and 9-inch screens.12 2025 Bespoke AI Hybrid Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ and appliances equipped with 7- and 9-inch screens.13 Supports Passkey authentication for websites using the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) international standard.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Lawyers in our compliance spotlight
Source:

We expect everyone to meet their tax obligations, but our recent work with the legal profession has revealed some lawyers are failing to lodge returns, are making errors, or not paying their taxes on time.

While most lawyers do the right thing, unfortunately we’re seeing too many who aren’t. In fact, our reviews of over 250 lawyers show that 85% didn’t lodge returns, including some with multiple years overdue. By securing outstanding lodgments and detecting omitted income in returns we’ve raised $28 million.

One thing we see too often is lawyers incorrectly reporting distributions from partnerships and associated service trusts. If you redirect your legal firm income to an associated entity, you may come to our attention as high risk. To help you, our comprehensive online resource lets you self-assess your risk of inappropriate alienation of income and understand the compliance action we take.

To help lawyers fulfill their tax obligations, we’ve undertaken compliance actions including:
- reviews and audits
- default assessments
- garnishees
- payment arrangements
- prosecutions.
To give you just 2 examples, our compliance actions have addressed:
- A lawyer who hadn’t lodged returns for several years and assigned income to related entities that also didn’t lodge returns. Our review of their group identified $8.6 million in liabilities which have been partially paid with the balance under a payment arrangement.
- A lawyer who didn’t declare income received as director’s fees. Our review found this income was related to services the lawyer personally performed and the failure to declare them led to $400,000 in liabilities, including penalties.
To avoid these kinds of outcomes:
- make sure your lodgment is up to date, including income tax, goods and services tax, fringe benefits tax, super and any other obligations
- check trust and partnership distributions are recorded and lodged correctly
- account for all income
- lodge on time, every time
- voluntarily disclose any tax obligations you may have missed
- make sure you’re complying with PCG 2021/4
Prosecution could lead to findings that you’re not a fit and proper person to practice law and you could be struck off your states’ registers.

For example, the Queensland Civil Administration Tribunal recently upheld the Bar Association of Queensland’s decision that a barrister was not fit to hold a practising certificate due to multiple failures, including unpaid tax liabilities since 2019. In his decision Justice Bradley stated:

‘He knew the money he spent on any other thing was money he was denying the ATO. This was wrong … To describe it as an administrative failure is inadequate. Most right-thinking members of the community expect people to honour their obligations to meet their debts, if they can.’

To find out more about our approach to practices like yours, see our Private Wealth Adviser Program resource.

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MIL OSI News –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China to further stabilize foreign investment in 2025: commerce ministry

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

BEIJING, March 20 — China will work to further stabilize foreign investment in 2025, implementing measures to open up more fields and improve the business environment, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

To date, China has granted 13 foreign-invested companies access to value-added telecom services, over 40 foreign-funded biotechnology projects have kicked off, and three new wholly foreign-owned hospitals have been approved for operation, He Yongqian, a spokesperson for the ministry told a press conference.

China will expand the scope of its opening-up pilot program this year, targeting areas such as education and culture, He said.

The ministry will also step up efforts to make China a favored destination for foreign investment, the spokesperson said, adding the country is also preparing a series of promotion activities abroad to attract foreign investors.

He said that the ministry has helped resolve more than 500 issues for foreign-funded enterprises through roundtable meetings and pledged continuous efforts to improve service and business environment for foreign investors.

China will continue to support both domestic and foreign-funded enterprises in participating in activities such as large-scale equipment upgrades, consumer goods trade-in program and government procurement, ensuring a level playing field for foreign-funded firms, the spokesperson said.

China has taken multi-pronged measures to stabilize foreign investment since the start of this year. Last month, the country issued an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025.

MIL OSI China News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Staff Issues Interpretation Regarding Financial Reporting Requirements for Japanese Nonbank Swap Dealers

Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Market Participants Division today issued interpretation concerning financial reporting obligations for nonbank swap dealers subject to regulation by the Financial Services Agency of Japan (Japanese nonbank SDs).
On July 18, 2024, the Commission issued a comparability determination and related comparability order granting substituted compliance in connection with the CFTC’s capital and financial reporting requirements to Japanese nonbank SDs, subject to certain conditions in the order (Japanese Comparability Order). One of the conditions in the Japanese Comparability Order, condition 9, requires each Japanese nonbank SD to file a copy of its home regulator Annual Business Report with the CFTC and the National Futures Association (NFA).
The staff interpretation clarifies that Japanese nonbank SDs may satisfy condition 9 of the Japanese Comparability Order by filing with the CFTC and the NFA certain enumerated schedules of the Annual Business Report (In Scope Schedules), subject to the translation, U.S. dollar conversion, and deadline requirements of condition 9.
The interpretation was issued in response to a request from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association on behalf of its Japanese nonbank SD members that rely on the Japanese Comparability Order.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Klobuchar, Cantwell, Colleagues Call on President Trump to Reverse the Illegal Firing of FTC Commissioners

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
March 20, 2025
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and over two dozen of their Senate colleagues called on President Trump to reverse the illegal firing of Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“This action contradicts long standing Supreme Court precedent, undermines Congress’s constitutional authority to create bipartisan, independent commissions, and upends more than 110 years of work at the FTC to protect consumers from deceptive practices and monopoly power,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to rescind these dismissals so the FTC can get back to the people’s work.”
“Congress established the FTC in 1914 as an independent agency made up of bipartisan, multi-member, expert commissioners who are tasked with protecting consumers,” the Senators continued. “In 2024 alone, the FTC used this authority to return more than $330 million to consumers, while simultaneously blocking anticompetitive mergers and challenging monopoly power that can result in higher prices, fewer choices, and less opportunity for American consumers, workers, and small businesses. The FTC has consistently carried out this mandate as a bipartisan commission under Republican and Democratic administrations.”
In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Klobuchar and Cantwell, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear President Trump,
On March 18, 2025 you announced your intention to fire Commissioner Slaughter and Commissioner Bedoya from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This action contradicts long standing Supreme Court precedent, undermines Congress’s constitutional authority to create bipartisan, independent commissions, and upends more than 110 years of work at the FTC to protect consumers from deceptive practices and monopoly power. We urge you to rescind these dismissals so the FTC can get back to the people’s work.
Congress established the FTC in 1914 as an independent agency made up of bipartisan, multi-member, expert commissioners who are tasked with protecting consumers. In 2024 alone, the FTC used this authority to return more than $330 million to consumers, while simultaneously blocking anticompetitive mergers and challenging monopoly power that can result in higher prices, fewer choices, and less opportunity for American consumers, workers, and small businesses. The FTC has consistently carried out this mandate as a bipartisan commission under Republican and Democratic administrations.
When establishing the FTC, Congress lawfully exercised its power to establish a bipartisan, multi-member, expert commission and to shield that commission from political pressure by allowing commissioners to serve 7-year terms and limiting the President’s power to remove commissioners only “for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” Under the law, as you are aware, the President retains the sole authority to nominate new commissioners and to appoint the Chair of the Commission. The President may also appoint a new Chair among the sitting commissioners at any time.
Ninety years ago, the Supreme Court held that Congress’s authority to create bipartisan, multi-member, expert commissions—and specifically the FTC—“cannot well be doubted” because “it is quite evident that one who holds his office only during the pleasure of another cannot be depended upon to maintain an attitude of independence. . . .” In a 2020 decision involving whether Congress could insulate the single director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from at-will removal by the President, the Supreme Court declined to revisit this precedent, finding important differences between the CFPB and the FTC, including that the FTC has multiple expert members to ensure the Commission retains relevant expertise at all times, that each President can influence the makeup of the Commission by nominating new members and appointing the Chair (as you have already done), and that the Commission is funded through the traditional appropriations process that the President may influence.
As such, the structure of the FTC does not undermine executive authority and is well within Congress’s power to establish independent agencies tasked with protecting Americans from harmful business practices, fraud, and outright corruption. As Commissioners duly appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya must be allowed to continue their work at the Commission.
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MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: In a Letter to General Services Administration, Duckworth, Durbin, Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation Outline Harmful Impacts of Recent Termination of Federal Government Leases

