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  • MIL-Evening Report: Govt should defuse NZ’s social timebomb – but won’t

    We have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity. Budget 2025 signals more of the same, writes Susan St John.

    ANALYSIS: By Susan St John

    With the coalition government’s second Budget being unveiled, we should question where New Zealand is heading.

    The 2024 Budget laid out the strategy. Tax cuts and landlord subsidies were prioritised with a focus on cuts to social and infrastructure spending. Most of the tax package went to the well-off, while many low-income households got nothing, or very little.

    Even the tiny bit of the tax package directed to low-income people fell flat. Family Boost has significantly helped only a handful of families, while the increase of $25 per week (In Work Tax Credit) was denied all families on benefits, affecting about 200,000 of the very poorest children.

    In the recession, families that lost paid work also lost access to full Working for Families, an income cut for their children of about $100 per week.

    No one worked out how the many spending cuts would be distributed, but they have hurt the poor the most. These changes are too numerous to itemise but include increased transport costs; the reintroduction of prescription charges; a disastrous school lunch system; rising rents, rates and insurance; fewer budget advisory services; cuts to foodbank funding and hardship grants; stripping away support programmes for the disabled; inadequately adjusted benefits and minimum wage; and reduced support for pay equity and the living wage.

    The objective is to save money while ignoring the human cost. For example, a scathing report of the Auditor General confirms that Oranga Tamariki took a bulldozer to obeying the call for a 6.5 percent cut in existing social services with no regard to the extreme hurt caused to children and struggling parents.

    Budget 2025 has already indicated that Working for Families will continue to go backwards with not even inflation adjustments. The 2025 child and youth strategy report shows that over the year to June 2024 the number of children in material poverty continued to increase, there were more avoidable hospitalisations, immunisation rates for babies declined, and there was more food insecurity.

    Human costs all around us
    We can see the human costs all around us in homelessness, food insecurity, and ill health. Already we know we rank at the bottom among developed countries for child wellbeing and suicide rates.

    Abject distress existing alongside where homes sell for $20 million-$40 million is no longer uncommon, and neither are $6 million helicopters of the very rich.

    Changes in suicide rates (three-year average), ages 15 to 19 from 2018 to 2022 (or most recent four-year period available). Source: WHO mortality database

    At the start of the year, Helen Robinson, CEO of the Auckland City Mission, had a clear warning: “I am pleading with government for more support, otherwise what we and other food relief agencies in Auckland can provide, will dramatically decrease.

    “This leaves more of Auckland hungry and those already there become more desperate. It is the total antithesis of a thriving city.”

    The theory held by this government is that by reducing the role of government and taxes, the private sector will flourish, and secure well-paid jobs will be created. Instead, as basic economic theory would predict, we have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity.

    Budget 2025 signals more of the same.

    It would be a mistake to wait for simplistic official inequality statistics before we act. Our current destination is a sharply divided country of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with an insecure middle class.

    Underfunded social agencies
    Underfunded and swamped social agencies cannot remove the relentless stress on the people who are invisible in the ‘fiscally responsible’ economic narrative. The fabricated bogeyman of outsized net government debt is at the core, as the government pursues balanced budgets and small government-size targets.

    A stage one economics student would know the deficit increases automatically in a recession to cushion the decline and stop the economy spiralling into something that looks more like a depression. But our safety nets of social welfare are performing very badly.

    Rising unemployment has exposed the inadequacy of social protections. Working for Families, for instance, provides a very poor cushion for children. Many “working” families do not have enough hours of work and face crippling poverty traps.

    Future security is undermined as more KiwiSavers cash in for hardship reasons. A record number of the talented young we need to drive the recovery and repair the frayed social fabric have already fled the country.

    The government is fond of comparing its Budget to that of a household. But what prudent household would deliberately undermine the earning capacity of family members?

    The primary task for the Budget should be to look after people first, to allow them to meet their food, dental and health needs, education, housing and travel costs, to have a buffer of savings to cushion unexpected shocks and to prepare for old age.

    A sore thumb standing
    In the social security part of the Budget, NZ Super for all at 65, no matter how rich or whether still in full-time well-paid work, dominates (gross $25 billion). It’s a sore thumb standing out alongside much less generous, highly targeted benefits and working for families, paid parental leave, family boost, hardship provisions, accommodation supplement, winter energy and other payments and subsidies.

    Given the political will, research shows we can easily redirect at least $3 billion from very wealthy superannuitants to fixing other payments to greatly improve the wellbeing of the young. This will not be enough but it could be a first step to the wide rebalancing needed.

    New Zealand has become a country of two halves whose paths rarely cross: a social time bomb with unimaginable consequences. It is a country beguiled by an egalitarian past that is no more.

    Susan St John is an associate professor in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity hub and Economic Policy Centre, Business School, University of Auckland. This article was first published by Newsroom before the 2025 Budget and is republished with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: M&S cyber-attack: how to protect yourself from sim-swap fraud

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alan Woodward, Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Surrey

    Our mobile phone numbers have become a de facto form of identification, but they can be hijacked for nefarious purposes. Just such an attack may have been involved in the recent very damaging cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer (M&S).

    The hack happened in April and forced M&S to stop taking online orders. It also caused disruption to some of its stores. The company has said that its online business could be disrupted into July and could result in an estimated £300m hit to profits.

    The M&S incident is being widely reported as an example of what is known as “sim swap”. It’s a form of fraud that is on the rise and understanding how to protect against it will help limit its impact.

    Our mobile numbers are unique and we have them for years. This means that users generally want to keep hold of their number when they change they phones, or lose them. When a user buys a new phone, or just a new sim card for a spare device they might have, they might call their service provider to transfer their longstanding mobile number to the new sim card.

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    The problem is that the service provider doesn’t know if it is really them calling to transfer the number. Hence, they launch into a series of questions to make sure they are who they say they are.

    But what if someone else has the answers to the questions the service provider asks? Is your mother’s maiden name or that of your first pet really that secret?

    Easy pickings

    The rise of social media has made it easier than ever for scammers to piece together what was once considered private information. But this might not even be necessary. What if the service provider simply takes pity and falls for a tale of woe as to why you need to transfer the number but cannot remember an answer?

    Suddenly, someone else can make and receive calls and SMS messages using your
    number. This means they could make calls at your expense. However, it might seem logical that as soon as the service provider is informed of this, the provider should be able to stop it, and is likely to refund any fraudulent charges.

    However, there’s a catch. Remember when you created your email, bank account or even online grocery shopping account and you were encouraged to set up two-factor authentication (2FA)? You listened, but the system set your “second factor” as your mobile phone number. You input your username and password, and it asks for a time-limited code that it sends to you as an SMS message.

    If someone has managed to obtain your login username and password, typically through a phishing email or even a data breach, and they have control over your phone number, they now have everything they need to login to your account.

    This so-called sim-swap fraud is complex to pull off, but it is on the rise. Attacks rose by 1,055% in 2024, according to the National Fraud Database, and it has allegedly been used in many high-profile hacks such as that of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019.

    Effective counter-measures

    It is often used to target users who have high system privileges that gives them to access to systems that most users don’t have permissions for. Imagine such a sim swap was carried out on a system administrator. These are the very people who set and reset passwords, grant access to computer systems and, most dangerously, can upload further software to the network and its attached systems.

    This has proved such a useful hack that some services are switching to sending that time-limited code to you to messaging services such as WhatsApp. However, this approach is not foolproof, and so there is a rising adoption of authentication apps, which display a synchronised code that matches one held by the service to ensure authenticity.

    Nothing is 100% secure, and the security of authentication apps, assumes that you have a separate, strong password to prevent those who have stolen your phone number from accessing these authentication checks.

    Efforts to improve login security have led to the rise of what are known as passkeys, which are long sequence of random digits called cryptographic keys that are stored on your device, such as a smartphone or computer. It is only shown to your online account when you unlock your phone.

    A key step in authentication is therefore the method the person uses to access their device. This could be a biometric authenticator like a fingerprint or face scan, or a screen lock pin number. Passkeys are more resistant to phishing attacks and data breaches than traditional passwords.

    So, the next time you phone your mobile service provider and they insist on asking a host of questions to prove your identity, don’t complain, just think what could happen if they didn’t do sufficient checks and someone carried out a sim-swap scam on your number.

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

    – ref. M&S cyber-attack: how to protect yourself from sim-swap fraud – https://theconversation.com/mands-cyber-attack-how-to-protect-yourself-from-sim-swap-fraud-256611

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures – a rich and witty retrospective that smells like chocolate

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kerry Harker, PhD Candidate, Feminism and the Visual Arts , University of Leeds

    A bubbling Jacuzzi-sized fountain of molten chocolate greets visitors at the entrance to Life Pleasures, a major retrospective of British artist Helen Chadwick at the Hepworth gallery in Wakefield. The piece, named Cacao, was made in 1994, two years before the artist’s sudden death of a heart attack aged just 42.

    The installation encourages visitors to engage their senses of smell and sound as well as sight. These faculties are critical in approaching Chadwick’s sensorially and materially rich body of work. The sounds of the work’s electric motor and tantalising smell of its gurgling chocolate are everywhere throughout the show.

    The exhibition is the largest survey of Chadwick’s work yet, and her first since A Retrospective at the Barbican in London in 2004.