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
March 20, 2025
“DOGE” claims to have terminated 793 federal leases across the country including 24 in Illinois, jeopardizing Illinoisans’ ability to access critical federal services
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, sent a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian requesting answers in regard to GSA’s recent termination of federal government leases across Illinois. As of March 6, 2025, GSA, in conjunction with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claims to have terminated 793 federal leases across the country—24 of which are in Illinois. These abrupt lease terminations have left impacted agencies in the dark and created alarm and confusion for federal workers.
The lawmakers wrote, “The Trump Administration has made clear its intent to reduce GSA’s footprint by selling half of the buildings owned by the federal government and terminating half of the leases used by federal agencies nationwide. However, the lack of transparency around these actions and DOGE’s influence in the process of lease terminations is troubling. The ‘wall of receipts’ touted on the DOGE website is not an adequate source of information. The so-called department has acted carelessly, terminating leases recklessly and without proper consultation with the agencies involved or consideration for the workers, constituents, and communities impacted by these decisions.”
“GSA and DOGE terminated 24 leases in Illinois, claiming an alleged ‘savings’ of $15 million. We are concerned about the impact these lease terminations may have on Illinoisans’ ability to access critical federal services. For example, the closure of a Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Rockford, Illinois, could make it difficult for seniors and people with disabilities to schedule appointments or apply for retirement and disability benefits, as the next closest SSA office is more than a 30-minute drive away. In addition, DOGE reportedly is pressuring the SSA to reduce its 1-800 phone services, which would exacerbate the difficulty seniors and people with disabilities would face in claiming their benefits,” the lawmakers continued.
Several Department of Labor (DOL) office leases in Illinois also were terminated, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office in Naperville, Illinois and the Wage and Hour Division office in Springfield, Illinois. These closures will make it more difficult for Illinoisans to report workplace incidents and file confidential complaints against employers who violate wage and child labor laws, as well as health and safety standards. Further, the termination of the Small Business Administration (SBA) office lease in Springfield, Illinois, along with a March 6, 2025, announcement that SBA plans to relocate its Chicago regional office, could leave Illinois without an SBA office at all. This decision would complicate Illinois small businesses’ ability to access SBA loan programs, disaster recovery loans and federal contracts crucial to their livelihoods.
In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).
The Congressional delegation requested GSA respond to a number of outstanding questions by April 4, 2025.
A copy of the full letter is available here.
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MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER REVEALS: TRUMP’S NEWEST ORDER COULD BLOW $5 BILLION DOLLAR HOLE IN NY’S “MAIN STREET” LENDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORTGAGES & MORE; SENATOR LEADS FIGHT FOR IMMEDIATE…

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
In Recent Days, Trump Signed Executive Order To Dismantle Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, Which Provides Hundreds Of Millions Of Fed Investment Annually To Lenders To Increase Access To Capital For Underserved Areas Like Upstate NY & Rural Communities To Help People Buy A Homes, Boost Small Biz, And More
Schumer Shows How These Devastating Cuts Would Be Felt From Buffalo To Albany, In Every Region – CDFI’s In Upstate NY Have Helped 12,000+ Upstate Businesses Each Year, Nearly 4,000 Families With Mortgages, And Financed Nearly 5,000 Affordable Housing Units
Schumer: Cutting Off Upstate NY From This Main Street Lending Program Would Be A Disaster– And Trump Must Reverse This Decision
After President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer revealed how these devastating proposed cuts would be felt in every corner of Upstate NY by upending the primary lending program for everything from small businesses on our Main Streets to first-time homebuyers.
Schumer said CDFI’s fill the gaps in lending where capital might not be available for NYer’s looking to buy a home, start or expand a small business, improve their local Main Streets, finance affordable housing and hospitals, and more. Schumer is now leading a bipartisan coalition of senators to call on the Trump administration to preserve this vital fund – an essential and affordable stream of lending for communities like Upstate NY and cities and rural communities across America.
“The Trump administration just unwisely put Upstate NY’s Main Street lending on the chopping block, something that will hurt new families trying to buy homes and entrepreneurs starting and expanding small businesses. The CDFI fund is used from Buffalo to Albany to help NY families buy homes, grow their small businesses, improve healthcare, and rebuild our Main Streets, and taking it away would be a disaster. It could blow a $5 billion dollar hole in New York’s community lending sector, raising costs and cutting off loans and investment for anyone who doesn’t have access to big banks,” said Senator Schumer. “I am all for cutting out inefficiency, but you use a scalpel, not a chainsaw. And you certainly don’t slash programs like the CDFI Fund which has a clear track record of using federal investment to leverage magnitudes more in private investment to help regular people buy homes and start businesses. It is one of the best bang for your buck programs we have for Upstate NY small businesses and families buying homes. I am leading a bipartisan fight for the Trump administration to reverse this destructive proposal and preserve the CDFI Fund to keep the support flowing to Upstate NY’s Main Streets and the middle class.”
The CDFI Fund supports CDFI lenders in their mission to provide small businesses and housing and community development projects with capital investment unavailable in their local economies. Each year, CDFIs provide affordable growth capital to thousands of small businesses and finance over $100 billion in residential real estate, bringing down the cost of housing through new construction and affordable home mortgages. Schumer said the elimination of key CDFI Fund functions would undermine this important progress, including for small businesses and homeowners. In New York, CDFIs have supported hospital renovations, affordable housing conversions, projects bringing fresh food to local communities, small business expansions, and more. A breakdown of funding by region in New York for small businesses and housing can be found below. A list of New York projects can be found here.

NY Region

Total Funding for Businesses

Total $ for Consumer and Mortgage Loans

Total $ to Real Estate/Other

Total $

Total Originations to Businesses and MicroBusinesses

Total Consumer and Mortgage Originations

Capital Region

$9,180,874

$27,135,370

$29,819,183

$66,135,427

                          566

                            29

Western New York

$11,228,096

$46,150,746

$25,870,271

$83,249,114

                          982

                          147

Central New York

$9,152,171

$310,218,718

$42,333,001

$361,703,890

                       1,640

                       2,383

Rochester-Finger Lakes

$14,907,370

$24,703,146

$32,304,491

$71,915,007

                          923

                          143

Hudson Valley

$29,047,167

$197,250,314

$57,893,068

$284,190,549

                       2,701

                          420

Long Island

$45,142,052

$521,605,405

$230,171,098

$796,918,555

                      4,576

                          138

Mohawk Valley

$1,807,015

$17,704,789

$30,908,401

$50,420,205

                          205

                          193

New York City

$953,617,956

$1,640,431,432

$993,819,971

$3,587,869,360

                   112,301

                          777

North Country

$1,201,725

$6,659,354

$9,908,746

$17,769,825

                            91

                            21

Southern Tier

$5,185,497

$24,298,698

$17,423,745

$46,907,940

                          304

                          214

Total

$1,080,469,923

$2,816,157,972

$1,470,451,977

$5,367,079,872

                   124,289

                       4,465

“Support from the CDFI Fund allows us to maximize our impact in New York’s low-income areas – urban, rural and everywhere in between,” said Colleen Ryan, consulting executive director of the NYS CDFI Coalition. “Local CDFIs develop unique programs and tailored resources by leveraging federal dollars with private capital. These grants are not spent down, as traditional grants are. Instead, as loans are repaid, the funds are recycled into new projects. In addition to lending, we offer technical assistance to our borrowers to help them develop much-needed housing, build businesses, and revitalize neighborhoods. We urge continued support for the CDFI Fund, which provides consistent return on investment.”
Schumer said it is unacceptable that the Trump administration is eliminating the CDFI Fund and its vital support to lowering the cost of housing and helping more Americans start a business or rebuild their community, and warned that this Trump cut will have severe impacts on New York. In 2022, CDFIs helped deliver over $1 billion in capital for small business and housing and community projects. This investment alone supported the creation of over 20,000 affordable housing units across New York State.
The CDFI Fund provides the necessary investment to start and support the national network of CDFI lenders to bring private capital to more communities. For every $1 in federal funding awarded through the CDFI Fund, at least $8 in private sector investment is leveraged—mobilizing local capital, creating jobs, and fueling small business and affordable housing growth. The CDFI network serves communities throughout the country, from rural to big cities to suburban areas, and as a result, has had long-standing bipartisan support.
Schumer’s letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent along with Sens. Warner and Crapo, Tina Smith (D-MN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Steve Daines (R-MT), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jim Justice (R-WV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) can be found HERE or below:
We write to reaffirm our bipartisan support of the CDFI Fund, its operations and the critical role it plays in the communities it serves. We appreciate your recent statement recognizing how the CDFI Fund and CDFIs are integral to the Administration’s pursuit of job growth, wealth creation and prosperity.
Federal support for the CDFI mission began in 1994, with enactment of the bipartisan Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act. Since its inception over three decades ago, the CDFI Fund has proven critical to the CDFI sector’s growth and has met the mission to create a public-private partnership to promote access to capital in our most underserved urban and rural communities.
Over 1,400 CDFIs represent a significant portion of America’s financial services sector, delivering over $300 billion in financial services each year to urban and rural communities across every state. Each year, CDFIs provide affordable growth capital to over 100,000 small businesses and finance over $100 billion in residential real estate, bringing down the cost of housing through new construction and affordable home mortgages. The important work of the CDFI sector is strengthened by the CDFI Fund, which provides seed funding to new CDFIs, grows the capacity of existing CDFIs, and provides oversight to ensure federal dollars are spent appropriately. Elimination of key CDFI Fund functions would undermine this important progress, including for small businesses and homeowners.
The CDFI Fund’s public-private partnership model aligns with this Administration’s emphasis on ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and with measurable impact. Every federal dollar injected into a CDFI generates at least eight more dollars from private-sector investment. Due in large part to the investments the Trump Administration made in the CDFI Fund in 2020, industry assets have tripled and the number of CDFI-certified entities has risen by 40 percent.
In sum, more distressed communities are being served by CDFIs than ever before, more firsttime buyers are receiving the financing they need to purchase a home, more community facilities are being built, and more commercial loans are reaching entrepreneurs. A reduction in the functions and operations of the CDFI Fund will have a corresponding impact on CDFI-certified entities and local communities and we urge you to avoid this unfortunate outcome.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We stand ready to work with your Administration to promote policies that deliver opportunity and prosperity to all Americans.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense Contractor President Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Involving $16 Million in Small Business Government Contracts

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SAN DIEGO – Philip Flores, the owner, president and chief executive of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a former defense contractor based out of Fredericksburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he participated in a bribery scheme with former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano.

According to his plea agreement, Flores gave various things of value to Soriano, including expensive meals at restaurants in San Diego and Washington D.C., field level tickets and parking passes to Game 5 of the 2018 MLB World Series in Los Angeles, and tickets to the 2019 NFL Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. The cost of tickets to these premier sporting events totaled over $18,000.

In return, Soriano used his position as a contracting officer’s representative at the Naval Information Warfare Center to ensure that Intellipeak was awarded numerous no-bid government contracts through the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. Soriano secured the contracts by falsifying technical evaluations, providing high ratings to Intellipeak to do the contracted work, and approving Intellipeak’s invoices on the awarded contracts, despite knowing that Intellipeak was not doing the work but instead subcontracting out all or most of the work to non-8(a) companies in violation of the SBA 8(a) rules.

Soriano also exploited competitive contracting through the SBA 8(a) program to benefit Intellipeak over other contractors. For example, Soriano secretly allowed Flores to draft contract discriminators to ensure that Intellipeak was selected as a winning bidder on a competitive contract. Soriano also allowed Flores to secretly draft procurement documents for an $86 million competitive contract and then performed multiple steps to attempt to award the contract to Intellipeak even though its bid was $6 million higher than another contractor.

According to his plea agreement, Flores also exploited Intellipeak’s 8(a) small business status by marketing Intellipeak to other defense contractors, who were not part of the 8(a) program, as a way for those companies to get access to 8(a) sole source contracts, generally in exchange for “pass through” fee that was equal to 6 to 8 percent of the contract value. Flores charged his 6 to 8 percent fee to the government, which Soriano approved, even though both knew that Intellipeak was not doing the work on the contracts and the fee did not reflect performed work.

According to Flores’s plea agreement, as a result of the conspiracy, the government paid Intellipeak more than $16 million to perform work on approximately 26 government contracts and task orders. The profit Intellipeak made from these contracts and task orders was conservatively estimated to be between $550,000 and $1.5 million. Further, as part of his plea agreement, Flores has agreed to pay restitution to three small businesses that were foreseeable victims of the bribery scheme.

Flores is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on June 13, 2025.

“Those who undermine the integrity of the government procurement process will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “As this guilty plea demonstrates, we will continue to prosecute those individuals who put their own personal gain ahead of the system that supports our nation’s warfighters and at the expense of American taxpayers.”

“Mr. Flores’s plea agreement is a positive step toward accountability for his role in this illicit scheme,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “Mr. Flores sought to enrich himself and his company at the expense of the American taxpayers. DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate and deter public corruption within the Department of Defense.”

“Mr. Flores’s participation in an illicit scheme to bribe a public official in exchange for unlawful enrichment in contract awards undermines the Department of the Navy’s commitment to a fair and unbiased procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our investigative partners remain committed to ensuring the continued integrity of the Department of the Navy’s acquisitions process.”

“Mr. Flores intentionally undermined the DoD contracting process,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “The DoD contracting process ensures our warfighters get the best equipment available and that American tax dollars are spent in a responsible manner. IRS-CI is committed to deterring and preventing this sort of fraud, in partnership with fellow law enforcement organizations, to ensure our servicemembers are properly equipped to fight and win in an increasingly complex battlespace.”

“Those who engage in bribery schemes to gain access to preferential small business contracts will be aggressively investigated,” said SBA OIG’s Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Shafee Carnegie. “Our office will relentlessly pursue fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs for small businesses. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

Soriano was charged as a co-defendant and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 23-cr-2282-TWR. Soriano was also separately charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud and false statement in filing a tax return in 24-cr-0341-TWR. Soriano is next scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on May 9, 2025.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan, Katherine E.A. McGrath, and Carling E. Donovan.

DEFENDANT Case Number 23-cr-2282-TWR-2

Philip Flores Age: 53 Fredericksburg, VA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and an order of restitution to victims of the offense of at least $50,000.

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Defense Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation

Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General

If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.

MIL Security OSI –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s MSMEs in IT sector to play a key role in achieving ambitious $450 billion services export target: Shri Piyush Goyal

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 9:02PM by PIB Delhi

Recognizing the rapid growth of MSMEs in IT, tourism, business accounting, and financial services, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, emphasized the sector’s key role in driving services exports and creating jobs. He said this while speaking at the Global Confluence 2025 organized by Nasscom in New Delhi today.

Shri Goyal expressed confidence that the IT sector can achieve an ambitious $450 billion services export target in the next financial year. He underscored the critical role of the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) sector in India’s economic growth. He noted that the services sector exports reached approximately $340 billion last year, with IT and ITES contributing nearly $200 billion. This year, services exports are expected to reach between $380 billion and $385 billion, further solidifying India’s global presence.

Shri Goyal highlighted the importance of innovation and adaptability in maintaining India’s competitive edge. He praised Nasscom for fostering a culture of continuous learning, stating that the IT sector has consistently remained ahead of the curve by embracing new technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

He also stressed the need to attract Global Capability Centers (GCCs) to India, leveraging the country’s vast talent pool. Encouraging businesses to operate from India rather than relocating talent abroad, he said this would enhance foreign exchange earnings and fuel domestic economic growth.

Discussing India’s expanding middle class and rising consumption levels, Shri Goyal outlined the cascading benefits of IT-led growth, including increased demand for commercial real estate, housing, and infrastructure. He called it a “virtuous cycle of growth” where a thriving services sector strengthens the overall economy.

Nasscom, he noted, plays an omnipresent role across industries and must continue reskilling and retraining IT professionals to remain relevant in today’s fast-evolving landscape. He reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding global partnerships through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and bilateral engagements, emphasizing that numerous global markets are eager for India’s arrival.

The Minister concluded by reaffirming confidence in India’s IT sector and MSMEs as key drivers of the country’s economic transformation in the Amrit Kaal, working collectively towards a developed and prosperous Viksit Bharat.

***

Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijithb Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2113462) Visitor Counter : 201

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s IT sector to play a key role in achieving ambitious $450 billion services export target: Shri Piyush Goyal

Source: Government of India (2)

India’s IT sector to play a key role in achieving ambitious $450 billion services export target: Shri Piyush Goyal

MSMEs driving rapid growth in IT and services exports

Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 9:02PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal called for a collective commitment from the government and the IT sector to achieve a $450 billion services export target. Recognizing the rapid growth of MSMEs in IT, tourism, business accounting, and financial services, Shri Goyal emphasized the sector’s high job creation potential. He expressed confidence at the inaugural session of NASSCOM Global Confluence 2025 in New Delhi today that in 2025-26, India’s services exports could surpass merchandise exports, with IT at the forefront. He called for a collective commitment from the government and the IT sector to achieve a $450 billion services export target.

Shri Goyal underscored the critical role of the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) sector in India’s economic growth. He noted that the services sector exports reached approximately $340 billion last year, with IT and ITES contributing nearly $200 billion. This year, services exports are expected to reach between $380 billion and $385 billion, further solidifying India’s global presence.

Shri Goyal highlighted the importance of innovation and adaptability in maintaining India’s competitive edge. He praised NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) for fostering a culture of continuous learning, stating that the IT sector has consistently remained ahead of the curve by embracing new technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

He also stressed the need to attract Global Capability Centers (GCCs) to India, leveraging the country’s vast talent pool. Encouraging businesses to operate from India rather than relocating talent abroad, he said this would enhance foreign exchange earnings and fuel domestic economic growth.

Discussing India’s expanding middle class and rising consumption levels, Shri Goyal outlined the cascading benefits of IT-led growth, including increased demand for commercial real estate, housing, and infrastructure. He called it a “virtuous cycle of growth” where a thriving services sector strengthens the overall economy.

NASSCOM, he noted, plays an omnipresent role across industries and must continue reskilling and retraining IT professionals to remain relevant in today’s fast-evolving landscape. He reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding global partnerships through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and bilateral engagements, emphasizing that numerous global markets are eager for India’s arrival.

The Minister concluded by reaffirming confidence in India’s IT sector and MSMEs as key drivers of the country’s economic transformation in the Amrit Kaal, working collectively towards a developed and prosperous Viksit Bharat.