    Chadwick’s student work, Knitted Lillet Blood Cycle (1975) – a collection of ten life-sized, delicately knitted tampons depicted at various stages of crimson saturation – is the earliest work in the show.

    Between this and Cacao – two moments in the arc of her life and artistic practice – lie a multitude of rich, often witty and still fresh innovations with materials and forms in two and three dimensions.

    Collectively, they form an evolving self-portrait whether explicitly depicting the artist’s own body or representing it by other means. Carcass (1986) is a case in point.

    Helen Chadwick talks about Carcass.

    A tower of glass and Perspex, it mimics the vertical posture of an upright human body for which it is a proxy. Filled with organic matter – waste from the gallery cafe downstairs – it will continue to decay and be topped up over the course of the exhibition, performing the cyclical process of the human digestive system.

    Chadwick’s greatest hits

    Some of the pieces in the show will be familiar to those who know the artist’s work. This includes a series of photographs documenting Chadwick’s 1977 performance work In the Kitchen, for which she produced soft, wearable sculptures of domestic white goods including a washing machine and cooker.

    Piss Flowers (1991-92) are also on show, in which the artist and her husband David Notarius urinated into snow that was densely packed into a large flower-shaped cookie cutter. The resulting hollows were cast in bronze before being coated in white lacquer.

    Inverted, they appear as surreal oversized flowers, performing an unexpected gender reversal due to the deeper – and therefore taller once inverted – effect produced by the female urinary pattern which is recast as a suggestively phallic stamen.

    Other works similarly question gender norms and stereotypes.

    Self-portrait (1991) is a wall-mounted and back-lit transparent photograph. It depicts the artist’s hands gently cradling a human brain against a backdrop of ruched velvet. It is impossible to assign gender to this organ, denuded of the external bodily signifiers from which any socially inscribed concept of identity might normally be read.

    The sculptural installations The Oval Court (1984-86) and Ego Geometria Sum (1983) also explore the construction of narratives about the self.

    Both works have been reconstructed for Life Pleasures. The latter has been reassembled from individual works held in several public and private collections and the Arts Council Collection.

    In both of these installations, as with many others on show here, the artist experimented with photographic processes – a touchstone throughout her career. She was pushing the boundaries of the medium materially through processes such as photocopying, and conceptually by exploring its three-dimensional properties. That’s demonstrated through the series of wall-mounted sculptures that combine slick photographic images with various timbers, glass, aluminium and light.

    Chadwick’s enduring relevance

    In part, Life Pleasures restages many of the works included in Effluvia, Chadwick’s 1994 exhibition at London’s Serpentine Gallery.

    I was lucky enough to experience that exhibition just as my fine art studies at the University of Leeds were coming to an end. By 1994 Chadwick could be described in the exhibition’s catalogue as “one of Britain’s most prominent and provocative contemporary artists”.

    Her work as an artist and educator has been as influential for subsequent generations of female practitioners, in particular, as it was for me as a young art student then.

    Life Pleasures again reveals Chadwick as a sculptor of exactitude and thrilling inventiveness. Her unique work combines glossy, seductive precision with a delicate, tactile mastery of materials. Even as it explores the inescapable realities of the human body: its vulnerability, impurity and mutability.

    Seen in tandem with the fascinating Helen Chadwick: Artist, Researcher, Archivist now on show at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, Life Pleasures provides a very welcome opportunity to reassess Chadwick’s legacy and the enduring relevance of her work in the context of contemporary debates on sex and gender. Her often-cited status as an explicitly feminist artist, however, remains largely unexplored in deeper terms here.

    Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures is at the Hepworth, Wakefield until October 27.

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

    – ref. Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures – a rich and witty retrospective that smells like chocolate – https://theconversation.com/helen-chadwick-life-pleasures-a-rich-and-witty-retrospective-that-smells-like-chocolate-257155

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Anti-environmentalism is on the rise but it’s full of contradictions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alastair Bonnett, Professor of Geography, Newcastle University

    Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock

    Anti-environmentalism is gaining ground. Attacks on the net zero goal and hostility to conservation measures and anti-pollution targets are becoming more common. And, as recent election results have shown, these tactics are reshaping politics in Britain and across the west.

    Anti-environmentalism is a rejection of both environmental initiatives and activism. But despite its sudden rise and bold rhetoric, it is built on shaky foundations. The messages it offers are often contradictory and row against the tide of everyday experience.

    Take the US president, Donald Trump. He dismantled many environmental protections in his last term of office, and is now removing those that are left – including support for research that even mentions the word climate. Yet he told a rally in Wisconsin in 2024: “I’m an environmentalist. I want clean air and clean water. Really clean water. Really clean air.”

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    Some of the contradictions of anti-environmentalism reflect its departure from traditional conservatism. Although routinely identified as “conservative”, the populist anti-green politics of Republicans in the US and Reform in the UK, along with the AfD in Germany and National Rally in France, represent a radical challenge to the ideals of continuity and conservation that were once at the heart of conservatism.

    The Conservative Environment Network is an organisation which pitches itself as an “independent forum for conservatives in the UK and around the world who support net zero, nature restoration and resource security”. Much of this network’s work involves reminding people that important environmental protections, from America’s national parks to controls on pollution and climate change in Britain and elsewhere, were introduced by conservatives.

    But few on the right appear to be listening. A populist tide is washing this conservative tradition away, despite the fact that support for environmental protection remains very popular.

    Polling indicates that 80% of people in the UK worry about climate change. Public backing for the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency is also overwhelming, including among Republican voters.

    In part, this support reflects the fact that environmental damage is an everyday reality: unpredictable weather, the collapse of animal and insect populations, and a range of other challenges are not just on the TV, they are outside the window.

    In my research for a forthcoming book on environmental nostalgia across the world, I keep bumping into an irony. In western nations, voices from the right say they want their country back, yet appear hostile to environmental policies that would protect their country and ensure its survival.

    There are many reasons for this disconnect, including resentment against initiatives that require lifestyle and livelihood changes. However, the enmity and disengagement is more complicated than a simple rejection of nature.

    Many people – including Trump himself – claim they are environmentalists even when the evidence suggests otherwise. The signs and symbols of environmental care are knitted into every aspect of our commercial and cultural life: if wildlife could sue for copyright, there would a lot of rich bears.

    I argue that a distinction can be made between what I call “cold” and “hot” forms of environmentalism. The former values and mourns the loss of nature, but as a spectacle to be observed – a set of appealing images of flora and fauna – while the latter feels implicated and anxious.

    The former position allows people to claim they love nature yet be indifferent or even hostile to initiatives to save it. However, the line between cold and hot, or between anti- and pro-environmentalist, is neither fixed nor hard.

    Another quality of anti-environmentalism is that its beliefs are changeable, even quixotic. Climate change is an example.

    Reform’s leaders have long flirted with climate change denial. “Climate change has happened for millions of years,” explained former Reform UK leader Richard Tice in 2024, adding that “the idea that you can stop the power of the Sun or volcanoes is simply ludicrous”. Tice has not changed his views but later the same year, the party’s new leader, Nigel Farage, told the BBC that he was “not arguing the science”.

    Like other populist parties, Reform adopts a mobile position on the environment, moving between denying that climate change is happening or that humans are causing it, and the very different contention that anthropogenic climate change is real but that environmental targets are unreachable and unfair, given that other nations (China is often mentioned) supposedly do so little.

    A post-western paradox

    Researchers are only just starting to think about anti-environmentalism. One key analysis is environmental politics researcher John Hultgren’s The Smoke and the Spoils: Anti-Environmentalism and Class Struggle in the United States. This new book explains how Republicans managed to convince working-class voters that there is “zero-sum dichotomy between jobs and environmental protection, workers and environmentalists”.

    This kind of binary has also been found by contributors to The Handbook of Anti-Environmentalism, who identify and critique the stereotyping of environmentalism as middle-class and elite in several western countries.

    Yet the geographical focus of these pioneering works misses yet another of the paradoxes of anti-environmentalism: that although its rhetoric often accuses China and other non-western countries of doing little, there has been a significant environmental turn in both policy and public attitudes beyond Europe and the US.

    Environmentalism is becoming post-western. This is partly because the realities of environmental damage are so stark across much of Asia and Africa.

    Extreme temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are leading to food insecurity and community displacement. Environmentalism in the African Sahel and south Asia might better be called “survivalism”.

    And despite its continuing reliance on fossil fuels, China’s state-led vision of a transition to a conservationist and decarbonised “ecological civilisation” is positioning it as a global environmental leader.

    Stereotypes of environmentalism being primarily a western concern are crumbling. Because of this, along with the many contradictions that beset it, the rise of anti-environmentalism appears not only complex, but curious and unsustainable.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. Anti-environmentalism is on the rise but it’s full of contradictions – https://theconversation.com/anti-environmentalism-is-on-the-rise-but-its-full-of-contradictions-256911

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why gait quality matters as you age

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Helen Dawes, Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter

    Studio Romantic/Shutterstock

    Walking is one of the most important things we do for our quality of life. In fact, research shows it contributes more than any other physical activity to how well we live day to day. Yet one in three people over the age of 60 report having some difficulty walking.

    As we age, gradual changes in our bodies and health can alter how we walk, often without us realising. But the way we walk, known as our gait pattern, matters more than we might think. Poor gait doesn’t just make walking harder and more tiring; it can lead to joint strain, instability, and a greater risk of falls.