Congratulating the winners of the SME Inspired 2025 Awards, he lauded their achievements and encouraged others to strive for excellence in the coming years.

***

Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2113462) Visitor Counter : 54

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Source: Government of India

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM

Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 7:57PM by PIB Delhi

President Smt Droupadi Murmu visited the Udyam Utsav in the President’s Estate today. She visited the pavilions displaying various products ranging from handicrafts and food products to khadi products.

The Ministry of MSME is organizing “Udyam Utsav” at Rashtrapati Bhavan from March 20, 2025, to March 30, 2025, an event to celebrate the spirit of MSMEs across the country, aimed to empower and encourage MSMEs, thereby bringing India’s vibrant heritage closer to its citizens at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The key highlights of the event include :
- Seven pavilions showcasing diverse product segments, including Heritage & Handicrafts, Organic & Agro-based products, Green MSME Technologies, Women Entrepreneurs, PM Vishwakarma & Tribal Entrepreneurs, Khadi & Village Industries (APRATIM), and MSME Business Support Pavilion.
- Around 60 stalls, having products for sale and display by artisans and entrepreneurs.
- A dedicated pavilion highlighting PM Vishwakarma Scheme of the Ministry of MSME and Tribal Entrepreneurs will showcase trades covered under the Scheme with toolkits and live pottery demonstration.
- Additional attractions include food stalls offering a variety of cuisine, AR/VR experiences, and traditional crafts. A model of Chandrayaan will be a central highlight ensuring an immersive experience.
- Activities such as Hunar Sangeet, Nukkad Natak, Saree Draping Sessions, and Rajasthani Puppet Maker demonstrations will add vibrancy to the event.
The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM. Entry will be through Gate Number 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan). Online and free of cost Bookings can be done on https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/plan-visit/amrit-udyan/rE/mO

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SK

(Release ID: 2113404) Visitor Counter : 180

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan
Source: Government of India (2)

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM

Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 7:57PM by PIB Delhi

President Smt Droupadi Murmu visited the Udyam Utsav in the President’s Estate today. She visited the pavilions displaying various products ranging from handicrafts and food products to khadi products.

The Ministry of MSME is organizing “Udyam Utsav” at Rashtrapati Bhavan from March 20, 2025, to March 30, 2025, an event to celebrate the spirit of MSMEs across the country, aimed to empower and encourage MSMEs, thereby bringing India’s vibrant heritage closer to its citizens at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The key highlights of the event include :
- Seven pavilions showcasing diverse product segments, including Heritage & Handicrafts, Organic & Agro-based products, Green MSME Technologies, Women Entrepreneurs, PM Vishwakarma & Tribal Entrepreneurs, Khadi & Village Industries (APRATIM), and MSME Business Support Pavilion.
- Around 60 stalls, having products for sale and display by artisans and entrepreneurs.
- A dedicated pavilion highlighting PM Vishwakarma Scheme of the Ministry of MSME and Tribal Entrepreneurs will showcase trades covered under the Scheme with toolkits and live pottery demonstration.
- Additional attractions include food stalls offering a variety of cuisine, AR/VR experiences, and traditional crafts. A model of Chandrayaan will be a central highlight ensuring an immersive experience.
- Activities such as Hunar Sangeet, Nukkad Natak, Saree Draping Sessions, and Rajasthani Puppet Maker demonstrations will add vibrancy to the event.
The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM. Entry will be through Gate Number 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan). Online and free of cost Bookings can be done on https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/plan-visit/amrit-udyan/rE/mO

****

SK

(Release ID: 2113404) Visitor Counter : 63

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK showcases Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem by cohosting UK tech trade delegation (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

InvestHK showcases Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem by cohosting UK tech trade delegation
The UK delegation was spearheaded by Grow London Global, an initiative under London & Partners, the official growth agency for London, and funded by the UK Government. The cohort comprised representatives from InvestHK London Office, London & Partners, and 15 of the UK’s most innovative and rapidly growing tech companies. Participants engaged with key stakeholders in the region, industry experts, and potential clients. The mission served as a platform to showcase the UK’s cutting-edge technology and to learn from the dynamic tech ecosystems of Hong Kong.

InvestHK facilitated this tech trade mission, which is aimed at identifying new avenues for economic co-operation and reaffirming its commitment to ongoing collaboration. The visit strengthened the connections between Hong Kong and the UK’s start-ups, enterprises, and industry leaders, paving the way for future economic and investment growth.

The Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion at InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip, said, “We are delighted to support the Grow London Global programme and this tech trade delegation to Hong Kong. Through the productive dialogues and exchanges during the visit, we hope to further strengthen the ties between the UK and Hong Kong and create new pathways for increased investment from the UK.”

The Trade Manager, Fintech & Enterprise, London & Partners, Ms Jasmine Baker, added, “This Grow London Global tech trade mission has been a success, and mutually beneficial for our delegation and everyone we have met with. We have achieved our goals in fostering collaboration with the Hong Kong business ecosystem and hope to generate more opportunities and partnerships for London’s most exciting companies.”

Joining the Trade Mission to China 2025, the Founder and CEO of Assureful, Mr Rohit Nair, added, “It has been incredible to be a part of this Grow London Global tech trade mission. We have been introduced to so many members of Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem. We will be going home with an enlarged sense of what is possible in this market and will be able to make choices about growth with more confidence.”
Issued at HKT 19:20

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 21, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RADIATION–BASED FOOD PRESERVATION

Source: Government of India (2)

Department of Atomic Energy

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RADIATION–BASED FOOD PRESERVATION

Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi

The irradiation technology has been transferred to private entrepreneurs for commercialization for food preservation. Presently 37 Gamma Radiation Processing Plants are operational in the country in private, cooperative, semi government and government sector, out of which 21plants are capable of carrying out radiation processing of agricultural/ food products. List of 21 plants is enclosed in Annexure.

ANNEXURE

DETAILS OF RADIATION PROCESSING PLANTS CAPBALE OF FOOD PRESERVATION

Sr. No.	Name and Location
1	M/s Organic Green Foods Ltd, Dankuni, Kolkata, West Bengal
2	Mis Gamma Agro Medical Processing, Hyderabad, Telangana
3	M/s Jhunsons Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
4	M/s Innova Agri BioPark Ltd., Malur, Dist.Kolar, Karnataka
5	M/s Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd., Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
6	M/s Impartial AgroTech (P) Ltd., Unnao, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
7	M/s Gujarat Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd, Bavla, Ahmadabad, Gujarat
8	M/s Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB),Vashi,Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
9	M/s Aligned Industries, Dharuhera, Haryana
10	M/s Avantee Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
11	M/s Electro Magnetic Industries, Vadodara
12	M/s Pinnacle Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd, Vadodara
13	M/s Jamnadas Industries, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
14	M/s Solas Industries, Mathura,Uttar Pradesh
15	M/s Microtrol Sterilisation Services Pvt. Ltd., Baval, Haryana
16	M/s AV Gamma Tech LLP, Ambernath, Maharashtra
17	Deptt. Of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business (DAMAB), Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu
18	Infrastructure Development authority, Patna, Bihar
19	M/S LION FOODS PVT. LTD., Gir Somnath, Gujarat
20	Radiation Processing Plant, Vashi, Maharashtra (DAE facility)
21	KRUSHAK, Lasalgaon, Naskik, Maharashtra (DAE facility)

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

***

NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2113252)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 21, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Luján Reintroduces Legislation to Crack Down on Robocalls, Protect Americans From Scams

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, announced the reintroduction of the FCC Legal Enforcement Act, legislation that would provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with litigation enforcement authority for violations contained in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regarding robocalls. Specifically, the legislation would provide the FCC with the authority to commence court proceedings to recover penalties and fines against those in violation of the TCPA.
“Every American with a phone knows how annoying it is to be bombarded by robocalls that only offer unwanted scams and threats to personal privacy. Robocalls aren’t just a nuisance, they also scam Americans out of millions of dollars every year,” said Senator Luján. “Congress passed much-needed legislation to protect Americans through the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, but this legislation failed to provide the FCC with the legal authority to enforce the law. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the FCC Legal Enforcement Act to empower the Commission to hold telecom companies accountable for robocalls that disrupt Americans’ lives.”
In 1991, in an effort to address a growing number of telephone marketing calls, Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The TCPA restricts the making of telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems (robocallers) and artificial or prerecorded voice messages. The rules apply to common carriers as well as to other marketers. Although the FCC has the authority to conduct investigations and issue fines or penalties for violations of the TCPA, the Commission lacks the authority to go into court to collect the fines. That authority lies with the Department of Justice. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice may take up to five years to decide whether to pursue a case related to a violation of the TCPA. In that time, violators have hidden assets or disappeared altogether.
The FCC Legal Enforcement Act provides the FCC with the authority to commence court proceedings to recover penalties or fines against those in violation of the TCPA. Violations of the TCPA are still referred to the Department of Justice first, but if after 120 days, the DOJ refuses to pursue the case, the FCC can commence its own action.
The FCC Legal Enforcement Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Full bill text is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: North Texas Concrete Manufacturer Settles PPP Lawsuit for $1.8 Million

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Speed Fab-Crete Corporation, a precast concrete manufacturer in Kennedale, Texas, agreed to pay $1,817,546.25 to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by applying for and receiving a loan it was not eligible for in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether an applicant qualified for a PPP loan depended on various factors.