    Think of your gait like a heart rhythm. Just as an electrocardiogram (ECG) shows whether your heart is functioning properly, your gait also has a rhythm. When that rhythm is off, it may be one of the earliest signs that you’re not ageing as well as you could be.

    Thanks to new technology, we can now measure gait quality more easily and precisely. One promising tool is the Heel2Toe wearable sensor. This small device attaches to your shoe and tracks the movement of your ankle as you walk, capturing your gait cycle in real time.

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    A healthy step begins with a strong heel strike. Your weight then rolls across the sole of your foot, ending with a push-off from the toes. As your foot lifts, it swings forward cleanly – no dragging or scuffing. This smooth sequence creates a rhythm in your ankle movements, one that, when consistent, resembles a kind of “walking ECG”.

    But over time, many people unconsciously adopt less efficient movement patterns. These altered gaits may feel normal, but they’re often unstable, tiring or unsafe.

    Poor gait can increase the risk of falls.
    https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/asian-senior-male-falling-on-ground-2147078055

    Poor gait reduces confidence, increases fall risk, and can discourage people from walking at all. And the less we walk, the weaker our muscles become – making the problem worse. It’s a vicious cycle.

    Relearning to walk well

    The good news is that we can retrain our gait.

    The Heel2Toe sensor doesn’t just monitor your movements – it also encourages better walking. When it detects a good step (one that begins with a strong heel strike), it delivers an audio cue as positive feedback. Over time, these cues help you rediscover a stronger, steadier walking pattern. Good gait becomes your new normal. Tools like Heel2Toe help people tune in to their body’s signals and make sustainable progress.

    The goal isn’t just to move more – it’s to move better.

    Of course, being physically active is only one aspect of what it means to live well as we grow older.

    To get a more complete picture of healthy ageing researchers have developed a tool that measures how often older adults experience key aspects of wellbeing. This tool – the Opal measure (Older Persons for Active Living) – goes beyond tracking what people do. It asks how they feel about their lives.

    Opal can help people understand their own wellbeing and it offers policymakers and communities a way to evaluate how well their services support older citizens – not just physically, but socially and emotionally too.

    For people, this means that even small improvements, like better gait, can lead to meaningful changes in how you feel: more confident, more mobile and more independent.

    For communities, it’s a reminder that promoting physical activity is important – but not enough. We also need programs, spaces and services that foster connection, purpose, creativity and joy.

    What does ‘active living’ really mean?

    In a 2024 international study, older adults in Canada, UK, US and the Netherlands shared what “active living” means to them – across four languages and cultural contexts.

    They identified 17 distinct “ways of being” that contribute to feeling active. Physical health was just one part. Others included feeling: confident, connected, creative, energised, encouraged, engaged, happy, mentally healthy, independent, interested, mentally sharp, motivated, resilient and self-sufficient.

    In other words, active living isn’t just about taking (or counting) steps, it’s about how you feel while taking them.

    Ageing is inevitable. But ageing well? That’s something we can shape – step by step.

    Helen Dawes is Director of International Affairs of PhysioBiometrics Inc. she receives funding from NIHR Exeter Biomedical Resarch Council and NIHR Exeter Sustainable Health Technology Centre.

    Nancy Mayo is co-founder and President of PhysioBiometrics Inc. a company that commercializes the Heel2Toe sensor to make it available for all. She has received funding from Healthy Brains for Health Lives (HBHL), McGill University, to develop and test the Heel2Toe sensor.

    – ref. Why gait quality matters as you age – https://theconversation.com/why-gait-quality-matters-as-you-age-256636

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Votes Against Reckless Republican Budget

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))

    Washington, D.C. ─ Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) issued the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ reckless budget bill that would unleash pain on South Florida families.

    “While House Republicans may have advanced this reckless bill in the dead of night, their catastrophic agenda is clear as day. 

    “I voted against their scheme because it would result in almost 14 million Americans losing health insurance, put more than 18 million kids at risk of losing their school meals, and lead to $500 billion in Medicare cuts. In other words, people will get sicker, hungrier, and poorer — all just to give billionaires a massive tax break.  

    “I will continue to fight back and do whatever it takes to protect South Florida families and small businesses who stand to suffer if this bill were to be signed into law.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barry Moore supports President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Reconciliation Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

    Washington D.C. – Today, Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Reconciliation bill. This bill is a once in a generation opportunity to renew the Trump tax cuts and deliver on the promises made to the American people.

    “Today, House Republicans put America First and politics second and delivered real results,” said Moore. “The passage of President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill delivers a victory for hardworking families by extending the Trump tax cuts, fully funding border security, lowering energy costs, and investing in new defense technologies. I’m proud to have fought for this bill and to help President Trump deliver on the mandate set by the American people last November.”

    The reconciliation bill delivers:

    • A reversal of the spending insanity by securing $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings.
    • The largest tax cut in American history.
    • An extra $5,000 in the pockets of the American people.
    • Protection for Medicaid by removing 1.4 million illegals, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse within the system.
    • Lower energy costs for American families while reversing the dangerous Biden-era anti-energy policies.
    • Permanent border security through funding President Trump’s border wall and empowering border officials with the resources they need.
    • An end to taxpayer-funded sex changes for minors by prohibiting Medicaid funding for transition procedures.
    • A once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionize our nation’s defense capabilities through historic investment in new technology.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Transfer of South Western Railway’s services into public ownership

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Written statement to Parliament

    Transfer of South Western Railway’s services into public ownership

    South Western Railway’s services will transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025.

    Following my statement in December last year, I can confirm to the House that, on Sunday 25 May 2025, South Western Railway’s services will transfer into public ownership.

    South Western Railway’s services are the first to transfer to public ownership under the Passenger Railways Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, a landmark piece of legislation passed by Parliament in November. From Sunday, operations will be run by a new public sector operator – South Western Railway Limited. For now this will be a subsidiary of the public corporation, DfT Operator Limited (DfTO), which will eventually transfer into Great British Railways (GBR), once established.

    C2C’s services will be next to transfer into public ownership on 20 July 2025 and, as previously announced, I have issued an expiry notice to Greater Anglia confirming that their contract with the department will now expire on 12 October 2025. Greater Anglia’s services will transfer into public ownership on this date.

    Sunday marks a watershed moment in the government’s plan to return the railways to the service of passengers and reform our broken railways, ending 30 years of fragmentation and delivers on our manifesto commitment to bring passenger services back into public control and put passengers firmly at the heart of the railways.

    Public ownership will ensure services are run in the interests of passengers, not shareholders, and is a vital step in enabling the government to bring track and train together. But public ownership alone is not a silver bullet and will not fix the structural problems hindering the railways currently. That will take time.

    Under this government’s plan to unify track and train under one organisation, GBR will be the single ‘directing mind’ for the railway, putting passengers and customers first, rebuilding trust in the railway and simplifying the industry.

    In February, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill outlined plans to establish GBR, which will consolidate the 14 different train operating companies, Network Rail and DfTO into a single organisation. The Railways Bill will be laid in this Parliamentary session and I expect GBR to be operational around 12 months after the bill receives Royal Assent

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NHS workers awarded real terms pay rises for second year in row

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    NHS workers awarded real terms pay rises for second year in row

    NHS workers, including doctors and nurses, will receive real terms pay rises after the Health Secretary accepted the Pay Review Bodies’ pay recommendations

    • All NHS staff to be awarded above inflation pay rises for second year in a row as government recognises their hard work in rebuilding our broken NHS.
    • Department’s endorsement of Pay Review Body recommendations will be backdated to April and will appear in pay packets from August.
    • Pay uplifts will be funded by cutting duplication and waste in the central health budget.

    All NHS workers, including doctors and nurses, will receive real terms pay rises for the second year in a row, as the Health Secretary has today accepted the independent Pay Review Bodies’ headline pay recommendations for all NHS staff.  

    The government is funding a pay rise of 4% for consultants, specialty doctors, specialists and GPs, with dentists also receiving a contract uplift to increase their pay. In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with unions to deliver on non-pay arrangements, agreed as part of last year’s deals, to improve working conditions for these staff groups.   

    Resident Doctors will see their pay rise by an average of 5.4% (a 4% rise plus a consolidated payment of £750).  

    Agenda for Change (AfC) staff, which includes nurses, health visitors, midwives, ambulance staff, porters and cleaners will see their pay rise by 3.6%. This has increased the starting salary of a nurse, for example, from £27,055 in 2022/2023 to around £31,050 this year – an increase of around £4,000 over the last three years.  

    Alongside the real terms pay increase for AfC staff, the government has also accepted the PRB recommendation to allow the NHS Staff Council to undertake pay structure reform next year to resolve outstanding concerns about banding within the AfC pay structure.  

     Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    These are thoroughly deserved pay rises for all our hard-working nurses, doctors and other NHS staff. We inherited a broken health service with extremely low morale after years of pay erosion and poor industrial relations.  

    Which is why, despite the difficult financial situation the nation faces, we are backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises for the second year in a row. This government was never going to be able to fully reverse a decade and a half of neglect in under a year, but this year’s pay increases – and last year’s – represent significant progress in making sure that NHS staff are properly recognised for the outstanding work they do. 

    In the past ten months, through our Plan for Change, we have worked with staff to cut waiting lists by 200,000 and put the NHS on the road to recovery. These real terms pay rises demonstrate our commitment to continue on our shared mission, to build an NHS fit for the future.

    Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, said:  

    Today’s announcement of a real terms pay rise shows the government’s support for NHS staff and is recognition of their huge efforts and hard work over the last year.  

    It is particularly welcome as it comes amid significant pressure on the public purse, and so the NHS will in turn focus on reform, cutting waste and reducing duplication to be as efficient as possible, while also offering patients faster and better care.

    All pay uplifts will be backdated to April 1st and will appear in pay packets from August – two months earlier than last year and the earliest award in years. 

    The above inflation pay awards come at a time of serious pressure on the public finances. The Department of Health and Social Care can award across-the-board pay rises above the affordability figure set out by the government (2.8%) because of reforms already being made to cut waste and unnecessary bureaucracy across the health service. 

    Over the past few months, we have identified how extra funds will be freed up by cutting duplication between the department and NHSE, cutting NHSE headcount, slashing budgets for corporate services like NHS communications teams, and bringing down ICB costs by 50%. As a result of the savings found, none of the pay increases will be paid for by cutting frontline services. 

    The government has also reiterated its desire to get NHS staff their money more quickly in future awards. This year’s was the earliest in years, but this government want to go faster in the future, so that the pay award process is bought back into line with the financial year.  

    The government has committed to remitting the pay review bodies for 2026/27 before the end of July, two months before last year, with an ambition to implement awards as soon as possible in 2026/27. 

    Notes to Editors 

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Attorney General Alan Wilson joins national leaders at southern border to highlight strides made under TrumpRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – On Wednesday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, alongside fellow Republican attorneys general and federal and state law enforcement leaders, held a press conference at the southern border in Yuma, Arizona. The group provided an update on President Trump’s immigration-border policy, the expanded 287(g) program, discussed the administration’s early successes in curbing illegal border encounters, disrupting drug and fentanyl trafficking, and expanding key immigration enforcement initiatives dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave”. 

    “For the last four years, we’ve been sinking under the weight of Biden’s weak border policies,” said Attorney General Wilson. President Trump is giving us the tools to fight back. Now, we’re not just bailing water, we’re taking control of the ship. From stopping deadly drugs at the border to backing local law enforcement with programs like 287(g), this administration is proving it puts the safety of our citizens above politics, and we’re proud to work with them.” 

    Attorney General Wilson emphasized the substantial strides made in just three months under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on border security and state-federal cooperation. 

    Key Takeaways: 

    • Expanding 287(g) in South Carolina: One of the most significant developments is the expansion of the 287(g) program in South Carolina. Under this federal initiative, local law enforcement is deputized to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties. Since President Trump took office, the number of participating sheriff’s departments in South Carolina has grown from 2 to 20, dramatically increasing the state’s capacity to identify and detain criminal illegal aliens. 
    • Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis:  With fentanyl flooding across the southern border, South Carolina is taking aggressive steps to protect its citizens. In addition to federal efforts, South Carolina just passed the Fentanyl-Induced Homicide Act, which allows anyone who distributes fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance to be charged with homicide.  
    • Legal Leadership in Defending Border: In April 2025, the state led a 27-state amicus brief supporting President Trump’s authority to deport Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members, a violent transnational criminal organization. In March 2024, South Carolina filed a brief supporting Texas’ right to enforce its own immigration law, defending the state’s ability to protect its borders against a challenge brought by the Biden administration. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp: Mercedes-Benz Establishing North American Headquarters, new Research & Development Hub in Metro Atlanta

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Mercedes-Benz will establish Atlanta as Mercedes-Benz’s headquarters in North America by centralizing and uniting key corporate functions. The company will move up to 500 jobs to the existing Mercedes-Benz facility, known as “1MB,” in Fulton County, and make a multi-million dollar investment in a future state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) facility to also be located nearby.

    “Georgia continues to lead the way in the future of mobility and technical innovation, attracting world-class companies like Mercedes-Benz that are driving the automotive industry forward,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We’re excited that a job creator that already has close ties to Georgia is doubling down on that choice and growing their presence here in the best state for business and opportunity.”

    Mercedes-Benz opened its “1MB” facility in 2018 in Sandy Springs, which currently supports approximately 800 jobs in Georgia.

    “We thank the State of Georgia for its support in deepening Mercedes-Benz’s roots in the Atlanta area as we bring even more talented team members to this world-class city,” said Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz North America.  “This strengthens our position for continued growth and reinforces our established commitment to the U.S. market. Bringing our teams closer together will enable us to be more agile, increase speed to market, and ensure the best customer experience.” 

    The ”1MB” facility located in Sandy Springs will house the existing sales teams as well as financial services teams and corporate functions. The new state-of-the-art Research & Development hub will be located near Sandy Springs. The company anticipates that the move to metro Atlanta will be completed by August 2026. To learn more about Mercedes-Benz, visit www.mbusa.com/en/careers or group.mercedes-benz.com/careers.

    “We’re excited to see Mercedes-Benz expanding in Sandy Springs,” said Mayor Rusty Paul, City of Sandy Springs. “Since establishing their headquarters here in 2018, they have been outstanding corporate partners. Their decision to grow in Sandy Springs highlights the success of the city’s recent infrastructure and capital investments which are now clearly paying dividends. This expansion represents a wonderful opportunity and a significant milestone for our continued development.”

    “Having a globally recognized brand like Mercedes-Benz reaffirm its commitment by investing and growing here in Fulton County is a testament to the strength and vitality of our community,” said Chairman Robb Pitts, Fulton County Board of Commissioners. “It proves Fulton County continues to be a destination for corporate solutions, providing major companies an accessible, vibrant, and growing community for their business to thrive in.”

    “This expansion is a testament to both Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to excellence and metro Atlanta’s strength as a hub for innovation and talent. When the 1MB facility opened in 2018, it quickly became an integral part of our business landscape, driving economic growth and elevating the region’s global presence,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We are proud to see this partnership deepen as Mercedes-Benz continues to invest in our future shared success.”

    Assistant Director of Statewide Projects Elizabeth McLean represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the City of Sandy Springs, Select Fulton, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Georgia Power.

    “Since the strategic decision to relocate Mercedes-Benz USA to Sandy Springs in 2018, we have watched Mercedes-Benz become an integral part of our business community. Their continued growth and community involvement are a prime example of why we recruit industry leaders such as Mercedes-Benz to Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “This expansion and commitment to R&D in the metro Atlanta area will further strengthen the company’s long-term success, and highlights the talent and collaborative partnerships fostered by the University System of Georgia.”

    About Mercedes-Benz AG

    Mercedes-Benz AG is part of the Mercedes-Benz Group AG with a total of around 175,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production, and sales of passenger cars, vans, and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes-Benz brand with Mercedes AMG, Mercedes Maybach, and G Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: BNP Paribas Primary New Issues: MID-Stabilisation Notice – Wolseley Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    22.05.2025

    Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

    [WOLSELEY GROUP PLC]

    Mid-stabilisation Period Announcement

    [Further to the pre-stabilisation period announcement dated 16.05.2025] BNP Paribas (contact: Stanford Hartman telephone: 0207 595 8222) hereby gives notice that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below undertook stabilisation (within the meaning of [Article 3.2(d) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014) / [and of] the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority)] in relation to the offer of the following securities, as set out below.

    Securities

    Issuer: WOLSELEY GROUP FINCO PLC
    Guarantor (if any): N/A
    Aggregate nominal amount: 350,000,000 GBP
    Description: Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes
    Stabilisation Manager(s): BNP Paribas, Lloyds Bank, Wells Fargo, RBC, BOFA

    Stabilisation transaction[s]

    Date and time: Price: Quantity Stabilisation trading venue:
     16/05/2025  17:10:48  99.25  1,000,000.00  OTC
     16/05/2025  17:12:20  98.625  1,375,000.00  OTC
     16/05/2025  17:12:26 98.625 125,000.00 OTC
     16/05/2025  17:12:26  98.625  125,000.00  OTC
    19/05/2025  09:21:51 98.50 -2,000,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  09:32:45 98.625 -1,700,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  09:56:38 99.00 -200,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  09:59:05 98.83 -2,354,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  10:02:33 99.23 -500,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  11:31:42 99.015 1,000,000.00 OTC
    19/05/2025  15:10:28 99.1 -1,000,000.00 OTC
    20/05/2025  12:05:52 99.5 -2,000,000.00 OTC
    20/05/2025  12:34:15 99.375 500,000.00 OTC
    21/05/2025  17:04:09 99.55 2,300,000.00 OTC

    This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

    This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within Article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom.

    In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, the UK or any EEA Member State before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in the UK or that Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus  Regulation”) (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in the UK or that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in the UK or that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the UK or that Member State.

    This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to above have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There has not been and will not be a public offer of the securities in the United States.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Primech AI Commences 2-Year Lease Deployment of HYTRON Autonomous Bathroom Cleaning Robot at Major Singapore Shopping Mall

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech AI Pte. Ltd. (“Primech AI” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC), today announced the successful deployment of its state-of-the-art autonomous bathroom cleaning robot, HYTRON, at one of Singapore’s premier lifestyle and shopping destinations. This deployment represents a significant milestone in the Company’s mission to revolutionize facility services through advanced robotics and AI-driven technology.

    The HYTRON robot, powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin Super module, delivers exceptional performance in real-time AI processing, energy efficiency, and intelligent decision-making capabilities within a compact design specifically engineered for high-traffic public environments.