Speed Fab-Crete applied for and received a PPP loan in the principal amount of $1,170,000 in 2020, at a time when certain of its owners were facing criminal charges. The government contends that Speed Fab-Crete was ineligible for the loan for that reason, because applicable SBA rules disqualified a business from PPP eligibility if any owner of 20% or more of the business’s equity was subject to criminal charges.

“This office is committed to finding and recovering PPP funds that were obtained by ineligible recipients during the pandemic,” said Acting United States Attorney Chad E. Meacham. “We will continue to investigate and take action as necessary to reclaim those funds on behalf of the American taxpayer.”

“This settlement highlights the enhanced efforts of the SBA, working with the Department of Justice, SBA’s Office of Inspector General, and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who have information about possible fraud in connection with PPP loans, to pursuing those who violated PPP program requirements and holding them accountable,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.

The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is case number 3:23-CV-2162-S in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the qui tam relator, Aidan Forsyth, will receive a 15% share of the government’s recovery as part of the settlement.

The government was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Stoltz in the lawsuit, with assistance from Lane Siems of the SBA. The civil claims settled by the agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

MIL Security OSI –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Chatham County man sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to violent robbery, shooting of a store employee

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man has been sentenced to federal prison for the armed robbery of a grocery store employee that left two people wounded.

Jordan Richardson, 25, of Savannah, was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Richardson to pay $23,793 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Jordan Richardson wounded two people during his brief but violent criminal outburst,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “His crime illustrates the importance of keeping our community safe by taking guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them.”

As described in court documents and testimony, in July 2022, Richardson waited outside the Jones Red and White Food Store on Ogeechee Road in Savannah for an employee to exit the business with a cash deposit. Richardson brandished a pistol and attempted to rob the employee, who drove away as Richardson fired a shot. Richardson, in his own vehicle, then chased the employee and fired at least six times at the employee’s vehicle when it stopped at an intersection, wounding the employee and a nearby worker. Richardson then took the deposit bag and fled.

Several days later, Savannah police officers captured Richardson after an extended vehicle chase through neighborhood streets in which he crashed into two patrol cars. During searches subsequent to the robbery, investigators found the Glock pistol used in the robbery and shootings.

At the time of the robbery, Richardson was on probation for a prior state conviction that included robbery and gun possession. His probation was revoked after his arrest, and Richardson was remanded to custody in the Georgia Department of Corrections pending federal sentencing.

“The blatant violence Richardson committed against these store employees followed by the complete disregard for the safety of the public and the police officers during the commission of his crimes is completely reprehensible,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is proud to work with our local partners to convict repeat offenders, like Richardson, at the federal level, where he faces a stiff penalty with no opportunity for parole.”

“I am extremely proud of our officers, investigators, and our federal partners involved in this case,” said Lenny B. Gunther, Savannah Chief of Police. “Due to their hard work and expertise, Mr. Richardson is being held accountable for his actions.”

The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson.

MIL Security OSI –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: India-Based Chemical Manufacturing Company and Top Employees Indicted for Unlawful Importation of Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals

Source: US State of North Dakota

WASHINGTON — An India-based chemical manufacturing company and three high-level employees were charged in federal court in Washington, D.C., today related to illegally importing precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl.

According to the indictment, Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC), VPC Chief Global Business Officer Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, 63, of India and the United Kingdom; VPC Marketing Director Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, 48, of India; and VPC Marketing Representative Krishna Vericharla, 40, of India, were charged with multiple counts of manufacturing and distributing a List I fentanyl precursor chemical for unlawful importation into the United States, and attempting and conspiring to do the same.

It is alleged VPC advertised fentanyl precursor chemicals for sale worldwide on its website, in marketing materials, and at international trade shows. From March through November 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute a fentanyl precursor chemical knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to make fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States, according to the indictment. On two occasions, in March 2024 and August 2024, the defendants sold an undercover agent 25 kilograms of the fentanyl precursor chemical 1-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-4-piperidone, also called N-BOC-4-piperidone, (N-BOC-4P), a List I chemical.

It is further alleged that between August and September 2024, defendants and the undercover agent negotiated a four-metric-ton (4,000 kilogram) purchase of N-BOC-4P – two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to Sinaloa, Mexico, and another two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to the United States – for a total price of approximately $380,000, knowing that the N-BOC-4P would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to manufacture fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

The four-count indictment charges all defendants with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States; manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States; and attempted manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States. Additionally, defendants VPC, Vericharla, and Manthena are charged with a second count of manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States. If convicted, the individual defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. VPC faces a fine of $500,000 on each count.

Federal agents arrested Parkar and Manthena in New York City this morning.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division’s Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, a DEA-led multi-agency task force with members from Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and state and local agencies from south Florida, are investigating the case. The Special Operations Unit of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section provided support.

Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth and Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: March Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments Announced

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Dylan Ray Alexander. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Alexander, 31, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with unlawfully killing Kevin Holden and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Additionally, Alexander is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bartlesville Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-052

Daniel Allen Ash; Amber Dawn Murphy.Second Degree Murder in Indian Country (Count 1); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 2 through 5); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; (Count 6); Second Degree Murder in Indian Country (Count 7); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 8 through 11). Both from Commerce, Ash, 32, and Murphy, 30, a member of the Cherokee Nation, are charged with unlawfully killing a minor child in Sep. 2024 and willfully neglecting the health, safety, and welfare of four minor children. Ash is further charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 12 years old. The FBI and Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-088

Eric Lee Blanchard. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Production of Child Pornography; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Blanchard, 21, of Broken Arrow and a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, is charged with knowingly engaging in sexual activity with a minor under 16 years old and coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce material showing the sexual abuse of children. Further, he is charged with coercing and enticing a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Homeland Security Investigations, Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-094

Pedro Vazquez Camacho. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Camacho, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2009. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-089

Kenneth Troy Cooper. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Cooper, 58, of Drumright, is charged with possessing several firearms and various rounds of ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Creek Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-006

Leonardo Giovanni Segura Curiel. Drug Conspiracy; Distribution of Fentanyl. Curiel, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and intentionally distributing fentanyl. Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-082

Karina Garcia-Salazar; Jorge Augusto Prieto-Gamboa. Conspiracy to Transfer Identification Documents; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Use or Transfer Five or More Documents; Aggravated Identity Theft. Garcia-Salazar, 46, of Tulsa, Prieto-Gamboa, 40, a Mexican National, are charged with conspiring to make false identification documents in exchange for payment. They further conspired to knowingly possess with intent to transfer more than five identification documents, such as a United States Permanent Resident Card or Social Security Card, without lawful authority. Garcia-Salazar is additionally charged with unlawfully possessing and using the identification of others to create counterfeit permanent resident and social security cards. Homeland Security Investigations, Office of the Inspector General – Social Security Investigations, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-099

Hayden Barclay Greene. Abusive Sexual Contact by Force or Threat in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country (Misdemeanor). Greene, 47, of Tulsa and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with engaging in a sexual act by force and threat. Additionally, Greene allegedly strangled an intimate dating partner and physically assaulted a second victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-095

Phyllis Christine Henson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Henson, 63, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing she was previously convicted of a felony. She is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana with intent to distribute. Additionally, Henson possessed a firearm while involved in drug trafficking and maintained a residence for the purposes of drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-096

Patrick Kanaley; Teia Newberry. Drug Conspiracy; Distribution of Methamphetamine. Kanaley, 47, and Newberry, 45, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from May 2024 through Jan. 2025. They are further charged with intentionally distributing a substance that contains a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-097

Steven Shain McDaniel. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. McDaniel, 49, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-098

Jimmie Dewayne Martin. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country (Count 1); Production of Child Pornography (Counts 2 through 4). Martin, 75, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting children under 12 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further, Martin is charged with using three minor children to produce images or videos that show the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Ashley Robert are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-086

Geovani Narvaez-Ramirez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Narvaez-Ramirez, 29, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-090

Adrian Marquez Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Aggravated Identity Theft (superseding). Rodriguez, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2005. He is further charged with unlawfully using another person’s identification to stay in the United States. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-054

Jose Juan Salas-Esparza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Salas-Esparza, 47, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2014. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-091

E’Mari Yatel Stancle. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Stancle, 27, of Muskogee, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and discharging a firearm while drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-105

Joseph Austin Wagener. Theft in Indian Country – Over $1,000. Wagener, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with stealing personal property exceeding $1,000 in value. The Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-100

MIL Security OSI –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: India-Based Chemical Manufacturing Company and Top Employees Indicted for Unlawful Importation of Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals

Source: United States Attorneys General

WASHINGTON — An India-based chemical manufacturing company and three high-level employees were charged in federal court in Washington, D.C., today related to illegally importing precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl.