    “Our deployment at this shopping mall demonstrates how advanced robotics and AI can dramatically improve cleanliness and hygiene standards in busy commercial spaces,” said Charles Ng, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Primech AI. “HYTRON represents our commitment to addressing real-world challenges in facilities management through purpose-built technological solutions.”

    HYTRON’s sophisticated capabilities leverage NVIDIA’s comprehensive suite of technologies, including CUDA for high-performance parallel computing, cuDNN for accelerated deep learning performance, TensorRT for optimized AI inference, and NVIDIA Driver for stable hardware-software communication. These technologies enable HYTRON to maintain consistent cleanliness standards with minimal human intervention.

    Visitors can now observe HYTRON in operation, working efficiently to maintain restroom cleanliness with precision and reliability throughout the mall’s operating hours. The robot’s presence has already generated significant interest among shoppers and facilities management professionals alike.

    This latest HYTRON deployment at one of Singapore’s busiest lifestyle destinations underscores Primech AI’s expanding market presence and mission to transform urban hygiene solutions through innovative robotics. The Company continues to focus on creating tailored solutions for space-constrained environments typical in urban settings across Asia and Europe.

    About Primech AI
    Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.

    About Primech Holdings Limited
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
    Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President                                        
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC                                         
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Modern Renters Crave Easy, Digital Experiences, AppFolio Research Finds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Report reveals growing appetite for services that deliver convenience

    Property managers must elevate the resident experience to attract renters amid rising competition

    SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  AppFolio (NASDAQ:APPF), the technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry, today released its 2025 AppFolio Renter Preferences Report. Drawing on insights from over 2,000 U.S. renters, the report outlines key strategies for property managers to gain an edge in a competitive market shaped by rising costs, higher vacancies, and slower rent growth.

    Residents Want Services That Offer Convenience in Their Daily Lives
    Today’s renters expect property managers to offer a digital, consumer-friendly experience similar to what they receive from retailers and on-demand applications. However, the availability of these services – like renter rewards programs, security deposit alternatives, and prompt maintenance support – is still limited, presenting a gap for property managers to fill.

    • Residents who are satisfied with their property manager are 73% more likely to plan to renew their lease. Similarly, those who are satisfied with maintenance are 71% more likely to say they are planning to renew their lease, and 86% of renters who are satisfied with communication about maintenance issues are also satisfied with their property manager.
    • Despite online payments becoming more common, 39% of renters still pay rent through traditional methods like cash or check, with 59% of those renters reporting that online payments are not available to them.
    • When considering a new rental, renters report the most valuable financial services to them are online rent payment (86%), rent reporting (72%), renter rewards programs (72%), flexible rent (69%), and security deposit alternatives (65%).

    Modernizing the Moving Experience Is an Untapped Opportunity
    Moving is a highly stressful part of the rental journey and while digital move-in services can greatly reduce this burden, they remain underutilized. Those who use them overwhelmingly find them helpful.

    • While 35% of renters plan to move from their current housing, primarily seeking better living spaces or lower rent, 44% of those choosing to renew their leases cite the high cost of moving as their main reason for staying.
    • Three-fourths of renters have experienced challenges during the move-in process, with setting up utilities being reported as the top issue.
    • Fewer than 30% of renters have completed their move-in tasks through digital tools, yet 80% of those who have used them found the digital tools beneficial.

    Understanding Generational Differences Is Key to Meeting and Exceeding Resident Expectations
    Gen Z is on track to become the largest renter demographic by 2030. With accessing homeownership continuing to be a challenge, many see rental homes as long-term residences and expect homes that use technology to improve everyday life.

    • 71% of Gen Z renters consider digital move-in services important, compared to 58% of Millennials, 53% of Gen X, and 34% of Baby Boomers.
    • When evaluating a new rental, 69% of Gen Z are interested in smart home technology, compared to 58% of Millennials, 50% of Gen X, and 46% of Baby Boomers.
    • 77% of Gen Z renters prioritize flexible rent, in contrast to 67% of Millennials, 49% of Gen X, and 37% of Baby Boomers.

    “Residents expect fast, easy, and personalized experiences—and our report shows that demand is only growing,” said Stacy Holden, Vice President, Industry Principal at AppFolio. “Property managers that meet and exceed resident expectations will not only address current gaps in service but also attract new renters and build stronger relationships with existing residents.”

    Explore the top trends defining today’s rental landscape and download the 2025 AppFolio Renter Preference Report.

    Survey Methodology
    AppFolio commissioned a survey of 2,002 U.S. renters ages 18 and up, which was conducted from January 24–30, 2025.

    About AppFolio
    AppFolio is the technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry. Our innovative platform and trusted partnership enable our customers to connect communities, increase operational efficiency, and grow their business. For more information about AppFolio, visit appfolio.com.

    For more information, please contact:
    AppFolio
    appfolio@missionnorth.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LPL Financial and Momentum Wealth Partners Welcome Beacon Financial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC announced today that Beacon Financial has joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and custodial platforms, aligning with Momentum Wealth Partners, an existing firm supporting LPL-affiliated advisors. The Beacon Financial team of 10 advisors reported having served approximately $850 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets* and joins LPL from Cetera.

    Based in Toledo, Ohio, Beacon Financial is led by Principal Owner and CEO Greg Kopan, AIF®, a seasoned financial services veteran with nearly two decades of industry experience. Kopan founded Beacon Financial in 1997 with the goal of helping clients build a more secure financial future. Today, Beacon Financial is a multi-generational practice leveraging multiple perspectives to work toward predictability for their clients’ wealth horizon.

    “Our clients range from business owners and professionals to those nearing or in retirement, and we take a comprehensive approach to understanding each of their needs and goals to create a personalized and tailored plan to help them meet their short- and long-term goals,” Kopan said.

    Looking to pair their client-centered philosophy with the desire to provide their clients with an elevated experience, the team spent 10 months researching firms and doing their due diligence before selecting LPL and Momentum as the best partners for their business goals.

    “LPL stood out to us for several reasons,” Kopan said. “First, LPL has a strategic succession planning team, and that’s incredibly important as we are a multi-generational practice, and the future of the firm is always top of mind. LPL’s robust integrated and streamlined technology also stood out because we have a lot of older clients, and I am confident that having a single sign-on will be a positive change for them. Another deciding factor is that LPL understands our concerns around cybersecurity and is committed to helping combat the issue. Last year, LPL spent more than $500 million on technology infrastructure and cybersecurity to help advisors keep their businesses — and their clients — safe.”

    Kevin Frank, Momentum Wealth Partners Managing Partner and Co-founder, stated, “At Momentum, our mission is to empower advisors to achieve their professional goals by providing strategic planning, personalized support and an unwavering partnership — the same type of partnership that the Beacon Financial team provides to their clients. We look forward to a successful partnership for years to come.”

    Scott Posner, Managing Director, Business Development, said, “We welcome the Beacon Financial team and are honored they turned to LPL and Momentum Wealth Partners for the next phase of their business. At LPL, we are committed to helping advisors provide differentiated experiences by delivering innovative capabilities and strategic resources that make it easier for advisors to manage their practices and build long-term value with their clients.”

    Related

    Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) is among the fastest growing wealth management firms in the U.S. As a leader in the financial advisor-mediated marketplace, LPL supports nearly 29,000 financial advisors and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,200 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $1.8 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 7 million Americans. The firm provides a wide range of advisor affiliation models, investment solutions, fintech tools and practice management services, ensuring that advisors and institutions have the flexibility to choose the business model, services, and technology resources they need to — run thriving businesses. For further information about LPL, please visit www.lpl.com.

    Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Beacon Financial, Momentum Wealth Partners and LPL Financial are separate entities.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    *Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2024.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com

    Tracking #735638

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Eight years after arena attack, Manchester bee commercialisation has unsettled some Mancunians

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ashley Collar, PhD Candidate in Sociology & Associate Lecturer in Criminology at MMU, University of Manchester

    espesorroche/Shutterstock

    If you visit Manchester, one of the first things you’ll notice is the great number of bee images throughout the city. Born in the Industrial Revolution, the “worker bee” symbol captured the city’s tireless spirit and its legacy as a buzzing hive of industry. Today, the symbol is more often associated with collective resilience and remembrance following the Manchester Arena attack on May 22 2017.

    The bee became a powerful symbol of the “Mancunian spirit”, emerging almost instantly on murals, on bodies as tattoos and on public memorials. Over the last eight years, it has become a core part of Manchester’s identity.

    A memorial at Manchester’s Victoria station in May 2024.
    Ashley Collar

    As part of my ongoing PhD research, I set out to understand why the bee is everywhere in Manchester and what it means to people. I interviewed 24 Mancunians who were living in the city at the time of the attack, including some who were directly affected.

    Conducted in 2023, seven years after the attack, these interviews aimed to capture how the symbol’s meaning had evolved as the city continued to process and commemorate the event.

    For many, the bee still stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder of how the city came together in the face of tragedy. But for others, its presence throughout Manchester has become more of a burden than a comfort.

    Appearing on buses, shop windows and public spaces, it serves as a constant and eerie reminder of the events and aftermath of the attack. Eight of my interviewees described these as memories of “trauma”. Over time, what once felt comforting has become more unsettling.