According to the indictment, Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC), VPC Chief Global Business Officer Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, 63, of India and the United Kingdom; VPC Marketing Director Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, 48, of India; and VPC Marketing Representative Krishna Vericharla, 40, of India, were charged with multiple counts of manufacturing and distributing a List I fentanyl precursor chemical for unlawful importation into the United States, and attempting and conspiring to do the same.

It is alleged VPC advertised fentanyl precursor chemicals for sale worldwide on its website, in marketing materials, and at international trade shows. From March through November 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute a fentanyl precursor chemical knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to make fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States, according to the indictment. On two occasions, in March 2024 and August 2024, the defendants sold an undercover agent 25 kilograms of the fentanyl precursor chemical 1-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-4-piperidone, also called N-BOC-4-piperidone, (N-BOC-4P), a List I chemical.

It is further alleged that between August and September 2024, defendants and the undercover agent negotiated a four-metric-ton (4,000 kilogram) purchase of N-BOC-4P – two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to Sinaloa, Mexico, and another two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to the United States – for a total price of approximately $380,000, knowing that the N-BOC-4P would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to manufacture fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

The four-count indictment charges all defendants with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States; manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States; and attempted manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States. Additionally, defendants VPC, Vericharla, and Manthena are charged with a second count of manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States. If convicted, the individual defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. VPC faces a fine of $500,000 on each count.

Federal agents arrested Parkar and Manthena in New York City this morning.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division’s Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, a DEA-led multi-agency task force with members from Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and state and local agencies from south Florida, are investigating the case. The Special Operations Unit of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section provided support.

Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth and Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces District Court Appointments
Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Stein Announces District Court Appointments

Governor Stein Announces District Court Appointments
lsaito
Thu, 03/20/2025 – 14:41

Raleigh, NC
Today, Governor Josh Stein announced the following judicial appointments:

Jennifer Wells to the District Court for Judicial District 1, serving Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, and Perquimans Counties. Wells is filling the vacancy created after Judge Edgar Barnes retired.
- Wells most recently served as an Assistant Public Defender with the Office of the First Judicial District Public Defender. She received her B.A. from Tulane University and her J.D. from Campbell University School of Law.
Cameron “Chip” Harrison to the District Court for Judicial District 38, serving Gaston County. Harrison is filling the vacancy created after Judge Craig Collins was elected to the Superior Court.
- Harrison most recently served as an Assistant Public Defender with the Gaston County Public Defender’s Office. He has also served as an Attorney at Law at the Law Office of Aaron Bradshaw and was an Instructor of Business Law at Alamance Community College. Harrison received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington, and his J.D. from North Carolina Central University.
“Given their experience and record as public defenders, I am proud to appoint Jennifer and Cameron to the District Courts,” said Governor Josh Stein. “They will be fair and hard-working jurists, and I look forward to their service.”
Mar 20, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Meets Business Leaders in Metairie, Tours DSC Dredge Facility in Reserve

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
METAIRIE – Yesterday in Metairie, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) met with the Jefferson Business Council, a collection of Presidents and CEOs of major companies in Jefferson Parish. They discussed their concerns about issues affecting families and business owners in the parish.
“The members of the Jefferson Business Council had great questions about making flood insurance affordable and vaccinating children against measles,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We will work together with Congress and President Trump to meet these goals, so this community can be healthier and more affordable for families.”
A priority for both families and business owners in the New Orleans area is keeping flood insurance affordable. Last Thursday, Cassidy went to the Senate floor to call on Congress to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for another two years, instead of having to rely on short-term extensions. He also proposed the bipartisan Flood Insurance Affordability Tax Credit Act in February, which would give low- and middle-income households enrolled in the NFIP a 33% refundable tax credit to combat rising flood insurance premiums.
Cassidy is also working to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which he supported and helped pass into law late that year. To that end, Cassidy recently met with President Trump as a Republican member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, to discuss how to renew the TCJA while also providing more tax relief to middle-class families and balancing the budget.
Cassidy was welcomed to the meeting by Mr. Mark Rosa, Chairman of the Jefferson Business Council.
“On behalf of the Jefferson Business Council, it is a pleasure to meet with Senator Cassidy,” said Mr. Rosa. “Members of the JBS always welcome hearing from our representatives in Washington to speak to us on matters that will potentially impact the quality of life of the residents of Jefferson Parish.”
Later, Cassidy visited DSC Dredge in Reserve, where he learned how they build custom dredges and dredge control systems that make harbors and shipping channels navigable to keep the flow of commerce going.
“DSC Dredge is an incredibly innovative company based in Louisiana whose dredges are being used from the LSU Lakes to Bangladesh,” said Dr. Cassidy. “And they beat the competition.”
Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) included $109 million for federal projects sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge and repair damages caused by Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. Another $808 million was included for the Mississippi River and tributaries, and $251 million for flood and coastal emergencies, directly benefiting Louisiana. Thanks to these efforts, dredging for various Corps projects was funded months after the passage of the IIA, including for the Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black, the Barataria Bay Waterway, the Freshwater Bayou, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
While at DSC Dredge, Cassidy toured the facility and met both with executives and employees of the company. Cassidy was welcomed by Mr. Bob and Bill Wetta, brothers and co-owners of DSC Dredge.
“Our team takes great pride in designing and building dredges that keep America’s waterways open, provide critical infrastructure materials and perform environmental restoration and mitigation services,” said the Wettas. “We appreciate Senator Cassidy’s commitment to supporting industries like DSC Dredge that manufacture products critical to this mission. During the roundtable, our employees had the valuable opportunity to speak with the Senator, ask questions on key issues, and gain insights they wouldn’t have otherwise received. We are grateful for the time he took to engage directly with our team and hear their perspectives firsthand.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: HHS, FDA Announce Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool for Foods

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

For Immediate Release:
March 20, 2025

Today, under the leadership of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled the Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool (CCT Tool), an online searchable database providing a consolidated list of contaminant levels (e.g., tolerances, action levels, and guidance levels) that are used to evaluate potential health risks of contaminants in human foods. Chemical contaminants include a broad range of chemical substances that may be present in food and that have the potential to cause harm.
“HHS is committed to radical transparency to give Americans authentic, informed consent about what they are eating,” said Secretary Kennedy. “This new Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool is a critical step for industry to Make America Healthy Again.”
To protect public health and help industry market products that are safe for U.S. consumers, the FDA establishes or utilizes tolerances, action levels and guidance levels for some contaminants in food. These are levels above which the agency may find that a food may be unsafe but do not represent permissible levels of contamination. The FDA uses these levels to help minimize or prevent chemical hazards in food.
“Ideally there would be no contaminants in our food supply, but chemical contaminants may occur in food when they are present in the growing, storage or processing environments,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, M.D., M.P.H. “Because many of the most nutritious foods can also contain contaminants, consumers should eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within the main food groups of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein to help protect from possible exposure effects.”
The CCT Tool, which provides contaminant levels in one location for ease of searching, is one of the outcomes of the FDA’s initiative to modernize food chemical safety. The consolidated list includes the contaminant name, commodity, contaminant level type (e.g., action level, guidance level), level value and reference (e.g., Code of Federal Regulations, FDA Guidance for Industry). The list can also be filtered by contaminant type.
The FDA will continue to monitor the food supply by testing foods through several different programs. Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, the FDA is committed to promoting radical transparency to make sure all Americans know what is in their food and Make America Healthy Again.
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MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Meriwest Credit Union Named Best in Silicon Valley 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SILICON VALLEY, Calif., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meriwest Credit Union proudly announces its recognition as “Best in Silicon Valley 2025” by the Mercury News Readers’ Choice Awards. This accolade highlights Meriwest’s continuing commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of its members and the greater community.

Meriwest continues to build on its reputation as a trusted financial partner in Silicon Valley by taking bold steps to support the community. Among these, Meriwest team members hosted financial literacy workshops that provided essential knowledge for financial success to over 8,600 residents. Meriwest also actively engaged in nearly 550 events to promote financial education and support while aiding 23 local nonprofit organizations.

Meriwest’s dedication reaches beyond community outreach, fostering an inclusive environment for employees and members alike. In 2024, the Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Francisco Business Times named Meriwest a “Best Place to Work,” for a 5^th year in a row, an honor reflecting its workplace culture.

“At Meriwest, our actions speak louder than words,” said Lisa Pesta, President and CEO of Meriwest Credit Union. “Being named a Best in Silicon Valley 2025 winner is a testament to our team’s passion for enhancing financial well-being and building a stronger community. We’re honored to serve Silicon Valley and remain committed to a future where everyone prospers.”

With a legacy of innovation and service since 1961, Meriwest Credit Union continues to lead the way in financial empowerment. Join us on this journey toward a brighter, more secure tomorrow—Because We’re You^S^M.

About Meriwest Credit Union

Founded in San Jose, California in 1961, Meriwest Credit Union, ($2.1B in assets) is one of Silicon Valley’s most established financial institutions. Dedicated to delivering advice-based, personal, convenient, and innovative financial services to over 80,000 families and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Pima County, Arizona, Meriwest offers a wide array of personal banking, business services, and wealth advisory services. Meriwest has been voted one of the ‘Best Credit Unions in Silicon Valley’ in the Mercury News’ Annual ‘Readers’ Choice Awards’ and a “Best Place to Work” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal 2020 through 2024. More information can be found at www.meriwest.com.

Media Contact:
Jeffrey Zane
Meriwest Credit Union
Public Relations
408-612-1484
jzane@meriwest.com

The MIL Network –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 03.20.2025 ICYMI: Sen. Cruz, USDA Secretary Rollins, Rep. De La Cruz Address Agricultural Challenges in the Rio Grande Valley

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

McAllen, Texas – Today, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), joined by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas-15), hosted a roundtable and press conference in San Juan, Texas, to address challenges producers are facing in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sen. Cruz said, “I was proud to lead the effort in the U.S. Senate to secure this $280 million block grant, which is critical for Texas producers in the Rio Grande Valley, and to work with Secretary Rollins and President Trump in getting it across the finish line. Secretary Rollins is a champion of agriculture, and we are working together on the crisis facing Texas agriculture across the board, including holding Mexico accountable for its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.”
USDA Secretary Rollins said, “Farmers and ranchers in the Rio Grande Valley have worked for generations to feed communities across Texas, the U.S., and beyond. A lack of water has already ended sugarcane production in the Valley and is putting the future of citrus, cotton, and other crops at risk. Through this grant, USDA is expediting much-needed economic relief while we continue working with state leadership to push for long-term solutions that protect Texas producers.”
Sen. Cornyn said, “The Texas agriculture community helps feed, clothe, and fuel our entire country, and it is critical that they have the help and resources they need to keep their industry thriving. Today’s announcement of more than $280 million in emergency assistance is great news for South Texans, many of whom have been greatly impacted by Mexico’s failure to deliver water under the 1944 Water Treaty. I was proud to help lead the fight to secure this important funding alongside Senator Cruz, Congresswoman De La Cruz, and Senate Ag Committee Chairman Boozman, who joined me in the Rio Grande Valley last year to hear firsthand from farmers about the challenges they are facing. I will continue advocating for the needs of Texas farmers and ranchers in Washington, and with the help of the Trump administration, I look forward to seeing this industry continue to grow.”
Rep. De La Cruz said, “Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our South Texas communities and economy. The funding deployment announced by Secretary Rollins today will provide critical relief for the South Texas agricultural industry after suffering tremendous losses due to drought conditions and the Government of Mexico’s refusal to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty. I am proud to work alongside the Administration to deploy this critical aid and deliver solutions for the families, businesses, and communities across the nation that rely on Texas agriculture to thrive.”
BACKGROUND
Sen. Cruz is a key defender of Texan producers:

Sen. Cruz championed a provision providing support for South Texas agricultural producers suffering from Mexico’s blatant failure to meet its obligations under the 1944 Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. This funding will provide immediate relief for hardworking Texans.
Sen. Cruz introduced the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act to help Texas livestock producers recover from wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,spearheaded the passage of legislation to streamline the permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas, into law. This victory was made possible by a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of Texas legislators dedicated to expanding Texas’s economy and enhancing our bilateral relationship with Mexico, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), and Monica de la Cruz (R-Texas).

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Salinas Leads Oregon Delegation in Calling on Trump Administration to Protect American Manufacturing
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

March 20, 2025

Salinas Leads Oregon Delegation in Calling on Trump Administration to Protect American Manufacturing

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led the Oregon delegation – including U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) – in a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, expressing concern about the Trump Administration’s decision to fire dozens of workers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST provides guidance, training, and assistance to American manufacturers to help them grow and stay competitive on the global stage.

“We write with deep concern regarding reports of significant ongoing and planned layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST plays a critical role supporting Oregon businesses and workers. Widespread and indiscriminate terminations of hard-working public servants at the agency would undermine our domestic manufacturing industrial base and threaten technological innovation that drives future economic progress,” wrote the members.

Oregon manufacturers contribute nearly $40 billion to our state’s economic output and support over 175,000 good paying jobs in a wide variety of industries, including wood products, aerospace components, and microelectronics. NIST-supported programs like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) help drive innovation and deliver critical resources that local businesses need to succeed. In their letter, the members stress how mass layoffs will undermine NIST’s work and jeopardize manufacturing in Oregon and across America.

“President Trump has consistently promised Americans that he will support domestic manufacturing – and the good jobs that come with it,” the lawmakers continued.

“That is why it is so concerning to see that, instead of doubling down on what works, the President is attacking the federal programs manufacturers rely on, calling to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act, and imposing punishing tariffs that will harm American businesses while making everyday goods more expensive for consumers.”

Read the full letter below or click here.

The Honorable Howard Lutnick

Secretary of Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

We write with deep concern regarding reports of significant ongoing and planned layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST plays a critical role supporting Oregon businesses and workers. Widespread and indiscriminate terminations of hard-working public servants at the agency would undermine our domestic manufacturing industrial base and threaten technological innovation that drives future economic progress.

Oregon manufacturers contribute nearly $40 billion to our state’s economic output and support over 175,000 good paying jobs. These represent a wide variety of industries, producing everything from innovative wood products to aerospace components, to the microelectronics development and manufacturing at the heart of Oregon’s Silicon Forest. NIST is responsible for implementing some of our nation’s most effective and cost-efficient programs to help these manufacturers succeed:
- Across the United States, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) leveraged just $175 million in federal investment to deliver more than $5 billion in new investments and over 108,000 jobs created or retained in fiscal year 2024. In Oregon, the return was even greater. Just $2.2. million in federal funding led to $165.6 million in private investments – a remarkable $75 of economic output for every dollar of taxpayer support.
- The CHIPS Program Office is responsible for stewarding over $2 billion of public investment in Oregon companies, which is catalyzing tens of billions of dollars of corporate investment in Oregon’s high-tech economy – while ensuring America’s self-sufficiency in this critical technology.
- ManufacturingUSA fosters collaboration between industry and researchers to develop and deploy next-generation manufacturing methods and technologies. These partnerships support and benefit from partnerships with Oregon businesses and universities.
All these activities build on NIST’s core measurement science and standards work that provides tools manufacturers rely on every day. Mass layoffs at the agency will undermine the work NIST has carried out over years to ensure American businesses have the tools they need to compete on the world stage.

President Trump has consistently promised Americans that he will support domestic manufacturing – and the good jobs that come with it. During his inaugural address, he asserted that “America will be a manufacturing nation once again” and you recently echoed the President’s rhetoric, telling reporters that “We want factory production in America. We want employment to blossom in America. We’re going to bring factories back to America.”

We agree.

That is why it is so concerning to see that, instead of doubling down on what works, the President is attacking the federal programs manufacturers rely on, calling to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act, and imposing punishing tariffs that will harm American businesses while making everyday goods more expensive for consumers.

We are seriously worried that any attacks on NIST will undermine its capacity to support Oregon’s manufacturers and request that you respond to the following inquiries no later that March 31, 2025:
1. How many NIST employees accepted the “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer, including those who departed the agency [at that time] without having signed the paperwork required by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)? Please provide a breakdown of which offices were affected and to what extent.
2. Recent reports indicate over 70 probationary employees were terminated. Please confirm the accuracy of this reporting and provide a breakdown of which offices were affected and to what extent.
3. CHIPS Incentives awards rely on complex contracts to ensure that industry partners successfully and responsibly invest taxpayer dollars. How will you ensure that any layoffs, deferred resignations, or future reductions in force do not impede the CHIPS Program Office’s ability to conduct robust oversight of and effective support for these awards, including in Oregon?
4. How will you ensure that any layoffs, deferred resignations, or future reductions in force do not limit the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program’s capacity to offer services to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers, including in Oregon?
5. NIST has decades of experience serving as a trusted partner to industry, providing some of the United States’ strongest tools to support and expand domestic manufacturing. How do you plan to leverage this experience to achieve your stated goal of bring manufacturing jobs back to America, including in our home state of Oregon?
Thank you for your prompt response.
MIL OSI USA News –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Telnyx announces no-code AI Assistant Builder, enabling businesses to deploy AI voice agents in minutes

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Telnyx, a global leader in communication and connectivity solutions, has announced the launch of its no-code voice AI Assistant Builder, available directly in the Telnyx Mission Control Portal. This method of building empowers businesses to create, customize, and deploy AI-powered voice agents effortlessly, eliminating the need for complex development cycles.

As enterprises increasingly look to AI-driven automation for customer engagement, Telnyx is making it easier than ever to implement conversational AI, at scale. With just a few clicks, users can configure intelligent assistants tailored to their specific needs, leveraging advanced AI models hosted by Telnyx.