    Manchester City Council coat of arms, with bees buzzing around the Earth.
    By IndysNotHere – Self – Made / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    Fifteen of my interviewees expressed discomfort with how the bee has become more commercialised in the years since the attack. Some described feelings of “exploitation”.

    Both independent businesses and large companies have embraced the symbol, integrating it into their branding in public spaces. Many sell bee-themed gifts and souvenirs, such as fridge magnets, coasters and beanies.

    Manchester city council has played a key role in this commercialisation, promoting the image through various initiatives, including the Bee Network transport system and the Bee Cup – a reusable takeaway cup launched in 2023.

    In June 2017, shortly after the attack, the council moved to trademark several versions of the bee as an official city symbol. This was made public in March 2018, after the period for objections had passed.

    Initially, the council allowed people and businesses to use the symbol for free, but later introduced a licensing scheme. Now, anyone wishing to use the trademarked versions of the bee must apply for permission from the council, and commercial use comes with a £500 fee. Businesses that want to use the bee are also asked to donate to charity.

    The bee appears on souvenirs like fridge magnets.
    Ashley Collar

    The council described the trademarking of the bee symbol as a way to protect its use and support local good causes, such as the We Love MCR Charity, which helps fund community projects and youth opportunities across the city.

    But some of my participants noted that this transformed the bee from something personal and meaningful to something more corporate. In their view, it is as if the city itself is commodifying the attack rather than honouring it.

    This can be viewed as an element of “dark tourism”, which involves visiting places where tragedy has been memorialised or commercialised. In Manchester this manifests not through visits to the attack site but through the bee symbol, which has been commodified in murals, merchandise and public spaces. Tourists buy into collective grief through consumption, turning remembrance into a marketable experience and the bee as a managed and profitable commodity.

    M&S: One of many shop windows that now incorporate the Manchester bee.
    Ashley Collar

    Some Manchester Arena bombing survivors I spoke to feel that their personal grief has been repackaged into a public identity, one that does not necessarily reflect the complexity of their experiences.

    The use of the bee in products and souvenirs raises questions about how the city commercialises its identity, especially when considering the layered histories that the symbol carries.

    Uncomfortable history

    For some, the discomfort around Manchester’s bee goes even deeper. Today, the bee symbolises resilience and unity, but it originally represented hard work during Manchester’s industrial boom.

    This era wasn’t just about progress — it also involved exploitation and colonial trade especially through cotton produced by enslaved people in the Americas. Manchester’s role in the industrial revolution would have never been possible without slavery.

    My participants pointed out this hidden history, noticing that these stories rarely appear in Manchester’s public commemorations in the city. The bee’s visibility today reveals how cities tend to highlight positive histories, while uncomfortable truths remain hidden.

    A painted window in Manchester’s Victoria station.
    Ashley Collar

    Focusing solely on resilience risks creating a simplified version of Manchester’s past. This can exclude some people in the present, overlooking how historical injustices, like the city’s links to the transatlantic slave trade, still shape their lives today.

    This selective storytelling makes it harder for some communities to commemorate Manchester’s identity. They can’t do so without acknowledging past legacies of slavery and the city’s history of division.

    While some see the bee as a proud symbol of unity, others feel it erases their history. As the bee continues to dominate public spaces, Manchester faces an important challenge: making sure this symbol genuinely acknowledges the varied experiences and histories of all residents.

    This might be through dedicated plaques or exhibits that explore some of these hidden histories, and the bee’s complex meaning. Only by confronting its past can the city ensure that commemoration includes everyone.

    Ashley Collar receives funding from ESRC (Economic Social and Research Council) as part of her PhD Doctoral Scholarship.

    – ref. Eight years after arena attack, Manchester bee commercialisation has unsettled some Mancunians – https://theconversation.com/eight-years-after-arena-attack-manchester-bee-commercialisation-has-unsettled-some-mancunians-256753

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark government partnership signed with North Macedonia

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Landmark government partnership signed with North Macedonia

    The new Government Partnership will drive economic growth across both countries through increased collaboration on infrastructure projects.

    Today marks a new era for UK-North Macedonia relations, following the signing of a Government-to-Government Partnership (G2G) which will boost trade and drive economic growth. This Partnership supports the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across various sectors, including transport, health, energy, and technology. It will be able to draw on a wide range of support, including technical assistance programmes and up to £5 billion in UK Export Finance support available for projects in North Macedonia.

    The formal signing ceremony took place at the historic Old Admiralty Building in London on Thursday 22nd May 2025, with the UK Minister for Exports, Gareth Thomas MP, and the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Nikoloski, in attendance.

    This G2G underscores the commitment of both nations to collaborate on critical infrastructure projects that deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits. By leveraging the expertise and innovation of both countries, this Partnership will drive the development of resilient infrastructure that fosters growth and prosperity.

    The exchange of knowledge and best practice between our two countries will be central to this G2G, drawing from the expertise of both nation’s respective infrastructure fields. This means the UK Government and British businesses working in partnership with the government of North Macedonia and their local supply chain to deliver infrastructure projects across North Macedonia. This approach will generate mutual benefits for both nations through the sharing of innovation to deliver resilient infrastructure that drives growth.

    Minister of Exports, Gareth Thomas MP expressed his enthusiasm:

    This partnership opens up a new chapter in our bilateral relationship with North Macedonia.

    The UK has a wealth of experience in delivering high-quality infrastructure across the world and I am delighted to be kicking off this new partnership that will help more British businesses export to North Macedonia.

    The UK Ambassador to North Macedonia, Matthew Lawson said:

    We have achieved a significant milestone in the UK – North Macedonia relations with the signing of the Government-to-Government Partnership by UK Minister for Exports, Gareth Thomas MP, and the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Nikoloski.

    The G2G will further strengthen the already excellent trade ties between our countries and support the delivery of critical infrastructure projects in different sectors, including transport, health, energy, and technology in North Macedonia. As the British Ambassador I am proud that our governments have reached this landmark partnership that will benefit the citizens of both countries. We stand strong and united together.

    This G2G builds on a strong existing bilateral relationship between the UK and North Macedonia. Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski welcomed a new Strategic Partnership at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana on the 16th May 2025. This G2G represents the start of our enhanced trade and infrastructure collaboration.

    Chris Barton, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe also expressed his support:

    I am delighted that this G2G will support stronger collaboration across our governments and businesses to deliver economic growth for both our nations and good-quality infrastructure for the citizens of North Macedonia.

    Notes to editors:

    • government to government (G2G) partnerships are formal arrangements under which we agree to provide another government is provided with access to UK public and private expertise for specific projects or programmes that create commercial benefits

    • total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and North Macedonia was £1.7 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2024

    • the UK is North Macedonia’s second largest trading partner in the 4 quarters to the end of Q3 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Your passport to summer fun is here with getactiveabc!

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    The brightest, hottest and happiest season is here…hello summer!! For children and young people across the borough, it’s that long-awaited season of freedom. It’s goodbye school, hello pool; it’s memories made in flip flops, topped off with ice-cream, picnics and never-ending days of playing and exploring!

    Let the experienced and energised getactiveabc coaches make it a summer to remember with a wonder world of summer experiences!

    Multi-sports, gymnastics and dance camps

    Through energetic sessions that feel more like fun than fitness, kids will learn about movement, co-ordination, teamwork and self-expression, all of which will boost their confidence (suitable for 5–11-year-olds. Various locations available). Find out more!

    Wet and wild watersports

    In, on and off the water, make a splash with South Lake Watersports! Hit the water or the road with kayak, paddleboard and bicycle hire (free for getactiveabc members); dip your toe into something new with the ‘Learn to’ sessions; achieve your ‘Start, Discover and Paddle Safer’ qualification from Paddle UK; join South Lake Paddlers Club; take on the giant inflatable (free for getactiveabc members) or have a blast at the multi-activity sessions of wet and dry adrenaline pumping fun with aqua inflatables, archery, mountain bikes, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing! Find out more!

    Stay cool in the pool!

    Our crazy £2 swims at Banbridge, Orchard and South Lake Leisure Centres are here! Boost water confidence with swimming courses and lessons, gain a lifeguard qualification and take on ‘The Beast’ – the new 50m indoor inflatable obstacle course that lets you bounce, slide and giggle through the challenge! Additional needs and quiet sessions are also available. Find out more!

    Craigavon Golf & Ski Centre

    Summer fun specials continue at Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre for kids, families, parties and youth clubs. Individual/family/group tubing and footgolf mean lots of laughs and fun for everyone on and off the slopes! Find out more!

    Inclusive summer scheme

    The ABC Inclusive Summer Schemes, taking place in Dromore and Richhill, provide inclusive sports and physical activity opportunities for children with a disability, along with siblings and friends. Find out more!

    The getactiveabc sizzling programme of activities and events continues to soar throughout the summer! Watch out for special offers and more with Love Parks Week, The South Lake Junior Triathlon, indoor inflatables, Craigavon Lake Run, Bike Week, Oxford Island Nature activities, Men’s Health Week, All Out Trekking at Gosford, Teen Gym, Get Girls Moving, golf at Loughgall and Silverwood and much more!

    Click here to read all about the getactiveabc summer programme!

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bin Collections & Recycling Centres Operating as Normal Over May Bank Holiday

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Bin Collections & Recycling Centres Operating as Normal Over May Bank Holiday

    22 May 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council is reminding residents that bin collections and Recycling Centres will continue as normal on the upcoming May Bank Holiday, Monday 26th May 2025.

    Residents are advised to leave out their bins as usual on collection day. The Council is encouraging everyone to stay committed to recycling by using Blue and Brown bins correctly, helping reduce household waste over the holiday weekend.

    Please note that Council offices on Strand Road, Derry, and Derry Road, Strabane, will be closed on Monday 26th May and will reopen on Tuesday 27th May. Registry Offices in both Derry and Strabane will also be closed on the Monday, reopening the following day.

    For those enjoying local attractions, the Guildhall and Tower Museum will remain open and welcoming visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend.

    Council-operated cemeteries will remain open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm throughout the holiday period.

    The Council’s Out of Hours Dog Warden Service will be in operation to respond to ongoing dog attacks on people or animals. To report an incident, call 07734 128096. Please note that while the Council is not obligated to respond to other reports outside of normal hours, serious voicemails will be assessed.

    All Council parks and greenways will be open, and the public is encouraged to enjoy these spaces responsibly keeping them clean by using the bins provided.

    The Alley Theatre will also be open throughout the weekend, with Encore’s The Little Mermaid showing on Saturday 24th May.

    Leisure Services Opening Times – Bank Holiday Monday 26th May:

    • Open: Bishop’s Field, Templemore Sports Complex, Riversdale Leisure Centre, Melvin Sports Complex, Derg Valley Leisure Centre
    • Closed: Brooke Park, City Baths, Foyle Arena, Brandywell 

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, encouraged residents to make the most of the long weekend:

    “I’d like to wish everyone across our city and district a relaxing and enjoyable Bank Holiday. Let’s continue taking pride in our beautiful environment by recycling, respecting public spaces, and supporting our local attractions and services.”

    For full and up-to-date service details, please visit the Council website:
     www.derrystrabane.com/services/opening-hours

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heavy rains cause flooding in some cities in Hunan province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    CHANGSHA, May 22 (Xinhua) — Heavy rains have caused flooding in some cities in central China’s Hunan Province since Wednesday evening.

    Heavy rains hit the cities of Zhangjiajie and Changde in Hunan Province, and some counties subordinate to these cities experienced particularly heavy rainfall.

    In Shejiaping Township, Taoyuan County, Changde City, continuous rainfall has caused flooding. Local authorities have taken measures to evacuate people to ensure their safety.

    The Hunan Provincial Meteorological Service issued an orange alert for heavy rain on the morning of May 22.

    Let us recall that China has a four-tier weather warning system, with the highest level of danger indicated by red, followed in descending order by orange, yellow and blue. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two killed in landslides in southwest China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GUIYANG, May 22 (Xinhua) — Two people were killed in landslides in southwest China’s Guizhou Province on Thursday, the provincial government said.

    It should be recalled that two landslides on the same day hit Changshi Township and Gowa Township in Dafang County, administratively subordinate to Bijie City, leaving 2 and 19 people trapped under the rubble, respectively.

    The National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commission has activated a Level 4 emergency response in response to the recent severe floods and geological disasters in Guizhou Province, especially the landslides in Bijie City.

    The Committee sent a working group to the affected areas to assess the situation, provide recommendations and assist local authorities in meeting the basic needs of people affected by the disaster.

    Guizhou provincial authorities activated Level 2 geological disaster response at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, while the Ministry of Natural Resources decided to raise the geological disaster response level from Level 3 to Level 2 at 11 a.m. on the same day, sending a task force to the area to lead the search and rescue operation.

    The ministry called on local agencies to quickly dispatch task forces to assist the search and rescue operation and provide technical support for the rescue work. It also called for enhanced monitoring and early warning. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese and Central Asian Youth Discuss Friendship and Cooperation in Shaanxi Province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Representatives of Chinese youth and Central Asian students studying in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province recently gathered to share their experiences and deepen mutual understanding and friendship, the Sanqing Dushibao newspaper reported.

    The event took place on May 17 in Xi’an (the capital of Shaanxi Province). More than 20 young people from China and Central Asian countries took part in it.

    Nastya from Kazakhstan, who is studying Business Chinese at Xi’an Jiaotong University, noted that intercultural exchanges bring her new knowledge.

    “I enjoy experiencing the charm of different cultures through humanitarian exchange events and actively organizing sports competitions so that young people from different countries have more opportunities for deep interaction,” she said.

    Elnura Mambetova from Kyrgyzstan, a doctoral student in Chinese language and Chinese culture dissemination at Shaanxi Normal University, has been fascinated with Chinese culture since childhood. After graduating from university in Kyrgyzstan, she worked as a Chinese language teacher at one of the universities in Kyrgyzstan, and then moved to China for further education.

    “I can personally feel how the friendship between the countries of Central Asia and China is becoming deeper and deeper,” she said.

    Wang Lewei, a student at Xi’an Foreign Studies University, spent a year in Kazakhstan as an exchange student. “In Kazakhstan, my local friends took me sightseeing and invited me to traditional festivals. I realized that language is the key to culture,” he said, expressing his desire to become an envoy of friendship between China and Kazakhstan.

    Shaanxi Province, relying on its rich educational resources, has been actively developing humanitarian exchanges with Central Asian countries in recent years. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair serves as a platform for promoting regional cooperation between China and Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    HARBIN, May 22 (Xinhua) — The 34th Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair, which recently concluded in the city of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, has injected new impetus into cooperation between the Chinese border province and Russian regions.

    One of the main topics of the event, which took place from May 17 to 21, was regional cooperation between China and Russia.

    The Heilongjiang Province is separated from some Russian regions only by the Heilongjiang River /Amur/. “The Amur does not simply divide us, but on the contrary, connects us. This is a connection of two neighbors,” noted the acting governor of the Jewish Autonomous Region /JAR/ Maria Kostyuk, calling the Heilongjiang Province the only such strategic partner for the JAR.

    M. Kostyuk participated in the Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair for the first time in the capacity of the head of the region. Previously, she had visited the exhibition many times when she worked in the mayor’s office of the city of Birobidzhan.

    “We worked together with our sister city Hegang in Heilongjiang Province not only on exchanging businessmen, but also introducing businesses to each other’s territory so that we could have very proper cooperation. For the second year in a row, Birobidzhan and Hegang have presented a joint exposition at the Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair,” she noted.

    In addition to Hegang and Birobidzhan, sister city relations have been established between Chinese and Russian cities such as Heihe and Blagoveshchensk, as well as Tongjiang and Bogdanovich, which helps to unlock the potential for cooperation between the border areas of the two countries.

    “In terms of humanitarian cooperation, the Amur Region is the leader among other regions of Russia in terms of the number of Russian-Chinese joint events, just as the Heilongjiang Province is among Chinese regions,” emphasized the Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the 34th Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair.

    “We have more than 200 events. They are held annually, there are very bright, iconic ones that have become the calling card of our cities – Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, as well as the Amur Region and Heilongjiang Province,” he explained, expressing hope that in the future the level of these events will increase through the involvement of additional partner regions on both sides.

    Both leaders of Russian regions also noted the dynamics of development of cooperation with Heilongjiang Province in such areas as agriculture, logistics and tourism.

    On the sidelines of the current Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair, the Russian Export Center (REC) organized another festival-fair “Made in Russia.” It featured products from over 100 Russian manufacturers from 50 regions of the country.

    During the festival-fair, specialized negotiations on the B2B model were also held between Chinese and Russian companies, which, according to REC General Director Veronika Nikishina, provided a unique opportunity to establish important business contacts and expand the horizons of cooperation.

    REC is organizing a similar festival-fair on the sidelines of the Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair for the second time. As part of the event, a Made in Russia retail store also opened in Harbin.

    “I think that candies and chocolates made in Russia have a unique and rich taste, and they are inexpensive. Our whole family likes them very much,” said one shopper surnamed Sun.

    “We opened the first warehouse distribution center in Suifenhe, Heilongjiang Province, with an area of over 4,500 square meters, to supply and continuously provide the Made in Russia retail chain with original and high-quality Russian products,” explained V. Nikishina, noting that from the point of view of the extensive development of the national brand, the Chinese market is one of the most important and promising in the world.

    According to M. Kostyuk, residents of China and Russia are always interested in communicating with each other as neighbors and close people. “We already have experience of long-term cooperation with border cities of Heilongjiang Province. We must also go together today along one path in order to develop our mutual cooperation,” she summarized. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Shenzhou-20 crew members perform first spacewalk /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — The crew of China’s Shenzhou-20 manned space mission aboard the Tiangong space station successfully completed the first round of extravehicular activity on Thursday, the China Manned Space Administration (CMSA) said.

    The three Chinese astronauts, Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, worked for about eight hours and completed the mission at 16:49 Beijing time with the support of a ground support team.

    Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui, who are in charge of spacewalk operations, exited through the node module of the Tianhe core module, marking the first time astronauts have exited the station through this module since the space station entered the application and development phase.

    The astronauts installed the space debris protection device, previously removed through the cargo airlock and moved to a temporary position using a robotic manipulator, in its designated location.