“Businesses need scalable, intelligent automation solutions that don’t require deep technical expertise,” said Ian Reither, COO at Telnyx. “The AI Assistant Builder brings a no-code approach to AI voice applications, allowing companies to deploy sophisticated, task-oriented agents in four simple steps.”

Create custom voice AI assistants in minutes, without the complexity

The new AI Assistant Builder empowers users to quickly create and deploy custom AI-powered voice assistants with no-code tooling, built-in intelligence, and customizable voice options, all via the Telnyx portal.

Intuitive AI configuration empowers users to define assistant behavior with simple instructions, greetings, and responses, while a broad range of Telnyx-hosted AI models give businesses control over how to power their assistants.

Pre-configured tools such as Check Availability, Book Appointment, and Transfer make it easy to automate routine tasks without any added development time. Users can also select their preferred voice characteristics and speech-to-text settings for optimized performance.

Finally, built-in testing and deployment features allow builders to test their new conversational AI assistant directly in the portal before going live, avoiding a subpar deployment experience.

Leverage AI for FREE through Telnyx’s AI Accelerator

To further make AI adoption available for all, Telnyx is offering access to its AI Assistant Builder through their AI Accelerator at no cost. The accelerator provides companies with up to $20k in free credits to access Telnyx-hosted AI models, automation tools, and testing capabilities, allowing them to experiment with and deploy AI-powered voice assistants without upfront investment.

By removing financial and technical barriers, Telnyx empowers startups and enterprises alike to explore AI-driven automation with zero risk while accelerating their innovation efforts.

Experience the future of AI voice with a full-stack provider

With the launch of the AI Assistant Builder, Telnyx continues to expand its portfolio of AI-driven solutions, ensuring businesses have access to intuitive, scalable automation tools. This no-code builder is designed to serve a wide range of industries, including customer support, healthcare, financial services, and logistics where intelligent voice interactions can enhance both operational efficiency and the customer experience.

“AI-powered voice automation is changing how businesses operate, and our goal is to make that technology accessible to everyone,” Ian Reither added. “By eliminating development barriers, we’re enabling teams to innovate faster and deliver more intelligent customer interactions.”

Availability

The AI Assistant Builder is now live in Telnyx’s Mission Control Portal to all users. Businesses can sign up and start building no-code AI-powered voice agents today.

For more information, visit tlyx.co/build-no-code-ai-assistants.

About Telnyx
Telnyx is a global communications and connectivity platform that powers seamless voice, messaging, networking, and AI-driven solutions for businesses. With a private, cloud-based network and industry-leading APIs, Telnyx enables developers and enterprises to build innovative applications with reliable, scalable infrastructure.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Maeve Sentner
Product Marketing Manager
maeve@telnyx.com

The MIL Network –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK TRA readies itself for more new remedies
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

UK TRA readies itself for more new remedies

The TRA has this week initiated the last review of all 43 measures carried over to the UK following the country’s departure from the European Union.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has this week initiated the last review of all 43 measures carried over to the UK following the country’s departure from the European Union.

This major achievement has been completed ahead of schedule and means the review of all relevant EU trade measures are now either complete or underway.

The TRA’s expert and analytical focus now fully shifts to defending UK industry against new and emerging unfair international trading practices and supporting the government with the pressures of a rapidly changing and complex global trade environment.

In reviewing the EU’s transitioned measures, the TRA has recommended to the UK government, on the basis of evidence, what trade remedy measures the UK should maintain unchanged, which measures should be revoked (because no UK industry was affected) and which measures should be amended to better protect the UK’s economic interests.

Since the TRA began its programme to review the transitioned measures in 2020:

3 trade measures on alloy wheels, stainless steel bars and rods and Category 2 steel products have been revoked completely;

12 trade measures covering such industries as e-bikes, biodiesel, tyres, ceramic tiles and glass fibre have been amended to suit the UK’s need better; and

14 trade remedy measures have been maintained as they were when the UK was part of the EU, as the trading conditions were assessed as not significantly changed for products such as certain steel products and rainbow trout to warrant a new tariff.

TRA Chair Nick Baird said:

“I’m immensely proud of the TRA for initiating all measures transitioned from the EU ahead of schedule. We’re now seeing more new cases being brought by UK industry to combat unfair trading practices. As we look to the future, we stand ready to take applications from the UK government or UK industry to respond to real global trading pressures now faced by UK businesses”

The TRA’s 140-strong expert team is also dedicating its specialist investigative, legal, and analytical capability to reviewing existing trade measures that are due to end or expire, including the safeguard measure on steel imports, or anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of biodiesel.

Since being established as an arms-length body of the Department of Business and Trade in 2021, the TRA has matured to:

now deliver a range of trade injury investigations to bring it alongside its more established trade remedy authority counterparts – such as the US, Canada, New Zealand or Australian administrations who have been undertaking trade defence for significantly longer than the UK’s trade body,

and position its capacity and capabilities to offer a broader remit of trade defence options to the Government, while remaining within the legal powers that the TRA was granted as part of the Trade Act 2021.

The TRA ensures it is defending UK trade from unfair international trading practices and has so far defended British producers across over £21 billion or more than 3% of all UK imports.

Any UK producer that believes that they are being harmed by unfair overseas trading practices can contact the TRA’s contact@traderemedies.gov.uk for informal guidance and support on how to complete an application and follow our processes, as well as answers for more general queries about our work.

Notes to Editors

The TRA is the UK’s independent body for investigating and recommending trade remedies. It is an Arm’s Length Body of the Department for Business & Trade

The anti-dumping measure on imports of ammonium nitrate from Russia is the final trade remedy measure transitioned from the EU to be reviewed, with 29 transition reviews having been completed and 14 now underway.

UK industries concerned about imports have been able to submit applications for a new trade remedy measure since January 2021. These applications are considered by the TRA to see if there are grounds for an investigation.

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Published 20 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: St James’ BID ballot results | Westminster City Council

Source: City of Westminster

As part of our statutory duty, we were appointed to hold a ballot for the proposed new St. James’s occupier and property owner Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

The results were announced for the two BID ballots on 13 March 2025.

For the occupier ballot, 32 out of 61 votes were in favour (52%), but only 46.9% of those who voted, by aggregate rateable value were in favour, which resulted in an unsuccessful ballot. In order for a new BID to be established, the votes in favour of the BID proposal must form a majority, both in terms of aggregate rateable value, and numbers voting.

For the property owner ballot, 58 out of 77 votes were in favour with the majority of voters in the proposed BID area who voted, voting in favour of the proposal, both by aggregate rateable value (84%) and numbers voting (75%).

In order for a property owner BID to be established, an occupier BID must be established first in line with BID regulations.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Bringing dry numbers to life: the head of Mosstat presented representatives of the State University of Management with gratitude for popularizing statistics

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On March 20, 2025, a presentation of projects by 2nd and 3rd year students of the State University of Management of the educational program “Business Analytics and Forecasting” was held at the Office of the Federal State Statistics Service for Moscow and the Moscow Region (Mosstat) and the presentation of gratitude from the head of Mosstat Leonid Kalimullin.

The presentation featured two projects aimed at popularizing statistics and developing the Mosstat brand.

The project “Visualization of agricultural statistics data by municipalities of the Moscow region” attracted great interest. Mosstat employees who attended the presentation were interested in the dashboard that resulted from the work.

“Work on the dashboard inspired us with its dynamism – we literally “brought to life” dry numbers, turning them into interactive graphs and maps, which caused genuine delight. After the presentation, we felt proud of the result. We not only proved the value of the idea, but also felt how our analytics can really change the approach to managing the agro-industrial complex in the region,” commented second-year student Venera Chorbadzhyan.

No one was left indifferent by the statistical board game developed by students, which will help them acquire not only knowledge in the field of statistics, but also teach them to communicate with others and work in a team.

“Developing the game gave us the opportunity to show schoolchildren the diversity and greatness of statistics, making this product interesting and exciting, to convince them that statistics are not just boring numbers, but the result of research and events. The uniqueness of the project lies in the original idea of a game with statistics. It has different levels of difficulty, which allows people with different levels of knowledge and training to play. The game allows you to develop statistics skills in a game form, which makes the learning process more interesting and faster,” 3rd-year students of the Business Analytics and Forecasting program commented on their work.

Following the speeches, the head of the Federal State Statistics Service for Moscow and the Moscow Region, Leonid Kalimullin, presented official thanks to the staff and students of the State University of Management.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/20/2025

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 21, 2025

Category: Commerce

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UK TRA readies itself for more new remedies

Notes to Editors

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Updates to this page

India’s IT sector to play a key role in achieving ambitious $450 billion services export target: Shri Piyush Goyal

MSMEs driving rapid growth in IT and services exports

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu visits the Udyam Utsav at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Utsav is open to the public from March 20, 2025 to 30, 2025 between 10 AM and 8 PM