    During the extravehicular activity, the astronauts also inspected and maintained the station’s external equipment. According to the CMSA, all crew members returned safely to the main module. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PennRose Farms Issues Recall of Whole Cucumbers Because Of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    May 21, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    May 22, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Salmonella

    Company Name:
    PennRose Farms, LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    PennRose Farms

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Whole cucumbers

    Company Announcement
    Wellington, FL (May 21, 2025)—PennRose Farms, LLC is recalling 5-pound mesh bags of whole cucumbers because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
    Our firm was notified by our supplier, Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., that these cucumbers are being recalled by Bedner Growers, Inc. and have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
    PennRose Farms repacked some of these cucumbers in 5-pound mesh bags (1,152 cases or 9,216 individual units) showing Restaurant Depot and PennRose Farms logos. The bags can be identified using the UPC code 841214101714, packaged between May 2-May 5, with lot numbers (48-122, 48-123, 48-124, 48-125). These products were shipped to Restaurant Depot distribution centers located in NJ, GA, FL, IL, and OH.
    No other PennRose Farms packaged products are impacted by this recall. It has advised the distribution centers it works with of the recall and directed them to alert customers that received the products.
    Consumers that have Restaurant Depot and PennRose Farms cucumbers covered by this recall are urged not to consume them and to discard them immediately. Restaurants, retailers, and distributors that have the recalled cucumbers should destroy them. If the product has been served to consumers, they should be notified of the potential health concern. Anyone with the recalled product in their possession should not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute them. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting PennRose Farms at 800 804 7254 (8 am to 5 pm EST). Consumers with health concerns should consult directly with their health care providers.
    PennRose Farms is conducting this recall in coordination with the FDA.
    Link to FDA Outbreak Advisory.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    PennRose Farms
    800-804-7254

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    05/22/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Pillen Signs Budget, Announces Line Item Vetos

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . In his letter, the Governor thanked members of the Appropriations Committee and the legislative body for its work in developing a fiscally conservative budget. He noted that those efforts solved the $432 million reported shortfall and honored the state’s commitment to providing tax relief for Nebraskans. 

    The Governor went on to say that he was disappointed that LB170 failed to pass, which would have provided additional property tax relief to Nebraskans, and would have built on the work undertaken over the last two and a half years to provide such relief.

    Gov. Pillen identified the following vetoes, which he said are “necessary to honor our commitment to fiscal restraint.” 

    In summary, they include:

    • Reducing the Supreme Court’s budget increase to mirror the rate of increase provided to the University of Nebraska
    • Using existing agency funds to cover Fire Marshal salary and health insurance premium increases
    • Reducing the additional appropriation provided to public health departments, thereby, bringing funding back to a pre-pandemic level
    • Cutting an $18 million cash fund reappropriation for recreational upgrades at Lake McConaughy

    “As with all current decisions sunounding our state budget, as stewards of the public’s resources we must prioritize what is necessaiy over what would be nice to have. We must be conservative in good times as well as during fiscally challenging times. Reducing spending is hard work, but Nebraskans expect us to exercise common sense and discretion in achieving a balanced, fair and operative budget,” said Gov. Pillen.

    The full letter is attached. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EBA publishes onboarding plan to implement the Pillar 3 data hub

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published an onboarding plan for large and other institutions, setting out the steps required for accessing and submitting information to the new Pillar 3 Data Hub (P3DH) – the EBA’s centralised platform for public disclosures under the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR3).This initiative is a significant milestone in the EBA’s commitment to enhancing transparency and consistency in Pillar 3 disclosures across the EU financial system and promoting market discipline.

    The onboarding plan outlines the procedural steps that institutions need to follow to ensure timely and accurate submissions of Pillar 3 information. The onboarding plan provides a step-by-step guide for the identification of institutions and to give them access to the EBA’s EUCLID Regulatory Reporting Platform, through which the Pillar 3 data will be submitted. It also spells out the timeline for the process, which will follow a phased-in approach.

    In addition to the onboarding plan, the EBA is publishing a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that aim to help institutions during the first implementation and data submission process. The FAQs will be a living document that will be updated by the EBA as needed.

    Furthermore, the EBA is introducing a phased-in approach and transitional provisions that should give institutions time to prepare for the process. This means that institutions will be able to continue to fulfil their Pillar 3 disclosure obligations during 2025 as usual, and the submissions to the P3DH will occur only at a later stage. This approach will give institutions with enough time to complete the onboarding process and align their internal processes, without impacting the compliance with the CRR requirements.

    By providing a single, centralised platform for Pillar 3 data, the EBA will support all interested users—including institutions—by significantly enhancing access and comparability of prudential information. For the first time, users will be able to explore and visualise disclosures across institutions and over time in a single public platform, making it easier for institutions to benchmark themselves against peers and fostering market discipline. This will not only strengthen the transparency of the EU banking sector but also promote the soundness and resilience of the broader financial system. The P3DH information will be available to the public from December 2025.

    The EBA encourages all relevant institutions to familiarise themselves with the onboarding process and begin preparations for the P3DH implementation.

    Legal basis, backgrounds and next steps

    The new Banking Package (CRR3/CRD6), which will implement the latest Basel III reforms in the EU, includes a mandate to the EBA to develop a Pillar 3 data hub. The EBA’s plan on how to implement the mandates included in the Banking Package is explained in the ‘EBA Roadmap on strengthening the prudential framework’, published in December 2023.

    The CRR establishes the prudential disclosure requirements and policies applicable to institutions, specifying the frequency and scope of these disclosures by type of institution, e.g. large institutions, small and non-complex institutions (SNCI) and other institutions The CRR3 (Articles 434 and 434a) mandates the EBA to publish on its website the prudential disclosures for all institutions subject to such requirements, making it readily available in a centralised manner to all the relevant stakeholders through a single electronic access point on its website. To comply with this mandate, the EBA is building a data hub putting together all the disclosures required under Part Eight of the CRR. As a first step the EBA has published also the final draft ITS on the Pillar 3 data hub for large and other institutions. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New police search guidance following Supreme Court decision

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Police chiefs have been reviewing the implications of last month’s UK Supreme Court judgment in relation to the scope of the Equality Act on sex and gender.

    Police chiefs have been reviewing the implications of last month’s UK Supreme Court judgment in relation to the scope of the Equality Act on sex and gender.

    The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has today (Thursday) published draft interim guidance on searches of members of the transgender community, as well as searches carried out by transgender police officers and staff.

    It makes clear that thorough police searches, such as those which expose intimate body parts, should be carried out by police officers and staff of the same biological sex as the detained person.

    There may be very limited exceptions considered where someone requests to be searched by an officer of their gender.

    The guidance is explicit that any search not conducted in line with biological sex must have the written consent of the detainee, the officer carrying out the search as well as the authorising officer.

    The guidance has been circulated to every police force in the country.

    The interim guidance is based on legal advice and has been developed after seeking views across policing as well as those of other agencies.

    It reflects working practice which already happens every day across policing, where officers and detainees make requests about searches for a multitude of reasons.

    Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the NPCC, said: “Our aim has been to implement the Supreme Court judgment in a pragmatic and consistent way across policing.

    “We have moved at pace to develop this interim guidance, as it is important that officers and staff have guidance on how searches should be conducted in light of the Supreme Court ruling.

    “We are keen to work with the Home Office to consider the impact of the Supreme Court decision on legislation and help ensure there is consistency and clarity for policing and our partners.

    “We understand the depth of feeling there is on these issues, both among transgender communities as well as those who hold gender critical views. Policing remains committed to treating everyone with fairness, dignity and respect.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Santa Barbara County Investment Advisor Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison for Stealing Nearly $2.3 Million From Elderly Clients

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    LOS ANGELES – A Santa Barbara County investment advisor was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients of her investment advisory business, including clients that were receiving end-of-life care.

    Julie Anne Darrah, 52, of Santa Maria, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who will schedule a restitution hearing at a later date.

    Darrah pleaded guilty on March 4 to one count of wire fraud.

    During the scheme, Darrah stole approximately $2.25 million from her firm’s clients. She did so by obtaining control of her victims’ assets, and then – without the victims’ knowledge or consent – she liquidated their security holdings and transferred the proceeds to accounts she controlled. As part of this, she convinced victims to sign documents making her the trustee of their trusts or a signatory on their bank accounts or giving her power of attorney over their brokerage accounts and allowing her – as their investment advisor – to transfer funds from their accounts to other bank accounts, including to her own accounts.

    Darrah took advantage of trust victims placed in her – often convincing them she would take care of them in their older years like a daughter, and she used this trust to convince them to sign the documents that she then used to steal money from them. In this way, Darrah stole money from victims from approximately November 2016 to July 2023. She used stolen funds to buy properties for herself, pay other personal expenses, buy luxury vehicles, and operate other business ventures. Some victims were left in desperate circumstances, without the money to pay for end-of-life care, when the fraud was discovered.

    Darrah also convinced a company identified in the plea agreement as “Business Victim 1,” a Minnesota-based investment advisor firm, to acquire VFM based on false and misleading statements and the concealment of material facts, including not telling that firm about her theft of individual client funds. After the fraud was discovered, Business Victim 1 incurred approximately $5.4 million in losses.

    In October 2023, the SEC filed a civil complaint against Darrah in connection with this scheme. In December 2024, United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer found Darrah liable to pay $2,416,511, including interest.

    The FBI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Vacaville Man Charged with Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Michael Keith Rubino, 39, of Vacaville, charging him with producing child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in October and November of 2024, Rubino engaged in multiple sex acts with a 17-year-old female victim. Rubino exploited his minor victim at a residence in Vacaville where Rubino lived. Rubino recorded numerous instances of his sexual abuse of his minor victim using his iPhone.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Vacaville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Rubino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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